On our trip back home from the Thanksgiving holiday spent at our home town my wife labeled me an intellect. Normally, I would've been flattered with the title but when she called me that she was referencing the bible verse Matthew 11:25. This offended me to say the least.
She said that it was hard for people like me to have faith in something because I will always investigate it and make sure of it. For example, if someone told me that the grass was green, she said I would not believe them and research grass and the color green to ensure that it really was.
I told her that this was absurd and that I see no reason to research whether or not the grass was green when I can see with my own eyes what color it is. Sometimes a duck is simply a duck. AFLAC!!!! She stated that it was okay and to not be offended because she is "opinionated" and therefore if someone told her that the grass was green, then as soon as she saw some brown in it she would point it out.
We passed by a sign on the highway and I stated that the sign was green. Sure it has white letters and she interrupted and said, "A-HA!!!! See, it is impossible for you to have faith."
My response, "So you're saying that because I check things then it is impossible for me to have faith?"
Okay, I told her, I understand that there are things in the Bible that cannot be explained, but I believe anyway. If I find evidence that seems to counter my beliefs, I will adjust my thinking on some things but I still believe that Christ is the son of God. What does my being 'an intellect' have to do with that?
Apparently, all of my research on the teachings of the WTS has not found favor with her as she now describes me as knowing too much and therefore being 'unteachable.' I said, "Look, if someone tells me the grass is green and it has brown grass mixed in it, I would probably give it no nevermind. What does the fact that the grass not being totally green have to do with me and my everyday life? That's being a bit nit-picky."
"If, however, someone was telling me something that seems like a lie or is somehow trying to decieve me to my detriment, I would be wise to check all things. The Bible tells us to do this by the way (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
She then pulled the red herring fallacy by trying to switch the subject to blood by saying, "Well consider how you view the blood policy. You don't just accept it and have faith in God, you want to look into it with the intent of disproving it in some way." I said, "Well, you are obviously trying to change the subject but consider how the southern baptists would preach against dancing. Where in the Bible does it say this?" Even she did not know and does not agree with it. "So think about this, the southern baptists and the independent fundamental baptists would preach that 'thou shalt not dance' so they must have interpreted some scripture out of context to support it. Now consider the scripture concerning abstaining from blood and how it is applied to blood transfusions yet allows for blood fractions. Shouldn't we check that just as I did with the whole 'thou shalt not dance' teaching?"
Still trying to figure out how it is impossible for me to have faith.
Finally, I went on to say, "You're saying that it is impossible for me to have faith because I study the Bible and research religious teachings and discard what I see are contrary to what the Bible says. Could not the same thing be said of Charles Taze Russell? Why did he just not accept the teachings of his parents religion instead of studying the Bible for himself? Why did he not just remain a presbyterian instead of starting his own religion?"