Plus, it would be helpful to show her how other coordinated programs out there can rope you into acceptance of one particular framework of assumptions and interpretations. ;)
Incidentally, they peddle "truth" as a package deal: [unspoken assumption] "We have the TRUTH, therefore everything we teach is true"
The Worldwide Church of God used to send you a "Free Bible Course"...but one of the conditions in completing the series was that you DON'T read other religious literature (in other words, other sides of the issues), because IT WILL CONFUSE YOU.
Compare this with what is taught in What Does the Bible Really Teach? (more subtle but the end instruction is THE SAME)
2 How can you know the right way to worship Jehovah? You do not have to study and compare the teachings of all the many religions. You need only learn what the Bible really teaches about true worship. To illustrate: In many lands, there is a problem with counterfeit money. If you were given the job of picking out such false money, how would you go about it? By memorizing every kind of counterfeit? No. Your time would be better spent if you studied real money. After you knew what real money looked like, you could recognize a counterfeit. Similarly, when we learn how to identify the true religion, we can recognize those religions that are false.
So, I think that using extra-biblical literature IN ITSELF is not really an issue. The CLOSED PARADIGM promoted in only allowing THEIR literature is the real problem.
It's good to look at the wealth of historical/grammatical resources out there, as well as theology and WHY various positions are held.
What does one need to interpret the Bible?
by insearchoftruth 16 Replies latest watchtower bible
-
M.J.
-
M.J.
"Counterfeit illustration" thread:
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/130946/1.ashx -
WTWizard
All one needs is fully integrated honesty. With religions so dominant in brainwashing people into believing that God is righteous, that is not so easy for many people to do.
-
zagor
What does one need to interpret the Bible?
Brain.
-
yourmomma
when you say question from readers, do you mean the question box in the sept 07 KM? i was not aware of a question from readers about independent study.
-
insearchoftruth
Pretty sure it was that one, the one that advised against independent study.
-
Alwayshere
January 15, 1983 Watchtower "Avoid independent thinking... independent thinking is manifested by questioning the counsel of the organization." So you can't ask questions either. Just believe what ever they tell you or you will be labeled an "Apostate."