JWs DICTIONARY

(Investigator 97, 2004 July)


Although Investigator Magazine has investigated dozens of religions and cults there is one which gets major attention.

This situation began when Investigator began. One editor at the time was writing a book about the Jehovah’s Witness sect and another had for years collected books of the Watchtower Society and books by commentators and critics.

This attracted some ex members as subscribers. Most Investigator editions therefore had, and still have, an article about JWs.

Commencing December 2002, an Encyclopedic Dictionary about JWs has progressively gone on the Investigator websites. Each month the entries are replaced with the entries for the next letter of the alphabet.

All entries are provisional and much of what appeared on the websites previously will be revised prior to its next appearance.

The "Q" entries appeared in May 2004 and, because they were few, the web page is reproduced below.

Perhaps it would curb leaders of all religions and cults from writing and speaking some of the crap they write and speak if they were all subjects for an encyclopedic dictionary!

(BS)

JWs :
AN ENCYCLOPEDIC DICTIONARY

Entries Q

Copyright © 2001/2004

Except for brief quotes allowed by "fair dealing" the following may not be duplicated without written permission obtained via P.O. Box 3243, Port Adelaide, AUSTRALIA 5015. Current subscribers to Investigator Magazine may make one copy for personal use.

Entries and information are provisional. Readers are invited to point out typing mistakes and errors in purported fact and references and supply extra information.

Abbreviations used:

g               The Golden Age; Consolation; Awake!
GB            Governing Body
Insight       Insight On The Scriptures (1988)
jp              Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Divine Purpose (1959)
Millions     Millions Now Living Will Never Die (1920)
Studies      Studies in the Scriptures
w               The Watchtower
wr              Reprints of the Original Watchtower
y                Yearbook of JWs
JWs            Jehovah’s Witnesses
WTS            Watchtower Society
 

Q

QUACKENBUSH, COLIN
A former editor of Awake! magazine who was dismissed for disagreeing with N H Knorr.

Joan Cetnar who served at New York Bethel 1954-1958 wrote:
 

Often problems between Society leadership and those under it would be brought into the dining hall. President Knorr used his position at the head of the table (with microphone) to castigate those with whom he was having differences. One such conflict was between President Knorr and Colin Quackenbush, who was the current editor of AWAKE! The outcome of this conflict was a number of tirades in the dining hall and the eventual ouster of Colin from his position. He was also removed from the Bethel speakers staff, and given hard manual labor in the factory.
(New Light Ministries, Number 41, 1999 September)
 
  QUALIFIED TO BE MINISTERS (1955; 1967)
Official WTS book for teaching JWs public speaking, door to door preaching, study habits, and running JW congregations.
 

QUARREL
A dispute or a case at law which can be between acquaintances, strangers, friends or enemies.

JWs are noted for quarrels/disputes over doctrine with:

  • The public.
  • Each other (especially with so-called "apostates" who number several million).
  • Scores of sects that developed separately from Russellism or which broke off from JWs.
    •


    The basis for such disputes is that JW doctrines are constantly revised, their prophecies repeatedly fail, and yet JWs declare it all "true" and have to — in order to get salvation — expose everyone else as "false". This state of affairs is contradictory and also makes nonsense of tens of thousands of statements — at least when the WTS makes them — like the following:
     

    Jehovah never makes any mistakes. (Prophecy 1929, 67)

    …angels are delegated by the Lord to convey his instructions to the members of his organization on earth. (World Recovery 1934, 54)

    To follow the teachings or traditions of men, therefore, leads unto destruction. (Salvation 1939, 34)

    If we let the Bible speak for God it will prove false Christians liars. (Basis for Belief in a New World 1953, 17)

    To make a public exposure of false religion is a public service. (w1963 11/15 688)

    When a religious organization clings to unscriptural practices, should not any God fearing person want to leave that organization? (w1970 7/1 392)

    Can you be true to God yet hide the facts? (w1974 1/15 35)

    Jehovah, the Head, is our Grand Instructor, and his beloved Son, Christ Jesus, is our Great Teacher. (y1983, 257)
     
     

     People disputing with JWs often throw quotes — such as "To make a public exposure of false religion is a public service" — back at JWs when citing the false prophecies. JWs who encounter someone informed enough to do this are instructed to regard him as a "goat" and proceed on to other houses to find the "sheep".

    JWs, more than most offshoots from the Bible, need to take to heart this:
     

    Why, then, do you look at the straw in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the rafter in your own eye? … Hypocrites! First extract the rafter from your own eye, and then you will see clearly how to extract the straw from your brother’s eyes.
    (Insight II 1988, 719; Matthew 7:1-5)
    (See also: DATES; ERROR; PROPHECY; APOSTATES)



    QUEBEC’S BURNING HATE FOR GOD AND CHRIST AND FREEDOM (1946)
    Brochure published in retaliation when JWs in Quebec (Canada) were arrested for breaking by-laws, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace. 1½ million copies published.
     

    QUESTIONS FROM READERS
    A section in most issues of The Watchtower. It’s unclear whether readers actually asked the questions or whether the GB — perhaps relying on reports by circuit overseers — decide on things to elaborate on.
     

    QUOTA
    The monthly number of hours Rutherford required of publishers to sells his publications or otherwise advertise his message. The quota for publishers in the 1940s was 60 hours, for pioneers 150, and for special pioneers 175. (y1944, 57)

    The quotas were renamed "goals" approximately around 1960. The goals have several times been reduced. (See: GOALS; PIONEERS)
     

    QUOTATIONS
    The WTS says: "Rather, we must examine the facts, doing so as objectively as possible." (g1984 1/8 8-14) One source of facts is quotations.

    WTS publications quote:
     

  • C T Russell — usually to imply WTS doctrines are consistent and accurate.
  • News sources — to back up current prophetic speculation or when such sources criticize other religions.
  • Secular publications in history, science, medicine, etc — to back up some point in prophecy or to give scientific evidence for some Bible statement.
  • Theological publications — when they are in harmony with WTS doctrine.
  • The Bible — to suggest that JW doctrine and every doctrinal change is "Bible truth".
    •


    Hundreds of articles about Jehovah's Witnesses:
    www.adam.com.au/bstett/