How do JWs from other countries view the USA based Watchtower?

frankiespeakin

I often wondered how those of other natonalities who eventually become JWs view taking orders from a USA based religion. Did it bother you that foreigners were making rules that you had to live by? Did the people that you met at the doors every bring up the fact that this was a religion run by foreigners? Did you ever feel that you were importing an american religion?

Pole

Yes, some people did bring this issue up at the door. But it was easy to explain away. You'd simply say that if God was to reestablish the only true worship then what other country would he have chosen? America allows you to export ideas quite easily.

Lame excuse, I know, because some would argue that God chose a rather unimportant country to start spreading the word from 2000 yrs ago and it seemed to work just fine.

Otherwise, I think at least in Eastern Europe there was this Coca-Cola effect. When the Iron Curtain was abolished first in Poland then in Eastern Germany, Czechoslovakia and the rest of EUrope, people were starving for Western Culture and ideas. There was a high level of tolerance for anything Western. Now this trend seems to be vanishing.

Another thing: the fact that the GB was located somwhere across the ocean contributed to the aura of mysticism surrounding the FDS doctrine. Simply, if you disagreed with a certain organizational procedure there was one more instance to blame - the branch office. So if something went wrong, you'd just say "oh, it's just the local elders", if something went really wrong you'd say, "well it's just our stupid branch office". Only if something went terribly wrong could you dare ask "Are the Brooklyn Boys to blame?".

Pole

frankiespeakin

Pole,

I wonder if the fact that the WT is USA based will eventually work against further growth in other contries. Thanks for the input.

one

Pole,

ditto,

Yes, some people did bring this issue up at the door. But it was easy to explain away.

Persons with strong political inclination towards the left bring that issue. In most countries the main religions have been imported anyway.

Frank.

wonder if the fact that the WT is USA based will eventually work against further growth in other contries.

wt being based in usa is not a major factor, people from many countries want to go to usa, and a xxx is born every minute.

Pole

frank

I wonder if the fact that the WT is USA based will eventually work against further growth in other contries.

At least it won't help them stimulate growth for much longer.

Pole

Haereticus

Did it bother you that foreigners were making rules that you had to live by?

Not personally as I was young, naïve dub and adored USA.

Did the people that you met at the doors every bring up the fact that this was a religion run by foreigners?

Sometimes I did hear the expression "an American religion" and even Coke has been referred to me as "the drink of Jehovah".

Did you ever feel that you were importing an american religion?

Never as a loyal dub, but later on yes.

Mark

vitty

When it was brought up I always said "smugly" Christianity wasnt British but we all except it as the our religion

In fact I used to have real problem with the differences of how we spell things e.g. color and colour

Now you americans might not appreciate this but the mags were printed in Britain and english is OUR lanuage so we should of had OUR spellings and terms, but maybe im just picking

Simon

The USA "branch" was often viewed a bit jokingly in the UK,

They seemed too cheesy and earnest and not down to earth enough.

We'd be laughing during the drama's with overly dramatic American accent voice-overs.

"Yes Billy Bob Junior, I'd like to talk to you about Masterbation son".

Give me a break.

Now you americans might not appreciate this but the mags were printed in Britain and english is OUR lanuage so we should of had OUR spellings and terms, but maybe im just picking

Oh yes, and murdering the language.

I remember a few unflattering comments and laughter from the platform, especially with the made up words like "happified" and so on.

M.J.

Here's the WTS's argument:

*** Awake! 1984 November 22 pp.8-10 An Open Mind Wins God's Approval ***

Why, some people have even been known to doubt the truthfulness of a message simply on the basis of where the message bearer came from. Take, for example, an event from the first century C.E. John 1:45, 46 tells us: "Philip found Nathanael and said to him: 'We have found the one of whom Moses, in the Law, and the Prophets wrote, Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.' But Nathanael said to him: 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' Philip said to him: 'Come and see.'" Philip was clearly admonishing Nathanael to keep an open mind.
Similar things happen today. When missionaries of Jehovah's Witnesses preach in foreign countries, they may experience rejection, even though their message is based on the Bible, simply because of their nationality. Following the example of Nathanael of old, some people may ask: "Can anything good come out of America?"

How do JWs from other countries view the USA based Watchtower?

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