xjwsforChrist

Browsing jw.org this morning - yes, I went slumming - and came upon this interesting item.



What better way to "examine carefully" so that a person can have the "utmost confidence" than to read the publications put out by the church in the past. Using the doctor analogy, if I were to have surgery I would be interested in more than the fact that this person is called a doctor and that he has a name badge that says PhD and that he washes his hands scrupulously. I would want to see his diploma(s) hanging on the wall, know how many years he's been in practice, his reputation, etc.

How is it then that a person coming into the WT org. is expected to make a life and death decision based on MAYBE 2 books and two years. It's not just the two books/two years thing that is pushed by HQ to move a student to baptism, but it comes without providing any credentials. In fact, it is the policy NOT to provide those "credentials" - if that is what they can be called.

http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magaz ... -religion/


I know this CD-Library is available in the libraries at K-halls. But who is going to sit in the hall for all the arduous hours it takes to sift through that mountain of information? For that matter, what elder or MS is going to hold the door for the student who wants to sit and study for 4, 5, 6 hours? This is a project that can only be reasonably done at home and the WTS knows it - and that opportunity is being denied.

Hi Wayward Son, and nice to see you.

You are absolutely right. The thing is, that those initial two books, and in fact all WT published information. Is not in fact education as such but loaded mind-manipulation...brainwashing, if you like. The brainwashing is not merely contained within the printed publications, of course. It's there within the whole thos and ambience of the KH meetings, elders' talks and much more.

It's the whole experience combined with the love-bombing of the new recruit, which often gets going when two Witnesses calling at a door catch someone at just the right moment in their lives.

I know. I speak from experience. It happened to me. Fortunately, two years further down the road, I woke up from the WT-induced trance. But it was a very painful process.

Good morning Wayward Son...

I do understand completely as to what you are saying when it comes to the WTBS.

Why Question Religion?
Suppose you need to have surgery for a life-threatening illness. You would want to have the utmost confidence in the surgeon, since your life will be in his hands. Would it not be prudent to review his record of experience?
Similarly, it is wise to examine religion carefully. If you belong to a religious organization, you are, in effect, putting your spiritual life in its hands. This includes your prospects for salvation.


This stood out to me and therefore I would like to ask you, why would or should we EVER put our spiritual lives in the hands of man. If our savior said he was the way, the truth, and the LIFE...not religion....why shouldn't we put ourselves in HIS HANDS, trusting him over ANYTHING physical/ human/ fallible??? He is the one Jah says to listen to and obey. None other!
Holy Spirit is what will feed us, guide us into ALL truth. Why trust an entity of any sort? Why look upon anything else for salvation other than the one that gave his life for US?
When we look or belong to the physical...can we honestly say we are " walking to faith and not by sight?"

Also you mentioned...

What better way to "examine carefully" so that a person can have the "utmost confidence" than to read the publications put out by the church in the past. Using the doctor analogy, if I were to have surgery I would be interested in more than the fact that this person is called a doctor and that he has a name badge that says PhD and that he washes his hands scrupulously. I would want to see his diploma(s) hanging on the wall, know how many years he's been in practice, his reputation, etc.


Let me ask you, how many leaders have credentials in teaching religion, the bible, Hebrew, Greek, etc...? And yet our Lord says there are " false scribes that would twist the scriptures".

There are leaders spiritually who do wash their hands scrupulously , and yet our Lord said because they fail to wash the " inside of the cup", ( their vessels) they are dirty, unclean and full of dead men's bones.
Misleading and judging and insisting on traditions and doctrines of over God. So just because one has credentials, we cannot still trust their reputation over Christs.

As to the WTBS, I get what your saying. As to any other form or religion, the same rules would apply.


Thank you for sharing this
Love to you Justmom

It is funny that they say that about other religions (which one should do, certainly)... but do not allow their own members to examine the wts religion just as thoroughly.

Because they do not see the uncleanness in their own religion and leaders... few people do... or they would LEAVE.


Welcome to the forum!!


Peace,
tammy

Thanks for the welcome Chariklo, Tammy.



Actually, as I was proofing my OP I noticed that line about "putting our spiritual lives in the hands of others". They are so convinced of their role as mediator they simply cannot think in any other terms. And because most of the mind-scrubbing happens so subtly like that - out on the periphery of our focus, it slips by, or slips in without our notice.

UNTIL WE AWAKEN!

Yes, good point, we only need to put our lives in the hands of Jah and his son. Welcome to the forum, Wayward Son.

Loz x

_________________
"This is my son. LISTEN to Him!"