05-15-2012, 06:04 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-15-2012, 06:23 PM by Tenet Nosce.)
(05-15-2012, 05:20 PM)Bring4th_Monica Wrote: Absolutely. BUT, if they seek us out, then they are, on some level, choosing our input. A Jehovah's Witness knocking on my door is inviting my opinion, not asking to be left alone. If s/he wanted to be left alone, s/he wouldn't be knocking on my door.
Interesting selection for an example! Jehovah's Witnesses being the quintessential "substitute an external spiritual authority for your own" type of religion- replete with an entire array of rules and "Thou shalt nots" (beyond those already dictated by our good friend up on the mount) which must be strictly obeyed lest one risk "Disfellowship" such as: premarital or extramarital sex, using alcohol excessively, using tobacco products, celebrating Christmas, reciting the pledge of allegiance, joining the military, speaking to a disfellowshipped Witness, reading religious material not published by the organization, or running for political office just to name a few. Witnesses hold a quite unshakeable confidence that all these acts are gravely injurious to the soul!
It's much too dangerous to live under the mere guidance of one's own conscience and intuition, what with Satan lurking around every corner!

Oh- and it's not enough to simply follow the rules oneself, but it is additionally one's duty to basically spy on their fellow Witnesses to make sure THEY aren't breaking the rules, and if they are, it is of course one of the rules to report anybody who is breaking the rules to the "Governing Body".
All of these rules and regulations are of course set by the "Governing Body" of "spirit-anointed ones" who are the sole instruments of God- and thus know better than everybody else as to the proper way to live one's life and that there is no other way to be "saved" except to fully accept and follow their spiritual authority. But even then it might not work, as salvation is earned through the "Grace of God" alone, and well, you know, God is kind of a fickle and unforgiving type, and besides there are only so many spots in "Heaven".
Quote:"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." -- The Watchtower
I can't help but wonder if anybody, anywhere, left to their own devices would be internally guided to go knocking on people's doors in order to spread the "Good Word". I put that in quotes because it seems the "Good Word" seems to revolve around little more than promulgating the near endless sets of rules and regulations that one has subjected oneself to, in hopes of earning "salvation".
I also can't help but wonder what exactly goes down if a Jehovah's Witness knocks on your door! It must be entertaining as all get-out!!
