Help is this true??????

by finger 22 Replies latest jw friends

  • blondie
    blondie

    Answers filtered through my personal experience over 45 plus years as a JW in several states>

    1. Jehovah God is not a Trinity
    2. The doctrine of the Trinity is inspired by Satan
    3. Jesus Christ is a created being, who at one time did not exist (a.k.a.Michael the archangel)
    4. The Holy Spirit is not a person but is "God's active force" i.e. gravity, electricity etc.
    5. Heaven is only for select Jehovah's Witnesses
    6. Heaven is limited only to 144,000 Jehovah's Witnesses
    7. Jehovah's Witnesses are the only true Christians
    8. There is no Hell (It is simply the grave)
    9. There is no life after death (except for the 144,000)
    10. Salvation is by good works not by Grace
    11. You cannot be sure of salvation
    12. Jesus is not to be worshiped or prayed to
    13. Jesus did not rise from the dead bodily but as a spirit being
    14. You are discouraged from attending college

    15. The "first resurrection" occurred in 1918 (initially, this was said to have happened in 1878) 16. All pastors are the "Antichrist"
    17. All churches are of Satan
    18. All governments are controlled by Satan
    19. You cannot take a blood transfusion 20. You cannot be a police officer (if you carry a gun. If you work in a jail or prison where guards do not carry guns, then it is permissible.) 21. You cannot salute the flag, stand for the national anthem, or own a flag (but you can raise and lower the flag if it is just part of your job, such as custodian at a school)22. You cannot serve in the military 23. You cannot buy girl Scout cookies (this is a personal decision)
    24. You must attend five meetings per week
    (this is strongly encouraged, but attendance is not taken and illiness, occasionally work overtime, are excused) 25. Jesus'second coming occurred in 1914 (only known to Jehovah's Witnesses)(actual Jesus? second presence was originally taught as happening in 1874) 26. You cannot marry a non-Jehovah's Witness (you can marry a nonJW, but you may be removed if an elder, ministerial servant, pioneer, and any other special privileges may be taken away. A special talk may be given at the service meeting about the dangers of marrying nonJWs but without using the name of the person who has done so. The congregation will be encouraged to shun that person except for spiritual activities such as the field ministry) 27. If one does not follow the rules of the Watchtower they will be shunned (if this were completely true, everyone would be shunned; if this means disfellowshipping, certain so-called "gross" sins are meant, such as adultery, fornication, smoking, etc.) 28. You cannot read Christian literature from a Christian book store
    29. You cannot be a cheerleader (this is strongly discouraged)30. You cannot celebrate any holidays (Christmas, Easter, etc.)
    31. You cannot celebrate your birthday
    32. You cannot run for or hold a political office
    33. You cannot vote in any political campaign 34. You cannot serve on a jury (this is a personal decision) 35. You are discouraged from giving to charity (except Watchtower causes)
    36. You cannot speak to former members who are shunned (disfellowshipped) 37. You cannot accept Christmas gifts (this is a personal decision, ones who accept them do not advertise it) 38. You must read and study Watchtower literature regularly 39. Only Jehovah's Witnesses can understand the Bible (actually the WT teaches that only the "faithful and discreet slave" understands the Bible and explains it to the rest of the JWs in the WT publication) 40. Angels direct the Watchtower organization
    41. Jesus did not die on a cross but an upright pole
    42. You cannot own or wear a cross
    43. You must report your witnessing activity to the elders
    44. You must go from door to door weekly to gain converts 45. You cannot have friends who are not Jehovah's Witnesses (any nonJW contacts are considered acquaintances. It is understood that you will have some contact with workmates, schoolmates, and nonJW relatives and neighbors.) 46. You must refer to all Jehovah's Witnesses as "brother" or "sister" 47. You cannot play chess* (when chess was popular some JWs felt this way. I never felt it was the official WTS policy to forbid it; it was frowned upon and discouraged. Nowadays, nobody seems to notice or care) 48. You cannot understand the Bible without Watchtower literature to explain it
    49. A child abuser is reported to Watchtower elders and not the police 50. You must forgo vacations to attend annual conventions (This is true if you have limited vacation. JWs with more than 1 week of vacation, do go other places for recreation.) 51. You are discouraged from buying a two door car-A "Theocratic" or "spiritually strong" Jehovah's Witness will have a full size car for the door to door work (This was only true in my area if the 2-door car was sporty. If it was a matter of cost, being cheaper, 2 door cars were acceptable.) 52. Men cannot wear beards 53. Men must wear short hair (but cannot shave their heads bald) 54. Women cannot pray in the presence of men without a hat (sisters cannot pray in the presence of a baptized male JW unless that person is unable to do so perhaps restricted from doing some because of being recently reinstated or reproved publicly or privately for serious wrongdoing.) 55. You cannot have a tattoo 56. You forbidden to use any tobacco products (this is a disfellowshipping offense) 57. Only officially approved sexual practices are allowed in marriage (assuming you do not discuss your sexual practices publicly even with close friends or family, the elders will know nothing since they are not supposed to ask. Will elders ask anyway? Sure, they disobey the WTS every chance they get. Just lie if they ask) 58. You must appear before a Judicial committee if you are caught breaking Watchtower rules (Secret files are kept on all members which record these meetings-these files are kept in New York and are never destroyed) 59. You must not own wind-chimes (they are for chasing away evil spirits)* (this is a personal decision; if you live in an area where wind chimes have no spirit association and you won?t "stumble" someone in the congregation, then go ahead. Actually, the drive your neighbors nuts, another source of evil spirits.) 60. You cannot read any anti-Jehovah's Witness material 61. You cannot use pet foods made with blood or blood products (this is correct; also you cannot use any plant fertilizer made from blood) 62. You cannot join any clubs or sports teams (this is strongly discouraged but is not a disfellowhipping offense)
    63. You cannot wear jade jewelry* (never heard of this; is this a wind chimes one?)
    64. You cannot purchase Christian products (books, music, plaques, pictures etc.)
    65. You cannot wear any Christian jewelry 66. Jehovah's Witness meeting places have no windows (Some don??t; some do. Due to vandalism, or the additional cost of windows in a building project, some kingdom halls don?t have windows. The city I live in has over 12 KHs, half with windows, half without.) 67. If you see another Jehovah's Witness breaking the rules you must turn them in to the elders to be interrogated 68. Jesus could have sinned and failed in his mission (I have never heard this one) 69. Jesus was not born the savior but became the savior at his baptism (this is true in spite of Luke 2:10,11)
    70. The Watchtower organization is God's prophet on earth today 71. Women must submit to Watchtower elders (Technically, if married, female JWs must submit to their husbands first, JW or nonJW. Single female JWs living at home must submit to their father?s headship. JW or nonJW. Single female JWs living on their own scriptually have only one head, Christ. Of course, that doesn?t stop the elders from throwing their weight around.) 72. You cannot support your country
    73. One must study Watchtower books at least six months before he can be baptized 74. Before baptism, one must answer over 80 questions in front of a panel of elders (actually it is over 120 now) 75. Most of The Book of Revelation applies to the Jehovah's Witnesses
    76. You cannot celebrate Mothers or Fathers day (it may produce pride) 77. Kingdom Halls cannot have pews for seating (for that I am grateful, pews are pretty darn hard) 78. JWs are are fobidden to say "good luck" 79. God is not omniscient "all knowing" (God is omniscient but not omnipresent) 80. God is not omnipresent (see#79) 81. God only speaks through the "Governing Body" in Brooklyn, New York 82. The Holy Spirit is only for select Jehovah's Witnesses (actually the holy spirit is given in equal measure to each JW but works differently on each one, e.g., only those of the 144,000 are anointed by holy spirit) 83. The Lord's supper is only to be eaten by select Jehovah's Witnesses (144,000 group-99.99% of Jehovah's Witnesses are forbidden from taking the Lord's supper)
    84. The Lord's supper can only be offered once per year
    85. JWs in times of crisis, are strongly discouraged from consulting with family counselors, including mental health professionals who are not Jehovah's Witnesses
    86. Only faithful Jehovah's Witnesses will survive Armageddon 87. If you have a non-Witness spouse your first loyalty is to the elders over your spouse (technically only in spiritual matters, worship) 88. Jesus was equal to Adam (just a man)(a PERFECT man) 89. Judgment day is 1000 years long
    90. If you leave Jehovah's Witnesses or are expelled from the organization you will not be resurrected 91. Only Jehovah's Witness prayers are heard by God (unless they are praying for JWs to call on them, knowingly or unknowingly) 92. Man's salvation is secondary in God's plan; Jesus was sent to "vindicate Jehovah's name" 93. God will destroy all non-Jehovah's Witnesses at armageddon (and a few unfaithful JWs) 94. You forbidden to say "God bless you" when someone sneezes. 95. You must never enter a church building (it is possible to go to a wedding or a funeral in a church if you do not participate in any customs or no JW in your area is "stumbled") 96. You must never attend a church service (see #95) 97. You cannot be involved in martial arts, boxing or wrestling 98. You cannot participate in a school play (this is strongly discouraged but is not outrightly forbidden) 99. You cannot donate blood or your organs when you die (it is permissible to donate and accept organ transplants as long as no blood transfusions are administered) 100. You can never question what is printed in Watchtower literature
    101. You are forbidden to attend a funeral of an ex-Jehovah's Witness

  • mrs rocky2
    mrs rocky2

    Re: Voting
    I recall a conversation with my sister after the WT article on voting was published. In her congregation, shortly after the article, a part was given by the CO which discussed voting. My impression was that voting is only permissable in countries where you risk losing your life by not making the trip to the polling place...and Witnesses were encouraged to vote neutrally even with that. So, in the USA you risk being DF'd if you register to vote as we are not at risk of losing our lives.

  • Gozz
    Gozz

    14. You are discouraged from attending college
    ******Largely true, but this is changing; depends on where you live; in certain places, people attending colleges are neither shunned nor discouraged, nor are others who indicate they will directly. The WTS however spews out rhetoric encouraging youths to dedicate their life to "service to God", or serving as full-time servants of the WTS


    28. You cannot read Christian literature from a Christian book store
    **** You shouldn't. But you may read excerpts from such books from WTS magazines, as filtered by WT writers; the writers of Awake! and Watchtower and other WTS books are allowed to read such during "research".

    36. You cannot speak to former members who are shunned (disfellowshipped)
    *****You may not, except if they are minors and/or very close family members living at home.

    44. You must go from door to door weekly to gain converts.
    ***** Not necessarily. what's important is to be able to give a written report that you have "preached" within, usually, a month.


    49. A child abuser is reported to Watchtower elders and not the police
    ***** Not necessarily. YOu may choose to report a child abuser to the police; the WTS encourages that a first report be made to the elders, especially if the abuser is one of Jehovahs' Witnesses.

    52. Men cannot wear beards.
    **** Depends on where you live. A man wearing a beard may not get "responsibilities" in the congregation.

    53. Men must wear short hair (but cannot shave their heads bald)
    ***** Almost correct. Men may not wear their hair long. You may shave your head bald if you're a man with a really good (bad :)) balding head; you're encouraged not to look "different" from the rest.

    60. You cannot read any anti-Jehovah's Witness material
    ***** Could be a disfellowshipping offence, depending on what you explain your motive to be, and your reaction/behaviour after it is known.

    100. You can never question what is printed in Watchtower literature

    **** Not exactly. You may politely ask elders about it; you may write to the WTS about it; but you may not discuss contentious issues with several others. You may have to do what the WT literature says before there is any official change.

    My 2cents. :)

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