Aristotle vs the Watchtower
We all crave a degree of certainty in our everyday lives. We like to know our alarm clock is going to ring at the time we set it; the car is going to start and that our paycheck isn't going to bounce.
Beyond that, we also want to know whether something we are told is true or not. If a doctor presribes a medicine; we want to have confidence that it will hurry along the healing process. If the weatherman tells us the weekend will be filled with sunshine; we don't want our outdoor picnic ruined by hail and thunder.
We also tend to apply our best rational thinking to matters of life and death. We examine every dangerous situation for any signal of safety and danger. And in all these considerations, our craving for certainty relies heavily on our best use of LOGIC.
Logic is the art of non-contradictory reasoning. Logic is a tool of thought. It was first developed by an old Greek gentleman named ARISTOTLE (383 b.c.e.-322 b.c.e.). As perhaps the greatest of all philosophers of old, Aristotle gave the world one of its best and most useful tools.
One of the tools in the Logic toolbox is called "the law of the excluded middle". All that means is that either Joe is dead or Joe is alive; he cannot be both. In other words, in everyday life (excluding special mathematical situations) things either ARE or they ARE NOT.
This seems obvious to us and perhaps does not appear to be a great discovery. However, the nations of the Far East who were not exposed to Aristotle developed philosophies that stifled the advance of science and discovery due to the absence of this very law! Believing that something both IS and ISN'T simultaneously conflicts with reality and creates ambiguity in one's thinking.
Well, "so what?", you may well ask. So this: the easiest logical test to apply for consistency is the test for truth by applying this law.
In a courtroom you may well have heard the swearing in ceremony for one who is compelled to provide testimony. It goes like this:
"Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give is the truth; the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"
The purpose of this oath is to exclude the possibility of statements that are both true/partially true/partially false/false. In other words; there is reason to EXCLUDE murky middle cases. Only what is TRUE or FALSE is useful for determining an important course of action or belief; especially in regard to life and death. Which raises the very issue dealt with by religion.
Religious organizations offer a set of binding beliefs which are considered the best possible thinking available. The word "orthodox" means "right belief". Standard logic may sometimes be applied to test religious orthodoxy. For example; no religion teaches that God lies. The natural and logical consequence of this is testing statements which purport to come from God to determine the truth content.
An easy example to understand would be the following syllogism. (A form of argumentation in which a conclusion is drawn from a major premise by the use of a minor premise: all men are mortal/Socrates is a man/ therefore Socrates is mortal)
God does not lie.
Satan is the father of the lie.
Therefore; God is not Satan.
All too obvious, you may say. Perhaps; however, what is especially interesting to consider is that one of the best examples of glaring illogic, inconsistency and outright self-contradictory error has been demonstrated by the religious group JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES. How so?
Their Governing Body equates the editorial process in its magazine, the WATCHTOWER, with that of the "faithful and discreet slave" spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24 and Luke 12. From that scripture they seek to apply a special status to themselves. That status, in their interpretation, puts them in the position of a latter day "prophet" of God. Further, it means when they speak; in effect, it is the interpretation of Jehovah God's truth which is being revealed. So, Jehovah is the editor of the Watchtower magazine.
Moreover, it is expressly forbidden to seek outside "wisdom" from other sources inasmuch as this "slave" provides the ONLY true interpretations of the meaning of scriptures. (According to them.)
All well and good. However, is there some conflict apparent between the logic of the excluded middle (thanks to Aristotle) and the demonstration of special communication with Jehovah offered by this Governing Body?
Is there any way at all to examine the very process of "revealed" wisdom and expose a vulnerability to glaring error?
YES!
Read on.
The usual obstacle to determining the truth of any religion's position on a matter is that of interpretation itself. Each group sees things a slightly different way. Pinning down an interpretation to a single either/or truth is illusory. Does this mean it cannot be done in the case of the Watchtower? Not at all.
Here is a simple test of truth that even the Watchtower writers cannot avoid, evade or explain away. Anything considered to be true by any group cannot escape BEING CONSISTENT WITH ITSELF!
Example: If you say you believe "X" is true it cannot also be "not X".
All true statements are internally consistent. Even a published statement purporting to reveal "God's view" of things would never also be "not God's view". Clearly the law of the excluded middle works fine.
With that handy logical tool we will now expose the rotten wood which serves as a foundation for Jehovah's Witnesses' belief system.
Example 1: An amusing look at duplicity (now you see it/now you don't)
Using the Great Pyramid as a "witness in stone" to predict the end times and Jesus' return for judgement can be tested for self-consistency. It doesn't matter whether we believe or don't believe. That is immaterial. What we are checking for is violation of the law of the excluded middle.
*** Thy Kingdom Come (copyright 1891) (1904 edition — Millennial Dawn, vol 3) p.342 ***
"Thus the Pyramid witnesses that the close of 1874 was the chronological beginning of the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation — no, nor ever shall be afterward. And thus it will be noted that this "Witness" fully corroborates the Bible testimony on this subject..."
Is this consistent with what follows a mere 6 years later?
*** Thy Kingdom Come (copyright 1891) (1910 edition — Studies In The Scriptures, vol. 3) p.342 ***
"Thus the Pyramid witnesses that the close of 1914 will be the beginning of the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation — no, nor ever shall be afterward. And thus it will be noted that this "Witness" fully corroborates the' Bible testimony on this subject..."
EXAMPLE 2: Having it both ways
Watchtower 1998 December 1 p.14 Defending Our Faith
Jehovah's Witnesses have been targets of false accusations-barefaced lies and twisted presentations of their beliefs. As a result, they have been the object of unjustified attack in some lands. But the fact is that Jehovah's Witnesses place a high value on life, and they seek to obtain the best available medical care for themselves and their children. The accusation that numerous children of Jehovah's Witnesses die each year as a result of refusing blood transfusions is totally unfounded.
But then.........?
Awake! 1994 May 22 p.2 Page Two
Youths Who Put God First 3-15
In former times thousands of youths died for putting God first. They are still doing it, only today the drama is played out in hospitals and courtrooms, with blood transfusions the issue.
EXAMPLE 3: Make up your mind
Abaddon means "A Bad One". Apollyon means "Satan the Devil", Finished Mystery. p.159. Now JW's are taught the Abaddon & Apollyon are Jesus Christ. "Then Is Finished The Mystery Of God". p. 232
EXAMPLE 4: Who's who?
The "Superior Authorities of Romans the 13th Chapter; how are they viewed?
Superior Authorities
1879-1929 secular governments
1929-1962 Jehovah and Jesus
1962-2004 secular governments
EXAMPLE 5: Who is a false prophet?
** Thy Kingdom Come (Studies in the Scriptures Vol.3) (1908) p.228 ***
That the deliverance of the saints must take place some time before 1914 is manifest, since the deliverance of fleshly Israel, as we shall see, is appointed to take place at that time, and the angry nations will then be authoritatively commanded to be still, and will be made to recognize the power of Jehovah's Anointed. Just how long before 1914 the last living members of the body of Christ will be glorified, we are not directly informed; but it certainly will not be until their work in the flesh is done; nor can we reasonably presume that they will long remain after that work is accomplished. With these two thought in mind, we can approximate the time of the deliverance.
COMPARE to:
1968
"True, there have been those in times past who predicted an 'end to the world,' even announcing a specific date. Some have gathered groups of people with them and fled to the hills or withdrawn into their houses waiting for the end. Yet, nothing happened. The 'end' did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying. Why? What was missing? Missing was the full measure of evidence required in fulfillment of Bible prophecy. missing from such people were God's truths and the evidence that he was guiding and using them." Awake, Oct 8, 1968, p 23
EXAMPLE 6: God revealed this?
The 1000 years of Christ's reign began in 1873 [The Time is at Hand, foreword p. 2].
The last member of the church will be glorified sometime before the end of 1914 [The Time is at Hand, p. 77].
The date for the close of the battle of the great day is definitely marked in Scripture as October 1914 [WT 1/15/1892, p. 1355].
COMPARE WITH:
Armageddon is likely to begin in the spring of 1915 [WT 9/1/14].
The Battle of the Great Day of God Almighty had begun by 1916 [WT 9/1/16, pp. 265,266].
In the year 1918 God will destroy the churches wholesale and the church members by the millions. Any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the downfall of "Christianity" [The Finished Mystery, p. 485].
The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the scriptures than is 1914, and before 1925 the great crisis will be reached and probably passed [WT 9/1/22].
EXAMPLE 7: Remember, Jehovah is the Watchtower editor!
· The Book of Ruth is "not prophetical" WT Reprints IV p.3110, Nov.15, 1902.
· The Book of Ruth "Is prophetic" WT Book Preservation. p. 169, 175, 176.
· Adam! May be Awakened. WT book Reconciliation p. 323, 324.
Adam and Eve will not be resurrected Paradise Lost. pg. 236.
EXAMPLE 8: Live are affected by this flip-flop
Rape is fornication
http://quotes.watchtower.ca/rape_is_fornication.htm
Rape is not fornication
http://quotes.watchtower.ca/rape_not_fornication.htm
EXAMPLE 9: Revealed to the mouthpiece of God by...?
WILL THE MEN OF SODOM BE RESURRECTED?
YES... WATCHTOWER 7/1879, Page 8
NO... WATCHTOWER 6/1/52, Page 338
YES... WATCHTOWER 8/1/65, Page 479
NO... WATCHTOWER 6/1/88, Page 31
YES... LIVE FOREVER (old), Page 179
NO... LIVE FOREVER (new), Page 179
YES... INSIGHT/SCRIPTURES, Vol. 2, Page 985
NO... REVELATION book, Page 273
******************************************************************************
The above examples by no means exhaust all the demonstrations of violations of the law of the excluded middle.
What it is important to note is this. The source of the above interpretations were given BEFORE and AFTER the various changes and it was always the same source cited: JEHOVAH himself! Is their god at odds with his own self?
Faith, n. Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel. [Ambrose Bierce, 1911]
In view of what we have considered here we must conclude that the belief system of Jehovah's Witnesses dictated by their Governing Body is false for no other reason than that the process is error prone(can't be divine). Nothing so inconsistent with itself can possibly be true. This is especially true of religious belief. Why? Because religious belief cites the source as being God; who by nature cannot lie!
Therefore:
Either the person or group misrepresents the view of God and invalidates any possibility of having a connection to him as a dispenser of truth
OR
True statements are at variance with themselves and logic does not work.
Take your choice.
The history of false statements, errors, changes, backpeddling, adjustments and excuse making by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses is clear enough for even a blind person to see. It is logically impossible for them to represent a source of truth because the essential harmony of truth with itself does not exist with them.
When Aristotle and the Watchtower meet, it is the Watchtower that suffers defeat.
Yogi Berra:
It's not the things we don't know that will hurt us, it's the things we know for sure that ain't so.
Terry Walstrom 2004