Good description of the JWs

by drwtsn32 7 Replies latest jw friends

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  drwtsn32

  At first glance, Jehovah's Witnesses seem to be the model of religious democracy.
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  However, in reality the Watchtower Society is an absolute autocracy. All authority is vested in the Governing Body, including the authority to understand and teach the Bible.
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  Dissent is not permitted and, if discovered, is punished swiftly and completely. Jehovah's Witnesses are excluded from membership of disfellowshipped not merely for gross, unrepentant immorality or heresy but also for questioning the teaching and authority of the Society. Should a Witness be disfellowshipped, he learns firsthand what it means to be shunned by the very people he once considered his friends, family, and brother and sisters in Christ.
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  Witnesses are not only to isolate themselves from those who were once Witnesses and have been disfellowshipped or disassociated but also from anyone who is not a Witness and who attempts to present a view contrary to the Watchtower. No Witness is allowed to read dissenting materialm whether it is written by a disgruntled Jehovah's Witness, a disfellowshipped or disassociated Witness, or someone who has never been a Witness.
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  Surprisingly, prospective Jehovah's Witnesses are told that it is right to question what one believes and to search out God's will for themselves. In what used to be their standard introductory study for new prospective members, The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life, they taught,

  We need to examine not only what we personally believe but also what is taught by any religious organization with which we may be associated. Are its teachingsg in full harmony with God's Word, or are they based on the traditions of men? If we are lovers of truth, there is nothing to fear from such an examination. It should be the sincere desire over every one of us to learn what God's will is for us, and then to do it.

  However, the Society means by this exhortation that one is supposed to test his own non-Witness religion, not the teachings of the Watchtower Society. Jehovah's Witnesses are not allowed to study the Bible on their own, to interpret what they read in the Bible for themselves, or to teach directly from the Bible. Rather, they must teach from approved Watchtower publications about the Bible.
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  The Watchtower and Tract Society has weathered the storms of its inconsistent and turbulent history by enforcing absolute control over its members and by excluding anyone who dares to question anything. It should not surprise us, then, that most Witnesses have memorized the basic doctrinal teachings of the Society and will defend them adamantly, even when their defense is irrational, unbiblical, and nonhistorical. Source: Jehovah's Witnesses and the Watchtower, The Kingdom of the Cults , Walter Martin, Revised, Updated and Expanded Anniversaty Edition, pp. 96-99
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  Siddhashunyata

  Hi drwtsn32,

  One of the "ironies" is that the WTBTS boasts that they have helped preserve the First Amendment Rights of all Americans by winning case after case in front of the Supreme Court( Flag Salute, Preaching Door To Door etc.). When they boast they magnify themselves as defenders of Freedom yet, as you say, they grossly deny those fundamental rights to their own people. By understanding this contradiction one understands what they really $$$tand for.
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  El blanko

  In light of the passages quoted DrWtsn32 do you believe that the WTBS can be useful for certain individuals who lack control and moral restraint within their lives?

  Are you attacking individual witnesses or simply having a poke at the pyramid structure of the organisation?

  I would like to think that an individual JW has the sense to reason for themselves and rise above the restrictions placed upon them not to look at so-called 'apostate' material. Afterall, if it is the ' truth ', it should easily stand before any criticism against the central doctrine.
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  Will Power
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  Will Power

  I would like to think that an individual JW has the sense to reason for themselves and rise above the restrictions placed upon them not to look at so-called 'apostate' material. Afterall, if it is the ' truth ', it should easily stand before any criticism against the central doctrine.

  Have you ever met a real Jehovahs Witness willing to take this chance? They turn on a dime and head for the hills. They know deep in their heart that something is wrong. They can talk this talk but cannot walk that walk. The first step that crumbles scares the sh*t out of them and they are in denial. Unless it is re-visited you can almost guarantee health problems or a dependency. Look around at the KH - who seems depressed, who has a hard time with eye contact, who is not there, who seems angry, who smells of coverup.

  WP
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  drwtsn32

  In light of the passages quoted DrWtsn32 do you believe that the WTBS can be useful for certain individuals who lack control and moral restraint within their lives?

  Some people do seem to desire a highly controlling religion and are not able to develop a moral sense without one. But perhaps it's because such a person has never really been taught to think for themselves. I'm not sure.

  Are you attacking individual witnesses or simply having a poke at the pyramid structure of the organisation?

  The individual witnesses are not responsible for the cultish behaviors in the org. I'm "attacking" the nature of the organization itself.

  I would like to think that an individual JW has the sense to reason for themselves and rise above the restrictions placed upon them not to look at so-called 'apostate' material. Afterall, if it is the ' truth ', it should easily stand before any criticism against the central doctrine.

  Yes, this certainly does seem reasonable. However in a cult "reason" is often thrown out the window. The WTS says over and over again to never even look at apostate material. They even attack the viewpoint that "hey, this is the truth! it should stand up to any test!" Here are a couple examples...

  *** w92 7/15 p. 13 Christ Hated Lawlessness?Do You? ***

  Apostates capitalize on errors or seeming mistakes made by brothers who take the lead. Our safety lies in avoiding apostate propaganda as though it were poison, which in fact it is.

  ***

  w86 3/15 p. 12 ?Do Not Be Quickly Shaken From Your Reason? ***

  Now, what will you do if you are confronted with apostate teaching?subtle reasonings?claiming that what you believe as one of Jehovah?s Witnesses is not the truth? For example, what will you do if you receive a letter or some literature, open it, and see right away that it is from an apostate? Will curiosity cause you to read it, just to see what he has to say? You may even reason: ?It won?t affect me; I?m too strong in the truth. And, besides, if we have the truth, we have nothing to fear. The truth will stand the test.? In thinking this way, some have fed their minds upon apostate reasoning and have fallen prey to serious questioning and doubt.
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  drwtsn32

  they grossly deny those fundamental rights to their own people.

  Very true. "But it's the truth! We shouldn't test it like that! Only false religions should be critically analyzed!"
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  kgfreeperson

  My friend gave me a Watchtower book and I promised to read it if he read Elaine Pagels or Karen Armstrong. He threw up his hands and said "I don't read anything I don't have ot." At the time, I thought it was odd, but I did know he did not read for pleasure. Sigh. Now I know the truth and it saddens me greatly. What intellectual curiosity he ever had was quashed by the organization very effectively at an early age. Oh, well. I'm not going to change that so I try not to obsess!