Latest WT Encourages You to Question Your Religion

by stevieb1 12 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  stevieb1

  As long as your not a JW already that is!!!!!!

  That being said the August 15, 2002 edition of The Watchtower carries the cover article "To Whom Should You Be Loyal?" which contains several experiences of ones who gave up their old religion and despite much opposition became Jehovah's Witnesses. Whilst reading the article I stopped and realised that this could apply to those within the JW organization, especially those raised in it who begin to hav doubts about their religion. Here are some good quotes:

  From page 4:

  "Our country:........May she always be right, but our country, right or wrong." - Stephen DEcatur, U.S. naval officer, 1799-1820.

  "Unquestioning loyalty to one's country is seen by many as their paramount obligation. Others would rephrase Stephn Decatur's words, 'My religion, may she always be right; but my religion right or wrong.'

  "Realistically, the country or religion that demand our loyalty is often determined by the place of our birth, but the decision about whom we should be loyal to is too important to leave in the hands of chance. However, questioning the loyalties with which one is raised takes courage and creates challenges."

  Don't most JW feel the same way? "My religion right or wrong" they say, even if some of them have doubts about what the organization currently teaches. Of interest I wonder how many soon to be ex-JW's were commended for their courage at judicial meetings?

  From page 6

  "Yet, once Saul gained accurate knowledge of the Bible, he did what many of his peers viewed as unthinkable. He changed his religion. Saul, who later became known as the apostle Paul, chose to be loyal to God rather than tradition."

  From page 7:

  "It takes courage to question our faith and why we are loyal to it, but the rewards can be well worth the effort when the result brings us closer to Jehovah God."

  That last quote is a classic!
• 

  Mister Biggs

  stevieb1...

  Thanks for taking the time to post this.

  The last quote:

  "It takes courage to question our faith and why we are loyal to it, but the rewards can be well worth the effort when the result brings us closer to Jehovah God."

  So, it must be okay for JWs to question their own faith. However, in the Society's eyes, we are reward if our faith ends up being reassured. But, if our questions lead to answers that smash the foundation of our JW faith, then we are labeled as "blind" and "apostate".
• 

  Morgaine

  Spin doctors ... =/

  m.
• 

  zenpunk

  It's funny, when I used to read articles like this as a JW I used to think "Wow! Look how enlightened we are!" Yet these articles actually proved the opposite.
• 

  detective

  I realize I'm about to stray off the topic a bit but I noriced this quote and wanted to ask a question.

  Yet, once Saul gained accurate knowledge of the Bible, he did what many of his peers viewed as unthinkable. He changed his religion.

  Exactly what is it that they are alleging Saul(Paul) gained accurate knowledge of? The old testament? Wouldn't he then have stayed a Jew? If not the old testament, then what? The bible didn't exist in cannon form at that point?

  So what do you think they mean by this?
• 

  Gopher

  Detective,

  They probably mean: Paul now understood the prophecies in the Hebrew scriptures that pointed to a Messiah like Jesus, one who would suffer, die and be resurrected, rather than the 'conquering hero' Messiah the Jews wanted to see lead a successful revolt against the Roman Empire.

  So I think they mean accurate knowledge of scriptures (like those in Isaiah) that (supposedly) found fulfillment in Jesus, whose people Saul was persecuting.
• 

  Reborn2002

  It takes courage to question your faith and why we are loyal to it, but the rewards can be well worth the effort when the results bring us closer to god.

  [bolding mine]

  Now if that is not an example of the Watchtower's hypocrisy, I do not know what is.

  For any active member of Jehovah's Witnesses who questions the religion is perceived as "spiritually weak" and "marked" as "bad association" because that one could influence others.

  Much less.. the previous Watchtower magazine which said that no individual should "harbor private ideas" contradicts this, because if someone questioned their faith and vocalized that doubt publicly, they could be charged with apostacy.

  Everyone who has been a Jehovah's Witness is familiar with this. If you question doctrine, you are ridiculed and belittled for not towing the line and "keeping pace with "Jehovah's organization." How many times have we heard examples of individuals being interrogated by elders with the inquiry:

  "Do you believe that this is the true religion, god's sole collective channel on earth?"

  Look at the example of Amazing.

  When I went before the elders with doubts, I was asked the same question.

  If you raise those doubts, you are HARDLY viewed as courageous.

  The Watchtower Babble and Trick Society and the Jehoober Dubs are about the most hypocritical organization on earth.

  Just my 2c.
• 

  Fredhall

  2002<

  You still have doubts.
• 

  Reborn2002

  Oh cmon little kitty kitty.

  MEOW!!

  Now we all know YOU have doubts.

  Otherwise you would not be posting on this message board.

  Instead you would be a good little JDub kitty and be nestled up purring in in the District Overseer's lap or strolling door to door in field service.

  LOL
• 

  julien

  They are trying to taunt apostates with this article. They are saying "HA see how much control we have over what the R&F think! we can print information that SAYS ONE THING, but IMPLIES ANOTHER. And the R&F understand only the implied meaning."