About Brandon Harper Expertise I was raised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses and was baptized for 21 years. I was a 4th generation Jehovah's Witness both paternally and maternally and am qualified to answer many questions regarding doctrine, doctrinal changes, historical basis for various doctrines, as well as offer rebuttal responses from the perspective of a former Jehovah's Witness. I can also answer questions from the perspective of an ardent Jehovah's Witness.
Experience I am 33 years old, became a publisher and gave my first public talk at age 4, was baptized at age 12, became an inactive publisher at age 32, and disassociated myself at age 33. My father has served as a congregation servant/elder continuously from the age of 17 on. Of my 9 uncles, 6 are elders. Of my 9 aunts, four are regular pioneers. My father is the presiding overseer of a congregation. When I began seriously investigating this religion I had to prepare for conversations with a very large extended family steeped in the history and doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses. I have thoroughly studied many Watchtower Society publications that most Jehovah's Witnesses have never even read, if they have heard of them at all, seeking the origins of various doctrinal points. I knew I would need to have this knowledge to discuss the issues in detail with my family when I decided to disassociate myself.
Education/Credentials I read every Watchtower and Awake! magazine from at least age 8 through age 32. According to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society I have the equivalent of several four-year degrees (Reference available on request). I would hope that education would qualify me as an expert.
Question I am a JW also and can't seem to get an truthful answer from anyone and the elders don't like anyone asking too many questions.
Answer Joe,
Good question, although some might at first wonder why it would be asked at all.
As I am sure you are aware voluntarily attaching oneself to any organization that is deemed to be under judgment by Jehovah God is punishable by excommunication as a one who has disassociated themselves. This principle is found in the publications Organized to Do Jehovah's Will (2005) and Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry (1983).
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*** Organized to Do Jehovah's Will (2005) p. 155, par. 2 ***
Concerning those who renounced their Christian faith in his day, the apostle John wrote: “They went out from us, but they were not of our sort; for if they had been of our sort, they would have remained with us.” (1 John 2:19) For example, a person might renounce his place in the Christian congregation by his actions, such as by becoming part of a secular organization that has objectives contrary to the Bible and, hence, is under judgment by Jehovah God. (Isa. 2:4; Rev. 19:17-21) If a person who is a Christian chooses to join those who are disapproved by God, a brief announcement is made to the congregation, stating: “[Name of person] is no longer one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” Such a person is treated in the same way as a disfellowshipped person. The presiding overseer should approve this announcement.
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To begin answering your question I must start by clarifying that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. was never joined to the United Nations. The Watchtower Society is a non-profit company, not a governmental organization. As such, they cannot join the UN.
However, they did apply to join the United Nations Department of Public Information (UN/DPI) in 1991 as an Associate member. Since they are an NGO (non-governmental organization) joining the UN/DPI or UN/ECOSOC as an Associate member is as close a relationship as they can form to the UN.
The application to become an Associate member was approved and the Watchtower Society maintained this membership from 1992 until 2001, for almost 10 full years.
In my answer, I will assume your question relates to this relationship and not to another of which I am unfamiliar.
The purpose given by the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses is entirely plausible and I have no evidence on which to base any contrary reason. However, the reason for joining is immaterial given the policy published on the matter of joining organization with objectives deemed contrary to the Bible and opposed to God's will.
According to the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, in a letter I received dated February 8, 2004, they "registered" to retain access to the deeper levels of the UN libraries at the behest of UN personnel on duty at the time.
I placed "registered" in quotes because the nature of the relationship is a matter of public record and was not one of registrant/registrar. It was an Associate membership to the United Nations Department of Public Information; "registered" conveys the idea of signing up for something. This relationship required a membership application and a 3 to 6 month review and approval process. That is not the idea conveyed by the word "registered."
Your personal observation that the elders don't like you to ask too many questions is one I will refrain from commenting on beyond mentioning that it may be unproductive to mention such things in questions to experts. It might be considered provacative, or even aggressive. I did not take it as any more than simply expression of your personal opinion.
