Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Tract on my Doorstep, Part II

[Editor’s note: Part I of this review of a Jehovah’s Witnesses tract is split up on on the previous page.]

This argument is flawed, in three ways.
First, just because wonders of nature (like the human body) exists, it does not mean it was designed by a designer. Evolution by natural selection, which has been long been scientifically proven in a myriad of ways, presents a perfectly natural and reasonable explanation for complexity and “wonders” that occur within nature. To discard the scientific theory and say “I don’t know how complex things came to be, so god did it” shows a breathtaking lack of imagination.
Second, to hold wonders of nature as the pinnacle of evidence for a god’s existence is feeble evidence indeed, and no different than Paley watchmaker argument and Behe’s irreducible complexity argument, all of which have been discredited and disproven time and again.
Third, to say that wonders of nature exist discounts all of nature’s chaos and destruction. Are Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy wonders of nature? Do they show that Jehovah’s wisdom can be seen everywhere? How about pestilence, plague, viruses, and disease? How about the vast emptiness and chaotic destruction of the vast majority of space? One cannot simply point to rainbows, kittens, or complexity of human bodies, and ignore the undesirable realm within nature.
Yet, having wisdom is not enough. To bring to complete realization what comes into his mind, the Creator must also have full power. The Bible shows him to be such a God: “Raise your eyes high up and see. Who has created these things? It is the One who is bringing forth the army of them even by number . . . Due to the abundance of dynamic energy, . . . not one of them is missing.” (Isaiah 40:26) Indeed, Jehovah has “the abundance of dynamic energy” at his command to accomplish his will. Do not such qualities attract you to Jehovah?”
Despite reading the Bible a number of times, I’ve never come across the phrase “abundance of dynamic energy” before. This strikes me as a modern, nonsensical phrase, although the Jehovah’s Witnesses apparently think that it’s an attractive quality, whatever it means.
Compare their translation to the KJV: “Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth .” So I guess “strong in power” can also be translated as “abundance of dynamic energy.” Neither makes much sense, really. What evidence do any of the religious have that their god is powerful? Waving around an old book is not sufficient proof. Even if the biblical Jehovah did exist, why would I be attracted to his power and energy, no matter how abundant or dynamic?
Benefits of Knowing Jehovah
Jehovah “did not create [the earth] simply for nothing” but “formed it even to be inhabited” by humans who have a meaningful relationship with him. (Isaiah 45:18; Genesis 1:28) He cares about his earthly creatures. He gave mankind a perfect start in a gardenlike home, a paradise. Humans, for their part, are ruining it, much to Jehovah’s displeasure. Yet, true to what his name indicates, Jehovah will bring his original purpose for mankind and the earth to its completion. (Psalm 115:16; Revelation 11:18) He will restore Paradise on earth for those who are willing to obey him as his children.—Proverbs 8:17; Matthew 5:5.
I wonder how far Jehovah’s Witnesses subscribe to creationism. Do they believe that the Earth is six thousand years old, as the genealogies within the Bible lead us to conclude? Do they believe that evolution by natural selection doesn’t happen?
From what I can tell, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not consider themselves "creationists," since they do not believe in a “young earth” theory or that the world was created in 7 literal 24/hour days. They trot out the verse 2 Peter 3:8, “[O]ne day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day,” using this as vague evidence that Jehovah can create things in a moment or a millennia, because time is meaningless. (That’s not the only thing about the theory that’s meaningless, of course.)
The last bit, about gaining Paradise on earth if you’re willing to obey as a child, makes me wonder just what exactly they’re talking about. This isn’t even a direct reference to a heavenly afterlife and could just as be easily interpreted as having a good time while you’re still living because you get to spend it with other Jehovah’s Witnesses or something. Do Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in heaven? What’s “Paradise on earth” mean? The answer could vary depending on who you ask. Both verses referenced here provide much clarity either.
Indeed, supposedly Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that exactly 144,000 faithful Christians go to heaven to rule with Christ in the kingdom of God. They, with Jesus, will also perform priestly duties that will bring faithful mankind to perfect health and “everlasting life.” The rest of the faithful followers not among the 144,000 are included in a group called “other sheep” and would have a “resurrection of the righteous” in an “earthly paradise” of some sort. Those who died without being faithful to God would have a “resurrection of the unrighteous” and be given a second chance to gain God’s favor. If they didn’t take it, they would go to a place in “Gehenna,” a place of eternal destruction.
Yeah, weird stuff. I’m not sure if I understand a jot of it, since it’s all steeped in religious terminology and obscuration. The one theme running throughout, which gives me comfort, is that they don’t present an ounce of evidence.
The last book of the Bible describes the quality of life you can enjoy in that Paradise: “He will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3, 4) That is the real life Jehovah wants you to enjoy. What a benevolent Father he is! Are you willing to learn more about him and what is required of you to live in the Paradise?
I think most people at a glance would think that the Paradise mentioned here is the heaven with God, harps, angels, and the like, rather than some sort of zombie-like resurrection on earth. Can zombies cry anyway?
I wonder if Jehovah’s Witnesses feel a bit cheated, knowing that their chances of being one of the 144,000 Anointed are slim to none?
Unless otherwise indicated, all Bible quotations are from the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.
Translations of the Bible are numerous, but I’ve never heard of this particular one. It turns out that the NWTHS is published by none other than the Watch Tower Society themselves back in 1961.
The tract ends with “Would you welcome more information?” with the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ address and website. I think I learned a few things today about the Jehovah’s Witnesses at least, but I find my desire to welcome more information from them waning. Did they pass my two tests? They did provide a few arguments besides quoting the Bible–the watchmaker argument, irreducible complexity. I give them a few points for the effort, although both arguments are tired and flawed. Did they provide extraordinary evidence to support their claims? I’ll let you decide.