Jehovah’s Witnesses: What if apostate literature were true? Would it still be a
hateful rant? As you know, in past times “apostate” materials sharply criticized the Watchtower Society for its ban on organ transplants and immunizations. And all the “true worshippers of Jehovah” were prohibited from reading this literature because it was nothing more than a “hateful rant with satanic origins.”
But as it turned out, this apostate material turned out to be completely true. The Watchtower publically recanted its ban on organ transplants and immunizations. The WTS admitted that the apostates had actually been quite correct – and that their understanding of scripture on organ transplants had been fatally flawed.
Today there is much apostate material about the blood transfusion issue. As usual, Jehovah’s Witnesses are prohibited from reading it because it’s “spiritual pornography” and “apostate lies.”
Is there any risk involved in an organizational policy that prohibits its members from reading counter-opinions simply because those opinions are “Satanic lies?” Unless these differing opinions are carefully examined and scrutinized, there remains the possibility that the Watchtower has been wrong again. I realize your fear of “independent thinking,” but aren’t there also risks to trusting without verifying (Acts 17:11)?
Does this make sense?
@ Wakenman: Your conception checking the scripture is only to figure out why Christendom is wrong and that attitude won’t get you very far if life. “Trust, but verify” was a signature phrase Ronald Reagan used when discussing relations with the Soviet Union. It as a translation of the Russian proverb "???????, ?? ????????.” At the signing of the INF Treaty he used it again and Mikhail Gorbachev responded: "You repeat that at every meeting," to which Reagan answered "I like it." That was the attitude of the Biblical Bereans, who had a more Noble character. They liked to check to see if what the apostles were teaching them was true. They had an open mind and exercised independent thinking. They would not have agreed with the apostles if told that organ transplants were “satanic cannibalism.” But most JWs agreed with the Watchtower when this happened. Why? It’s because they do NOT follow the Biblical example of the Bereans. You need to understand this problem and fix it!
hateful rant? As you know, in past times “apostate” materials sharply criticized the Watchtower Society for its ban on organ transplants and immunizations. And all the “true worshippers of Jehovah” were prohibited from reading this literature because it was nothing more than a “hateful rant with satanic origins.”
But as it turned out, this apostate material turned out to be completely true. The Watchtower publically recanted its ban on organ transplants and immunizations. The WTS admitted that the apostates had actually been quite correct – and that their understanding of scripture on organ transplants had been fatally flawed.
Today there is much apostate material about the blood transfusion issue. As usual, Jehovah’s Witnesses are prohibited from reading it because it’s “spiritual pornography” and “apostate lies.”
Is there any risk involved in an organizational policy that prohibits its members from reading counter-opinions simply because those opinions are “Satanic lies?” Unless these differing opinions are carefully examined and scrutinized, there remains the possibility that the Watchtower has been wrong again. I realize your fear of “independent thinking,” but aren’t there also risks to trusting without verifying (Acts 17:11)?
Does this make sense?
@ Wakenman: Your conception checking the scripture is only to figure out why Christendom is wrong and that attitude won’t get you very far if life. “Trust, but verify” was a signature phrase Ronald Reagan used when discussing relations with the Soviet Union. It as a translation of the Russian proverb "???????, ?? ????????.” At the signing of the INF Treaty he used it again and Mikhail Gorbachev responded: "You repeat that at every meeting," to which Reagan answered "I like it." That was the attitude of the Biblical Bereans, who had a more Noble character. They liked to check to see if what the apostles were teaching them was true. They had an open mind and exercised independent thinking. They would not have agreed with the apostles if told that organ transplants were “satanic cannibalism.” But most JWs agreed with the Watchtower when this happened. Why? It’s because they do NOT follow the Biblical example of the Bereans. You need to understand this problem and fix it!