Howcome the WTS does not include personal testimonies...

by jgnat 40 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  blondie

  I really don't know where this is coming from. I've heard "personal testimonials" in the congregation until I'm sick of hearing them.

  Pork Chop, I think I mentioned in my post that this is the only time JWs get away with a personal testimony. But in the 10 or more congregations I have attended, there are unwritten and unspoken rules as to what can be said. If their testimony falls outside those rules (where I have attended), the WT conductor, book study conductor, and any other brother calling on people in the audience, "mark" that person as a loose cannon and don't call on them for a time. How do I know? Some of the worst loose cannons are members of my family. They are branded as "eccentric." I would go into more detail as to what they said, but it could be an identifier. One of my aunts once gave a comment that required 3 paragraphs for the WT conductor to do damage control. Blondie
• 

  DannyBear

  blondie,

  ****If their testimony falls outside those rules (where I have attended), the WT conductor, book study conductor, and any other brother calling on people in the audience, "mark" that person as a loose cannon****

  That is exactly what happens at every congregation world wide. Of course you get an occassional elder, who has a special fondness for one of the 'loose cannons'......he may allow them to spout off every now and then......but usually it is for comic relief.

  In other words the 'loose cannon' has to be somewhat inoccuous and whatever comment outside the proscribed wt speak, can be quickly/effortlessly diverted by the conductor.

  Danny
• 

  Mystery

  pamkw - close to the same thing happened at my brothers funeral. I can remember being at mom's and a lot of JW's were there to console her. I walked out back to get away from everyone and I heard the brother that would be giving the talk at the funeral talking about how he was going to use "this time to preach to all the worldly" that would attend. And he did. I was never as disgusted with JW's as i was at that point. They turned my brother's funeral into a "Sunday hour Sermon".
• 

  coffee_black

  Pork Chop,

  There were experiences related, but never a "testimony" of one's faith. Most experiences involved literature placement, Bible studies started, informal witnessing etc. Contrary to wt teaching, literature placement is not faith. Those experiences involve bringing people into the organization, not leading them to Christ. The experiences never involved one's personal faith or relationship with God.

  I heard those experiences for most of my life. I've since heard "testimonies" in several Churches. There is no comparison. I didn't know what a "testimony" was, in fact, I didn't know what worship was until experienced both at an xjw conference about 10 years ago.

  Coffee
• 

  Maverick

  As a side note, at Circuit and District Talks there is a board of Elders that have copies of the written talks. They mark every deviation from the written material the speaker makes. Too many changes and that Brother will not be given a speaking assignment at the convention in the future. Maverick
• 

  lurk

  ive since seen testemonys in christian chat rooms all about how ppl found god.can you imgone hearing that sort of thing at a meeting the elders would be having kittens worrying about what ppl were gonna say.a sister seriously deviated from the truth once was the funniest thing ive heard in a long time.eveyone just laughed ,no one took it seriously, she must be nuts id shes thinking that stuff right ? hha

  even what you say to ppl at the door is controlled so how could anyone do a testimoney they are would sound the same.

  my life was a mess then there was a knock at the door.

  my husband left me then there was a knock at the door

  i was about to kill myself and there was a knock at the door
• 

  Scully

  jgnat:
  

  Just playing Devil's Advocate here, could there be any other legitimate reason to control what the R&F say, other than a cultlike need for control?

  When you control what the R&F say (expression of belief) in public, you control what newcomers hear in public. When you control what R&F say in public, it serves as a model for their attitudes and behaviour in private.

  In social psychological terms, beliefs, attitudes and behaviours must be harmonious, otherwise the individual experiences dissonance. The existence of dissonance, particularly if it originates in beliefs or attitudes, is particularly threatening to the Borg, because it cannot as easily be controlled as behaviour.

  Among JWs, there are measures in place that put social pressure on the individual when beliefs, attitudes and behaviours are dissonant:

  • Marking and reproof, in addition to subtle withdrawal of socialization behaviours from the group are very powerful in their ability to control the behaviour of someone who believes, because they are more likely to be repentant (reflection of attitude). The distinction between marking and reproof is that marking is based on an individual JW's decision to curtail socialization behaviours from the one being marked, while reproof is based on a decision made by a judicial committee and communicated to the congregation.
  • Disfellowshipping along with the complete withdrawal of socialization behaviours, is supposed to be reserved for the one who believes, but who reflects an unrepentant attitude. JWs consider the individual to have some hope of returning to the flock.
  • Disassociation, on the other hand, also includes elimination of socialization behaviours, however the "crimes" being punished are seen as much more heinous on the part of the person, because they voluntarily leave the organization, reflecting an unrepentant attitude and disbelief. The person who disassociates themselves is viewed as someone who beligerently opposes Jehovah (ie, the Organization) in attitude, belief and behaviour.

  Disassociation seems like it is quickly becoming the mode of social control for individuals whose attitudes and behaviour reflect distinct lack of belief (apostasy) in the basic tenets of JW doctrine, not as a punishment for the person leaving, but as a protection for those staying behind. Not being allowed to talk to the DA'd person keeps the others in line, and prevents "dangerous" thoughts (beliefs) and attitudes from infiltrating the congregation.

  Approved association with Jehovah's Witnesses requires accepting the entire range of the true teachings of the Bible, including those Scriptural beliefs that are unique to Jehovah's Witnesses. - Watchtower, April 1, 1986, p 30, 31.

  Bear in mind that this represents the ramblings of a person who has just woken up from working night shift, and isn't yet completely coherent.

  Love, Scully
• 

  jgnat

  Thanks, guys for all your input. coffee_black and pork chop, I had not realized that not all JW's/XJW's know what a personal testimony is. And I agree that the WTS version is playacting to reality. The personal testimonies I am used to are purely the creation of the person who has lived it. Just like a witness in a court of law, they recount what they have seen and heard, in their own words.

  So aside from the problem that they are difficult to control, personal testimonies (where people spontaneously share their faith) are not part of the WT experience because the elders would have kittens?

  Lurk, I knew there was a problem with overpopulation of cats, but kittens are so cute!

  http://www.spca.bc.ca/Factsheets/catcare.htm

  Scully, you can go to bed now. You make perfect sense.

  Blondie and DannyBear, Loose cannons? They can make a fine lawn ornament, as long as the lawn is big enough.

  http://piratescove.safeshopper.com/60/1093.htm?970

  Mystery and pamkw, how demeaning of the dead, to rob them even of a dignified goodbye.
• 

  JT

  (I mean, ones that have not been edited by the writing department)?

  you have answered your own question-

  keep in mind the wt is nothing more than an American Book Publishing Corporation that merely masquarades around as a religion-

  being that is the case , can you think of One Major corporation that generates income figures that reach almost $1 Billion dollars that would dare allow any kind of statement to go forth that was not cleared thru it's corp home office that could be potential embarassing and leave them legally liable-

  I THINK NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• 

  JT

  at the funeral talking about how he was going to use "this time to preach to all the worldly" that would attend. And he did

  WELL ACTUALLY he was suppose to, the outline is very speicfic that he is suppose to do just that

  i have given furneral talks and the best part is YOU CAN COUNT THE TIME ---IF YOU ARE THE SPEAKER

  you got to love it