The October 15, 2011, Watchtower appears to be telling Jehovah's Witnesses to keep following along blindly. In the issue's 'Questions From Readers', an article that appears only in the "study copy" (or Witness only), the question is:
The Watchtower admits that "there some topics and scriptures that our publications have not specifically addressed." There are some topics where the publications have been, should we say, vague on. On some issues, especially when it comes to blood transfusions, the company line seems to change every couple of years. In such an event, "we should avoid speculating about things that simply cannot be answered, lest we get involved in debating “questions for research rather than a dispensing of anything by God in connection with faith.”", according to the article.
So can the headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses help out in a situation like this? Nope. You're on your own.
What if you've done all of the research you can, and still can't find the "direction you need"? (Their words, not mine.) Talk to an elder. And if you still don't have the answer you're looking for? Use the old standby...pray for an answer. Because that works.
So, why are the big wigs at the top of the organization refusing to answer questions from readers? In my opinion, this is simply a legal move. The Witnesses have been brought into court numerous times in recent years on many of their more controversial policies. The organization is tied up in a number of wrongful death claims as we speak. When the word to their followers is, "If you accept a blood transfusion, regardless of circumstance, you will be kicked out of the church", people die. Thousands of Witness men, women and children have effectively become martyrs in the last 50 years. Childhood friends of mine have died in the hospital, either from loyalty to an archaic belief, or being bullied by church elders and family members to remain faithful. The organization knows it has blood on it's hands, and it's eliminating future evidence from being admissible in court by saying, "Go to an elder", rather than having physical proof of Witness policy in a future "plaintiff's" hands.
The entire article reeks of suspicion. Of course, it will likely go without notice to the faithfullemmings sheep within the rank and file. Here is a copy of the pdf for those who are interested in seeing it:
"What should I do when I have a question about something I read in the Bible or when I need advice about a personal problem?"The article starts off, interestingly enough, quoting Proverbs chapter 2, where it says to "keep searching for" understanding and "hidden treasures". It then makes it decidedly clear as to what resources should be used when doing your "searching". The article amounts to, "Stick to our publications only, and don't expect any more answers from us if you write us. That's not our job."
The Watchtower admits that "there some topics and scriptures that our publications have not specifically addressed." There are some topics where the publications have been, should we say, vague on. On some issues, especially when it comes to blood transfusions, the company line seems to change every couple of years. In such an event, "we should avoid speculating about things that simply cannot be answered, lest we get involved in debating “questions for research rather than a dispensing of anything by God in connection with faith.”", according to the article.
So can the headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses help out in a situation like this? Nope. You're on your own.
I'm sorry. What?! The Bible "also omits enough details so as to require us to have strong faith in its divine Author." Isn't that like Toyota saying that the owner's manual for the 2011 Tacoma gives you enough information to drive the car, but it leaves out the "details" on what the that little red light on your dashboard is for? You'll just have to trust the guy at the dealership that sold it to you. That is exactly what they are saying."Neither the branch office nor world headquarters is in a position to analyze and answer all such questions that have not been considered in our literature. We can be satisfied that the Bible provides sufficient information to guide us through life but also omits enough details so as to require us to have strong faith in its divine Author."
What if you've done all of the research you can, and still can't find the "direction you need"? (Their words, not mine.) Talk to an elder. And if you still don't have the answer you're looking for? Use the old standby...pray for an answer. Because that works.
So, why are the big wigs at the top of the organization refusing to answer questions from readers? In my opinion, this is simply a legal move. The Witnesses have been brought into court numerous times in recent years on many of their more controversial policies. The organization is tied up in a number of wrongful death claims as we speak. When the word to their followers is, "If you accept a blood transfusion, regardless of circumstance, you will be kicked out of the church", people die. Thousands of Witness men, women and children have effectively become martyrs in the last 50 years. Childhood friends of mine have died in the hospital, either from loyalty to an archaic belief, or being bullied by church elders and family members to remain faithful. The organization knows it has blood on it's hands, and it's eliminating future evidence from being admissible in court by saying, "Go to an elder", rather than having physical proof of Witness policy in a future "plaintiff's" hands.
The entire article reeks of suspicion. Of course, it will likely go without notice to the faithful
2 comments:
This is going to be crippling for the people who have been taught for generations to NOT think for themselves. If the WTBS won't tell them what to do, if the elders won't tell them what to do (and you know there is some guidance somewhere to parallel this specific to the elders), and they're supposed to pray for it???
Kinda funny that they announce their inability to answer questions in a section of the magazine called "Questions from Readers".
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