Verified answer

Proverbs 4:18 - "But the path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established." So information is gradually revealed to us, and if we see something that we currently believe to be wrong, we will adjust that thinking to be more in line with the Bible. That is why we have changed a lot of our beliefs/practices over the years (such as the whole 1975 thing, that was obviously a mistake, and we've learned from it that "Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father" (Matthew 24:36)).

I personally don't really feel they need to apologise, because they didn't actually do anything wrong. They sincerely thought it was right and were doing what was best for us, at the time.

When someone has a different understanding of a scripture, they don't just automatically say they are disfellowshipped, the elders would try to get to the bottom of it and reason with them. The Bible does say "from among you​ yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves" (Acts 20:30).

No one can be expected to automatically have a perfect understanding of the scriptures. As Proverbs 4:18 says: "But the path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established." Understanding of the scriptures increases with research and time.

The great thing about Jehovah's Witnesses is that they are willing to admit mistakes and find the correct answer through diligent research; you very rarely see that in other religions. We are a united brotherhood, and the governing body helps us to stay that way. If we read a scripture that seemed to mean something else than what the Governing Body researched, than we can write to the Governing Body about it so they can re-research it and make sure it is correct- not try to break off into sects because of differing opinions like other religions.

This is why all Witnesses, no matter where in the world they live, all have the same beliefs. That can't be said about other religious groups.

I will answer and will not attack the questioner much to the chagrin of the anti copy paster above me We do not claim to be prophets. We only tell people what the Bible says, unlike most religons today which don't even follow some of Jesus' most simple commands such as the one athe Matthew 28:19&20. I bet the person above me doesn't follow that. We do tell what the Bible says, we are not how ever prophets in the sense we don't recieve or interperet visions (that ceased with Jesus arrival on Earth) We only report to others what the Bible says. Hope this clears up one of the many misconceptions about us. (Also anyone who talks about what the Bible teaches in the sense implied above can be in that sense a "prophet" of God, not just Jehovah's Witnesses)

THEY KNOW the Governing Body is human, imperfect and prone to error! Every JW KNOWS THIS! It's just a part of being "human."

NO JW will say the Governing Body is "infallible." NONE. Your thinking of the Pope and even he was "corrected" by The Vatican for saying Atheists can go to Heaven as far as 'he knew.'

I was a JW for 13 years and I was never, ever taught that the GB was always right. They prayed for the Governing Body to gain insight from Jehovah, but they never said they were perfect. In fact, part of your teachings to become a Witness is that there have been only 2 PERFECT Men on the Earth, Jesus and Adam, and Adam failed, so they certainly don't expect imperfect men, no matter if they are Elect, to be 'always right.' If you believe that JW's think that, you've been lied to!

I think the whole of scripture has been given to the profit of mankind so that error and "new enlightenment" are recognized as misleading and in cases, blasphemous.

We are told in scripture to examine, and study scripture, not to augment it, not to change it to suit, but to study what it is, and from that, learn who God is, and develop a proper relationship with Him.

(2 Timothy 2:

15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

2 Timothy 3:

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Galatians 1:

8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!)

Considering the gravity of the issue, I would want to be assured the gospel I studied and went deep into was a gospel of truth, and not distorted in any way. That there were no variances from the meaning and intention of the writings from their inception. That in fact, the writings I studied were as close to the originals as I could possibly be in order not to continue in a gospel of error.

I would be most wary of "gospels" that required augmentation to those ancient writings, that would add or subtract from the initial teachings, or suggest allegiance to a certain train of thought not found in the texts known to be in the first century, or in translations that initiated doctrine of error many years past the establishment of the first catholic (not Roman Catholic, but "correct") ecclesia of faith.

That "first church" was the true church, and although it obviously had difficulties establishing correctness, its body made up the body of Christ on earth by following its gospel without deviations or augmentations that were quickly recognized and discarded.

Jeremiah 29: 11-13

11 For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Do not slacken in your search for a true gospel. It is unlikely that a "new" (introduced later than the first century) gospel is correct

That is very true. The Governing Body of Elders or whomever it is that edits and proofs their publishing are very hypocritical. They gloss over their own mistakes and yet they advocate shunning the crap out of anyone who disagrees with their false teachings.

Talk about a load of freeze-dried bull poop.

This applies to everyone; which includes JW's, the governing body, people of all religions, and those of no religion.

You have highlighted yet another example of their hypocrisy. When one looks at things objectively one can clearly see their hypocrisy on many issues. God's spirit directed organization my foot! They're just as fake as all the other false religions.