A popular Mexican saying goes that "having a good relationship with God, you can put angels aside." This saying is applied to labor relations to imply that as long as someone has a good relationship with the top managers of the hierarchy, the middle managers can be...
All Topics > Jehovah’s Witnesses
The Origin and Nature of the Doctrine of Christ’s Parousia as an Invisible Presence
What is the origin of the Jehovah’s Witness Doctrine on the invisible presence of Christ and the secret rapture?
Confessing Christ
From time to time there have been those who have used the commenting feature of Beroean Pickets to promote the idea that we must take a public stand and renounce our association with the Organization of Jehovah's Witnesses. They will cite scriptures like Revelation...
To Whom Do You Belong?
To whom do you belong? Which God do you obey? For just the one to whom you bow Your master is; you serve him now. You cannot serve two gods; Both masters cannot share The love of your heart in its ev’ry part. To neither you’d be fair. (Ssb song 207) To whom do we, as...
The Mandatory Reporting Red Herring
One of our commenters put forward a defense for the position of Jehovah's Witnesses regarding the mandatory reporting of child abuse cases. Coincidently, a good friend of mine gave me the identical defense. I believe it reflects the standard belief among Jehovah's...
Christianity, Inc.
I recently shared a link to Brother Geoffrey Jackson’s testimony before the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse with a couple of JW friends. I went out of my way not to be negative or challenging. I...
A Free Association
[Author: Alex Rover, Editor: Andere Stimme] On February 9, 2014, just over a year ago, I wrote to Meleti: I'd enjoy a forum like the well moderated jwtalk.net but with the liberty to put scripture before organization as the main difference. But it's a lot of work to...
The Slow Crumbling of Credibility
[This article was contributed by Andere Stimme] A few years ago, when the Book Study arrangement was canceled, some friends of mine and I were discussing our theories as to why. It went without saying that the real reason was not one of the ones in the letter, and it...
Esther: The Undercover Queen
[This article was contributed by Alex Rover] When we learn that our religious leaders have not always been honest with us, that certain teachings are squarely against what Scripture teach, and that following such teachings may actually lead us away from God, then what...
WT Study: "You Are My Witnesses"
Theme Text: “’You are my witnesses,’ declares Jehovah” – Isa. 43:10” This is the first of a two-part study intended apparently to reinforce our belief in the divine origin of our name, Jehovah’s Witnesses. Paragraph 2 states: “By giving this witness work our priority,...
Are We Engaged in a Life-Saving Preaching Work?
I was raised believing we are preaching a life-saving message. This isn't in the sense of salvation from sin and death, but in the sense of salvation from eternal destruction at Armageddon. Our publications liken it to the message of Ezekiel, and we are warned that...
Do Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in Jesus?
The May 1, 2014 public edition of the Watchtower asks this question as the title of its third article. A secondary question in the table of contents asks, “If they do, why don’t they call themselves Jesus’ witnesses?” The second question is never really answered in...
Our One True Name
In my daily Bible reading this jumped out at me: "However, let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or a wrongdoer or a busybody in other people’s matters.16 But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but let him keep on glorifying God...
Membership Has Its Privileges
[There are some insightful and thought-provoking comments under the post “The Devil’s Great Con Job” which got me thinking about what congregation membership really entails. This post is the result.] “Membership has its privileges.” This is not only the advertising...
Innocent Doves and Cautious Serpents
There have been quite a few excellent comments made under Apollos’ post, “An Illustration” about the situation many are facing in the congregation as they make their newfound knowledge known to others. An innocent , newly converted Jehovah’s Witness might not think...
Remember Those Who Instructed You
When we have doubts about some teaching in our publications, we have been encouraged to remember from whom we have learned all the wonderful truths from the Bible that have come to distinguish us. For example, God’s name and purpose and the truth about death and the...
The Annual Meeting and the NWT Edition 2013
Well, the annual meeting is behind us. Many of the brothers and sisters are very excited with the new Bible. It is a beautiful piece of printing, no doubt. We have not had much time to review it, but what we have seen so far seems positive for the most part. It is a...
C.T. Russell Hits Too Close to Home
Apollos forwarded this extract from Studies in Scriptures, Volume 3, pages 181 to 187. In these pages, brother Russell reasons on the effects of sectarianism. As witnesses, we may read this superb example of clear, concise writing and think how well it applies to...
A Disturbing Trend
A number of you have been writing in of late to discuss what you perceive as a disturbing trend. It appears to some that there is undue attention being focussed on the Governing Body. We are a free people. We avoid creature worship and disdain men who seek...
What is the Role of Holy Spirit in Doctrinal Development?
[This was originally a comment made by Gedalizah. However, given its nature and the call for additional commenting, I have made it into a post, since this will get more traffic and result in an increased interchange in thoughts and ideas. - Meleti ] The...
All Things Causing Stumbling
Some have come to question our motivation in sponsoring this forum. In striving for a deeper understanding of important Bible topics, we have often come to be at odds with the established doctrine published by the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Because there...
To Whom Shall We Go Away?
When Jesus shocked the crowds, and apparently his disciples, with his speech about their needing to eat his flesh and drink his blood, only a few remained. Those few faithful ones hadn’t understood the meaning of his words any more than the rest had, but they stuck...
Wolves in Sheep's Clothing
Jomaix’s comment got me thinking about the pain that elders can cause when they abuse their power. I don’t pretend to know the situation that Jomaix’s brother is going through, nor am I in a position to pass judgment. However, there are many other situations...
Avoid Testing Jehovah in Your Heart
Something extremely troubling happened yesterday in the Friday sessions of this year’s district convention. Now, I have been going to district conventions for over 60 years. Most of my better, life-altering decisions—pioneering, serving where the need is greater—have...
Jehovah's Witnesses vs. Nazi Germany – 75th Anniversary
Let's give credit where credit is due. We were among the first, if not the very first, to know and denounce Hitler and the Nazis for what they were. We did this fearlessly and unflinchingly. While the current Pope was training as one of the Hitler youth, we were...
A Short History of Independent Thinking
[Some years back, a good friend shared this research with me and I wanted to make it available here as I thought it might be beneficial for some. - Meleti Vivlon] Independent thinking is a term I've always disliked. One reason is the way it could be perceived by...
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