jehovah's witnesses

Years ago, l met an elder in the Jehovah's witnesses who would come back to my house every Saturday to discuss various doctrines. He would bring a different elder with him each time who he thought had an in-depth knowledge of the subject. I kept an open mind and listened to what was said, I also researched out the material which they had given me. I even had a copy of their Bible study CD program.

What I found out was very disappointing. It seemed that no matter how thoroughly I backed up a matter with scripture, even quoting only from their own version of the Bible (New World Translation) which was made solely to confirm their own doctrines, it wouldn't change their mind. The old adage, "Don't confuse me with the facts, I've already made up my mind" truly applied to them.

I've talked to people and have corresponded with people who formally were part of the Watchtower Society and heard that they were told that they should not read the Bible for themselves, but just read what they were told to read, otherwise they would end up in error. A typical Christian practice is to read the Bible through in a year. This is something a Witness could not do. It's very disturbing and smacks of brainwashing.

I also asked the elders, who were trying to get me to attend their Bible studies, if I could ask questions during the studies—another common Christian practice—and was told that I couldn't. I could only talk privately to an elder about such matters. Once again, brainwashing comes to mind.

I've asked many Witnesses to go to this web site and challenged them to find something wrong with my reasoning. Never have they said that they would. They are told that people like myself are 'apostate' and not to listen to them, and not to receive any literature from them. If this isn't brainwashing, I don't know what is.

If you are a Witness, ask yourself if Jehovah would want you to accept everything at face value and not question anything, lest you risk being 'disfellowshipped.' Does this sound like the Jehovah of the Bible? Not to me. Isaiah 1:18 says, "Come now, and let us reason together," says Jehovah ..."

Acts 17:11 talking about the Bereans states, "Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so." It doesn't say that someone was telling them which scriptures to study and which to avoid.

Verse 18 talking about Paul says, "So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present." It doesn't state that people couldn't asked questions, but shows a free people who could think for themselves.

Charles Taze Russell, the founder of the Watchtower Society, perjured himself during a deposition. He stated that he was a Greek scholar. When confronted, he couldn't even tell the letters of the Greek alphabet! Is this the man you want to follow? Witnesses will try to brush things of the past under the rug, but it's not a foundation which I would want to build upon, especially when where I'll spend eternity is at stake.