Hi *** & ***..
Religious situation in America is very different from that of other countries. Almost all people believe in Christianity. Almost all people in America are Protestants. But the problem is there are tens of millions of denominations among American Protestants. Episcopal, Presbyterian, Evangelicals, Baptists, Anglican, Mormon, etc. It is somehow taken for granted that all people believe in God, Christianty in America. Which denomination that matters.
You see in a country virtually all people believe in Chrisianity, people tend to believe in Christianity formally, not substantialy. Some need to pretend to believe in God because only somebody next to them supposedly believe in God. I must say some people just pretend to believe in God as a pose.
Jehovah's Witnesses were different among those might be pretending to believe in God as a posture.
Situation here in Japan is very different from that in America. Usually I found almost all Christians here regardless of their denominations are very religious and faithful people. Many Jehovah's Witnesses are true Christians. I agree, but I regret to say that some Jehovah's Witnesses are not. At the same time many Catholic believers, Protestants are true Christians. Again some Catholic, Protestans are not.
You often say there's only one God's earthly organisation, though you don't clearly say which is so. Also you mention lots of times about Apostasy. But what is important is not an organisation. It is very beneficial to learn and keep in touch with organisation as long as it helps strengthen your faith. Most important thing is your relationship to God, not organisation.
Now as to New World Translation. This translation was thought to be the work by one man with the help of other four members of committee in Watch Tower. In other major translations more than 100 scholars involved in the work of translation in order not to be biased in a particular idea. Importan thing is Bible is a word of God and this book was written in very old times in ancient Hebrew and ancient Greek. We need some interpretation for that reason. Ancient language must be very different from current language. Of course English is very different fom Hebrew and Greek in the first place. So what we need to know is what message God really tried to send us humans. All translation of Bible are a result of how we interpret it from original text. Important thing is what God really wanted to send us, not merely what is written. There are many literal expressions as well as figurative expressions. Prophecy is basically figurative. We need to look into what was His reall intention.
It is very acceptable for us to use New World Translation in our daily study, but if we felt some questions as to what really God wanted to say, it is strongly recommended to refer to other version of Bible as well as what original language meant.
You don't salute national flag or sing national anthem. You don't accept transfusion. I think national flag, anthem, transfusion have nothing to do with right or wrong. What matters is whether you feel it sinful or not. Jehovah's Witnesses usually feel those conducts violate God's command. Therefore you ought not to do them. Otherwise those have nothing to do with your faith.
As to God's name. I am not sure whether God has a name though your supreme God, Almighty God is called Jehovah by Jehovah's Witnesses. But if some one who has different faith calls his God in different names like Deus in Catholicism, you ought to admit their God is the same as your God. God Himself is the same, but how to call Him that differs.
These are the impressions that I had through converstions with Sr ***.
Best regard,
Mer
