Does the Watchtower organization control the Jehovah's Witnesses' thinking?

Question

or do they follow the Bible as the enarent Word of God? Which do they put first the Bible alone or some other book first?

Answer 1

Following are quotes from the literature of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, better known as the Jehovah's Witnesses organization. After reading the quotes below, it is obvious that the Watchtower discourages individual thinking among the Jehovah's Witnesses:

The Bible can only be understood via the Watchtower organization.

1. Quote: "Only this organization functions for Jehovah's purpose and to his praise. To it alone God's Sacred Word, the Bible, is not a sealed book." The Watchtower; July 1, 1973, pp. 402.

Individuals are not able to rightly interpret the Bible apart from the Watchtower organization.

2. Quote: "Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible." The Watchtower, Oct. 1, 1967. p. 587.

The Watchtower magazine is the means of God's communication

3. Quote: "It should be expected that the Lord would have a means of communication to his people on the earth, and he has clearly shown that the magazine called The Watchtower is used for that purpose." (1939 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, p. 85.)

4.Those who think apart from the Watchtower's guidance are like Satan Quote: "From time to time, there have arisen from among the ranks of Jehovah's people those, who, like the original Satan, have adopted an independent, faultfinding attitude...They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such ‘Bible reading,' they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago..." The Watchtower, August 15, 1981.

If you love God, then you accept the Watchtower.

Quote: "We cannot claim to love God, yet deny his word and channel of communication." The Watchtower, October 1, 1967, p. 591.

and it goes on and on and on..

Scripure doesn't change nor does relgion. If you get it right the first time then why change? The J.W's don't just occasionally change scripture they are consently changing it. How many time have they said the world was going to end? How long ago was 1914?

Answer 2

Faith walker, you say some really crazy stuff. We have no human ruler. Also, nobody makes a living out of being a "high-ranking official" in the JW organization. I hear a lot of stuff about C T Russel; some true, some blatantly false, but none of it matters at all. This is why: no matter what Russel ever did, he is not our ruler. It would be idloatry to base our faith on the merits of Russel.
We adhere to the Bible as the word of God. Every JW has at least one copy of the Bible; the vast majority have a few different Bibles. We are all encouraged to read the Bible every day and get deeply involved in studying it. All of our other publications are simply Bible study aids. Nothing is placed higher than the Bible. The magazines, books, brochures, etc. are placed nowhere near the Bible in importance.
For anyone that reads this question, please believe the answers of we who are actually Jehovah's Witnesses, rather than those who try to slander us. And if it is not enough to take us at our word, then please attend a Christian meeting at a kingdom hall or two if you really want to see what's going on.
**N3W independent thinking is discouraged, because it is the spirit of Satan. We want to be united, but if something is in clear violation of Bible standards, we would take it up with the elders to get it all straightened out rather than encourage dissentions.
Also, when the Bible Students started out, they were spiritually children. There is no such thing as "getting it right the first time," because the light gets brighter and brighter for the righteous. In other words, we learn things over time. It would be wrong of us to adhere strictly to what we already believe for the sake of tradition if it has already been proven wrong.

Answer 3

The only leader we have is: Jehovah God and Jesus Christ. Been a Witness for 48 years, have free will, can make a bad decision or right decision, the Watchtower organization does not control me. With all of the millions of books available, most certainly the "Bible" comes first.

Last year there were a lot of people that put the Bible first.

Last year 2005, 247,631, became Jehovah's Witnesses and everyone of these had to change their minds pertaining to the false teachings that they had been taught, these were people that used their own Bible, King James, etc., 28,384 were from the United States.

The efforts of Jehovah’s witnesses to approach people in public and at their homes are rooted in the Word of God. Jesus himself went directly to the people, and he instructed his apostles and disciples to do likewise.

The Witnesses’ beliefs, based entirely on God’s Word, the Bible, prevent them from falling into the trap of becoming a sect or a cult. They take a kindly interest in all other people, of whatever religious persuasion. No, they do not try to force these people to change their viewpoint. They endeavor to imitate their Leader, Christ Jesus, by presenting Scriptural evidence of the trouble-free Paradise that will soon be established on earth.—Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 Peter 2:21.


Since November 1999 when the construction program in lands with limited resources began, 11,700 Kingdom Halls have been built. As of right now, 40 Kingdom Halls are being build each week of the year. In many areas, once a hall is finished, meeting attendance soars and halls are soon filled to capacity.

So yes, people by the thousands are reading their Bible and finding the truth.

Recently a clergyman in Brooklyn, New York, obtained a copy of the book The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life. He was so impressed with the chapter dealing with prayer that he used the book to teach members of his church this chapter in a special meeting. Later he was asked by one of them, “Are you teaching us out of those Jehovah’s witnesses’ books?”

He replied: “It is the truth, isn’t it? When you want Sunday-school literature, you buy it from several sources, don’t you? Well, Jehovah’s witnesses teach the truth. Furthermore, when you see Jehovah’s witnesses with the Watchtower magazine, you ought to take it, because they print the truth.”

Answer 4

No.
The Jehovah's Witnesses use the Bible just like any other Christian religion, and believe it to teach them all they need to know. Just like any other Christian religion.
No.
They are not brainwashed in any meaning of the word. (I was one for 17 years and am perfectly stable, and open-minded)

---
Faith Walker, that is ABSOLUTELY not true. While i admit the origins may be somewhat cloudy, which played a huge part in my decision to no longer be involved, you saying that "only the head of the church can read it" is absolutely False. First off, What HEAD of the church are you talking about? There is a man who runs the publications printing, but that isn't the Head of the Church. The head of the church, in their views, is solely "Jehovah our God, and Holy Son Jesus". Everyone else is just another person.

----------------------------------------
N3W...

You also realize that nothing you have quoted is even remotely recent.
Are you saying the religion can't change? That everything that was once Catholic views and beliefs remains Catholic views an beliefs?
Again, they have erroneous thoughts from time to time, but that doesn't mean they are not free-thinking individuals. While in this religion i was consistently educated and told to read my bible at home, and bible i had, and to interpret it as best i could. They do not practice any of these things you mentioned anymore, if they ever did.

Answer 5

Well they will tell you the Bible comes first. Even if that is the case, they use the Watchtower as a foundation as well. So even if they view the Bible as the Authority, they see Watchtower as a close second.

Answer 6

No, Jehovah's Witnesses consider the Bible to be the only infallible inspired means of determining God's will and purposes.

Jehovah's Witnesses consider the Holy Scriptures as the final word in all matters of worship, and actually encourage their adherents to elevate the bible over the human traditions which pass as worship for too many humans.

(Matthew 15:3,9) [Jesus] said to them: “Why is it you also overstep the commandment of God because of your tradition? ...It is in vain that they keep worshiping [God], because they teach commands of men as doctrines.

(Mark 7:8) Letting go the commandment of God, you hold fast the tradition of men.

(Colossians 2:8) Look out: perhaps there may be someone who will carry you off as his prey through the philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to Christ


The many fine publications of Jehovah's Witnesses could no more replace the bible than a pair of quality eyeglasses could replace the eyes.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/bible/2ti/chapter_003.htm#bk16
http://watchtower.org/e/19991115/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/t13/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20010801/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20000622/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20050715/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/19981001/article_01.htm

Answer 7

Only the head of the Church can read the bible, they have there own stuff, and Watchtower, and Jehovah's witnesses are the same.
Any one in this you need to do your home work
find out where it originated from, its all in your files,
the man who started it, sold his soul to Satan, in order to control you, get your money, and lie to you.
Its all in the archives of the Watch Tower.
find out for yourself,
my sister did, she was so hurt..

Answer 8

yes it does