AboutRobert Jones Expertise Answers on what Jehovah's Witnesses believe and how the beliefs effect relationships with non-Jehovah's Witnesses. How congregations are structured. How elders make decisions. How the organization is run.
I try not to post replies as to what "I" believe. That is not the purpose of this site, in my opinion. Please let the following serve as a general statement of belief for any who are interested. I was raised as a JW and spent 32 years actively promoting the religion, the last 13 years as an elder. I was never "irregular" or "inactive" as the labels go. I have not attended a meeting since October 2000. The last time I was in a Kingdom Hall was at my daughter's wedding in 2001. I saw much "new light" flash forth from the "Faithful and Discreet Slave" from 1968 to 2000, which I embraced and promoted.
I do not believe that any one people (the Jews for example) were selected by God to receive a message or blessing that made them special. I believe that sort of thinking to be same sort of delusion that leads to C. T. Russell type religions where the belief is some version of "We are special, God chose us and therefore not you." I am long past preaching anything or trying to convince anyone of anything. I consider spirituality to be a very personal effort that each person must discover for themselves. I do not believe the Bible to be an inspired book any more so than any other preserved ancient writings such as the Koran and Buddhist writings. I do believe that all these writings contain some universal spiritual truths that stand the test of time. I am amazed where these writings compliment each other about the human condition and the higher, or better, way of existence that is possible for those who allow themselves to become enlightened. I see the Jesus person of the Bible as a great teacher of the enlightened way of living. But I also see these writings as influenced by the culture and history of the people from which they come.
Experience Active Jehovah's Witness for 32 years. Congregation elder 13 years. Pioneer work, Congregation Secretary, Watchtower Study Conductor.
Education/Credentials Degree in Computer Programming. Not applicable here.
Question Recently I asked a question , but for some reason don't get a respond .Mainly my question was about colored people , where they came from ? were they created that way ? In scriptures there are relation of Noah sons that they spread in different directions , for instance Ham went to the regions of Africa . I may only think and speculate that first couple (Adam and Eve )was created in two different colors of their skin and one blond and other brunette . Genetically it is impossible that same color of skin people will reproduce child with different skin color . Is there any explanation on this subject ?
Answer Hi Stan,
To balance your question on where "colored" people came from and were they created that way, in fairness I have to ask "where did white people come from?" and "were white people created that way?" I hope you understand the need for asking the other side of the coin.
Although The Bible gives a short lineage for each of Noah's 3 sons, it has no specific information on where the sons of the 3 sons migrated. A reading of Genesis chapter 10 will verify this. Gen. 10:32 finishes up with "These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood."
Even without specific information in the Bible, most religions, including Jehovah's Witnesses, deduce a very specific belief from vague comments in the Bible. Jehovah's Witnesses are not alone in the belief that between Noah, Noah's wife, the 3 sons and the 3 wives, they contained all the genetic material needed to produce the variety of races represented in the earth today. Furthermore, it is believed that Ham and his wife evidently had the unique combination of genes to produce the dark peoples in the earth. Is there any real evidence of this aside from belief? No. Does this come directly from the Bible? Of course not.
Any explanation requires a measure of speculation and a willingness to believe something as fact when the evidence is slim.
Robert Jones
