Are doctrinal positions published by the Watchtower organization necessarily a reflection of what Jehovah’s Witnesses actually believe? The answer to this question is an emphatic, no!
A typical researcher of Jehovah’s Witnesses will likely find that answer odd, and perhaps unbelievable, because:
● To the general public the Watchtower organization over and over against pushes itself to the forefront as the authoritative source to know what the community of Jehovah’s Witnesses believes.[1]
● Within the community of Jehovah’s Witnesses the Watchtower organization asserts its authority to the point of directing that members treat what it publishes as the voice of God.[2]
● The typical member of my community of Jehovah’s Witnesses will direct researchers to Watchtower’s published statements as the ultimate authority of what the membership believes.
Regardless of how odd it may sound, it is the case that doctrinal positions published by the Watchtower organization are not necessarily a reflection of what Jehovah’s Witnesses actually believe.
How is this known?
One of the most widely known doctrinal positions taught and enforced by the Watchtower organization is its blood taboo.
Within this doctrine Watchtower takes a position that any blood product—regardless of size, amount or method of consumption—that is derived from “one of the four primary components” of blood is not doctrinally rejected as something Jehovah’s Witnesses would accept. Specifically Watchtower’s position states[3]:
Is that the consensus belief held by Jehovah’s Witnesses? Remarkably, the Watchtower admits in the same journal article[4]:
Hence we have this:
1) On one hand Watchtower teaches that most Jehovah’s Witnesses would reject a product derived from “one of the four primary components” of blood based on similarity of function compared to “one of the four primary components” of blood.
Yet 2) on the other hand Watchtower doctrine does not reject products derived from “one of the four primary components” of blood based on similarity of function compared to “one of the four primary components” of blood.
In other words, the Watchtower organization admits there is disparity between what it asserts as doctrine and what the community of Jehovah’s Witnesses believes. Disparity between what Watchtower teaches compared to what Jehovah's Witnesses actually believe is also manifest in other ways.[5]
Marvin Shilmer
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References:
1. The Watchtower, April 15, 1970, p. 245.
2. The Watchtower, June 15, 1957 p. 375.
3. The Watchtower, June 15, 2004 p. 30.
4. The Watchtower, June 15, 2004 p. 24.
5. See the articles:
Blood — How Resolute?
Watchtower Blood Doctrine Facts
Blood — What Happened at Watchtower in 1945?
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