The Witness are not only lying to themselves and others that they are taught via this “new light,”
they are quite ignorant of “old light” as well.
While the Witnesses believe that the Genesis account of the flood should be considered as strictly
historical, this is a very ancient exegete stand. Religious and historical scholarship agrees that
the purpose of Genesis is not to be found in its details, but in the meanings behind the stories.
Some are of the opinion that these chapters are mere legendary tales, while according to others they
preserve a historical tradition under poetic expression. The Witnesses’ doctrine that every detail
of the narration should be literally interpreted and trusted in as scientific fact does dishonor to
the writer’s original intent who is attempting to teach a moral lesson, not provide dry, dead
analysis of a past event.
Truths are rarely expressed in literal terms, even in modern days. Illustrations get points across
better, and even if a story is totally fiction (take many of Jesus’ parables for example), this
doesn’t make the truths expressed therein any less valuable. However the Witnesses have no real
experience in ancient textual scholarship or Biblical analysis, and they are not interested in any
real light from sources that do not serve their own narrow purposes. If the Witnesses are truly open
to truth they would do well to learn the ancient Christian art of apologetics which follows the
scientific method to prove its reasoning, which like all other sciences is open to independent
review and confirmation.
