[Here are your notes...]
Cindy: Linda, I don't think I can continue our study any longer.
Linda: Why not, Cindy?
C: Well you know I'm Catholic, and I just found this article in my Roman Catholic Weekly. Look at this quote... [She shows her the quote.]
“Now, what will you do if you are confronted with heretical teaching—subtle reasonings—claiming that what you believe as a Roman Catholic is not the truth? For example, what will you do if you receive a letter or some literature, open it, and see right away that it is from an traitor of the Church? Will curiosity cause you to read it, just to see what he has to say? You may even reason: 'It won't affect me; I'm a good Catholic. And, besides, if we have the true Church, we have nothing to fear. The truth will stand the test.' In thinking this way, some have fed their minds upon heretical reasoning and have fallen prey to serious questioning and doubt.”
L: I see. Well, Cindy, let me ask you something. Do you really think it's fair for the Catholic Church to do this?
C: It doesn't seem like it.
L: Really, for a religion to try to scare you into not looking at all the information available isn't very Christian. Remember the Beroeans?
C: I think so.
L: Here in Acts 17:12 it says that the Beroeans "were more noble-minded than those in Thes·sa·lo·ni´ca, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so." So this is a good pattern for us. Anyone who objects to our conducting a personal examination of the Scriptures and of what we believe is asking us to reject the "noble" example of the Beroeans.
C: I suppose you're right.
L: And let me read you this comment from page thirteen of "The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life."
“We need to examine, not only what we personally believe, but also what is taught by any religious organization with which we may be associated. Are its teachings in full harmony with God's Word, or are they based on the traditions of men? If we are lovers of the truth, there is nothing to fear from such an examination.”
C: Well, Linda, I surely do appreciate your thoughts on this. It's clear to me that Jehovah's Witnesses believe in a full and open examination of the Bible and an objective assessment of one's own religion.
L: That's right.
C: I'm glad to hear that, Linda, since another reason I'm thinking about discontinuing my study with you has to do with a few things I've discovered about the teachings of the Watchtower Society.
L: (gasp) What? You're kidding.
C: No, not all. In fact I've discovered many disturbing things about false prophecies, frequently changing doctrines, misapplication of Scriptures on the subject of blood, the handling of pedophilia...
L: Whoaaa, Cindy! You need to understand that you're getting this information from "apostates." It's all a bunch of lies, and I don't want to hear anything more about it.
C: Lies? Are you sure?
L: Absolutely sure. You shouldn't listen to anything they say.
C: Shouldn't listen? But what they say makes a lot of sense. And besides, didn't you just say it was wrong for the Roman Catholic Church to try and keep Catholics from listening to information critical of their teachings?
L: Yes, I did, but--
C: The truth is, Linda, the quote I showed you wasn't really from the Roman Catholic Weekly.
L: No?
C: No. In fact it came from The Watchtower of March 15, 1986. I just changed a few of the words around. Here's an actual copy of that Watchtower. [She hands it to her.]
“Now, what will you do if you are confronted with apostate teaching—subtle reasonings—claiming that what you believe as one of Jehovah's Witnesses is not the truth? For example, what will you do if you receive a letter or some literature, open it, and see right away that it is from an apostate? Will curiosity cause you to read it, just to see what he has to say? You may even reason: 'It won't affect me; I'm too strong in the truth. And, besides, if we have the truth, we have nothing to fear. The truth will stand the test.' In thinking this way, some have fed their minds upon apostate reasoning and have fallen prey to serious questioning and doubt.”
C: Was it wrong for the Watchtower Society to publish this?
L: Of course not. They're trying to protect us. (sigh) Cindy, why did you do this?
C: To test the strength of your convictions. Before, when you thought the quote came from the Catholic Church, you condemned it, but now that you know it really came from the Watchtower Society, you've no problem with it. Why have you changed your tune, Linda?
L: Because I already have The Truth! Why would I want to listen to a lot of apostate lies!?
C: Isn't it possible that what you think are "apostate lies" aren't such at all? Besides your "Truth" book says “we need to examine...what is taught by any religious organization with which we may be associated... If we are lovers of the truth, there is nothing to fear from such an examination.”
L: I have to go.
C: Remember the Beroeans, Linda. Remember the Beroeans!