Two Quotes Jehovah’s Witnesses in Particular Need to Consider

by PhilosophicalLogic 4 Replies latest jw friends

  • PhilosophicalLogic
    PhilosophicalLogic

    “He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them. But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion... Nor is it enough that he should hear the opinions of adversaries from his own teachers, presented as they state them, and accompanied by what they offer as refutations. He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them...he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.”
    ― John Stuart Mill, On Liberty

    “In Chapter 77, you had people of totally different worldviews and ideas joined together,” says Patrik. “You had, for example, democratic socialists on the one side and fervent Catholics on the other side. It was totally normal for me that as a small child, I was being raised in a community of people with very different opinions. So it shattered the bubble around me.”

    The lesson of valuing diversity within a broader unity of shared goals is something that Christians today need to embrace.

    “When we look at what’s happening in America today, we see that you are building walls and creating gaps between people,” he says. “For us, we are always willing to speak, to talk with the other side to avoid building walls between people. You know, it is much easier to indoctrinate someone who is enclosed within a set of walls.”

    ― Rod Dreher, Live Not By Lies

  • BluesBrother
    BluesBrother

    The first one from JS Mill resonates with me and JWism. Especially this line

    Nor is it enough that he should hear the opinions of adversaries from his own teachers”

    That is exactly what they do. Books from WT refute evolution, discuss other religions, tell them suggestions for teaching Non Christians they meet but it is all selected and filtered through the WT teachings.

    They are strictly told never to accept literature from opposing groups. They believe they know all about it from their own Society. They are wrong!

  • PhilosophicalLogic
    PhilosophicalLogic

    @BluesBrother

    Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, I really appreciate it! Are you a former Jehovah's Witness? Also, how did you find out about JWs being strictly told never to accept literature from opposing groups? Thanks.

  • Vidiot
    Vidiot
    BluesBrother - "...it is all selected and filtered through the WT teachings."

    Once again, for the newbies, lurkers, and trolls...

    ...if you have to cheat to defend your beliefs, your beliefs don't deserve to be defended.

  • truth_b_known
    truth_b_known

    Truth does not ask to be believed. Truth asks to be tested.

    As previous posters have already stated so well, I am sure if you ask one of Jehovah's Witnesses "To whom should I ask my questions about Jehovah's Witnesses" they would answer "From one of Jehovah's Witnesses." To which you could in turn ask "Why then should I ask Jehovah's Witnesses questions about other religions?"

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