Why do Jehovah's witnesses have to let the "watchtower" tell them how to interpret the bible?

Question

Are their cult members not smart enough to read a bible on their own and do the research?

Everyone knows that JW's read their watchtower literature more than the bible, is it any surprise that they are so brainwashed(deceived)?

Answer 1

They are told that you can't interpret the Bible properly without the aid of the Watchtower writings. It is not a case of them not being smart enough.

Answer 2

Um...what are you basing this statement upon?
Have you ever actually read a Watchtower cover to cover? Neither the Watchtower nor the Awake! magazine tell us how to interpret the Bible. Besides, there are no statements relating to the Bible that are not backed up by specific scriptures (you make it seem as though the Watchtower says the sky is green and we just accept it).
I would imagine that your complaint comes from the fact that those who write the Watchtower have read the Bible many times over and have compared several texts (remember that much scripture is interpreted by other scriptures) and therefore make statements based on these comparisons.

If that's the case, then why don't you issue your own publication with your assumptions about what God's Word says. If your statements add up, I'll cosign to what you say.

You have 2 remember that 99.9% of Jehovah's Witnesses don't blindly follow the organization's words without a second thought. We cross reference everything with the Bible (and not just the NWT B4 you make that accusation) and see if it holds up.

Answer 3

We do not "have" to let the "watchtower" interpret the Bible. We are not a cult. Yes we are smart enough to read the Bible and do research. Many people choose to use study aids. The fact that we decide to use specific Bible based literature in the course of studying doesnt take away from the fact that we are in fact studying the Bible

As for your last remark It is untrue and rude

Answer 4

Yep -- however the apostle Paul enjoyed to place a finer factor on issues. He categorised Jesus Christ as a lesser form of divine being, between the lords. All Semitic religions initially had a father god, father of spirits and father of the gods, and a demise and resurrecting god, between the sons of the former. this is why Jesus insisted that he substitute into Jehovah, the son of Elohim -- YHWH, the son of El. He wasn't a heretic. He substitute right into a fundamentalist. All Jews in simple terms before the Babylonian Exile have been monolatrists, no longer monotheists. be conscious in Genesis a million we've an account of creation that differs from Genesis 2 -- and yet there substitute into no longer a guy to until finally the floor. Genesis a million: Elohim's layout. Genesis 2: Jehovah's implementation of the layout, probably with Elohim's counsel. there is likewise an doubtful passage interior the hot testomony that seems to assert that the burning choose of all creation substitute into to anticipate the introduction of the son of God. YHWH substitute right into a created being.

Answer 5

Dolphins is so right. Why do the mainstream Christian groups have Bible study nights in addition to having it explained in the Sunday and Wednesday night sermons? Why do these groups consider their minister to be better qualified to lead a congregation because he went to seminary instead of some of the more fundamental groups whose pastors have studied the Bible for years and use their own interpretation to teach others? It's why religions of all persuasions have seminaries to teach what they believe to be true so they can pass it on.

A long time ago a person did not need to go to law school to become a lawyer. All he had to do was "read" the law in a lawyer's office and pass an exam and was allowed to practice. Would you trust someone like that today? It's the same with religion and any other subject that is studied--you read the literature, research the various aspects of the question or topic, and then discuss it with those who have more training or experience.

Another example: do you take your expensive, complicated car to a guy you meet at your child's school who says he likes to work on cars in his driveway, or do you take it to an authorized dealer? You want someone qualified--who has been trained and has the experience. Same with spiritual matters.

I'm not a Jehovah Witness. I never thought of them as a cult like the Hare Krishna were in the 1960s. As far as I know, they're an organized, recognized religion. Do you know for a fact that they read their literature more than the Bible or is this just part of your prejudice showing?

I wouldn't say they are anymore brainwashed than I was when I was at an all-girls Catholic college where we had to take Religion or Philosophy ever semester. Some of it was history, most of it was the same old indoctrination we'd had in religious ed classes throughout childhood and high school. It's all one man's perception.

I hope you're not a religious person because if you are, your intolerance is showing.

Answer 6

I find it disturbing that all these people who claim to "know" what we believe and "know" all about our organization are not and never have been a part of it. All they're doing is repeating some garbage they were told about us from someone who has an agenda to keep people away from us so THEY can convert them to THEIR religion. Talk about being brainwashed! In fact, only a thinking person would even consider going "against the grain" of "mainstream Christianity" in order to please God. The rest of you are comfortably "going with the flow", or as Jesus put it, "going on the broad and spacious road" (Matthew 7:13-14). That's why Jesus also said that many will come to him saying, "Lord, Lord..." and he will tell them to get away from him because he never knew them (Matthew 7:23)! The only ones being deceived are the ones who don't know a thing about JWs yet they repeat a bunch of lies someone told them as if they had firsthand knowledge. FYI I have "done the research" and am considered a pretty intellectual person. I research the bible and it's many translations and the languages it was written in to carefully discern the truth. You evidently research lies about something you've decided you don't like!

Answer 7

Go into any bookstore and see how many religious books have been written about the Bible or Christendoms many denominations. There are literally hundreds of them. We are not the only faith that uses Bible study aids.
One of my co-workers is Baptist and she has a daily inspiration book that she reads. Can you in all honesty tell us that you can accurately understand the entire Bible from beginning to end, with no help whatsoever from anyone or anything? We all know the answer and it is not "yes".
Cults do not even care to study the Bible or preach to the entire inhabited earth, nor do they care about God's Kingdom. Jehovah's Witnesses do study, do preach and look to God's Kingdom as mankinds's only hope
So now you know we are not a cult.
Thank you

Answer 8

THE PURPOSE OF THE WATCHTOWER is to exalt Jehovah as Sovereign Lord of the universe. It keeps watch on world events as these filfill Bible prophecy. It comforts all ppl's w/ the good news that God's Kingdom will soon destroy those who oppress their fellowmen & that it will turn th earth into a paradise. It encourages faith in God's now-reigning King, Jesus Christ, whose shed blood opens the way for mankind to gain eternal life. 'The Watchtower', published by Jehovah's Witnesses continually since 1879, is nonpolitical. It adheres to the Bible as its authority.
The pattern to follow in helping others to understand the Bible is that provided by Jesus Christ & his apostles. In answer to Q's, Jesus quoted scriptues & @ times used appropriate illustrations that would help honest-hearted persons to be receptive to what the Bible says. (Matt. 12:1-12)*.
I'm not trying to 'win an argument' w/ n/e1 who shows no respect for the truth. Rather just sharing vaulable 411 that is meant to answer w/ reason w/ individuals who will allow me to do so. A satisfiying answer is what some ppl want/need. U did ask a Q; also u gave some of ur own viewpoint, w/ some conviction I might add.I do this w/ the conviction that it will find welcome response in the hearts of lovers of truth.
* Not only r we smart; but we are intelligent, reasoning/reasonable ppl. Some folks like myself were not brought up as a Witness, & came to the Truth thru diligent & earnest studying & research. We are human & imperfect we need to be taught things that r new to us by some1 qualified to teach. (We also need reminders).
That's also 'the why' we use study aids. Some young adults do the same in college.
As a baby does not start out on solid foods, 1st is fluid,then, soft foods, then small ez to eat bites...etc.. to it's a gradual process; as is learning about God, His Kingdom, His Son Jesus,& His purposes for mankind. It's alot to take in.
Ya wouldn't give a 2 mth old child pizza to eat would u? See?

Answer 9

"Everyone knows that JW's read their watchtower literature more than the bible."

And how would you know that? How many Witnesses' homes have you been to so you could make a statement like that?

I do agree with you on one point. We are brainwashed. Our brains have been washed clean of the religious lies that come from the churches of Christendom. We no longer believe in the unscriptural teachings of such things as the trinity, the immortality of the human soul, hellfire, and the thought that all good people go to heaven. We have been washed clean of pagan holidays like Christmas, Easter, and Halloween.

You may call us a cult all you wish, but we know better. If you think we do not know what's in the Bible, notice that when we answer questions concerning the Bible, we use it to back up what we say. Do you?

Answer 10

I am thankful that someone has taken the time to do the grunt work for me. What if I was looking for certain scriptures regarding marriage for example and I had to find the scriptures myself. It would take me days if not weeks to do the research with just the bible and nothing else. How easy it is for me to look up an article in the Watchtower or Awake, which is full of scriptural references. The article is not telling me what to do or to think, but giving bible council and principles to consider when making a decision.

I worked with a woman who was African American who had gone to a church, which I won't name, that told her and her husband that the black race was cursed. She even thought that blacks had been slaves because the Egyptians had enslaved the Israelites. I told her that wasn't true and looked up the information for her and made copies that she could show her husband. She was so thankful and said how nice it was that I was provided with the research material. She even said something to my boss about it, because he mentioned it to me. I felt good that I helped in taking away that stigma about blacks being cursed, and made her feel better about herself.

Doesn't every religion have books published on their views?
Didn't every religion have a beginning? Who started Catholics? Who started Protestant? Who started Lutherian? Who started Baptist? Who started Southern Baptist? Who started Methodist? Who started Seven Day Adventist? Who started Mormon? Who started Prespaterian? Every religion started by a man or group of men who did not agree with what was being taught. Does that make them a cult? No, it just means they're seaching for the something more inline with the bible. If no one had questioned the Catholic Church, we would all be Catholic today.

Answer 11

For the same reason Christ had to interpret the teachings of the Holy Torah for his disciples. Because the Pharisees wanted the Jews to continue to believe that nothing had changed and that the old beliefs, traditions, rituals, and observances were the right ones.

Further, that the Messiah could not have come, because based on their view of the Holy Torah, when the Messiah came, everyone would see and recognize him, as he destroyed to enemies of the true people of God.

Should Christ, and later, the Apostles, left well enough alone, for the Jewish people to study the Holy Torah on their own and determine on their own whether the Messiah had come or not?

What right did they have to interpret the Holy Torah in any different manner than what it had been traditionally held by highly educated individuals such as Saul of Tarsus and the Pharisees.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_of_Tarsus