Great replies everyone!
Yes I know there have been many changes already over the years.
So I am wondering what it would REALLY take for a witness to wake up and question the authority?
so if the gb changed its "bible based beliefs" on some teaching, would witnesses all of a sudden change their individual beliefs too?.
witnesses like to claim that "their bible trained hearts and minds" make them believe as they do, but we know that the reality is that all witnesses hold their "deep seated beliefs" according to what they have been told to believe.. so what would cause the average witness to question those that dictate their "personal convictions"??.
thoughts?.
Great replies everyone!
Yes I know there have been many changes already over the years.
So I am wondering what it would REALLY take for a witness to wake up and question the authority?
so if the gb changed its "bible based beliefs" on some teaching, would witnesses all of a sudden change their individual beliefs too?.
witnesses like to claim that "their bible trained hearts and minds" make them believe as they do, but we know that the reality is that all witnesses hold their "deep seated beliefs" according to what they have been told to believe.. so what would cause the average witness to question those that dictate their "personal convictions"??.
thoughts?.
So if the GB changed its "bible based beliefs" on some teaching, would witnesses all of a sudden change their individual beliefs too?
Witnesses like to claim that "their bible trained hearts and minds" make them believe as they do, but we know that the reality is that all witnesses hold their "deep seated beliefs" according to what they have been told to believe.
So what would cause the average witness to question those that dictate their "personal convictions"??
Thoughts?
the society claims to be jehovah gods sole channel on earth - his spokesman.. if any witness disagrees with this claim, they are branded as an apostate and punished.. but the society has made countless errors over the century, and repeatedly changed doctrines and beliefs.
not to mention the appalling foundation teachings of the organisation's teachings!
so a simple question: is god making msistakes and getting things wrong, or is this proof that the society is not guided by god?.
Great comments!!
Keep them coming!
one thing i've never understood is judicial committees.
yes, i understand it's held to see if elders should go through with the disfellowshipping process.
but why give them all the power?
Don't play by their rules, or give them any power over you.
Simply "treat them as one of he nations" and ignore the requests to meet!
If they keep sending such requests, remind them "of appropriate boundaries, and their need to respect your privacy"
the society claims to be jehovah gods sole channel on earth - his spokesman.. if any witness disagrees with this claim, they are branded as an apostate and punished.. but the society has made countless errors over the century, and repeatedly changed doctrines and beliefs.
not to mention the appalling foundation teachings of the organisation's teachings!
so a simple question: is god making msistakes and getting things wrong, or is this proof that the society is not guided by god?.
The society claims to be Jehovah Gods sole channel on earth - his spokesman.
If any witness disagrees with this claim, they are branded as an Apostate and punished.
But the society has made countless errors over the century, and repeatedly changed doctrines and beliefs. Not to mention the appalling foundation teachings of the organisation's teachings!
So a simple question: Is God making msistakes and getting things wrong, or is this proof that the society is not guided by God?
Seriously, the society can't have its cake and eat it too! Which is it?
The bible claims "that God is the same yesterday and today" and there is "not a variation". His "ways are perfect" etc....
So which is it??
well, i got myself in a dilemma.
i'm currently 18, being baptised for a year.
i had my doubts, but due to a variety of reasons (getting subtle flack for not baptised, not having a support system even if i wanted to leave).
You don't need to "lose" your family.
Just don't play by the witness imposed rules! If you want to catch up with your family, then just do so.
show them and all witnesses that you simply don't recognise their cult like imposed rules.
that admission in the feb.17 ,study edition of the watchtower , " who is leading gods people today ?
" "the governing body is neither inspired, nor infallible, therefore it (they/we) can err in doctrinal matters or in organizational direction .".
have the many jehovahs witnesses past and present who have lost their lives by refusing blood transfusions due to the prohibition on blood tranfusions by jehovahs witnesses really got the sense of this statement ?.
Once again this proves the stupidity of witnesses for following EVERYTHING the GB says to the letter, even if it then changes!
How does such behaviour fit in with the scriptural admonition to "use your power of reason"?
There is NO reasoning or logical thinking with witnesses! It is simply "DO AS THE GB SAYS" or be viewed as evil and be punished!
yesterday, i missed a call and got a long voicemail from an elder who would like to meet with my wife and i some time this weekend, with another elder who dealt with my brother.
i haven't responded.
it's meeting night tonight, and my wife has already talked about staying home to do yoga with me instead.. yeah.
EXACTLY as "the Searcher" said!
Just be polite and remind them of "appropriate boundaries" by the way you handle matters.
for example: "Thanks for your visit, It is always nice to share a coffee with a neighbour that respects one another"
DO NOT allow the conversation to go in a direction that you don't feel comfortable with. Simply DO NOT engage in a topic unless you want to. Do NOT be bullied into talking about things you don't want.
Remember, the ONLY power people have over you is that which you allow!
this info is from the article "who is leading god's people today" feb 17 study edition.. to help them disseminate bible truth in various languages, zion’s watch tower tract society was legally incorporated in 1884, with brother russell as president.
* he was an outstanding student of the bible, and he fearlessly exposed as false such doctrines as the trinity and the immortality of the soul.
he discerned that christ would return invisibly and that “the appointed times of the nations” would end in 1914.. pretty sickening article overall about how badass the gb is, though this little gem is printed as well, paragraph 12. the governing body is neither inspired nor infallible.
So, a simple question? (for the GB:)
"If God is supposedly directing the GB, is it GOD that gets things wrong, or is it the GB? If it is the GB that is wrong (because the Almighty can never be wrong), then does that prove that GOD is NOT directing the Society?"
Or more concisely:
"So is it GOD or the SOCIETY that is wrong??"
thank you, everybody here, for introducing me to this.
no, no i had not heard of this.
child abuse issues have been roundly dismissed as apostate attacks in the congregations i've attended in the last decade.