Addressing The False Claim That Jehovah's Witnesses Do Not Think "Independently"

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Addressing The False Claim That Jehovah's Witnesses Do Not Think "Independently.

http://defendingjehovahswitnesses.blogspot.com/2013/02/addressing-false-claim-that-jehovahs.html#

From a WT Apologist.

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cedars

I had a brief look at the article when I first stumbled across it on Google.

I could only get through a few of the ridiculous statements before I decided it wasn't worth wasting braincells on.

"Such people must misrepresent quotes from our literature. Because these quotes say we must reject 'independent thinking' it is NOT referring to' independent research' or 'independent reasoning.'"

That's the best they can do?

Cedars

The Searcher

Whatever you do, don't burst their little bubble by telling them to "listen, obey, & be blessed", and not read the Kingdom Ministry September 2007 Question Box!

Splash

The WT triumphs here since they say both things.

If you are doing your own research/thinking/reasoning then the elders can quote WT articles at you to make you stop.

If you are defending the WT to outsiders, you can quote WT articles to show we are encouraged to think independently.

It's a win-win. Put both views into writing and choose when to use each one.

Of course the WT apologist in the link does not mention that actually, if you continue to 'reason independently' then you will definitely be cast outside the congregation as an opposer.

Posted before, but relevant:

INDEPENDENT THINKING

Is Bad - w52 8/15 p. 501 Individual Bible study, certainly! Independent Bible study, beware!

Is Good - w57 8/1 p.469 par.7 "Moreover, people today are developing an aversion to thinking. Their thinking must be channelled for them, ready-made by propagandists. This suits Satan’s purpose."

Is Good - w58 8/1 p.460 "Irish people do very little independent thinking. They are victims of the clergy and fear"

Is Bad - w60 2/15 p.106 par.6 "it follows that one should reject the goal of independent thinking"

Is Good - w72 3/15 P.170 par.7 "independent thinking ... is why you are capable of exercising the fine qualities of love and loyalty, of devotion and integrity. That is why you are also capable of understanding what God has revealed in his Word "

Is Bad - w77 10/1 p.605 "Adam’s selfish thinking and action distorted his way. He set out his own independent course, becoming an enemy of God, and brought his own way and that of his family “to ruin.” Yes, with sin and imperfection ruling, and with each going his independent way, no one knows what may befall him,"

Is Good - Awake! 78 8/22 p.4 " Proverbs 14:15 states: “A simple man believes every word he hears; a clever man understands the need for proof.” (The New English Bible) So each individual must choose what he will feed his mind. Whatever you read or watch or listen to, test whether it is propaganda or whether it is the truth. Will you let others think for you, or will you do your own thinking? Do your own, and “thinking ability itself will keep guard over you.”"

Is Bad - w79 2/15 p.20 par.18 " Jehovah’s people need to be stable, full-grown Christians. Their position must be steadfast, not shifting quickly because of independent thinking "

Is Good - Awake! 80 1/8 p.13 " The person most easily brainwashed is the “normal,” average individual. Such a one is already conditioned to accept opinions of others rather than to form strong convictions of his own. On the other hand, those hardest to brainwash are ones with unconventional ideas and strong convictions and who are not afraid of what others think."

Is Bad - w83 p.27 section heading " Fight Against Independent Thinking " par.22 says it's "demonic"

Is Good - KM 3/95 p.6 par.17 "it is highly valuable to learn how to think. The Bible commends thinking ability and practical wisdom. (Prov. 1:4; 3:21) Learning how to think and retain information enables you to acquire knowledge and skills that will be useful to you and to Jehovah’s worldwide organization. "

Is Bad - w98 5/15 p.26 "Perhaps we are overly sensitive. We may be nursing a grievance, or we may be placing too much emphasis on independence. Thus, our Christian progress may be limited."

Is Good - Awake! 99 1/8 p.11 "The magazine UNESCO Courier suggests that instead of fostering rejection of religious movements, “education for tolerance should aim at countering influences that lead to fear and exclusion of others, and should help young people to develop capacities for independent judgement, critical thinking and ethical reasoning.”"

Is Bad - w06 7/15 P.22 Par.14 "Pride may play a role, and some fall into the trap of independent thinking"

- It seems for the most part, the Watchtower doesn't like independent thinking whereas the Awake! does !

Splash

2+2=5

I think JWs experience severe cognitive dissonance when they try and reject and accept independent thinking at the same time. That's understandable, the poor people are being manipulated by fools like Anthony Morris the terd. He explains it so well, JWs are the thinkingest people in earth.

trujw

splash great post. The watchtower can go back and find a quote to just about any position it wants to support any idea. I mean they changed their sodom doctrine 8 times in 135 years and we are on our 4th version of the governing body explanation.

yourmomma

it is NOT referring to' independent research' or 'independent reasoning.

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jgnat

Of course Jehovah's Witnesses think independently. Then they do they are told firmly to stop doing that.

I listened to a platform soliloquy by a young lady, I believe, who suggested that one could fight boredom in study by reading the article and questions ahead of time and underlining the selected parts.

That's called rote memorization.

Deadly dull.

Meaningful learning: http://www.ted.com/talks/daphne_koller_what_we_re_learning_from_online_education.html

pixel

How about this:

"[A mature christian] does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding. Rather, he has complete confidence in the truth as it is revealed by Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and "the faithful and discreet slave." Watchtower 2001 Aug 1 p.14

It cleary says, you can't even have private ideas, not even private!!!! There you have the Holy Trinity: Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and "the faithful and discreet slave.

They want to be followed blindly.

I quit!

All you have to do is go to a Watchtower study to see independent thinking isn't allowed. At the WT study they ask you a question and you underline and repeat the answer they want to hear. Not exactly a free exchange of ideas.

I'm sure most of us can remember a new person, probably a study coming to the WT study and making a comment outside of the information given in the paragraph. They were gently informed that expressing your own ideas wasn't what the WT study was about.

Addressing The False Claim That Jehovah's Witnesses Do Not Think "Independently"

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