Here is a rough version of a letter I intend to send to the society regarding an article in the july 1 2001 watchtower about doubt.
Any suggestions on how I can improve the letter?
Also what are the odds on getting in big trouble in sending this?
Dear Friend ,
I recently had an opportunity to re-read an article in the july 1 2001 watchtower on page 18 entitled “Do let doubts destroy your faith”. I wondered if you could assist me in my thinking as I found it difficult to understand fully the viewpoints expressed there.
First of all you compared insidious doubts to a viral or bacterial infection , these were doubts about our faith or relationship with Jehovah, you said we could be open to doubts if we starve ourselves spiritually. The word doubt basically means to be uncertain or undecided about something.
Insidious means spreading developing, or acting inconspicuously but with harmful effect.
How would you define a doubt that has a harmful effect? Is it one that may lead us to doubt the organisation of Jehovah’s witnesses?
Next you say that “not all doubt is bad. At times you need to suspend acceptance of something till you are sure of the facts”
At which point can we say we are sure of the facts when it comes to the matter of faith. Faith means reliance or trust, or a belief in a religious doctrine or system of beliefs.
Which meaning of faith do you refer to when you talk of “ damaging your faith and your relationship with Jehovah” in the second paragraph . If you mean the first then the fact that we have to have faith about something and do not know something is true means we don’t have all the facts , over wise we would not need faith. So when we have faith in something by definiton there is room for doubt as we are trusting without knowing the full facts.
You say “Religious exhortations to that you should just believe and doubt nothing are dangerous and deceptive”
So as Jehovah’s witnesses what are we able to doubt about our religion?
“Sometimes a persons past record gives legitimate reason for doubt” Does this in your opinion apply to religious organisations also?
How am I to view errors in reasoning the society has made in the past such as “this generation will by no means pass away until these things occur” ? Since the past view did not come from God and the society had it wrong is that a legitimate reason for doubt? As the apostle John said “test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God” when is an expression considered to be inspired , when it’s said to come directly from God or from a group of people who claim to be led by him .If God doesn't inspire the governing body or literature writers when they wrote what was previously considered truth in which way does he use them?
You next said “ Yes an honest, humble examination of the facts to establish the truth is often called for. This however is not the same as allowing unfounded doubts to develop in our mind and heart-doubts that can wreck our firmly established beliefs and relationships” How do we know when a doubt is unfounded? This will obviously require research and evidence will need to be considered. What is the organisations view of those who do such research?
Anyway you quoted the example of Eve to show how Satan can plant doubts in our mind. But was it the doubt that was wrong or the fact that she didn’t try to check out the facts?
Then you quote from James “Keep asking in faith, not doubting at all” because we become “Like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and blown about.” You comment that a human can develop “an uncertainty of belief that leaves us floundering” you say that this can leave us open to demonic teaching and philosophies, so what evidence do you present to show that this is the case and that if we are not sure because the evidence does not seem complete that we must just except things in faith other wise we are open to demonic teaching?
Does this not contradict what you said earlier , “Religious exhortations to that you should just believe and doubt nothing are dangerous and deceptive” If we doubt you suggest this is from the demons you even say in the next paragraph “ How can we protect ourselves from damaging doubts? ( i.e those against aspects of the belief system of Jehovah’s witnesses) The answer is remarkably simple: by rejecting satanic propaganda...”.So how does this tie in with us being allowed to consider doubts we may have, on the one hand you say we can have doubts on the other that all doubts aganst the socety are from Satan.
This is more clear when we consider what is said on page 20 “Are we really living in the last days? Can you believe everything the bible says? Is this truly Jehovah’s organisation? Satan would love to plant doubts like these in your mind .Do not let a negligent attitude toward spiritual feeding leave you easy pray to his deceptive teaching”
So should I just believe these things and not doubt because these come from Satan?
Well you say “Be a good student of “the holy writings” In the article you encourage us to fight doubt by continually studying articles from the society and the bible.
So in being a student how do I study the holy writings to see if what is taught by the writing committees of Jehovah's’ witnesses is correct ? Can I only refer to their books and teaching or to others , or do other peoples teaching come from the demons? If I consider only the societies viewpoint how can I know whether it is biased or not or whether it employs good logic and reason and a truthful presentation of the facts. I can only confirm this if I study other sources. Why fear this , an honest individual would surely recognise the truth if it is so and be able to reject erroneous teaching. If we can’t do this are we not blindly excepting what we are taught? So am I allowed to spend time studying other sources of information ?
Is not teaching that dangerous doubts come from Satan and that you should rid you self of them the same as saying we should doubt nothing the society teaches and that we should just believe what they tell us?
Lastly you present the example of Abraham and say that some feel he had legitimate grounds for doubt. But you point out he had strong trust in what was promised and his hope was realised. Are you suggesting that even if we feel we have legitimate reasons for doubt we should ignore them and just trust like Abraham?
What of a Catholic or a Buddhist ? should they just have trust as well if they feel their religion is lacking?
Remember the statement “Religious exhortations to that you should just believe and doubt nothing are dangerous and deceptive” In this letter I am questioning the logic that presented in this article which seems to be thus ,
You can have doubts but doubts against the truth are dangerous and come from Satan so even if something seems doubtful have trust like Abraham and get rid of the doubt by studying more of the arguments that are for the society as the rest come from Satan. So therefore don’t doubt and believe everything we tell you.
Since I am allowed to doubt and you don’t just expect me to believe please can you explain your position on doubt more clearly.
I will appreciate you consideration of this letter and look forward to your reply.