`Danny's Growing fear of Reality==   Hello Danny, here is a reply to your post on my talk page; you said:  ``A Question. Central, can you explain something to me? You obviously don't like JWs so why do you spend so much time thinking about us? Personally, I try to avoid thinking about things that I don't like or that make me upset. Yet I notice that JWs and related articles are the only subject you deal with on WP. I doesn't [sic] make any sense to me at all - what's up with that! As it says on the WP main page, ``In this English version, started in 2001, we are currently working on 730,275 articles.`` Wouldn't you be happier branching out to some of the other subjects on WP. Just a thought. DannyMuse ``   Ho hum, here we go. . . I see your inevitable desire to posit straw men has taken the better of you again (yawn). You stated: ``You obviously don't like JWs. . .`` Actually Danny I have some friends who are JWs, and I have no problem with them as individual per se. If you actually opened your eyes for once you would see I have problems with your religious leaders, not JWs. Although rank and file JWs are still responsible for selling their literature and promoting the false teachings of the Watch Tower commercial publishing organisation.   Your second reality admittance is very revealing, you said: ``I try to avoid thinking about things that I don't like or that make me upset.`` You sure do Danny, as do most JWs, and don't think it hasn't been noted by thousands of viewers of these pages. Very sad indeed when someone who claims he is part of the ``channel of God``, and ``the only narrow road to salvation``, shrinks back in fear whenever you see anything you don't like. This is exactly why so many in this world get deceived and trapped in false religions, they just look away when reality comes knocking. This is also why you will most probably waste the rest of your life in a region that is not what it claims to be and lose your future opportunities with God through self-deception. Danny, never underestimate the power of denial, it will steal all your relationship with God, and you will probably let that happen.  Danny, I will not argue with you, as you are not ready to see reality at present, I pray one day you will be able, but maybe that time is not yet. I will leave it with God, if he wants you, he will open your eyes. Until then, I will leave you with some advice from your own organisation; on this occasion, you should take that advice. Regards, , 15 September 2005  :``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. . . What makes a religion right is its total adherence to God's Word. Whether our religion meets this criterion or not can only be determined by open-mindedly comparing it with the Bible. . Why, some people have even been known to doubt the truthfulness of a message simply on the basis of where the message bearer came from . . An open mind is willing to do what 1 John 4:1 recommends. It says: ``Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired expression, but test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God, because many false prophets have gone forth into the world.``—Awake! 22 November 1984  pp.8-10  :``If you find that a doctrine or teaching is a lie, you should quickly forsake it, regardless of who teaches it or how long you have believed that teaching to be true. Your own welfare and your duty to God demand that you abandon lies, no matter who teaches them. . . God hates a speaker of lies. (Proverbs 6:16-19) ``A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish. . . If you find that you have been for some time in an organization called ``the church``, and that such organization teaches that which is contrary to God's Word of truth, then you will have to choose whether you will remain in accord with that so-called ``church`` organization and its teachings or will forsake the same and rely upon the Word of God``—Watch Tower's RICHES (book, 1936) p.178-9  :``God, who is himself ``the God of truth`` and who hates lies, will not look with favor on persons who cling to organizations that teach falsehood. (Psalm 31:5; Proverbs 6:16-19; Revelation 21:8) And, really, would you want to be even associated with a religion that had not been honest with you?``—Is This Life All There Is? 1974 p.46  :``If the message the Jehovah's Witnesses are bringing to the people is true, then it is of greatest importance to mankind. If it is false, then it is the duty of the clergymen and others . . . come boldly forward and plainly tell the people wherein the message is false.``—The Golden Age, 18 January 1933 page 252  :``How to Choose the Right Religion: What will guide us in choosing the right religion? The Encyclopædia Universalis is correct when it highlights the importance of truth. A religion that teaches lies cannot be true. The greatest prophet that ever walked on earth stated: ``God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth.``-John 4:24. . . Obviously it would be impossible to study all the thousands of religions inside and outside Christendom before making a choice. However, if—as Jesus said—we use truth and fruitage as touchstones, it is possible to identify true religion.``—Watchtower 1 December 1991 p.7  :``[letter] 'You all loved it, didn't you? You couldn't resist taking a shot at the Catholic Church, could you? I will never forgive the way you mercilessly tore down the Pope. If Jehovah's Witnesses must refer to cheap shots in attempting to bring down other religions, they're in more trouble than the Catholics. . . [Watch Tower's reply] The Catholic Church occupies a very significant position in the world and claims to be the way of salvation for hundreds of millions of people. Any organization that assumes that position should be willing to submit to scrutiny and criticism.``—Awake magazine 22 Aug 1984 p.28  :``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.``—Watchtower 15 November 1963 p.688  :``The best method of proof is to put a prophecy to the test of time and circumstances. The Bible invites such a test.``—Watchtower 1 March 1965 p.151  :``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.``—Watchtower 1 March 1966 p.132  :``Since we do not want our worship to be in vain, it is important for each one of us to examine his religion. 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.``—The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life 1968 p.13  :``How many are aware that adhering to false religion can mean their eternal destruction?… Are true Christians going to stand by quietly and say nothing about such gross misrepresentations? Hardly!``— Watchtower 15 April 1970 p.246  :``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! 22 October 1973 p. 6  :``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? If you are among those seeking to be faithful to God, the issues these questions raise are vital for you today.``—Watchtower 15 January 1974 p.35  PS. Danny, if you want to know why I have a problem with the Watch Tower org., read Raymond Franz's two books, and you will start to understand. Mind you, I knew most of what he writes before I read his books, and I've also seen first hand the terrible damage done to JWs by the Watch Tower's actions, including one JW suicide, and several JW breakdowns, and plenty of broken families shunned for non-scriptural reasons. Please don't reply, just go and get some knowledge before you make any more silly apologetics for your leaders. Regards, , 15 September 2005   `