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The doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses have developed since the publication of The Watchtower magazine began in 1879. Early doctrines were based on interpretations of the Bible by Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society founder Charles Taze Russell, then added to, altered, or discarded by his successors, Joseph Rutherford and Nathan Knorr. Since 1976, doctrinal changes have been made at closed meetings of the group's Governing Body,[1] whose decisions are described as "God's progressive revelations".[2] These teachings are disseminated through The Watchtower, and at conventions and congregation meetings. Most members of the denomination outside the Governing Body play no role in the development of doctrines[3] and are expected to adhere to all those decided at the Warwick, NY headquarters.[4][5][6] Jehovah's Witnesses are taught to welcome doctrinal changes, regarding such "adjustments" as "new light" or "new understanding" from God and proving that they are on the "path of the righteous".[7][8]
- ^ Franz 2002, p. 106
- ^ "Jehovah, the God of Progressive Revelation". The Watchtower. Watch Tower Society. June 15, 1964. p. 365.
The abundance of spiritual food and the amazing details of Jehovah's purposes that have been revealed to Jehovah's anointed witnesses are clear evidence that they are the ones mentioned by Jesus when he foretold a 'faithful and discreet slave' class that would be used to dispense God's progressive revelations in these last days ... How thankful we should be for the provision God has made of this slave class, the modern spiritual remnant, as they faithfully dispense the revealed truths of Jehovah! ... Jehovah's faithful witnesses have been progressively brought to an understanding of Jehovah's purposes, which are clearer now than ever before in history.
- ^ Franz 2007, pp. 152–164
- ^ Holden 2002, pp. 22, 10, 158, 163
- ^ "The Godly Qualities of Love and Hate". The Watchtower. Watch Tower Society. 15 July 1974.
Christians have implicit trust in their heavenly Father; they do not question what he tells them through his written Word and organization.
- ^ "Jehovah's Theocratic Organization Today". The Watchtower. Watch Tower Society. February 1, 1952. p. 79.
Are we assigned as individuals to bring forth the food for the spiritual table? No? Then let us not try to take over the slave's duties. We should eat and digest and assimilate what is set before us, without shying away from parts of the food because it may not suit the fancy of our mental taste. The truths we are to publish are the ones provided through the discreet-slave organization, not some personal opinions contrary to what the slave has provided as timely food. Jehovah and Christ direct and correct the slave as needed, not we as individuals. If we do not see a point at first we should keep trying to grasp it, rather than opposing and rejecting it and presumptuously taking the position that we are more likely to be right than the discreet slave. We should meekly go along with the Lord's theocratic organization and wait for further clarification ... Theocratic ones will appreciate the Lord's visible organization and not be so foolish as to pit against Jehovah's channel their own human reasoning and sentiment and personal feelings.
- ^ Muramoto, Osamu (August 1998). "Bioethics of the refusal of blood by Jehovah's Witnesses, Part 1". Journal of Medical Ethics. 24 (4): 223–230. doi:10.1136/jme.24.4.223. PMC 1377670. PMID 9752623.
- ^ "The Path of the Righteous Does Keep Getting Brighter". The Watchtower. Watch Tower Society. December 1, 1981. pp. 26–31.