Quite simply, most JW's are scared as heck of ever reading information critical of the Watchtower Society. Deep down they genuinly fear their 'faith' wouldn't stand it.
Ignorance and resisting contrary information is the final defense for JW's. It is the fall-back position they mentally run to at the slightest bit of criticism. The majority of JW's just put their fingers in their ears and go 'la-la-la' at the slightest bit of 'apostate' thinking.
In the developed world, it is the most natural thing in the world for someone who has just encounterd JW's to jump straight online and go to Wikipaedia and other popular sites to get the low-down on them. Going online to check something out today is just as natural as going to your local library and researching something in encyclopaedias.
It's one of the most basic and primitive human traits, to 'look under the stone' and turn something over in your hand and mind to get all the angles on it. It's the scientific method of skeptical enquiry, trying to uncover the facts without bias or distortion.
But for those born in to the religion or otherwise thoroughly indoctrinated, this natural human quality of high value is crushed when it comes to considering anything slightly critical of the organisation. Engaging one's natural mental curiosity in this realm is viewed as the enemy, to be avoided at all costs. Lifting the stone and taking a peek underneath is to be scolded at, prohibited.
This anti-intellectual and anti-scientific crushing and denial of JW's inherent natural mental curiosity is the secret power the Watchtower Society has over it's membership.
The Watchtower religion can ONLY SURVIVE though maintaining this mental strangulation. Instilling a deep-seated fear of independent, critical thinking is the life-blood of the organisation.
If you're a lurker or sincere JW who is bothered about aspects of your religion, put yourself in the shoes of someone who is completely ignorant of JW's and has only just encountered them for the first time knocking on their door. What would you do after taking a tract or Awake magazine? Would you research their beliefs online or not?
This is called being OBJECTIVE. It is taking yourself out of your own mental paradigm and trying to look at some particular circumstance outside of your own head, as if you were someone else looking from the outside in. It is being impartial, unbiased, looking at both sides of the coin. It is the only way to get to the real truth of a matter.
Objectivity is crucial to your ability to get to the bottom and really discern the truth about anything. Recognise that you probably are biased and therefore may be misinformed or ill-informed. You believe everyone in every other religion is misinformed and blind, but perhaps you are no different. How can you tell? Objectivity is the key.
Try it. Objectively put your cherished beliefs to the test. Don't suppress your natural intellectual curiosity, don't fear information and research. Your own religion tells you to do this!
Awake! October 22, 1973 p. 6 Examine the Evidence
"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."
Watchtower March 1, 1966 p.132 Should Falsehood and Corruption Be Exposed?
"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 exposé? Do you feel it is all right to teach lies and misrepresent God's Word, but wrong to expose the error? Contrary to what some may think, it is not unkind and unloving to lay bare falsehood and corruption."
The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life 1968 p.13 Why It Is Wise to Examine Your Religion
"4 ..If our worship is to be acceptable to God, it must be firmly rooted in God's Word of truth. Jesus reproved those persons who claimed to serve God but who relied heavily on the traditions of men in preference to God's Word. He applied to them God's own words from Isaiah 29:13, saying: "It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach commands of men as doctrines." (Matthew 15:9) Since we do not want our worship to be in vain, it is important for each one of us to examine his religion.
5 We need to examine, not only what we personally believe, but also what is taught by any religious organization with which we may be associated. Are its teachings in full harmony with God's Word, or are they based on the traditions of men? If we are lovers of the truth, there is nothing to fear from such an examination. It should be the sincere desire of every one of us to learn what God's will is for us, and then to do it.-John 8:32.
Awake! November 22, 1984 p.3-4 An Open or a Closed Mind—Which Do You Have?
An Open or a Closed Mind—Which Do You Have?
What Is an Open Mind?
"An open mind is free from the fetters of prejudice, which by one dictionary is defined as follows: "A judgment or opinion, favorable or unfavorable, formed beforehand or without due examination; a mental decision based on other grounds than reason or justice; especially, a premature or adversely biased opinion."
A necessary part of life is that we make decisions and reach judgments. But decisions made "without due examination" or judgments reached "on other grounds than reason or justice" are evidences of a closed mind.
Having an open mind, on the other hand, means to be receptive to new information and ideas. It means being willing to examine and to evaluate information without a biased attitude. By retaining what is worthwhile and rejecting what is worthless, we can reach definite conclusions on a solid basis and still leave our minds open to further revision should additional information become available at a future time. He who feels he has learned it all can be sure that this attitude will prevent him from ever learning more.
Why People Have Closed Minds
A closed mind may indicate lack of knowledge. We may know so little about a subject, or have information so distorted or incomplete, that the facts necessary to reach proper conclusions are missing."
Awake! 1984 November 22 pp.8-10 An Open Mind Wins God's Approval
An Open Mind Wins God's Approval
THE importance of having an open mind so as to win God's approval is shown in the words recorded at Ephesians 5:10, 17. There we read: "Keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord. On this account cease becoming unreasonable, but go on perceiving what the will of Jehovah is."
But is it not a fact that many people have closed minds when it comes to religion? Some even reject the idea of a Supreme Being and are unwilling to listen to the evidence of his existence presented by believers. For them religion is a closed subject.
Even some religious people have closed minds. They are interested only in "their" religion, showing no willingness to as much as listen to the views of others. And even though they may not have chosen their religion but simply have inherited it from their parents, still they feel that their religion must be right. But not every inheritance is necessarily good. A quick temper, a selfish attitude or a deceitful spirit can also be parental hand-me-downs, but they are definitely undesirable.
Watchtower April 1, 1991 p.17 Mankind's Search for God
The book then raises the logical question. "Is it reasonable to assume that the religion imposed at one's birth is necessarily the whole truth?" Thus, every person is encouraged to examine other religions with an open mind. As is stated on page 10: "Understanding one another's viewpoint can lead to more meaningful communication and conversation between people of different faiths." It continues: "True, people may strongly disagree about their religious beliefs, but there is no basis for hating a person just because he or she holds a different viewpoint."-Matthew 5:43, 44.
Awake! 2000 June 22 Do Not Be a Victim of Propaganda!
Do Not Be a Victim of Propaganda!
"A fool will believe anything."—PROVERBS 14:15, TODAY'S ENGLISH VERSION.
THERE is a difference—a big difference—between education and propaganda. Education shows you how to think. Propaganda tells you what to think. Good educators present all sides of an issue and encourage discussion. Propagandists relentlessly force you to hear their view and discourage discussion. Often their real motives are not apparent. They sift the facts, exploiting the useful ones and concealing the others. They also distort and twist facts, specializing in lies and half-truths. Your emotions, not your logical thinking abilities, are their target.
The propagandist makes sure that his message appears to be the right and moral one and that it gives you a sense of importance and belonging if you follow it.You are one of the smart ones, you are not alone, you are comfortable and secure—so they say.
Put information to the test: "Beloved ones," said John, a first-century Christian teacher, "do not believe every inspired expression, but test the inspired expressions." (1 John 4:1) Some people today are like sponges; they soak up whatever they come across. It is all too easy to absorb whatever is around us.
But it is far better for each individual personally to choose what he will feed his mind. It is said that we are what we eat, and this can apply to food for both the body and the mind. No matter what you are reading or watching or listening to, test to see whether it has propagandistic overtones or is truthful.
Moreover, if we want to be fair-minded, we must be willing to subject our own opinions to continual testing as we take in new information. We must realize that they are, after all, opinions. Their trustworthiness depends on the validity of our facts, on the quality of our reasoning, and on the standards or values that we choose to apply.
Ask questions: As we have seen, there are many today who would like to 'delude us with persuasive arguments.' (Colossians 2:4) Therefore, when we are presented with persuasive arguments, we should ask questions.
First, examine whether there is bias. What is the motive for the message? If the message is rife with name-calling and loaded words, why is that? Loaded language aside, what are the merits of the message itself? Also, if possible, try to check the track record of those speaking. Are they known to speak the truth? If "authorities" are used, who or what are they? Why should you regard this person—or organization or publication—as having expert knowledge or trustworthy information on the subject in question? If you sense some appeal to emotions, ask yourself, 'When viewed dispassionately, what are the merits of the message?'