“A friendly study of all the world’s religious scriptures is the sacred duty of every person.” ~ Mahatma Ghandi
About Faith, Doubt, and Independent Thought…
“Fight the tendency to doubt... If some tinge of doubt about Jehovah, his Word, or his organization has begun to linger in your heart, take quick steps to eliminate it before it festers into something that could destroy your faith.” ~ Watchtower, February 1, 1996 [JW Publication]
From an article about the danger of thinking for yourself… “How is such independent thinking manifested? A common way is by questioning the counsel that is provided by God's visible organization.“ ~ Watchtower, January 15, 1983 [JW Publication]
About Dependence On The Watchtower…
"Furthermore, not only do we find that people cannot see the divine plan in studying the Bible by itself, but we see, also, that if anyone lays the Scripture Studies aside, even after he has used them, after he has become familiar with them, after he has read them for ten years - if he then lays them aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness.” …
“On the other hand, if he had merely read the Scripture Studies with their references, and had not read a page of the Bible, as such, he would be in the light at the end of the two years, because he would have the light of the Scriptures" ~ The Watch Tower, 1910, [JW Publication]
About Personal Bible Study…
"They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such 'Bible reading,' they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago." ~ Watchtower, Aug.15,1981 [JW Publication]
"Unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using [referring to The Watchtower Society], we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do" ~ Watchtower, December 1, [JW Publication]
About Salvation…
"We must recognize not only Jehovah God as our Father but his organization as our Mother." ~ The Watchtower, [JW Publication]
About Integrity – Or Lack Thereof…
"Lying generally involves saying something false to a person who is ENTITLED to know the truth.... While malicious lying is definitely condemned in the Bible, this does not mean that a person is under obligation to divulge truthful information to people who are not entitled to it". ~ Aid To Bible Understanding, [JW Publication]
“One of the chief identifying marks of a ‘cult’ as opposed to a ‘religion’ is the groups willingness to uses deception or manipulation to promote its beliefs. We no longer define ‘cults’ by what they believe as much as by how they go about promoting that belief system.” ~ “C.A.N.” [Cult Awareness Network]
“There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.” ~ Proverbs 14:12 (NRSV)
“Everyone who does not abide in the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God; whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” ~ 2 John 1:9 (NRSV)
“As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit - just as it has taught you, remain in him." ~ 1 John 2:27 (NIV)
“For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and people. He is the man Christ Jesus.” ~ 1 Timothy 2:5 (NLT)
“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” ~ John 17:3 (NASB)
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” ~ John 14:6 (NASB)
“… always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.” ~ 2 Timothy 3:7 (NIV)
"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God." ~ 1 John 5:1 (NIV)
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be My witnesses….” ~ Acts 1:8 (NASB)