# *****For Friend

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Posted by Friend [Friend] on November 23, 1999 at 18:24:42 {KNpNN6QGfwhxaL3hj3H2OgnjR4Br/g}:

In Reply to: ****For Friend posted by CPiolo on November 23, 1999 at 16:17:55:

CPiolo

> In answer to your questions:

> No one, including a child, can come to an independent conclusion without independent thinking. That was my point! It is the avoidance of independent/individual thinking -- because individual thinking is independent by definition for I know of no one who can think collectively with another as a single unit -- that precludes making an independent/individual conclusion.

What you have said here is just pure folly. I know of no human being that thinks independently of everything aside from their own mind. Everyone is influenced by something. Considering information aside from our own mind is precisely what helps us grow and learn! Your strained logic would deny that anyone can draw individual conclusions when considering anything outside their own mind. The notion is simply absurd.

Your citations do not condemn individuals deciding matters for themselves, indeed JWs encourage that. Your references discourage making those decisions without considering direction from the Society.

I think you have trouble understanding a basic point. Here, tell me if these sentences say the same thing or not:

Do not decide without consulting with your teacher.
Do not decide independent of your teachers counsel.

Are those two sentences saying the same thing or not? Yes or No?

Is the student prohibited from deciding an issue for themselves just because they consult with they teacher? Yes or No?

> So Friend, can I say this: that according to you, the WT encourages one to consider individually all the facts and opinions (those espoused by the Society and those contrary) regarding their theology and that you are then to come to a individual (independent) conclusion? If so, why do they discourage investigation outside official WT publications? How does one make an intelligent decision or come to an intelligent conclusion without considering everything possible?

Those making intelligent choices do consider all they reasonably can before making those choices. On the other hand, if we wait until everything possible has been considered then we will never make any decisions. We would be repositories of information without ever making an application or choice.

As for what the Society encourages, yes, they do encourage seeking out information aside from their own. For instance, the Society encourages that Bible translations aside from the New World Translation be considered in order to gain a better understanding of the Bible. Frequently The Watchtower sends it readers to outside sources by references.

That does not mean that the Society endorses every outside source of information, but that they do endorse considering outside views, even those contrary to its own. Frankly, JWs do that every time they speak with someone about the Bible, faith or religion.

Friend

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