Jehovah's Witnesses & Independent Thinking

Are Jehovah’s Witnesses allowed for Indipendent Thinking?

Let’s get the answer directly from the leaders (The Faithful and discreet slave)

The Watchtower  15 Sept 1982

Be Obedient to Those Taking the Lead

Why Appreciate Their Service?

¹³ In the world, there is a tendency to reject leadership. As one lecturer said: “The rising education level has improved the talent pool such that followers have become so critical that they are almost impossible to lead.” But a spirit of independent thinking does not prevail in God’s organization, and we have sound reasons for confidence in the men taking the lead among us.

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The Watchtower 15 January 1983 

Exposing the Devil’s Subtle Designs

Avoid Independent Thinking

How is such independent thinking manifested? A common way is by questioning the counsel that is provided by God’s visible organization....

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The Watchtower 15 January 1983 

Armed for the Fight Against Wicked Spirits

Fight Against Independent Thinking

Yet there are some who point out that the organization has had to make adjustments before, and so they argue: “This shows that we have to make up our own mind on what to believe.” This is independent thinking. Why is it so dangerous?

Such thinking is an evidence of pride.

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The Watchtower 15 July 2006

Focus on the Goodness of Jehovah’s Organization

“This Speech Is Shocking”

In modern times, a very small number among God’s people have become disgruntled with some aspect of Christian teaching and have murmured against the earthly part of Jehovah’s organization. Why does this happen? Such murmuring is often caused by a lack of understanding of God’s way of doing things. The Creator progressively reveals the truth to his people. Hence, our understanding of the Scriptures is bound to be refined from time to time. The vast majority of Jehovah’s people rejoice over such refinements. A few become “righteous overmuch” and resent the changes. (Ecclesiastes 7:16) Pride may play a role, and some fall into the trap of independent thinking. Whatever the reason, such murmuring is hazardous, since it can draw us back into the world and its ways.

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The Watchtower 1 January 2006  

Seeking Righteousness Will Protect Us

Beware of an Independent Spirit

In the world today, many are “headstrong, puffed up with pride,” and some Christians have been influenced by that way of thinking. Some have even become opposers of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:4; Philippians 3:18) When it comes to pure worship, it is vital that we look to Jehovah for direction and cooperate with “the faithful and discreet slave”(The GB J) and the congregation elders. That is a way to seek righteousness, and it protects us from developing an independent spirit. (Matthew 24:45-47; Psalm 25:9, 10; Isaiah 30:21) The congregation of the anointed is “a pillar and support of the truth.” Jehovah has provided it to protect and guide us. (1 Timothy 3:15) Recognizing its vital role will help us to ‘do nothing out of egotism’ as we humbly submit to Jehovah’s righteous will.—Philippians 2:2-4; Proverbs 3:4-6.

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Jehovah's Witnesses & Information Control

Our Kingdom Ministry September 2007

Question Box

 Does “the faithful and discreet slave” endorse independent groups of Witnesses who meet together to engage in Scriptural research or debate?—Matt. 24:45, 47.

No, it does not. And yet, in various parts of the world, a few associates of our organization have formed groups to do independent research on Bible-related subjects. Some have pursued an independent group study of Biblical Hebrew and Greek so as to analyze the accuracy of the New World Translation.

Others explore scientific subjects related to the Bible. They have created Web sites and chat rooms for the purpose of exchanging and debating their views. They have also held conferences and produced publications to present their findings and to supplement what is provided at our Christian meetings and through our literature.

Thus, “the faithful and discreet slave” does not endorse any literature, meetings, or Web sites that are not produced or organized under its oversight.

For those who wish to do extra Bible study and research, we recommend that they explore Insight on the Scriptures, “All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial,” and our other publications, such as those that discuss the prophecies found in the Bible books of Daniel, Isaiah, and Revelation.

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The Watchtower organization does not Allow its associates to do independent studies, from Books & literature that are not published under the over site of its Governing Body this is Total Information Control

Jehovah's Witnesses & Shunning

How are Jehovah’s witnesses instructed to treat a Disfellowshipped or Disassociated Person?

Let’s get the answer from the Leaders ( The faithful and descreet slave)

Keep yourselves in God Love (2008)

How to treat a Disfellowshipped Person

How should we treat a disfellowshipped person?

.... We do not have spiritual or social fellowship with disfellowshipped ones. “A simple ‘Hello’ to someone can be the first step that develops into a conversation and maybe even a friendship. Would we want to take that first step with a disfellowshiped person?”

What if a relative is disfellowshipped? In such a case, the close bond between family members can pose a real test of loyalty. How should we treat a disfellowshipped relative?

Loyal Christian family members do not look for excuses to have dealings with a disfellowshipped relative not living at home. Rather, loyalty to Jehovah and his organization moves them to uphold the Scriptural arrangement of disfellowshipping

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The watchtower 15 Sep 1981

THOSE WHO DISASSOCIATE THEMSELVES

One who has been a true Christian might renounce the way of the truth, stating that he no longer considers himself to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses or wants to be known as one....

Persons who make themselves “not of our sort” by deliberately rejecting the faith and beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses should appropriately be viewed and treated as are those who have been disfellowshiped for wrongdoing.

The elders would then make a brief announcement of his disassociation so that the congregation will know that he “went out from us.”(1 John 2:19) They then will adhere to the inspired injunction ‘not to receive such a one into their homes or say a greeting to him, so as not to become sharers in his wicked works.’—2 John 10, 11. (The watchtower 1-July-1984 Questions From Readers)

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Thanks to these twisted teachings, myself and many others are no longer welcomed in homes of family members nor greeted, because we left the watchtower organization and no longer support its teachings

Jehovah's Witnesses & Organ Transplants

Did you know that for 13 years, from 1967 to 1980, Jehova’switnesses were told by there leaders (the faithful and discreet slave) Not to accept organ transplant and Those who submit to such operations were violating god’s law?

Here is the evidence !

Watchtower November 15, 1967

Questions from Readers

Is there any Scriptural objection to donating one’s body for use in medical research or to accepting organs for transplant from such a source?—W. L., U.S.A.

.....When there is a diseased or defective organ, the usual way health is restored is by taking in nutrients. The body uses the food eaten to repair or heal the organ, gradually replacing the cells. When men of science conclude that this normal process will no longer work and they suggest removing the organ and replacing it directly with an organ from another human, this is simply a shortcut. Those who submit to such operations are thus living off the flesh of another human. That is cannibalistic.....

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Awake!, June 8 1968, Page 21

“Christian witnesses of Jehovah... consider all transplants between humans as cannibalism.”

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Awake!, July 8 1972, page 28

And here again, it might be noted, that the stand of the Christian witnesses of Jehovah—that such transplants are in effect a form of cannibalism—proved a safeguard......

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Then in 1980 the Leaders (the faithful and discreet slave) changed there minds!

Watchtower March 15, 1980,

Questions from Readers

Should congregation action be taken if a baptized Christian accepts a human organ transplant, such as of a cornea or a kidney?

Regarding the transplantation of human tissue or bone from one human to another, this is a matter for conscientious decision by each one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Some Christians might feel that taking into their bodies any tissue or body part from another human is cannibalistic......

Other sincere Christians today may feel that the Bible does not definitely rule out medical transplants of human organs. While the Bible specifically forbids consuming blood, there is no Biblical command pointedly forbidding the taking in of other human tissue.