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.
Thanks for your response to my earlier question. I am trying to figure out why this area exists. It seems like Jehovah Witnesses use it to preach at people and then condemn them if they don't immediately accept what they are told as correct.
I thought everyone was supposed to be able to ask experts whatever they wanted to about the religion and doctrines and could expect an answer to there questions.
Why do some of the experts accuse people who ask follow up questions of all kinds of bad intentions? If these people are experts, shouldn't they just answer the questions, if there is an answer?
Some of the answers from experts read like they copied and pasted it from somewhere. Are they posting their own answers?
I know that was more than one questions, but I hope you will answer them anyway. Thanks.
Answer Joseph Q.,
Thanks for the questions. I am glad that your previous experience didn't sour you on the idea of asking questions here.
You asked: "Why do some of the experts accuse people who ask follow up questions of all kinds of bad intentions?"
A very common human response to being asked a question we can't answer is to personally attack the person who asks the question. Some believe it is not possible to be abusive on the Internet, but this is simply not true.
For instance, recently in a reply to a question Janko wrote: "We put back God's personal name of Jehovah back in the Bible where it belongs where Christendom removed because of the power of Satan in their hearts.Tim you are still wet behind the ears when it comes to knowing the truth but thats the way you like it.I know everything there is to know about the truth and all about our organization and I don't need you to rehash old news to me you stupid fool.Don't bother me with your problems with us,take it to people who think like you and want to hear it."
He failed to mention that the name "Jehovah" was inserted into the New Testament (where it had not originally appeared) some 237 times, based solely on translations from the original languages into Hebrew that were dated quite some time after the original writings. The earliest Hebrew translation they use dates to 1385, and the most recent dates to 1981. Clearly, these cannot rightly be used as replacements for the earliest Greek texts available, of which NONE use the name Jehovah.
He holds himself up as knowing everything there is to know about the organization but has refused to answer questions asked because he judges the person asking to be insincere. This is not one of the reasons this service allows for a non-response. If the expert knows the answer they have willingly volunteered provide the answer.
He called the questioner a "stupid fool" which no expert on this service has the right to do. I hope he was reported for his abusive tone. I intend to report it, also. I only just read that particular thread today.
You asked: "If these people are experts, shouldn't they just answer the questions, if there is an answer?"
Yes. We are not volunteering to judge questioner's intentions or motives, we are volunteering to answer their questions. Your understanding of the intent behind this service is correct. I do hope you will continue to ask any questions you have.
You asked: "Are they posting their own answers?"
In most cases, yes. However, I have noticed a few experts just quoting a Watchtower article to answer a question. That is not the intent of this site and constitutes preaching. The questioner is not asking an impersonal magazine for an answer.
To be fair, I have also noted a couple of questioners posting an entire article (or the major portion of one) as the basis for their question. Any expert here should have access to the 2005 Watchtower Library CD-ROM and will be comfortable enough with its use that citing a reference and discussing the concern or question is sufficient.
Regarding your perceptions about why JWs are posting here as experts, they are your perceptions and I would not want to agree or disagree with them. I don't feel that is my place. I don't feel that it would be considerate of my fellow experts to side with a poster against them, or considerate of a poster to side with my fellow experts.
I hope this has answered your questions to your satisfaction. If not, please feel free to followup.
