I ran across this article of the official JW website today. I vaguely remember reading it when it was first printed in the WT.
The Nuclear Physicist (with a doctorate from a unnamed school) telling his story unabashedly defends the witness world view and stand on scientific fact and recorded history. http://www.watchtower.org/e/20040122a/article_01.htm It was articles like these that successfully kept my doubts submerged for many years. Here are some of the more interesting quotes:When my wife informed me of this arrangement, I immediately opposed her. I didn't mind that she wanted to join a religion—but not Jehovah's Witnesses! Actually, I did not know much about the Witnesses, but I had a preconceived idea that they were a strange group that used the Bible to deceive people. So, in an effort to free my wife from what I considered to be the grasp of the Witnesses, I thought that I would use my scientific knowledge to discredit their teachings.
One week I took a break from my research work at the university and went home to be present during my wife's Bible study. However, I arrived home later than I had planned, and the woman conducting the Bible study was about to leave. She gave me a book entitled Did Man Get Here by Evolution or by Creation?* Also, she told my wife that during the Bible study scheduled for the following week, they would consider a Bible prophecy showing that 1914 was a significant year. That was exactly the opening I needed! I told the Witness that I would be at home for the next Bible discussion. I wanted to check the mathematical accuracy of what she was going to discuss about the year 1914.
That same night I began reading the book that the Witness had left. Frankly, the contents impressed me. It was written in a logical manner, and it contained numerous scientific references concerning the subject of evolution. To my surprise, I learned that the Bible contains much more exact information regarding creation than I had previously realized. I finished examining the book in a few days and had to admit that what the Bible actually states about creation does not contradict the known scientific facts concerning life on earth.
"Determined to Find Inconsistencies"
Nevertheless, I was still skeptical about the teachings of the Witnesses, and I was looking forward to doing a mathematical check of the Bible prophecy concerning the year 1914. I thought that this approach would no doubt intimidate the Witness and, hopefully, help my wife to see the error of the beliefs taught by the Witnesses.
The following week the Witness returned accompanied by a man who was one of the elders in the local congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. The elder conducted the Bible study. He considered the prophecies found in chapters 4 and 9 of the Bible book of Daniel, concerning the appearance of Jesus as Messiah and King. My mind was set on finding mathematical inconsistencies in the presentation, but I found none. On the contrary, I was again impressed by the logic of the information contained in the Bible.
Up to that point, I thought that faith in God was based more on emotion than on reason. How wrong I was!
....
In my years of doing scientific research, I have never encountered a conflict between a proved scientific fact and a teaching of the Bible. Often, seeming conflicts are caused by a lack of knowledge—either of a scientific teaching or of what the Bible really says. For example, some scientists and others erroneously think that the Bible teaches that plants, animals, and humans all developed on earth within six literal 24-hour days. This would be in conflict with known scientific facts. But the Bible does not teach that. Rather, it reveals that the creative "days" encompass thousands of years.%
I have never encountered a conflict between a proved scientific fact and a teaching of the Bible
Confusion also arises from the mistaken idea that faith in God is merely an emotional experience. Far from that, faith in God and the Bible is based on facts that can be verified. As defined in the Bible, "faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration [or, "convincing evidence," footnote] of realities though not beheld." (Hebrews 11:1) Yes, faith is based on evidence.Hundreds of prophecies have been fulfilled in the past and in our day. Thus, even applying the scientific method used by all scientists to establish a scientific theory, we can have complete confidence in the fulfillment of Bible prophecies that pertain to future events.
------
The article continues, but I will spare you the mawkish plug for paradise at the end.
For a young man fascinated by science but largely unexposed to good examples of it, articles like this one had a significant bolstering effect on my faith growing up. I mean here was an ACTUAL scientist telling me that everything was ok, that the Watchtower would never mislead me when it commented on scientific matters. Now I read this article slack-jawed in disbelief. How does this sort of thing HAPPEN to someone with a lifetime of science education???? How can he possible whore himself out like this and claim bible prophecy is defended with the "scientific method"??? [inkling]
...OUTLAW