Letter of Disassociation to Former Religions / Baptism Questions ?

by HereIam60 14 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  HereIam60

  This was prompted by some comments in another thread, but since it was somewhat "off" the original topic, I'm posting/asking seperately...

  I was born in 1960, and baptized as a infant in a Catholic Church. Obviously I have no personal memory of this, and only know, because I was told, and we had a family photo of my parents holding me before the baptismal font while the priest prepared to do the sprinkling. I was taken probably no more than 3 times to the Catholic church in my early childhood and had no clue as to what was going on.

  From the ages of 10 to 12 I attended a Methodist Sunday School, rarely the actual church service, but sang with the class in an annual Christmas presentation in the church.

  In the 1980s, studying with Jehovah's Witnesses, and considering baptism, I was told I had to write a letter to any religious group I had previously been involved with, stating I no longer wished any contact, wanted to be removed from their membership lists and witnessing as to why...(Separation from Satan's world, false religion, Babylon etc.)

  While I could somewhat see doing this regarding the Methodist church, as I had been in regular attendance for a time, and participated in services - though never baptized into it, I did not see why I should have to do so with the Catholic Church as my involvement there was not under my control, and my presence there could not have been considered worship.

  My 'study conductor' however was adamant that this MUST be done. So, though annoyed I eventually, reluctantly, wrote and sent the letters, and I'm sure the only notice given them was to be dropped into a wastebasket.

  Eventually I went over, with Elders, the long list of questions for persons desiring to be baptized as JW, which must have included, Had I cut all ties with False Religion?, and was approved. Until recently, when I asked an elder to look it up, I could not clearly recall the date of my baptism...

  It was in February 1987. Can anyone tell me, or, point me to a source, as to what questions were being asked on the day of baptism, prior to water immersion in that year?

  I know eventually these included "Do you recognize that your baptism identifies you as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, in association with His Spirit Directed Organization ?". I do not know if I was asked this. I considered it only as a dedication of my life to Jehovah God in obedience to Jesus Christ.

  I have never understood the 'legal ramifications" of a religious baptism. Is it entirely choice or voluntary, or actually legally "binding" one to a Church or Organization ?

  Thanks!
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  blondie

  The Watchtower Society said that people baptized in another religion, have to be baptized as one of Jehovah's witnesses. Up until 1918, Bible Students rebaptism was not necessaryl ( Only those baptized before 1918 did not have to be baptized again. While the exact details of Charles Taze Russell's personal baptismal practices before 1918 are not definitively documented, the organization later established that immersion before 1918, coupled with a shift away from a previous religious affiliation and affiliation with the Watch Tower, was considered valid.)

  (1931 the Watchtower Society changed it to Jehovah's witnesses though there continued to be Bible Student groups after that, but not associated with Jehovah's witnesses). Yes, the Watchtower Society says you must be baptized through the WTS procedure for baptism to be considered officially one of Jehovah's witnesses. A record is kept of that in the congregation files, and notification if you move is sent to your new congregation. But in 1956, is was stated definitely, people needed to be rebaptized by jws.

  WT 1956 July 1 p. 406 pp.14 “Often the question is asked whether one baptized previously in a ceremony performed by some other religious group should again be baptized when coming to an accurate knowledge of the truth and making a dedication to Jehovah. Because of what has been already said, now there is compelling reason for also saying, Yes, one must be baptized again. Obviously, by any of such religious systems one was never in reality baptized “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit,” because had he been so baptized he would have appreciated the authority and office of such true Higher Powers. And if previously dedicated to Jehovah, the individual would have separated himself from such God-dishonoring Babylonish systems even before letting them baptize him. So the act of being baptized is not the important thing, but, rather, that which the act symbolizes is the element of importance.” January 15, 1989 Watchtower p. 13 "To become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, then, a person must be a believer​—one who exercises faith and gets baptized. Even before baptism, such faith manifests itself in godly conduct, trust in Jehovah, participation in the Kingdom-preaching work, and acceptance of Jesus’ ransom sacrifice. Faith in the ransom is emphasized for baptismal candidates, for the first of two questions the speaker asks them is: “On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?” Only if the individual answers in the affirmative and also understands that his dedication and baptism identify him as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God’s spirit-directed organization can he acceptably undergo water immersion. (The WTS does recommend sending a letter to the non-jw religion you were associated with, especially currently or in the near past.)
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  peacefulpete

  You will need to be sure to cancel your candle-of-the-month subscription as well. Also renounce the Lost Sock Rescue Society and cut off all contact with Over Thinkers Anonymous.
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  HereIam60

  Dear Blondie,

  Thank you for responding, and referencing the 1956 and 1989 Watchtower articles. It is appreciated. I see that by '89 the part about 'in association with the spirit directed organization" had been added. I will continue to research as I'm sure I've seen somewhere online a timeline of how the day of baptism questions changed over the years.

  I never believed I was baptized into any 'Organization'. In fact from the very beginning the overuse of that word by some Witnesses grated on me. It seemed 'worldly' and opposed to what I was being taught, as the world we were supposed to be no part of, was filled with organizations.

  The United Natiions Organization was said to be "a counterfeit of God's Kingdom", and " The Disgusting Thing that causes Desolation, prophesied by Daniel". The World Health Organization, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization were man-made attempts to solve problems that left God out of the picture and could not succeed. Also, in my background "The Organization" also referred to The Mafia!

  The only way I could accept it at all was to re-define it in my own mind. That 'Jehovah's Organization' was His Arrangement of things on Heaven and Earth, but solely His, in his physical creation, and spiritually. It had nothing to do with any group or corporation of humans. Perhaps that was the original intent of the term.

  I can understand how an adult, baptized in one religious group by conscious choice, upon deciding to change affiliations, might need to be baptized again in their new faith group, but since Watchtower teaching is that infant baptism is unscriptural and invalid, and an infant has no choice or understanding of the matter, I still cannot see why a letter of disassociation to the church where it was done is necessary.

  Maybe this is no longer required, and in any event in my case is water that long ago went under the bridge. I'm just trying to sort out some thoughts that have long been in the back of my mind.
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  blondie

  HereIam, I am much older and harken back to those days. My mother was a jw in the 50's and my grandparents went back to the 20's. Back in those days people were more involved in church, attending frequently, actually had group bible studies through the church. So formal separation was highly recommended. There didn't use to be questions at baptism event, people just showed up with a swimsuit or what was considered chaste at the time, and were baptized. Yes, I have a generational memory. The questions at the baptism at conventions or assemblies were a legal change so people could not say they didn't know; I'm sure some didn't realize how permanent it was considered.
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  jhine

  blondie , at least in my church we do have Bible Study groups. We meet in people's homes and Study how we wish.

  I'm sure that other churches do the same . Jan from Tam
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  blondie

  jhine, I know that bible study groups still exist in some churches, but first people have to go to church. The amount of regular church going people has decreased a great deal. I was asked once by a bible student if I would come to her church and teach a group! I said that I didn't think their minister would like that. Then she said maybe I could teach a group in her house! Well, I said I don't think the minister at the KH would like that. So we just kept having our study but she would invite a friend over.
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  jhine

  Blondie , apologies for the extremely late reply .

  So when you were a JW a lady from a non JW church was having a study with you . Is that correct ?

  I cannot comment on why she would do that. I would have thought that anyone with even a basic knowledge of the Bible would realise that the JW interpretation was bunkum .

  It's sad that the lady didn't seem to be getting good teaching from her own church. Maybe she was just looking for something else .

  I have been reading lately that church attendance has grown somewhat recently, including at my own parish church .

  God isn't dead.

  Jan from Tam
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  Sea Breeze

  I have never understood the 'legal ramifications" of a religious baptism.

  Baptism is a fitting symbol of being inducted into something, and leaving something behind. For WT, a person is baptized into a life of changing rules and regulations needed for Salvation.
  
  Notice how in the list below, acknowledgement of sin and repentance are not even mentioned. The work Jesus did and his blood covering offered in the new covenant did not even make honorable mention.

  
  
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  dropoffyourkeylee

  I believe the WT originally introduced this for legal reasons. The WT has a history of having difficulty exactly how to define a member of the religion. It dates back to 1917 when Rutherford et.al. were on trial for discouraging the draft/selective service, which was illegal under the Espionage Act. They were issuing affidavits to brothers saying they were members of a pacifist faith, but didn't have any way to substantiate they were members. No record of baptism/consecration, no record of preaching, no ministerial training, nothing besides anecdotal statements that they attended meetings. Those affidavits were damning and were a big part of what landed Rutherford in jail. Before and during WW2 the WT had very little success in keeping the brothers out of jail over the draft issue.

  Post WW2 they took a different tack, 'all JWs are ministers', introduced the pioneer status, hour requirements of preaching, baptism questions, baptism and preaching records kept, etc and they began to have comparatively more success in getting the brothers the 4-D classificaton. Part of the strategy was having a record that the brother was a JW and definitely not a member of another faith; hence the letter to officially break off from the previous religion.

  My thoughts, anyway, others may disagree