Why can't Ex-JW and Non-JW answer questions about JW?

Question

I've noticed Jehovah's Witnesses getting very upset when either ex JW or non JW answer any question regarding their faith. I have answered questions completely truthfully and only fact based without slandering them or their beliefs and yet they feel like we are lying. I want to know what it is about all of us, ex/non JW alike, that makes you feel so threatened?

Sunshine1914 - My point is it WASN'T a question posed by JW so I was not quarreling with them. I answered a question that was posted accurately and truthfully. Naturally a husband or wife would be different, I nor anyone else is that big of an idiot.

SuzetteR - Explain to me how I told a lie when my mom, dad, 2 sisters, their husbands and all my nieces and nephews were told by the PO not to speak to me, period. They were threatened with being disfellowshipped themselves. I was told this by my mom when she asked me to leave her house while I was checking on my father (he is very ill). I never discuss religious matters with them and was only doing what a daughter should do. I also said, which you quoted, greatly discouraged from outside association. I never said forbidden. And of course you would not shun new ones, that's the whole point like you said, to gain new ones. These are ones already studying and working to become a member of the congregation.

DwayneWayne - First of all let me say that you proved yourself wrong about the doctor/lawyer statement when you yourself have answered a question posted for Catholics. Are you a JW and a Catholic too? Secondly, of course I would expect JW to defend their beliefs. If wrong information is given, it is your duty to set the record straight. However, I have personally seen ex/non JW give the correct information, and all of a sudden it's all thumb's down and reporting abuse and calling them apostates. You may not like it but if it is accurate information, like I have seen, why get all bent out of shape over it? I never post "apostate" sites as I have never had anything to do with them. Just because someone is no longer associated with JW doesn't not mean they are hell bent on turning others away. I think you all forgot that this is a public site where anyone can ask or answer questions.

trk - I don't think you read the question. This isn't about disfellowshipping. This is about non JW and ex JW answering questions truthfully and accurately, things that can be backed up by your own material, and being called liars, apostates and slanderers. If you would like to answer that question, I would be interested in reading your response.

Answer 1

You are absolutely right. I have received thumbs down for quoting a passage from God's word in response to a question. Many times, without adding to it with my own comments--just pure word of God and let readers reach their own conclusion. So, if I am a liar then they are calling God's word a liar. The WT loves to have their cake and eat it too and when it gets its regurgitated nonsense thrown back on its door step, it cries "persecution". Go figure.

This, in spite of the fact that, although I am an ex-JW because of the WT's doctrinal errors, I have defended, on many occassions, the rank and file witnesses who have been duped by a heinous organization. I have mentioned, on numerous occassions, that my parents are still active JWs after 35 years and I have stated emphatically, based on that, that I know they are not all kooks or weird-os. They have simply been thoroughly indoctrinated to believe what they believe, but they do believe it sincerely.

That being said, I have seen plenty of lies coming from active JWs on this forum, who deny that the WT teaches certain things or restricts their associations, etc. I can't for the life of me figure out how their consciences are not bothered by telling everyone such nonsense when they know, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that they are lying. yet, they call those of us who point out these errors and inconsistencies the liars.

Some of us really need to stop being so concerned about the speck in the eye of another when there is a plank in our own.

Answer 2

It is a hard situation when a family member no longer wants to be a witness and is disfellowshipped. I have had it happen in my family.

What ones that are disfellowshipped don't seem to realize, they are the ones who have decided that they don't want anything to do with their family, not the other way around. They are saying that fornication, or whatever they are leaving the truth for is more important than their family. But just because they don't want to serve Jehovah, doesn't mean your family doesn't and it is wrong to put them in a situation that jeopardizes their relationship with Jehovah. They have been a witness, it's not like they don't know what it means to be disfellowshipped.

Like the saying goes "You can't have your cake and eat it too."

Your families hope is that you will realize the seriousness of being out of Jehovah's favor and what to return.

I'm happy to say that my sister was reinstated last month after being out for five years and my brother after a year and a half.

edit: Sorry if I didn't ask your direct question. I think a good example is Pedi C answer. She has not been a Witness for 20 years. That was a long time ago. Due to the way she left and the amount of time that has passed, her perception is off.

1. There was never anything wrong with going to college, it was cautioned against going to a 4 year college, living in a dorm etc...due to the bad influence and due to the reason you were pursuing a higher education. Love of money? Prestiage? My Dad was an elder and went to the city college in the 70's. My niece just finished a tech school and is working as a nurses assistant. Due to the change in the economy, it is necessary to have more training after high school to make it. I became an assistant vice president in an insurance brokerage without going to college.

2. Jehovah's Witnesses do not take blood transfusions.

3. Associating with disfellowshipped family members is still something done on a need to bases. Family business, not socializing together. That has not changed.

When an ex-witnesses has answered several times and you know that their answers are based on hatred of the Witnesses, that is when we fill the need to clarify their statements. Because they are usually 1/2 truths or one-sided and not the full picture.

Answer 3

This is an open forum. All are allowed and encouraged to ask and answer questions. HOWEVER, there is a precedent for not answering question which are clearly not directed to/for you. Case in point, if someone asked about pregnancy, there is nothing wrong with me, a male, to answer if I have some actual information about it, however, if the question specifies WOMEN ONLY, then there is NO valid reason for me to answer. Other than that restraint I have no problem with a polite honest answer being given to any question. I have seen people on here who claim themselves as former Witnesses give very accurate fair, Fair = not glowing but honest, answers. I have no problem with this. I do however take umbridge when someone makes clearly false statements. Example, if someone answers saying "I don't like Witnesses" to a question about how people feel about Witnesses there is no problem. However when someone answers a Question about us with an answer such as, "They ONLY want to talk to little kids, because they are all molesters" (Scarily enough someone sure enough gave a reply that was almost word for word the example I just gave)Then I have a problem. Clearly with a group of almost 7 million people there will be a small number who might do something wrong or even do something that simply seems strange. However in general ANY absolute answers are wrong as there are few absolutes.

Answer 4

I understand what you mean....I've been accused of slander for answering questions about past JW beliefs like the Great Pyramid, even though I'm careful to answer the questions truthfully and can be proven by WT publications themselves.

I often see answers from ex JWs which quotes an old WT publication, and is accused of "lying" even though the reference is given so that anyone could look it up.

Of course there are answers on here from misinformed persons that are totally wrong, but I've seen lots of answers from ex-JWs that are 100% true and JW's still call them "lies".

I think it's a defense mechanism: Shoot the messenger if you don't like the message.

Edited....for Moises

No, I don't think that is a lie, But I don't think we should say it will be "soon" since we really don't know when it will happen, nor do we know the details as to HOW it will happen.

Answer 5

Put it like this: If someone asks a medical question and directs it specifically towards doctors, why would a lawyer answer? True, he may have some knowledge, he may even be proficient (unlikely, but possible). The fact remains that the question was not directed to him in the 1st place.

Also, plenty of ppl who either leave the org. or who have never been in favor of us will speak ill of us, whether the information is accurate or not. I'm not saying that a few non-Witness/Ex-Witnesses can speak without being maliciously slanderous, but generally that's the case.

I don't feel threatened at all. Someone can get on here and say we're child murderers, child molesters, cult members, brainwashed, misled, false prophets, devil-worshippers, crazy, etc. all day. I know that I believe what the Bible says and I became one of Jehovah's Witnesses because I believe that they/we as a whole follow those teachings. Of course, if some1 makes an erroneous statement, which is rather irresponsible in the 1st place, I just feel that it's my duty to refute the false information with accurate information.

If some1 slandered your little sister, calling her a 'harlot' of sorts, wouldn't you defend her (@ least to the extent that you knew she deserved)?

Answer 6

Celebrate Christmas and Birthdays? Not observe the Memorial of the Last Supper on the day Christ said to? Not have any knowledge of what day each year, without looking at a calendar, the Last Supper took place on? ------------------------------- There is no Scripture that commands the observance of Christmas or birthdays. Neither is there a command to observe the Lord's Supper on any particular day, but Paul quotes Jesus saying "As often as you do it" 1 Corinthians 5:8 "Let us therefore celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." Keeping of feasts and holidays as part of salvation, as part of the Jewish system was condemned by Paul in Galatians. There is no law of grace, "just by grace through faith."

Answer 7

IF the JW's think they are the true follower's of Jesus Christ, or any other religion that professes they are the true follower's than all member's of that religion will have to uphold themselves in the public view. Huge responsibility right. I am an outsider observing what is going on with JW members and EX-JW members. I won't include Non JW's like me because we are just outsider's looking at how you all uphold yourselves here. I do see JW's protecting their faith from the ones that left because there are a lot of accusations flying at them. So to speak if these exe's were "disfellowshipped" in "secret meetings" how can that exed blame the whole congregation when they DON'T KNOW what is going on. I also want to add that I find some of the rules are to EXTREME, and does sound heartless for the one that is ALREADY BROKEN SPIRITED. This other Pastor told me that to be "ex communicated" is reason for the "church restoration". The church has high reason's to have to go to that extreme because they are representing THE Lord Jesus Çhrist. For the one that has sinned (major) they also need guidance and support as NOT TO FALL FROM JESUS AND FAITH.
I believe if you abandoned the broken spirit sinner it puts a lot more heavy burden upon them on top of the baggage they're already carrying. Especially if its family, that is very sad. I don't care what faith I become, but as a person that have so much Love for Jehovah God and Jesus, I would not be able to abandon my own child. A mother's heart is not is like that. Christian's always say that Jehovah God is the God of Love and has compassion beyond measures for his children (humans); will always forgive 700 x 7 (your whole life). Well for a Father of Love I don't think that this turning a back (cold treatment) will justify what LOVE IS. Love is PATIENT, Love is KIND, should I go on and on. GOD IS LOVE HE GAVE HIS SON TO GO THROUGH TORTURE THAT IS UNIMAGINEABLE FOR OUR SINS AND DIED FOR US, and Jesus said to love one another as He Loves us. That is how I feel. I am only human like you but I would not have it in my heart to break someone that is already deeply broken.

Answer 8

steervase: Why you don´t prove that is false What JWs preach that Jesus will rule the earth in the near future during 1000 years and will be a great place to live, a paradise full of perfects humans, if JWs lies then you can prove that with a bible, can´t you?

Thai is the main message of the bible, and the one JWs preach. is it false?

Answer 9

It is not that they can't answer any question, and its not that you cant ask it of them, and its not you who can truly determine if JW's "get mad" at what you say or ask, and it is not even the spectacle you and any others may make in the whole scenario that is the most important thing to consider here.
The most important thing to consider if you want to know the truth about anything is how to determine it? do you take a vote? and, is the opinion of one who opposes the truth to be trusted, or is it even worthy of consideration?
Do you get your information about Jesus from Judas of Iscariot?

Answer 10

The operative word is threatened. With so much negative feedback that the Jehovah Witnesses sect has received in the last century, it's little wonder that their adherents will remain defensive... just like any member of any other group that continues to be maligned.

I believe that the problem lies when people begin to have faith in the CHURCH that they belong to, rather than focus on their own spiritual beliefs. They fall into the trap of defending the errors of their elders and founders when, in fact, they should be questioning such blunders themselves... and perhaps see some light in the error of their own church's ways and move on.

Only time will tell.

Peace be with you.