"Questions From Readers" or "Questions From Writers"?

by logansrun 16 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  logansrun

  Is it just me, or does the "Questions From Readers" segment in the Watchtower these days sound phoney? I know years ago they had the initials of the questioner along with their country of residence underneath their questions which seemed more, oh I don't know, realistic. (The things people used to ask about! By bugger take a look at what came in from the rank and file in the 50's and 60's!)

  But now I notice two trends, which seem to have been going on for the last couple of decades:

  1) Questions which seem like dry repetitions of longstanding WT dogma (Such as "Is it proper for Christians to celebrate birthdays?" -- what the hell?)

  or

  2) Questions which come up and oh-so-conveniently lead to a well calculated doctrinal or congregational adjustment.

  Both types of inquiries seem "planted" by the writers of the article and not "real questions" from readers.

  Has anyone else noticed this?

  Bradley

  PS -- I thought I'd throw in a less controversial question of my own for a change..hehe..
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  Irreverent

  It's questions from writers without a doubt. It's another way to push their agenda, just like their supposed reinactments of experiences at conventions.
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  Nosferatu

  Heh, sounds more like Questions from Proof-Readers.

  Remember, the WTS isn't lying when members of Bethel read the Watchtower.
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  minimus

  Bradley, thanks for asking these extra questions that I couldn't post. It's real nice of you.
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  Yerusalyim

  I just took it as a given that the "Questions From Readers" was a put on.
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  Stephanus

  There's no doubt that the QFRs are what would be called "Dorothy Dixers" in Oz political circles. A "Dorothy Dixer" is named after an agony aunt of the past, Dorothy Dix. How it works is that during parliamentary question time, a Government back-bencher (MP on the Govt's side who doesn't have a ministry) would ask a question along the lines of "In the area of XXX, what steps are the Govt taking to address the issue of YYY?". The Govt minister responsible will then get up and use the question as an excuse to outline Govt policy (which may or may not have changed), bag the Opposition's policies on the issue, and to deny valuable question asking time to the Opposition parties.

  The similarity between "Dorothy Dixers" and QFRs is huge; in the form of an "enquiring minds wish to know" question answered, the ruling party get to outline policy to the faithful. AND they pretend to be from "ordinary people"...

  If it were still possible to have conversations with Dubs questioning their beliefs, I'd like to ask one about some of these so-called QFRs. Take, for example, the QFR in the July 1 2003 WT: At Hebrews 2:14, why is Satan called "the one having the means of death"? Are we seriously expected to believe that a R&F Dub stayed awake at night wondering that one? Or is it more a writing department stooge's tool for informing the troops about how clever the NWT is in translating things better than Christendom's Bibles, and then a chance to reiterate WBTS doctrine on the issues of Satan, sin and death?
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  stillajwexelder

  No doubt at all --Questions from the writing staff -- I seem to remember Ray said this was the case in CoC.
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  greven

  I have been saying this for a long time!

  Study for instance the evolution of the blood doctrine and you will find that most new light is squized in through the QFR section. Reading the questions asked in the 1950 and 60's will reveal interesting and sometimes controversial questions. For example there was one question by a reader that asked why the WT would bash the Catholic Church so often. The answer the gave in reply is still used against them by us apostates...

  If I have time I will look up the reference...or maybe somebody here knows what I am talking about...

  Greven
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  Blueblades

  Both and it was Minimus who formed all those questions when he was on the inside.Now that he has come over to our side he ask's better questions.
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  mineralogist

  The best QFR ever was in combination of the generation change. "a reader" made a question to a previous article written in the same mag