War of words breaks out among Jehovah's Witnesses

[Greybeard]

Taken from here: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...s-2361448.html

Attack on 'mentally diseased' worshippers who leave church provokes outcry

By Jerome Taylor, Religious Affairs Correspondent

Tuesday, 27 September 2011

The official magazine for Jehovah's Witnesses has described those who leave the church as "mentally diseased", prompting an outcry from former members and insiders concerned about the shunning of those who question official doctrine.


An article published in July's edition of The Watchtower warns followers to stay clear of "false teachers" who are condemned as being "mentally diseased" apostates who should be avoided at all costs. "Suppose that a doctor told you to avoid contact with someone who is infected with a contagious, deadly disease," the article reads. "You would know what the doctor means, and you would strictly heed his warning. Well, apostates are 'mentally diseased', and they seek to infect others with their disloyal teachings."

A copy of the magazine, distributed by Jehovah's Witnesses around the world, was given to The Independent by a current member of the church who has become unhappy with official teaching but is afraid to leave for fear of losing his family.

"Many like me remain associated with the Witnesses out of fear of being uncovered as an 'apostate' and ousted, not just from the organisation, but from their own friends and families," said the man, who would only give the name John. "I find I am now branded as 'mentally diseased' – giving any who discover my true beliefs free licence to treat me with disdain."

As a faith with a centralised leadership, many forms of discipline are used to counter criticism of doctrine, with punishments ranging from restriction of official duties to excommunication. Those who have been thrown out of the church often find themselves ostracised by fellow believers.

A growing number of former and current Witnesses have begun to argue that the church's use of the word "mentally diseased" to describe defectors could be in breach of Britain's religious hatred laws. A group of former Witnesses in Portsmouth have now made an official complaint to Hampshire Police about the article and police are currently investigating.

Angus Robertson, a former Witness "elder" from Hampshire, who was present at the meeting with police officers, said: "The way scripture is being used to bully people must be challenged. If a religion was preaching that blacks or gays were mentally diseased there would understandable outrage."

Critics are also considering whether to complain to the Charity Commission. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Britain, which prints church doctrine in the UK, is a registered charity.

Rick Fenton, a spokesperson for the Watchtower Society, insisted last night that ostracisation was "a personal matter for each individual to decide for himself". "Any one of Jehovah's Witnesses is free to express their feelings and to ask questions," he said. "If a person changes their mind about Bible-based teachings they once held dear, we recognise their right to leave."

The offending article

* Taken from 'Will you heed Jehovah's warnings?' The Watchtower, 15 July 2011

"Jehovah, the Great Physician, tells us to avoid contact with them. We know what he means, but are we determined to heed his warning in all respects? What is involved in avoiding false teachers? We do not receive them into our homes or greet them. We also refuse to read their literature, watch television programmes that feature them, examine their websites, or add our comments to their blogs. Why do we take such a firm stand?

"Because of love. We love 'the God of truth', so we are not interested in twisted teachings that contradict his Word of truth."


You can get a PDF of this Watchtower 15 July 2011 article here: http://www.jw.org/index.html?option=QrYQCsVrGZNT / Chose July

This article was studied by all Jehovah's Witnesses world wide on 9 /11 /2011. They mention nothing of the attack on the USA on 9/11 but consider this the real emergency.

This is a hate crime. Please copy and e-mail to all your friends and family especially any JW you know.

[guestman]

The apostle Paul wrote: "If any man teaches other doctrine and does not assent to healthful words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, nor to the teaching that accords with godly devotion, he is puffed up [with pride], not understanding anything, but being mentally diseased (Greek noseo meaning "to be sick, i.e.(by implication, of a diseased appetite) to hanker after, G3552, Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible; "to have a morbid fondness for", Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament) over questionings and debates about words. From these things spring envy, strife, abusive speeches, wicked suspicions, violent disputes about trifles on the part of men corrupted in mind and despoiled of the truth, thinking that godly devotion is a means of gain."(1 Tim 6:3-5)

The Watchtower issue of July 15, 2011, was in harmony with the apostle Paul's warning, in which those who teach "other doctrine and does not assent to healthful words....(being) puffed up [with pride], not understanding anything, but being mentally diseased", should be avoided. If a person has a deadly contagious disease, what is the wise course ? To stay away from this person. For those who disregard such wisdom, these often acquire the disease themselves.

At 2 Timothy 2, Paul gave two examples who left the Christian congregation, saying to "shun empty speeches that violate what is holy; for they will advance to more and more ungodliness, and their word will spread like gangrene. Hy·me·nae´us and Phi·le´tus are of that number. These very [men] have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already occurred; and they are subverting the faith of some."(2 Tim 2:16-18)

Paul continues, saying that "For all that, the solid foundation of God stays standing, having this seal: “Jehovah knows those who belong to him (at Numbers 16:5),” and: “Let everyone naming the name of Jehovah renounce unrighteousness (at Zephaniah 3:13).” Hence, the one true God, Jehovah, knows those who remain loyal to him, ' belonging to him', those who "renounce unrighteousness." Hanani told King Asa: "For, as regards Jehovah, his eyes are roving about through all the earth to show his strength in behalf of those whose heart is complete toward him."( 2 Chron 16:9)

Paul wrote to Titus: "But shun foolish questionings and genealogies and strife and fights over the Law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man that promotes a sect, reject him after a first and a second admonition; knowing that such a man has been turned out of the way and is sinning, he being self-condemned."(Titus 3:9-11) Those who argue with the "truth" will eventually be removed from the Christian congregation, for these are "mentally diseased over questionings and debates about words."

[PneumaPsucheSoma]

Pots and Kettles calling each other dark color shades is irrelevant.

[gringo300]

The more I learn about the Jehovah's Witness religion, the lower opinion of it I have.

If this doesn't qualify as a cult, what DOES?

[ReigningKing]

Cult: A religion that claims to practice orthodox Christianity, yet denies one or more of the fundamental tenants of Christendom.

[David Taylor]

Cult: A religion that claims to practice orthodox Christianity, yet denies one or more of the fundamental tenants of Christendom.

And I think the track record on just about any and all of these 'fundamental tenants of Christendom' usually boils down to a belief that in some form or fashion diminishes either the eternal deity of Jesus Christ as God Almighty, and/or His unique accomplishments in paying in full the price for the sins of man.

I can't think of any 'cult' that doesn't in some way or other at it's core, launch a deliberate attack on the true Jesus Christ of the Bible, or attempt to make the true Jesus into a false diminished 'other' jesus of that cult or it's leader's making.