Thinking

Independent Thinking

The Watchtower has a policy of condemning what they term, "independent thinking". The teaching is really designed to convey the message that anyone who really thinks will not follow their leadership and remain one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

In the world, there is a tendency to reject
leadership. As one lecturer said: ;The rising
education level has improved the talent pool such
that followers have become so critical that they are
almost impossible to lead. But a spirit of
independent thinking does not prevail in Gods
organization, and we have sound reasons for
confidence in the men taking the lead among us.
The Watchtower, September 15, 1989, p. 23

And yet they have also taught that "a reasonable person"
will examine both sides of "a disputed theory".
What if the "disputed theory" is one of the Society's
teachings?

Reasonable persons agree that the only fair
method is to examine the evidence on both sides,
both for and against a disputed theory. That is how
one arrives at the truth.
Awake, October 22, 1973, p. 6

It is not unkind or unloving to "lay bare falsehood". Dear
Jehovah's Witness friend, will you be honest enough to truly
examine what your organization teaches to see if it really is the
organization that Jehovah is using?

Therefore, how will you respond when pointed
statements are made about false religious teachings
and corrupt practices? Will you immediately
condemn the person or organization making the
expose? Contrary to what some may think, it is
not unkind and unloving to lay bare falsehood and
corruption.
The Watchtower, March 1, 1966, p. 132

According to the Watchtower it is not a form of religious
persecution for ANYONE to say and to show that another
religion is false. Will you take the to examine the Society's
teachings and it's prophecies?

Can there be false religion? It is not a form of
religious persecution for anyone to say and to show
that another religion is false. It is not religious
persecution for an informed person to expose
publicly a certain religion as being false, thus
allowing persons to see the difference between
false religion and true religion.
The Watchtower, November 15, 1963, p. 688

And finally!

When persons are in great danger from a source
that they do not suspect or are being misled by
those they consider their friends, is it an unkindness
to warn them? They may prefer not to believe the
warning. They may even resent it. But does that
free one from the moral responsibility to give that
warning?
The Watchtower, January 15, 1974, p. 35

We would not want to be morally irresponsible in
warning JW's that they are in danger from "the friends"

Your friends at Witness Inc.