WTS Quotes on Evolution

by sizemik 13 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  sizemik

  The Official WTS Website has a short article entitled . . . Is Evolution Compatible With THE BIBLE ?

  http://www.watchtower.org/e/20080101a/article_01.htm

  In that article it gives this summary of Evolution . . .

  Evolutionists generally claim that a population of animals gradually developed into a population of humans . . . eh?

  Wait . . . it gets better . . . under the heading . . . Why Evolution Attracts People . . .

  The Bible reveals how such teachings as evolution become popular. It says: “There will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories.” (2 Timothy 4:3, 4)**Although evolution is usually presented in scientific language, it is really a religious doctrine.

  **(This is the same scripture they say elsewhere, referred to 'magical' religious fables contemporary to the first century Christians)

  Having reduced the debate to a RELIGIOUS one, then they invoke some SCIENCE to lend weight . . .

  Teachers of evolution are often motivated, not by the facts, but by “their own desires”—perhaps a desire to be accepted by a scientific community in which evolution is orthodox doctrine. Professor of biochemistry Michael Behe, who has spent most of his life studying the complex internal functions of living cells, explained that those who teach the evolution of cell structure have no basis for their claims.

  Professor Michael Behe has spent the other part of his life studying what? . . .

  Behe grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he attended grade school at St. Margaret Mary's Parochial School and later graduated from Bishop McDevitt High School. (Bishop McDevitt High School is a private, coeducational Catholic high school of the Diocese of Harrisburg) - Wikipedia

  Professor Behe is currently a Professor of Biochemistry at Lehigh University who attach the following disclaimer on their website . . .

  While we respect Prof. Behe's right to express his views, they are his alone and are in no way endorsed by the department. It is our collective position that intelligent design has no basis in science, has not been tested experimentally and should not be regarded as scientific.

  To summarise . . .

  After a short one-line heavily weighted definition of Evolution that would find little endorsement in Evolutionary Science, the WTS quickly labels Evolution a RELIGION

  Having reduced the comparison to a RELIGIOUS one . . . they then quote a Creation Scientists views and make it a SCIENTIFIC one.

  Evolution Scientists are portrayed as atheistic "religious" zealots who simply want to attend night clubs with a clear conscience.

  Rather than simply comparing Evolution with Bible teaching as the heading suggests, this article is really an extremely biased, uninformed and disingenuous attack on Evolutionary Science and Evolutionary Scientists.

  Who really is having their ears tickled?
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  unshackled

  Good post sizemik. I just read this article yesterday and what a colossal trainwreck of intellectual dishonesty. All on purpose of course...they have no interest in honesty.

  Some other quote gems…

  "The fall from perfection explains why the human body, though marvelously designed, is susceptible to deformities and disease. Evolution is therefore incompatible with the Bible. Evolution presents modern man as an improving animal."

  Nope, that's not how evolution works. No foresight, no improving.

  You already quoted this one…

  "Teachers of evolution are often motivated, not by the facts, but by “their own desires”—perhaps a desire to be accepted by a scientific community in which evolution is orthodox doctrine."

  Geez…so their "own desires" came up with the mountain of evidence seen in biodiversity, vestigially, geological succession, embryology, genetics, and the fossil record. But NOT facts.

  Never fails to astonish me how easy it is to lead mass population to ignore blatant facts and believe in utter BS.
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  NewChapter
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  sizemik

  Depends a bit on your browser . . . but right click copy and paste works for me.
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  NewChapter

  NC
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  TotallyADD

  Creationist and thats what WT is. Even though they say their not. Love using what is called "Junk Science". It does not surprise me one bit the trash the Wt uses to try to support their views. This so called scientist has been discredited by main stream science for a long time. This is the same guy main stream creationist use to support their views. So the WT has move a little closer to main stream fundamentalism. Totally ADD
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  ihadnoidea

  I actually almost yesterday started a thread on that exact article. It unbelievable on many levels. I find it also ironic that they use the tactic of labeling evolution a religion. Hello, you guys are a religion too. So what are you saying religion is not based on evidence? If so, what about you guys?

  I also find it unbelievable how they paint the evolution scientists motives.

  Teachers of evolution are often motivated, not by the facts, but by their own desires—perhaps a desire to be accepted by a scientific community in which evolution is orthodox doctrine.

  First, would not a scientist want to prove evolution wrong and appear even more wise then the other scientists? Is that not the whole point for a scientist. To continue discoverying new things, even if it proves earlier thought wrong. And as a added benefit be rewarded with even more prestige if you do.

  Second, from my own personal experience I know that if you ask a random JW to explain evolution, 99% will get it wrong. So who is motivated to fit in to a community really? The scientist who examines both sides? Or the JW that only examines one side because they want to continue as part of the community and not be shunned by there family if they dare question the thoughts on evolution. I use to be in the 99% myself, its not there fault. Its all this ill informed anti-evolution propaganda you are bombarded with that you never would dare learn about the subject.
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  sizemik

  ihadnoidea . . . this is a good point you make . . .

  Is that not the whole point for a scientist. To continue discoverying new things, even if it proves earlier thought wrong. And as a added benefit be rewarded with even more prestige if you do.

  Scientists know when presenting a paper . . . that it will be subjected to the highest possible criticism and scrutiny from the science community . . . something the WTS has the luxury of largely avoiding when touching on scienctific subjects. Without that scrutiny the scientific community knows that future scientific hypotheses will be based on a false premise so they welcome it as part of the scientific process . . . something the WTS would rather avoid.

  The way they dismiss so much scientific knowledge with a "wave of the pen" is disingenuous at best . . . decietful at worst.
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  Atlantis
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  Atlantis

  Since Russell was viewed as being the "faithful and wise servant" until the late 1920's, this theistic evolution interpretation was promoted by JWs after Russell's death in 1916:

  One theory regarding the creation (excepting man) by a process of evolution, to which we see no serious objection, we briefly state as follows: It assumes that the various species of the present are fixed and unchangeable as far as nature or kind is concerned,.... This theory further assumes that none of these fixed species were originally created so, but that in the remote past they were developed from the earth, and by gradual processes of evolution from one form to another. These evolutions, under divinely established laws... may have continued until the fixed species, at the present time seen, were established, beyond which change is impossible... [3]

  Only in respect to man does the Bible declare a special, direct creation of God. The statements of Genesis in respect to lower creatures rather favor something along the lines of specialized evolution.... the beginning of life came from the waters, and later extended to the birds, and still later to the land animals.... under divine supervision various orders of creation were brought to a state of development and fixity of species... [4]

  References:

  3. Woodworth, C. J., "Evolutionist Guessing," The Golden Age, Nov. 12, 1919, p. 103.

  4. Woodworth, C. J., "Life of the Saurians," The Golden Age, Feb. 18, 1920, p. 341.

  Site:

  http://www.seanet.com/~raines/theistic.html

  Atlantis