Sandheden om JW "Bible Studies"
7 juni 2009
Du hører en banke på din dør. Når du besvarer, kan du finde en eller flere Jehovas Vidner står der. Åh ja, du husker dem, de var de rare mennesker, som du talte med for et par uger siden, da de kom forbi og efterlod en gratis Vagttårnet og Vågn magasin med dig!. Du var høflig over for dem i løbet af dette besøg, så de har markeret din adresse ned til en "go-back" (gense).
"Hej. Vi ville bare kigge forbi og aflevere de seneste numre af Vagttårnet og Vågn op! magasiner for dig at læse, "siger en JW. "Der er nogle rigtig gode artikler i dem annoncere Guds rige, som snart vil herske over Jorden."
Du når ud til at acceptere magasiner og takke dem. De JW fortsætter, "Vi vil meget gerne tilbyde dig muligheden for at få en gratis ugentlige bibelstudie i dit hjem. Dette vil være din mulighed for at lære om alle de fantastiske ting, som er lovet at menneskeheden i vor levetid. Du har en Bibel gør du ikke? "
Når du har bekræftet, at du har en Bibel eller andet sted omkring huset, men indrømmer, at du har næppe nogensinde læst det, så tænk dig om det, og så svarer, at have en bibel undersøgelse kan være en god ting.
JW indgår aftaler om at komme tilbage om et par dage til at begynde bibelstudie sessioner med dig. Du vil modtage en kopi af et vagttårn undersøgelse bog og måske en kopi af Den Ny Verden-Oversættelsen af De Hellige Skrifter, Vagttårnets egen udgave af Bibelen skrevet på moderne engelsk.
Mens du studerer selv, du synes, at processen har en vis tempo til det og en unaturlig følelse kommer over dig. Når JW kommer til dit hjem til at gennemføre "bibelstudie," du vil bruge en time om ugen læsning gennem en af Vagttårnet grundlæggende uddannelse bøger. Deres bog vil være din eneste guide og Bibelen bliver sjældent åbnet, og når det er, JW læser kun et eller to vers ad gangen.
"Hvorfor går du ikke læse de første afsnit i undersøgelsen bogen?" JW spørger. Du gør. Så JW læser spørgsmålet i bunden af siden, og beder dig om at besvare det fra det afsnit, du lige har læst.
JW kan også foreslå, at du fremhæver, at svare med et mærke, pen eller understrege det med en blyant. Men svaret er synes så indlysende, at man undrer sig: "Hvorfor skulle jeg mærke det? Efter alt hvad jeg kan altid finde den igen ved blot at læse den korte afsnit. "
Så JW læser et afsnit. Efter beder dig om det næste spørgsmål, kan JW tilføje kommentarer at ekspandere på de oplysninger. Men hvorfor? Afsnittet angiveligt siger det hele og det var ikke så lang tid at begynde med. Denne procedure bliver ved og ved for resten af timen.
Men vent et øjeblik! Var det ikke vil være et "bibelstudie." Ja, både du og JW havde din bibler handy og læse et halvt dusin vers fra dem i løbet af den time, men du virkelig ikke "studere Bibelen," har du ?
Efter fire til seks ugentlige undersøgelser, vil JW invitere dig til at komme til rigssal, for at lytte til søndagens "offentlige talk" og sidde i den Vagttårnet undersøgelsen. JW vil fortælle dig, at højttaleren vil give nye oplysninger i løbet af den snak, der vil besvare dine spørgsmål om, hvorfor "denne tingenes ordning skal ophøre og blive erstattet af Jehovas nye himmel og et paradis ny jord."
Hvis du går til rigssal, vil du høre en velklædt herre giver en 30-45 minutters prædiken, der vil forklare, at alle mennesker dør på grund af Adam og Evas synd i Edens have, at Jesus Kristus kom til Jorden efter at være blevet en ærkeengel i himlen for at dø på et træ aktiepost som et offer til at fjerne Adams forbandelse på mennesker. Så han fortæller dig, at vi lever i "endens tid", en periode, der startede i 1914 og er snart til ende med den store Slaget ved Harmagedon. Hver onde person (det betyder dem, som ikke troende Jehovas Vidner og dig, hvis du ikke konvertere og blive en Witness) er ødelagt af Gud i løbet af Armageddon. Jehova Gud vil tage tusind år at forskønne Jorden og tænde den igen til en Edenic paradis, hvor Jehovas Vidner vil leve evigt sammen med opstandne trofaste mænd i oldtiden som Moses og David. Jehovas Vidner og andre, der var tro mod "Jehovas organisation" til døden vil også blive oprejst og får nye, perfekte kroppe. Alle vil leve evigt i fred under reglen om Jesus Kristus og 144.000 super-trofaste salvede kristne, der bor i himlen.
Hvis det lykkes dig at komme igennem det, og Vagttårnet magasinet undersøgelse, der følger, vil du stort set ved alt grundlæggende om læren af Vagttårnsselskabet, og hvordan Jehovas Vidner fremlægge dem. Hvis du går igen i næste uge, vil du høre en anden prædiken med en anden titel, men de grundlæggende oplysninger og flow vil være nøjagtig den samme. Konturerne for 6-10 offentlige taler alle følger de samme generelle undervisning format med næsten samme emne lister. De ændrer et par ord og tilføje et par ting at gøre dem alle lyde lidt anderledes - men jeg kan forsikre dig, at de alle er ens. Du hører en, har du hørt alle. "Skyl og gentag."
Hvad de fleste nyomvendte eller dem, der studerer med Jehovas Vidner ikke indser er, at det, de lige har oplevet, er temmelig meget hvad deres liv vil være som, så længe de er Jehovas Vidner. De vil opdage, at samme materiale er rehashed igen og igen på nøjagtig samme måde: Spørgsmål, svar, skal du læse afsnit - "Skyl og gentag" så at sige.
Selv om intet virkelig nyt nogensinde præsenteres (undtagen muligvis i sommer konventioner), er hver JW forventes fortsat at studere tidsskrift eller en bog aftenen før et møde, fremhæve eller understrege svarene, og derefter klæde sig ud og komme til møderne for at gå Over det hele igen, ord for ord.
Hvis nogen rent faktisk frivillige, en kommentar, der udvider de informationer bliver læst, bliver de ofte afbrudt midt i en sætning som dirigent, og vil blive trukket til side, efter mødet og rådgav ikke at gøre det igen ved en af de ældste.
Hvis du ikke har forpligtet sig til at blive døbt, eller i hvert fald jævnligt deltage i rigssalen møderne på egen hånd efter seks måneder vil JW lade dig vide, at Bibelen undersøgelse ikke kan fortsætte, medmindre du lover at forpligte sig til at blive et af Jehovas Vidner meget snart.
Dette kunne være din sidste reel mulighed for at vise, JW døren og få dit liv og frihed tilbage, så tager det. Du kan få et par flere besøg fra JW (normalt ledsages af en af de ældste) forsøger at opfordre dig til at træffe det valg at blive et vidne og være medlem af den lokale rigssal menighed. Men overvej dine muligheder meget omhyggeligt, fordi ved at blive et Jehovas Vidne vil ændre dit liv for evigt.
Tro mig om dette: Du vil aldrig fortryde slutter din tilknytning til Jehovas Vidner, før du forpligte sig til dåb. Når du forpligte sig til dåb, vil du fortryde din beslutning for resten af dit liv. Du har låst dig selv og din familie til et liv i kedelige, kultiske praksis og adfærd.
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Kategorier: JW lærdomme
Jeg er ikke sikker på hvilken rigssal du gik til under opvæksten, men du er Cleary fejl. Når du er klar til at holde op med at arbejde for Satan, du ved, hvor den nærmeste rigssal er. Hvis thre er én ting, du burde have lært af at gå til rigssalen er, at lave en mockering af Jehova som konsekvenser ned på linjen.
Jeg er ikke fejl, Mr. R Satan, du er. Jeg gik til flere Kongerige Halls da jeg voksede op, og har besøgt andre i årenes løb af forskellige årsager. Og hvorfor har du beskylde mig for "... mockering [sic] Jehova ..."? Der er intet i denne artikel, at "spottere" Gud eller Jehova eller Jesus.
Hvis du overveje, hvad Bibelen siger om folk, der ikke taler sandt, så måske du er den, der bør være bekymrede. Hvis du nogensinde har gået til en rigssal møde, begravelse, eller Memorial så ved du i dit hjerte, at hvad jeg siger er den absolutte sandhed - næsten hver eneste diskussion er den samme snak med ordene omstruktureret, kombineret med et par tilføjelser eller sletninger af visse specifikke emner. De starter alle med Adam og slutter med den nye verden. Og det er de faktiske forhold.
Du burde skamme dig selv for at kalde mig ud til rent faktisk at fortælle sandheden. Hvilket signal sender du ud til læsere, der føler sig venligt mod Vidner og virkelig tror på, at de fleste af dem er sande og ærlige elskere af retfærdighed?
Er det det bedste du har at tilbyde?
Jeg må sige, at jeg ved, hvorfor vi rådes til ikke at læse noget på websteder som dette. Jeg har været en Jehovas Vidne i 21 år, det er det bedste, jeg har hver gjorde med mit liv. Forhandlingerne er altid interessant og anderledes. Min 8-årige søn er sådan en vidunderlig dejlig slags respektfuld glad lille dreng. Mange mennesker kommentar "Uanset hvad du gør med ham, holder det op." Jeg er så taknemmelig han er vokset op til at være som han er. Dens kaldes sandheden, fordi det er præcis, hvad det er. Jeg vil lukke denne hjemmeside og aldrig se på en anden igen. Kan du have en forandring i hjertet. Og ja spotter Jehova er noget, der ikke er en god ting at gøre. Ingen er perfekt, og det gælder for Jehovas folk.
Ruth,
Tak igen for at kommentere på en af vores artikler. Jeg forstår, hvorfor Vagttårnsselskabet ikke ønsker Jehovas Vidner til at læse noget andet trykt materiale, eller at se på websteder, der kritiserer dem eller afsløre sandheden om, hvem de er, og hvad de har gjort.
I årevis har de forkyndte, at "sandheden skal sætte dig fri," selv frigive en bog af samme navn tilbage i 1940'erne. De udfordrer alle andre at sætte spørgsmålstegn ved den religiøse lære, tro og handlinger i deres religion, og alligevel Vagttårnet alle, men forbyder deres egne tilhængere fra at gøre det samme. De virkelig er bange for, at du vil finde ud af sandheden om deres falske forudsigelser, FN-kristne opførsel af deres grundlæggere CT Russell og "dommer" Rutherford, og snesevis af større ændringer i deres lære gennem årene. Vidste du, at blot et par år siden, vi fik besked på ikke at lave mad i alt lavet af aluminium, at vi var afskrækket fra at blive vaccineret for noget - selv små kopper og difteri? Er du klar over, at mange Vidner blev mobbet til at sælge deres hjem og virksomheder og flytte til små byer for at udvide Vidne arbejde i slutningen af 1960'erne, fordi de fik besked på ikke at gøre det viste en manglende tro på Vagttårnets forudsigelse om, at Armageddon var på vej i 1975? Og hvor mange "millioner" dengang boede i 1920, som fik at vide af dommer Rutherford, at de ikke ville dø, er stadig i live i dag?
Jeg er glad for, at du har fundet at være et vidne en god ting for dig og din familie. Men vil du føle på samme måde i tyve år, eller endog ti? Hvordan vil du føle, hvis din søn gør et anderledes valg, og du kan ikke længere tale med ham eller tilbringe tid sammen med ham - eller se sin familie? Vil din glade 8-årig var veltilpassede og glad når han er 18? Hvad vil du fortælle ham, når han beder dig om at hjælpe ham med at gå på college? Hvordan vil du føle, hvis du nægter ham en tiltrængt blodtransfusion, og derefter finde et par år senere, at Vagttårnsselskabet har endnu engang ændret sin lære om blod? Er du klar over, at i 1960 og 1970, at vi ikke fik lov til at tage noget afledt eller fremstillet af blod, kun saltvand løsninger og blodfortyndende midler? Sammenlign det hårde linje stilling til hvad de underviser nu. Hvor mange hundrede JWS ville stadig være i live i dag, hvis blot de regler, der i dag ville have været i kraft for 30 år siden?
Aldrig, aldrig, aldrig stoppe med at lede efter sandheden. Hvis hvad jeg skriver, eller hvad du læser på en Jehovas Vidne diskussion hjemmeside betyder ikke enig med hvad du ved at være sandheden, så ved alle midler afvise det. Hvad hvis din religion lært jer at ignorere sirener, fordi de er kontrolleret af offentlige instanser? Vil du holde op med at trække over til den side af vejen eller søge ly mod ødelæggende kraftig vind? Selvfølgelig ikke. Og dog, når websteder som dette gøre offentliggøre sandheden og historiske fakta om den gruppe, du tilhører, er du bare at ignorere sandheden, fordi mennesker, der kalder sig "sandheden" fortæller dig ikke til?
Hej - Jeg har været trawling gennem 'google' forsøger at finde min egen 'sandhed', og jeg har fundet din mening at være særligt interessant.
Jeg startede et hjem bibel undersøgelse omkring 18 måneder siden nu med en arbejdskollega, der sker for at være en JW. Hun var en rigtig god ven til mig, kunne jeg stole på hende, og vi har altid haft det sjovt sammen uden det pres om at skulle drikke alkohol eller gør noget andet "urene".
Problemet er nu, jeg føler vi ikke har en 'venskab' længere. Jeg har altid kun se hende og hendes 'undersøgelse partner "for en gang om ugen time studie, og nu har jeg nået et stadie i undersøgelsen, når jeg forventes at øge den" åndelige "aspekt af mit liv ved at deltage i møder på et grundlag. Jeg er også begyndt at føle sig presset af studiet, og jeg ikke er enig med alt, hvad undersøgelsen bogen siger - selvom gerne noget, jeg er enige om der er nogle gode ting i bogen. Jeg tror, jeg føler mig fanget, da jeg ved, at hvis jeg fortæller hende, at jeg ikke ønsker at studere Bibelen mere, hun vil aldrig tale med mig igen, og jeg ville have mistet min ven. Jeg føler også at jeg har "ført hende på 'ved at fortælle hende, at jeg mener ting, der i sidste ende, tror jeg rationelt om, og indser, at jeg faktisk ikke tror på dem overhovedet. Det er en vanskelig situation, jeg føler mig fanget, uden selv at blive døbt som vidne!
Jeg har deltaget i nogle møder og endda en forsamling, tror jeg ser tilbage må jeg have gjort det for at holde min ven glad. Men egentlig de var ganske ubehageligt lejligheder, især når en 'ældre' tog mig til side og insisterede jeg blev døbt meget snart. Det var meget skræmmende i virkeligheden, og efterlod mig forvirring om Gud mere end noget andet.
Hvis Gud gav os den valgfrihed, hvorfor så handle i denne ensrettede måde? Jeg er en god person, og jeg bor et generelt "ren" livsstil, men jeg føler, jeg kan ikke opgive mit liv fuldstændigt at blive et "vidne".
Kay.
Tak for din kommentar til denne artikel om Jehovas Vidner bibelstudier. Ja, du er nu i den fase, hvor du vil blive presset til at "træffe en beslutning og tage et standpunkt for Jehova" ved at forpligte sig selv ikke til Jehova, men Vagttårnsselskabet. Jeg, sammen med millioner af tidligere Jehovas Vidner - og deres familier - beder dig - Gør det ikke!
Du vil blive mindet om igen og igen, at "Gud har skabt os alle" frie moralske agenter, 'giver os valgfrihed til at vælge at tjene ham eller ej. "Men når du er en engageret Jehovas Vidne vil du have opgivet din frihed til tænke og handle på nogen måde undtagen inden for de grænser, der er defineret af Vagttårnsselskabet.
Hvad du har oplevet er meget almindeligt. En meget dejlig person, som sker for at være en JW inviterer dig til at blive deres ven og samles til en ugentlig bibelstudie. Du føler, at hun er en dejlig person, og du er på udkig efter nogle flere venner, så hvorfor ikke? Derefter kan du opleve alle de ting, som jeg har beskrevet i ovenstående artikel - den kedelige rutine i deres "bibel" undersøgelser, som ikke er "Bibelen" undersøgelser, og måske deltog i deres kedelige møder. Ja, vil alle være rart for dig og byde dig velkommen ombord - ligesom medlemmerne af de fleste nogen kirke ville gøre. Men så beslutter, at du ikke virkelig ønsker at blive en JW og faktisk leve, livsstil. Disse "venner" vil snart tænder på dig, og skyr man det samme som hvis du var en disfellowshipped person, der havde begået nogle forfærdelige perversion.
Hvis din kollega beslutter, at hun ikke kan være din ven, medmindre du forpligte sig til at blive en JW, så hun er egentlig ikke en ven, som du vil beholde. Hvis du lader dig blive presset til at blive et vidne bare for at holde denne person som en ven, jeg garantere, at inden for et par måneder vil du fortryde din beslutning. Må ikke føle sig skyldig, fordi du tror, at hun kan tro, at du "ledte hende på" om, hvad du troede (eller ikke), da du studerede med hende. Hun har været leder dig på og tilbageholde fakta om, hvad der sker efter du er blevet et vidne og også om den virkelige sandhed af vidnet oprindelse.
Jeg ønsker ikke at virke alt for barske om handlinger af denne dame. Jeg er sikker på hun er oprigtig, og hvis du blev en sand blå drikker af Vagttårnet Kool-Aid hun kunne meget vel blive en tæt og varig ven - i det mindste for en tid.
Problemet er, at de fleste JWS er som en ny bil sælger: De er så dejligt når du første skridt på bil parti. Hey, er alt hvad du ønsker at gøre, se på nye modeller og måske køre en rundt om blokken. Du er ikke klar til at gøre en indsats endnu, og du stadig tilfreds med din 5-årige Camry, som aldrig har givet dig en smule besvær. Bilen sælger vil bede om din familie, vil spørge dig, om du har en god dag, og hvordan dine børn klarer sig i skolen - hele tiden fører dig til, at gas guzzling 20-fods lang hemi-powered SUV, at han ønsker at stå af partiet, som det ser ud som om, han vil er at blive din nye bedste ven for livet. Når du endelig beslutter, at du ønsker at forlade, vil han lægge pres på dig for at tale med sin salgschef, til ejeren af virksomheden, for at behage komme ind og har nogle cookies og kaffe og en hotdog til børnene - han virkelig, virkelig ønsker at være din nye bedste ven. Man føler sig skyldig, fordi han har været så rart. Men som du forsøger at forlade han begynder at smide klager på dig, at du har været spilder sin tid, at han kunne have hjulpet andre folk, der virkelig var interesseret i at købe en bil, som du aldrig rigtig til hensigt at købe en bil, du var bare ud at have en dejlig dag på hans bekostning. Som du fat i din pung og begynde for døren, vil han holde forsøger at lægge pres på dig for at blive og "bare tage en prøvetur" og se hvilken slags beskæftiger vi kan gøre. Da du endelig gøre din vej ud af partiet, vil han vende sig og fortælle de andre sælgere, som du og din familie bare var spild af hans tid og var bare "en flok tabere!"
Det er næsten præcis, hvad der sker med JWS. De vil blive dine bedste venner, mens du studerer og endnu mere, så du får døbt. Men efter det, vil du finde dig selv temmelig meget på egen hånd. Du vil blive elendig i dit liv som en JW, og når du beslutter at ophøre med at gå de vil tænde dig og fortælle hinanden, at du aldrig var virkelig en god JW, at du aldrig virkelig elskede Jehova, at du er blevet en tjener Satan.
Millioner af ex-JWS vil fortælle dig, at hvad jeg har skrevet her er sandheden - vi har alle været igennem det - og nogle af os har gjort sig skyldige i den meget ting, som jeg advarer dig om - fordi det var måde, vi blev trænet, og det var forventet af os. Nogle af os vil aldrig tilgive os selv for de skader, vi har gjort for andre og deres familier ved at presse dem til at blive Jehovas Vidner.
En fjern slægtning afgik ved døden i sidste uge, han er Jehoah Vidner, de vælger kremering, men har en mindehøjtidelighed i næste uge, jeg ønsker at gå, men kender ikke nogen af reglerne for rigssal, er det hensigtsmæssigt at sende blomster, er der en dress code?
Enhver ting, jeg ellers bør vide?
Tak du
Korrekt påklædning for Jehovas Vidne begravelser svarer til dem, der forventes for andre kristne begravelser. Jakkesæt og slips for herrer, kjoler, strømper og street sko til damer. Jeans, svedeture, T-shirts og tennissko ville blive betragtet som alt for uformel. De fleste Witness damer vil bære kjoler eller bluser og nederdele med hemlines typisk under knæet eller længere. Hatte eller tørklæder til damer er ikke påkrævet, men nogle kan vælge at bære dem.
Ja, du kan arrangere at sende blomster til mindesmærket placering eller til familien. Der er ingen regler om det overhovedet. Bare slid, hvad du ville gøre, hvis du har deltaget i nogen anden formel kristne eller jødiske mindesmærke. Hvis du ikke er JW, så er du velkommen til at bære din egen personlige valg af smykker - selv iført et krucifiks eller Davidsstjerne vil trække stirrer og markere dig som en outsider. Du kan medbringe din egen bibel, men hvis du følger langs forventer ikke ord til at matche - som den ældre giver mindesmærke snak vil blive citere primært fra Ny Verden-Oversættelsen, at Jehovas Vidner 'egen version af Bibelen.
Som et ikke-Jehovas vidne ven eller et familiemedlem til den afdøde, vil du sandsynligvis blive budt varmt velkommen og bør finde alle venlige mod dig. Du kan forvente et par underlige spørgsmål som, "Og hvad rigssal skal du gå til?" Du kan blive kontaktet og spurgt, om du gerne vil have en person i dit område komme forbi og forklar "håb om Jehovas Vidner har i en ny Heavens og New Earth, hvor alle vil leve for evigt i fred. "Så igen, kan du bare blive ignoreret af alle andre end familiemedlemmer.
Hvis dette er dit første JW begravelse, så du kan finde det lidt interessant. Under mindesmærket snak højttaleren vil præsentere en prædiken med samme indhold, som du ville høre, om du gik til en rigssal på en søndag eftermiddag. En ting du vil bemærke (og det kan forstyrre dig) er, at de taler kun vil nævne din slægtning i meget generelle vendinger, og da kun i forbifarten, næsten som om han var en eftertanke. JW begravelser er aldrig om den afdøde, de er altid om at lave konverterer ud af ikke-JWS og styrke Vagttårnet dogme om dem, der allerede JWS.
Du vil lære mere om din slægtning i en kort avis nekrolog, end du nogensinde vil i løbet af en af disse mindesmærker. Du kan se et par billeder af afdøde, og måske en hukommelse bog og / eller et hukommelseskort sidder på en nærliggende bordet, men ikke meget mere end det.
I meget sjældne tilfælde kan familien insisterer på mere tid og materiale, der præsenteres om deres afdøde elskede og har nogle familiemedlemmer og venner give vidnesbyrd, synge, eller dele historier. Men at tage denne fremgangsmåde anses for meget dårlig form, og vil blive ildeset af den lokale ældste og Vagttårnsselskabet. Det anses for at være "forherlige en person over Jehova" og derfor "un-kristen." Latterlige, jeg kender ...
Bare vær dig selv og du bør bøde. En ting er sikkert - Hvis du deltage i en JW begravelse, så har du stort set deltaget dem alle. Forvent fem minutter eller mindre brugt på den person, der "huskes", og 30-45 minutter brugt på et opkog af JW lære.
Hej, mit navn er Richard. Jeg respekterer alles mening. Men jeg ønskede at clearify, at selvom vi er begavet med fri vilje, betyder ikke, at vi vil træffe det rigtige valg. Vores frie vilje er at gøre det rette, eller forkert, og vi har alle lært, at fra begyndelsen, et vidne eller ej. Jeg blev ikke født til at være et vidne. Jeg var uden religion, indtil jeg var 15 år. Helt ærligt, jeg troede, at læren blev søgt og hvad man ikke, indtil jeg stødte på en konge James versoin af Bibelen.
Jeg har læst igennem, og den nye verden oversættelse, og de siger næsten identiske ting, bortset fra at den nye verden oversættelsen sker på vores moderne dialekt og folkelig. Ikke i Old English.
Jeg føler nu, at vidnet lære er sandheden og im indstillet til at blive døbt i vores september-konventionen. Det tog et stykke tid, fordi jeg var en vantro i begyndelsen, men jeg blev undervist i den sande lære, og den sande hensigt Jehova. Ja en masse af de møder gennemføres på de samme emner, men der er et skriftsted, der siger, at du skal fodre ilden af sandheden i dit hjerte, eller noget i den retning. Så du kan pust luft til briketterne til at hjælpe din tro vokse varmere og hvad ikke. Det lyder måske ud af sted, fordi sent, og im i college, så jeg skal op snart, men jeg ville også sige, at Jehovas vidner har ændret sig, fordi deres forståelse af skrifterne har uddybet. De dont stoppe dig fra at gøre noget, de bare ikke ønsker dit forhold til Jehova hendered. Så som jeg sagde, på den mest respektfulde måde, jeg er uenig med dine udtalelser. Og på samme måde, jeg ved, jeg burde ikke være på disse steder, men jeg var spændt på hvor mange berømtheder var vidner, og jeg snublede på dette site.
@ Richard - Richard, tak for din kommentar.
Jeg er ikke sikker på hvad det handler om JWS, der trækker dig til den konklusion, at du burde få døbt som én i september. Er naturligvis, at dit valg at gøre - men jeg vil opfordre dig til at holde ud, finish college, og tage lidt mere tid til virkelig forskning på baggrund af Jehovas Vidner og Vagttårnsselskabet.
Vær ærlig overfor dig selv. Du ved at du har nogle tvivl. Du ved i dit hjerte at det meste af hvad, der er blevet skrevet og dokumenteret på denne og andre hjemmesider er faktuelle. Hvorfor skal vi tage vores tid til at skrive og udgive disse artikler? Ingen af os gør nogen penge at gøre dette - så hvad er vores motivation?
Næsten alle, der udgiver eller skriver artikler til ex-JW sites har én ting til fælles: vi ønsker ikke andre til at lide som så mange tidligere JWS har. Vi ønsker ikke at se dig affald dit liv gå til møder, lytte til de samme taler igen og igen, at læse den dårligt skrevet, 5.-klasses niveau undersøgelse artikler publiceret i Vagttårnet og Vågn op! magasiner.
Den nederste linje er dette, Richard: Vi er alle kommer til at ende op på samme sted, når det hele er forbi. Vi har kun et liv at leve! At være et vagttårn drone er ikke en kvalitet liv ved enhver definition, selvom du måske ikke dårlige ting, og føler, at du gør Guds arbejde.
Tænk, Richard, om hvad du er ved at gøre. Jeg ved ikke engang kender dig, men jeg beder dig som din ven til at stoppe, virkelig tænke over, hvad du er ved at forpligte sig til, og frem for alt være ærlig over for dig selv og gøre, hvad der er rigtigt for dig. There are reasons that for every new convert and child born into the JW religion, over 70% will leave. No other church in history has had that kind of dropout!
And why shouldn't you visit these sites? You're in college – don't they teach you the value of research, discovery, fact checking? Why does the WTBS not want you to be on these sites? Because they know that you will have access to copies of their older magazines and books, speeches by Russell, Rutherford and Knorr, that you will discover their failed prophecies of 1914, 1918, 1919, 1925, 1940 and 1975. They know that you will discover that they taught in the 20th century that there were no such things as germs, that vaccinations were poison, that you would be poisoned from aluminum cookware and that organ transplants were “cannibalism.”
Tag din tid. Finish college. Research more about JWs and religion in general. Being baptized is really a lifetime commitment, so do not take that move lightly. Remember that before they will baptize you that you will be tested and asked – not if you commit your life to serving Jesus Christ – but rather if you vow to submit to the “earthly organization” (ie, the Watchtower Society) and accept its teachings as “The Truth.”
Think about that commitment for a moment. Are you really ready to submit yourself to an earthly organization made up of just a few old men?
I pray that you make the right decision…
Jeg har været JW siden jeg var 12 år gammel og jeg er 42 nu. Jeg har aldrig set ting, som du har beskrevet. Jeg har aldrig set nogen presses til at blive døbt. Jeg har altid opfordre min bibel elever til at sætte spørgsmålstegn ved alt jeg undervise dem. Jeg har aldrig læst i WT eller enhver anden publikation, som vi ikke kunne spørgsmålstegn ved vores overbevisninger. Faktisk jo mere jeg spørgsmålstegn ved det, jo mere jeg ved, at dette er den organisation Jehova er bruger. Normalt ex-JWS er afslutte ked med WT organisationen. Hvorfor? Jeg forstår det ikke. Jeg fortæller mine potentielle studerende til at studere, og hvis de beslutter det er ikke sandheden, at de ikke mister noget, bare tid. De vil fortsætte med deres liv. Hvorfor kan ikke ex-JWS kan gøre det? Ok, du har besluttet det er ikke sandheden .. fint! det er din ret til at besluttet ... Jehova gav denne ret til at beslutte. Bare gå en live Deres 70-80 år af livet og dø i fred tænker du kommer til himlen eller helvede. Men nu, du starter et websted og udgive bøger fortælle folk, hvordan WT har ændret det overbevisninger gennem tid og endda vise rigtig gammel WT magasiner fra de 20 og 30'erne for at bevise din pointe. Bare gå videre! Da jeg kom døbt, var der kun 2 + millioner JWS i verden ... Nu er der 7 + millioner ... du tror, du vil stoppe en organisation, der alle tyder på at det er den ene Jehovas det bruger til at forkynde den gode nyhed om riget med du website??? Brug din tid til at gå en have det sjovt med din familie!
@ Editor -
Editor - Jeg er nødt til at grine lidt, når folk kommer her, fortælle dig hvor forkert du (eller dit websted) er, irettesætte dig, og lad for evigt. Jeg snublede op på dette site, da jeg søgte efter info om Michael Jacksons religion.
Nogle mennesker kan overveje at indgå i diskussioner om, hvorfor de er uenige i stedet for bare at komme og smide omkring nogle ord og kører ud. Det er godt at være indadvendt ... det betyder ikke at du er dårlige, onde, eller forsage Gud eller Jehova. Jeg er medlem af Kirken og Jesu Kristi af Sidste Dages Hellige, og jeg ved hvordan det er at tale med folk af modsatrettede baggrunde, tro, osv. Det giver ingen mening bare at sige "du tager fejl! ! "og køre væk. Diskussion er sundt, at komme til det punkt, hvor du kan sige "jeg forstår hvor du kommer fra, selvom jeg ikke nødvendigvis enig" er sundt. At have fora, hvor ex-medlemmer kan diskutere deres bekymringer er sundt, så længe hvert punkt er respektfuld og bakkes op af beviser og personlige erfaringer i stedet for bare en fornærmelse.
Meget interessant site.
@Richard –
Richard – Even if you decide to go through with your baptism, don't fear the internet. Don't fear learning about your church's history. You need to know the church's past as well as its present. I mentioned this in another post, but I'm Mormon. Mormons have a troubling history to many (polygamy for instance). Is it better for someone to be blind to this fact to later hear about it from a co-worker and to be shaken, or to be “inoculated”, learn about it on her/his own? If the religion you are joining is true, you shouldn't be afraid to know what people outside of the church have to say about it. You need to know! Don't shelter yourself. If JW is true, then you have nothing to worry about. And when friends, family members, co-workers ask you tough questions about the history, publications, and teachings, instead of being surprised by things you don't know and having your faith shaken, you'll be able to answer the questions. There's no shame or evilness in having more knowledge about your religion, wherever it is that you gain that knowledge.
Oh my god jeg er blevet konverteret hjælp! Du fyre havde ret! Hahaha sike!
Hej. Mit navn er Shawn Bryant. Jeg er en discipel og medlem af The International Church of Christ. Min kommentar er, hvis du er en JW eller et medlem af nogen andre kristne / religiøse institutioner, må du forstå flere ting. # 1. Jesus er den eneste måde, Sandheden og Livet. den eneste måde at komme til Faderen er gennem ham og ham alene. Ikke gennem en religiøs organisation (John.14: 6). # 2. Bibelen fortæller os, at der kun er én sand kirke eller kroppen (Ephesians.4: 4), der blev etableret af Jesus Kristus selv (Matthew.16: 18; Ephesians.2 :20-22), hvor han er hoved og frelser af (Ephesians.5: 23; Colossians.1: 18). For at blive frelst må derfor JWS være en discipel af kirken af vejen, sandheden og livet (som er Jesus Kristus). Ingen kunne komme gennem Faderen, men af Ham. # 3. Det Jehovas vidne organisation blev ikke bygget af Jesus Kristus, men af en mand navn Charles T. Russel. Alle kirker eller religiøse organigation, som ikke var bygget op af Jahve Gud eller Jesus Kristus, at kirke eller religiøs organisation vil blive forankret op på den sidste dag, fordi arbejderne arbejdskraft forgæves. # 4. Det Jehovas vidne organisation kan ikke være Guds sande organisation på jorden i dag på grund af sine mange, mange falske profetier det gjorde om verdens ende, som omfatter de folloing datoer: 1914, 1919, 1925, 1940 og 1975. Bibelen advarer om, at alle falske profeter, og der tilhængere vil stå over for evig ødelæggelse i Gehenna helvede i den sidste dag (Dueteronomy.18 :20-23, Jeremiah.14 :14-15; Matthew.15 :13-14; 2Peter.2: 1-3; Revelation.20 :7-10). (For mere information se publikationer: April 1, 1972 Vagttårnet artikel om pg.297, 1889 spørgsmålet om tiden er nær pg.101, 1918 udstedelse af millioner nulevende vil aldrig dø pg.89.) # 5 Hvis du vil blive frelst alle skal ware Jesu navn, og ikke være en baptist, metodist, katolske, Jehovas Vidner eller andre, men kristne eller discipel kun (Matthew. 28:19; Acts.11 :25-26). For Frelsen er fundet i nogen anden, for der er noget andet navn under himlen givet til mennesket, som vi kan blive frelst. At blive frelst JWS må omvende sig og blive medlem og discipel af kirken, at torsk bygge thrugh Hans søn Jesus Kristus. (Acts.20: 28) Gud bygge sin kirke med sit eget dyrebare blod. For at være vaske, skal du komme i kontakt med denne blod gennem dåben (Romans.6 :1-6; Revelation.7: 14). vil du blive en discipel? Vil du være føjet til den ene sande Kirke af vejen, sandheden og LIFE?
Dear Editor,
Not sure where you are getting your info from, I personally know a fer JW's but am not one. They never pressure me into studies or baptism. You siad how they try to sneak you into a cult by a bible study that doesn't study the bible yet the ones I've looked at have lots of scriptures in every paragraph (pretty sure they are from that bible thing). I thought LDS's advertised their version of God's word, but JW's can't? Sounds hypocritical. Are you attacking just JW's or any religion you don't agree with? I asked a JW about why so many meeting and why so much of it was repition, I was shown a few scriptures about reading the bible in an undertone day and night and to not forsake the gathering of yourselves together. LDS's don't have gathering or meetings? If you have an issue with just JW's that's your choice. Other than maybe being a nucience, are they hurting you? What about all the upcoming issues with preists molesting children? I would like to think that that would be a religion to shun people away from. A recent religious building was torn down in a nearby community when I live ant they found infant corpses hidden in the walls. Nobody in the building ever reported having children or even have been pregnant, they were supposed to be “married to God.” Sounds like they cheated. Of all your attack on the JW's you never talked good about your religious veiws of your new found faith, is there nothing good to talk about, or are you taught you should trash other religions instead of supporting yours?
Not sure what your motive is. Why aren't you as passionate about other bad things going on, sky high gas prices, illegial drugs, anything (look in you local paper and I'm sure you can find more bad things). But you chose to trash the JW's, is that all you can think about doing with you life?
@Why just the Witnesses – You appear to be logging in from somewhere in New York state (USA), JBW. You must know that the Watchtower's old headquarters are in Brooklyn and their new facilities are in Patterson, NY. Besides the rank and file Jehovah's Witnesses that might come knocking on your door, your state is also the host to their leadership. You mention the Mormons, who also got their start in the state of New York just before CT Russell found out about William Miller and his “world is ending soon” message.
I can't quite track what point you are trying to make, but if you go back and read some of the articles published on this website, you'll see that we are not out to trash anyone, especially not individual Jehovah's Witnesses. While you are right that not all religions have a clean record and have all done questionable things in the past, the leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses continue to use policies that divide families, break up marriages, protect pedophiles, and allow innocent children to die on the operating table for the lack of a blood transfusion.
Why do we concentrate on Jehovah's Witnesses? Look at the title of this website. Are you blind? This website is directed to “ex Jehovah's Witnesses,” those who have left the religion or have been damaged by its policies. That is why this site and its articles concentrate on the Watchtower and its religious leadership. Our motive is to point out the failure, lies, and false prophecies of the Watchtower, while providing information and comfort to those who are looking for information outside of the Watchtower organization. I was a Jehovah's Witness and I still have family members who are JWs. I'm glad I'm out and wish they would decide to leave too, but that is their choice. I've made mine. This site is designed to provide online information to anyone who wants to know the truth about the JW religion. That's my motivation.
All I know is I couldn't do their “read this, and give the answer just as it is already written for you.” I don't want people to tell me the answers. I want to research the answers, and find other Bible verses to back up the material I was given to read. We didn't even get past chapter 1 in my study book. I wasn't being mean, or negative, or anything. I was just pointing out scriptures from my Bible and trying to understand. But when I asked questions, they went unanswered most of the time, or I was told that they could be answered in later chapters. Yet when I went to the chapters she referred me to, my questions weren't answered.
My study partner was a full-time study lady whose husband was an elder. She gave up on me, even though I begged her for days not to. I even asked her to pair me with someone else who maybe could keep up with me – if she felt she was unable to. Her only answer was that I should email any further questions to the Watchtower's NY headquarters and attend meetings at the Kingdom Hall.
From this experience I feel like the only way I would be accepted into the JW community is if I sat there like a droid, simply giving the answers the Watchtower Society pre-wrote. I feel shunned for having individual thoughts – and asking questions. I don't feel that God or Jesus would turn people away just for asking questions, or for more explanation.
I don't know. I am just really frustrated – and hurt.
The JW people I spoke with during my few weeks of study were constantly telling me how non-JW churches are not following God's word, and teaching hate. But in all honesty, I attend a non-JW church, and have never – not once – heard any of the accusations they were stating about what pastors preach from my pastor. We never have bad-mouthed JWs. We never have condoned anything un-biblical, although we do have contradictory interpretations. I will admit that. Those are the scriptures I was bringing up with my study partner. I would say, “But my Bible says this, it seems these two points are not equal. Can you explain to me why?”
So yeah. I am not sure where to go from here. I want to keep studying, to make sure I what the real truth is. But I certainly can't imagine writing a person with a desk number for a name to help me study. That's just my viewpoint.
Sally,
You are not alone in your experiences having a Jehovah's Witness “Bible” study. Like their meetings, JWs are trained that you, as the student, must accept each paragraph and scripture quotation as it is written in your study book. Your questions must be limited to just that paragraph.
In past years some lively debate and commentary was allowed and even encouraged during studies and meetings. Public talks were actually prepared by the speaker using a basic outline provided by the Society, but with room for enhanced explanation and the addition of other supporting Bible verses.
But this isn't the case now. It's all “read the paragraph, ask the question, answer from the paragraph only, and then immediately move on to the next paragraph.” If you come across a sentence that you think doesn't make sense, or a scripture quote that seems not to fit the subject, you'll find it difficult to halt the study to discuss your questions further. Do that during a Kingdom Hall study meeting and you'll get escorted to the door. That's because JWs are trained to stay on the path to the next paragraph, accept what is written, and keep moving.
This is why Jehovah's Witnesses are good book study conductors, but really lousy Bible students. They claim expertise in knowledge of the Bible, but it does not take much to get a JW to acknowledge that he has to do “further research” or “go look up that answer” with even the most basic of Bible subjects.
Ask them to show you where it says in the Bible that the year 1914 marked the return of Jesus to his throne. Then ask them what visible proof is there to prove that actually happened.
Ask them to show you where in the Bible that modern people are not allowed to have blood transfusions, and yet can have most of the components of blood injected into their veins. Ask them why JWs that do accept blood transfusions are then considered to be “disassociated.”
Ask them to show you in the Bible that it is unchristian for JW men to wear beards or sideburns.
Ask them to show you in the Bible that women shouldn't wear slacks in service or at meetings.
A simple request to “show me in the Bible where it says…” will often bring a book study or a discussion with a Jehovah's Witness to a dead stop. Some get quite angry when asked to do that. By far the majority will ask for time to go home and look up the answer to your question. Then they will come back, not with Bible scriptures, but mostly quotations from Watchtower publications, especially older Watchtower magazines.
My experience with JWs would indicate that maybe 10-15% of them could stand up to a rigorous discussion of their teachings, while most, like your lady, will just write you off as being obstinate or a waste of their time. You quickly move from being a potential convert to an “evil person.”
Please take your time in deciding how deep you want to study the Watchtower's teachings. More importantly, don't be afraid to challenge your own need to follow their many unsupported and often contradictory doctrines.
Wow! You know that really makes sense what you wrote about, “A simple request to 'show me in the Bible where it says…' will often bring a book study or a discussion with a Jehovah's Witness to a dead stop.” Because that is exactly the way it happened. I thought I did something wrong.
I have been begging her for days for her to change her mind, or to set me up with someone else if she no longer wished to study with me. She will not reply back to me at all. Worse than that, she never answered my questions or tried to show me why my viewpoint was wrong through the use of the Bible. Although she would often just give me sections of the Watchtower or Awake to read to show me why I was wrong. But those seemed to be a person's point of view, their opinions, and not Bible backed 100%.
But how can someone ask me to accept something at face value, when they are saying it comes from the Bible, and then cannot provide the Bible verses that back up that logic they are preaching? I am not trying to be defiant, or anything like that. I just wanted to know where they got that information from within the Bible. And why did those teachings seem to contradict many other Bible verses (since the Bible is the sole source for their information on who God is)?
I even tried to get references to what was being quoted, and where they were getting information from in the Watchtower and Awake. I finally had to call the headquarters. They told me that I could write a letter, and they could mail me the entire references. But it would be too much work to tell me over the phone one by one who said what. I understand that it is backed up in a computer system at Watchtower headquarters, but I wonder how many people seek out where the Watchtower/Awake are getting their information from. To me it feels like a form of plagiarism.
I felt that it is the “blind leading the blind” in a sense, but I did want to keep an open-mind because it is easy for people to have hatred toward what they don't understand. Yet, after my encounter I feel it is very easy to memorize Bible verses, but another thing to actually be guided by the holy spirit to know what those versus mean.
I would like to make a suggestion though for this site. It would be great to take each Q&A within a section they are teaching through their books, ant then debating these issues they bring up. I know that it has taken me hours to research a paragraph at times (I was using the NWT, NLT, and the KJV); it would be nice to have easier access to that information. I would love to send you what I have on the questions I presented to my study group for Chapter 1, the Trinity, and the Memorial (I guess that was the one that got me kicked out of my study sessions and branded me a trouble maker).
As for me, I plan to keep studying on my own. I don't hate the lady I was studying with. I'm just sad that she wanted me to keep an open-mind, but then turned her back on me when I was able to provide a lot of documentation from her own Bible that was contradictory to what she was teaching me from the Watchtower publications – and not solely the Bible – about what the Bible says who God is.
I was a JW for 8 years. Sometimes it seems like a much longer time. You are quite correct Sally about how Bible studies are conducted. Part of the problem is the JW mindset. They honestly believe that everything that is published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is the unadulterated inspired word of God, even though many teachings have changed over the years. It's some sort of mass amnesia taking place with it comes to pointing out the changes that have occurred over the many years. One would expect that if they were truly being led by God, then the teachings would remain the same from the first printing of Zion's Herald to the present day Watchtower magazine. I challenge any JW to show me in the Bible where God laid down commandments and then later changed his mind, completely reversing himself on any teaching and then teaching the original material once again. Det skete aldrig. So how does a thinking Christian solve this problem. They can only conclude that JW are not being led by men. The Governing Body (the ones who actually run everything) says they are led by God's Holy Spirit to direct God's earthly organization here on Earth. Where in the Bible does it say this? Det gør ikke. They manipulate scripture, take things out of context and gamble on the “trust” of their followers not to do independent research.
Instead of going into a lot of detail, I'll simply post a link to an information website. It's not a forum to post and leave comments, just an information page. You can try to double check the information you find there in any Kingdom Hall from their own publications, but I doubt you will be allowed to do so. Often the older publications are simply there for display, you won't actually be allowed to read them. If you do an Elder will quickly try to ascertain why. You might wonder what all the fuss is about. Do they have something to hide or be ashamed of?
Here's the link: http://www.quotes-watchtower.co.uk/new_light_doctrine.html
A slight correction and a link to answer your question a little more fully.
The Watchtower magazine used to be called “Zion's Watchtower and Herald of Christ's Presence” , not Zion's Herald.
Oh and here is a link to why JW's discourage verifying their religion.
http://www.quotes-watchtower.co.uk/religion_-_do_not_verify_.html
One of the things I want to point out for Thinking Christians. Many active JW's come here and say mean and nasty things about this site and the people who run it, calling them apostates or being in league with Satan. However not a one of them, when confronted with evidence from their own magazines and books can refute the information. They use Bible verses (which can also be applied back to the Watchtower teachings) to “prove” we're mean nasty people who are only bent on “taking” them away from God. No one can take you away from God except yourself. Also it must be noted that historically the Jews in the Bible were God's people, yet Jesus and the Apostles were considered Apostates because of their teachings. Oddly enough their teachings didn't refute Judaism or seek to overthrow them, but rather the teachings of Jesus showed that the leaders of the religion “had made the Law of their God invalid because of their tradition”. The same thing has happened with the JW's. They look to men rather than the Holy Spirit for guidance. In the 10 years I have been out of the organization I have learned more about my Bible than at any time I was a JW. It is one thing to be told what a Bible verse means and a very different thing to know for yourself through the Holy Spirit what a Bible verse means. JW's have yet to learn this lesson.
I had a so called “Bible” study and it was the most tedious things I ever experienced. It was actually a study from the “Bible Teach” book. I noticed a certain pattern with the writing. It starts out with a paragraph making an assertion that checks out okay as being accurate compared to the cited scripture. Going through the chapter, the written material gets a bit farther from matching scripture, and more speculative. Eventually there are statements made that have very little connection to the cited scripture. This is all throughout the book!
Another thing I noticed about the questions was that they were not real questions. They were really pseudo questions that would be answered by parroting what was written in the paragraph. When I would give real answers to the questions, as explained in scripture, the study conductor would get mad. Sometimes I would ask real questions that were not in the printed material and get elaborate explanations about something that had little to do with what I asked. Material that I could read and study in minutes by myself would take hours to go over, and they had the gall to criticize me for not making progress.
Many times I would ask where in scripture it says something they had told me and they could find none. They would instead ask me to go along with their human “reasoning” on the matter, which was unacceptable to me as I have no desire to follow after men. I would want scriptural support for their claims, and many times was met with either silence, or some scripture of no relevance to what I asked. One example was when I asked what scripture instructs me to have a religion. I could never get a scripture chapter and verse as an answer, but was instead showed a dictionary description of religion.
I found many changes and flip flops in their doctrine, as I got everything I could find going way back to Russell. I was pretty tolerant about old errors, but one thing I could not stand was current literature would have outright lies about the past. The Bible Teach book had a lie about the events of 1914 and I showed them what the literature actually said about the events of the time, and they got mad.
Many times it would come down to me disagreeing with some assertion that had no scriptural support. I would then be subject to attack about my motives and character. Often it would be in the form of one of them talking to the other about me in a negative way as if I were not there. I do not know if this was just his own corrupt practice or if he was actually trained to be that manipulative and offensive by the society.
One thing they considered to be fun was to constantly bash on Christians. They love to bash on how evil and corrupt Christians are, while boasting about how enlightened and truthful they are. It reached a sickening depth when they boasted about preaching to the entire world and I noticed the numbers from their yearbook said they had no preaching in China. I pointed out that there were some 65 million Christians in China, and if they were not preaching to them I wanted to know where they got the faith. He was dismissive of them, said they were with Satan's organization. He actually claimed that 65 million Christians that he never met personally were with Satan!
The greatest irony in this was how the study ended. They kept badgering me to go to meetings. I went to several devivals, district devivals and circuit devivals. (I call them devivals because they like being opposite of Christians and their revivals) I said I would start going as soon as they cleared up my unanswered questions. They wondered if they were wasting their time with me. I answered them, “It is your time, so only you can say if you are wasting it or not. I never consider it a waste of my time to learn about God's word.”
So one day when they were pitching the meetings, I asked why they assumed I did not go to meetings. They wondered what kingdom hall I had gone to. I said I had not been to a kingdom hall, but had studied the Bible with some Christians. They got really mad about that, and terminated the study that day.
I found their claim to run a Bible study is a false one as you would expect them to be delighted that I was going deeper into the Bible with the Christians. I found out the truth about their “truth” is that it is really just a recruiting tool
@Kurt,
Thank you for your comments. All this website is trying to do is to explain to someone who is unfamiliar with how the Watchtower Society works or what Jehovah's Witnesses really believe, that what they are told about having a Bible study with JWs, may not really match reality.
JWs get so excited whenever they start a new Bible study with a potential convert. As long as the study moves along at the pace they determine and the “study” doesn't ask too many pointed or embarrassing questions, then everything is just “rosey.” The minute they are faced with some resistance or unpleasant facts from the Watchtower's past they get all flustered and look for ways to give up quickly. JWs do not really enjoy confrontation.
I remember, before I became a JW, that as a child I would go to Sunday School at local Protestant churches. All of us kids would get a little book to read, and we would hear the teacher tell us Bible stories. We just assumed that the teacher was telling us the truth. We'd go to Sunday School while we were kids and at some point in the future we'd be baptized and become Baptists or Methodists, or something. We never asked questions – never argued with the teacher. Never looked things up to see if we were being told the truth. We just accepted what we were told at face value.
That's the way that Jehovah's Witnesses want to conduct “Bible” book studies with adults. Don't ask questions. Don't do research. Just look at the pretty pictures and accept what they say at face value.
Adults don't like to be treated that way, not if they have adult level intelligence. We like to ask questions. We want to dig deeper. We want to explore contradictions or gaps in logic.
Jehovah's Witnesses will bail out on anyone who really makes them work at conducting a real intense Bible study. You found that out and so have a couple of others who have commented on the above article.
Well to be honest I have never read such a pile of crock. Any one who answers in the Watch tower study is free to say what they want as long as it is in line with the matter of the topic. No one is talked to by the Elders for doing so, that would defeat the purpose of the whole thing, to learn and take in knowledge and to hear the points of view of the other Brothers and Sisters.
Many people benefit from the Bible study program, we have many here in my City who just wish to have a study to find out what the Bible is really teaching us and many of them have no intention what so ever of converting or even getting baptised.
For Apostate ramblings and misinformation i must say that you get the GOLD award….
Current and former Jehovah's Witnesses who read this article will instantly know which one of us is presenting “a pile of crock.” Many years ago the Watchtower was open for more comprehensive and expanded commentary from the audience. But that was a while back. The whole point of the Watchtower study, and for that matter the book studies as well, is to simply pull answers directly from each paragraph and then move on to the next one. They just want to get the material covered within the limited time allotted.
You may be fortunate to belong to a Kingdom Hall that has a more liberal body of elders. There are many congregations out there with excellent leaders who are more flexible in their use of Watchtower Society guidelines. By far the majority, I am sad to say, tend to take a more conservative approach to study meetings and do not want a lot of embellishment by either the Watchtower study conductor or those in the audience who answer the questions. The study meetings have become a joke in most congregations.
The public talks have become so strictly outlined by the Watchtower that most brothers do little more than read the outline itself and only those Bible scriptures that the outline insists on being read.
JWs who insist on expanding their responses or modify any of the talk outlines will soon find themselves in a meeting with a local committee. This is not to say they will actually be punished for sharing their own thoughts, but they will find their participation restricted. Elders who expand or modify public talk outlines will quickly lose that privilege.
The result is that most study meetings, even at 45 minutes, will seem to go on forever and be dull as stale toast.
I invite anyone reading this article to actually go to a local Kingdom Hall and sit through a Sunday meeting set of public talk and Watchtower study. See for yourself who is telling the truth. In fact, go to two or three Kingdom Halls in your area and see how the meetings are conducted. After that, feel free to submit your comments to this article page and let us know the results. Who really tells the truth about this matter? The editor of this website? Or the writer identified as “Jehovah's Servant”?
Maybe things are different in the UK where “Jehovah's Servant” resides, but I doubt it. The editor can only describe the current situation in USA Kingdom Halls. Maybe the UK and Europe are far more liberal. If so, please share that information with us. If anyone wants to share an address of a Kingdom Hall where answering at the Watchtower study is wide open to additional commentary or questions, please do so. We'd love to know where those liberal Kingdom Halls are.
Unfortunately, so would the Watchtower Society…
@JEHOVAH'S SERVANT –
I became a JW and after baptism I learned about the JW's from a different perspective and regret the baptism, I love Jehovah, always have and always will. But I no longer want to be a “JW” all I wanted to do was love Jehovah and Jesus and learn more about them. I feel like I've been dragged into something I didn't bargain for..I loved the people and wish things didn't get so ugly when you realize you made a decision and now you're having second thoughts.When you try to make your own decisions the beauty offered turns to ashes. That's how I feel currently. I feel there is no gray areas as a JW things are black or white. It hurts my heart. Your life is no longer your own and I just can't live this way, it doesn't feel right to me? Shaky Now.