Jehovah’s Witnesses as a group think that non-jws know all the labyrinthine customs of the religion. They think their religion is under a spotlight and that they as individuals are being observed by humans and both good and evil spirits to make sure they are staying faithful. In reality, the cultural norms of the group are little known to outsiders and are not free for insiders to question or challenge.
“Questions from Readers” is a place to clarify acceptable behavior according to jw doctrine or to refute seeming contradictions within the bible.
People wrote in (presumably, though how would we really know, they could have been questions planted by the organization) and someone from the magazine’s writing committee would answer.
The topics are incredibly wide ranging. And since they are published in Watchtower, they become canonical doctrine and precedent. I’m interested not in the questions asking for clarity in scriptural interpretation. When they get into questions about things NOT specifically mentioned in the bible (which is, like, every part of modern life), that’s when things get interesting to me.
Here’s an example from an anonymous asker in 1977
This question is quite different from the last one I wrote about, and its advice is fine, though loaded with biblical justification.
No, for the Bible shows that humans have the authority and responsibility to decide if, when and how to end an animal’s life. […] God’s Word specifically advises His worshipers to care for animals, to avoid being cruel to them.—Prov. 12:10.
The writers of this answer don’t have to embellish their argument with historical examples beyond what guidelines they have from the bible: you may kill animals; don’t subject them to cruelty; don’t kill for sport. Ultimately their answer boils down to: humans are superior to animals and exercise dominion over them, you may choose when to end your pet’s life.
I’m working on a longer post about the role of pets in jw life, and it is becoming very long. Here’s a quote from this same Question that hints at some of the odd views about pets that jw leadership has codified as doctrine:
Whereas in Biblical times animals were mainly viewed from a utilitarian viewpoint, many persons today keep animals for pets. This often seems to involve a desire for companionship. Many persons develop strong emotional ties with their pet. So it may bring emotional pain to think of taking the life of a pet that has become very old, somewhat enfeebled or perhaps sick.
Pets are not disallowed, but the robotic and unsentimental description of pet companionship makes those individuals sound strange and alien for having and wanting that relationship with non-human animals.
Also, again, by its placement in The Watchtower, this is jw doctrine from 1977 forward. Certainly I could be wrong, but I don’t believe other mainstream faith groups give “guidance” on topics such as this which then becomes dogma for millions of people.
I’m laying the groundwork for a discussion of this, which was also something that my parents told me when I was a kid.
But we can’t dive right into the deep end that this post reveals without a lot of context. The posts I intend to write about jw beliefs and pets will lead us up to this.
If you find this entire question, answer, and justification baffling, then congratulations! You’ve never been a member of a high-control group that dictates your behavior down to the smallest cultural norm.
I do intend this post, and those that will follow, to be funny. For those of us on the outside it is easy to see the humor. However, the people who wrote this were (and are) deadly serious about reforming the thoughts of their members. This will also become more evident as I continue writing posts like these.
