Someone had a chart with the WT statements, supposedly summarizing a secular source, and the actual source. Once upon a time, I thought they just did not know how to research. The chart showed outright lies. Many a secular professor has demanded retraction or published clarification, concerned that the WT was deliberately misquoting their research.
Anyone with a high school education should realize the above statements are theories, not facts. I see no references cited. Before I attended college, I was actually quite impressed with all the so-called secular citations. I view it as eating from the fruit of the tree of knowledge. After high school, I can just laugh so hard at the Witness assertions. Most of what they claim can never be verified. How do you explain to those with little knowledge what they are doing?
The average educated reader does not even have to check the source to know you cannot use it to make the assertions. It is a looney bin. I don't believe that my family and I were fools or stupid. We did not have the resources to know better. The Witnesses were doomed by my ongoing education.
I try so hard here to explain a basic knowledge of the First Amendment and what courts will allow. Many thank me for it. Others get angry b/c they don't know how it works. They want justice and their justice. I explain that law and justice don't have much to do with each other. Law serves property interests and almost always backs the status quo. Of course, one viewing of schlock shows such as Nancy Grace convinces many that I am simply wrong. The honest view is that this garbage impressed me. Were it not for other events in my life, it would continue to impress me.
The only antidote I see is the teaching of critical thinking skills from elementary school. There is also incredible arrogance on the part of the Witnesses to delve into areas that can not be proven. Another reveal that is embarassing. When I was young, I thought that anything in printed book had legitimacy. My one problem with Witness literature was the vivid colors. My textbooks and books at the public library were never orange, purple, lurid green, etc. I wondered why they printed books in such odd colors. The books seemed tainted. I wanted stately green, brown, black, etc.
I am interested if others had the same reactions I did as a young person. My exposure to the world was so limited. I heard of Handel, Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart. Yet I only had access to polka music and Motown. Now I cry when I listen to classical pieces. If you never hear them, how do you know what you are missing? The same is true of fine art. Oh, I longed to see Rembrandt, DaVinci, all the famous names. Never seeing them growing up, how could I appreciate the difference?
