Examples of Deliberate Deception by Jehovahs Witnesses

In this blog I will show you, using the Watchtower publication - Life - How Did It Get Here? By Evolution or by Creation? - just how devious and misleading the Watchtower writers are in order to convince their readers of their authenticity.

I am limiting the examples to this one book on this occasion because if you have a copy it will be easy for you verify what I am saying.

Let's start on page 15 paragraph 4 where they quote James Gormans article "The Tortoise or the Hare?" in Discover, October 1980, page 88:       

      

      “The scientific magazine Discover put the situation this way: “Evolution ... is not only under attack by fundamentalist Christians, but is also being questioned by reputable scientists. Among paleontologists, scientists who study the fossil record, there is growing dissent from the prevailing view of Darwinism."

To read the quote as the Witnesses have doctored it the reader is led believe that evolution is being discredited by many qualified scientists even those specialising in the fossil record.

Now take a look at the full quote:

"Charles Darwin's brilliant theory of evolution, published in 1859, had a stunning impact on scientific and religious thought and forever changed man's perception of himself. Now that hallowed theory is not only under attack by fundamentalist Christians, but is also being questioned by reputable scientists. Among paleontologists, scientists who study the fossil record, there is growing dissent from the prevailing view of Darwinism. ... Most of the debate will center on one key question: Does the three-billion-year-old process of evolution creep at a steady pace, or is it marked by long periods of inactivity punctuated by short bursts of rapid change? Darwin's widely accepted view -- that evolution proceeds steadily, at a crawl -- favors the tortoise. But two paleontologists, Niles Eldredge of the American Museum of Natural History and Stephen Jay Gould of Harvard, are putting their bets on the hare."

Suddenly the debate is not whether scientists are questioning evolution at all but merely the speed of evolution - hence the title of  James Gormans article "The Tortoise OR the Hare?"

Why would an organisation that claims to have the 'Truth' be so deceitful in their own literature?  

The next deceit is even better;

Pages 15,16 Paragraph 6 

“Paleontologist Niles Eldredge, a prominent evolutionist, said: “The doubt that has infiltrated the previous, smugly confident certitude of evolutionary biology’s last twenty years has inflamed passions.” He spoke of the “lack of total agreement even within the warring camps,” and added, “things really are in an uproar these days . . . Sometimes it seems as though there are as many variations on each [evolutionary] theme as there are individual biologists.”

Now apparently, according to Jehovahs Witnesses careful editing of evolutionist Niles Eldredges article 'Evolutionary Housecleaning', there is total disagreement within the evolutionary theory camp, almost to the point where no one paleontologist agrees with any other paleontologist.

The real quote;

Natural History, “Evolutionary Housecleaning,” by Niles Eldredge, February 1982, pp. 78, 81.  

“I mention this only to illustrate the lack of total agreement even within the warring camps: things really are in an uproar these days, and each of the "basic" ways of looking at evolution has its minor variants. Sometimes it seems as though there are as many variations on each theme as there are individual biologists. But that's as it should be; this is how science is supposed to operate. ... When they [Creationists] misrepresent the exuberant, creative doubt and controversy permeating evolutionary biology these days, they are actively promoting scientific illiteracy.”

In fact Niles Eldredge points out that though there are differing opinions these are on the MINOR variants of evolution and, ironically the Witnesses fall into the very trap he mentions at the end of his quote -When they [Creationists] misrepresent the exuberant, creative doubt and controversy permeating evolutionary biology these days, they are actively promoting scientific illiteracy!

At this point it would be pertinent to point out that though the Watchtower, Bible and Tract Society are happy to misrepresent the words of preeminent scientists to convince the reader that they have the 'Truth' they never identify the writer OR their credentials for their own publications - including Life - How Did It Get Here? By Evolution or by Creation?

Our next example involves the widely read British evolutionist Richard Dawkins and you can almost hear the glee of the Watchtower writer as he misquotes this eminent scientist.

Page 39: 

"At this point a reader may begin to understand Dawkins' comment in the preface to his book: "This book should be read almost as though it were science fiction.""

What Dawkins actually wrote was;

Richard Dawkins, The Selfish Gene, 1976, p.ix: 

"This book should be read almost as though it were science fiction. It is designed to appeal to the imagination. But it is not science fiction: it is science. Cliché or not, "stranger than fiction" expresses exactly how I feel about the truth."

For this one gross representation alone the Governing Body should accept that every word they ever utter will be taken with a large dose of salt.

Next is a truly breathtaking attempt at misdirection;

 Page 143: 

"Zoologist Richard Lewontin said that organisms "appear to have been carefully and artfully designed." He views them as "the chief evidence of a Supreme Designer." It will be useful to consider some of this evidence." 

Oh no he did not. (JW's proclaim that Satan is the Father of the Lie - so what does that make an organisation that lies?)

The actual quote is; Richard C. Lewontin, "Adaptation", Scientific American, vol. 239, September 1978, p. 213: 

"The manifest fit between organisms and their environment is a major outcome of evolution.... Life forms are more than simply multiple and diverse, however. Organisms fit remarkably well into the external world in which they live. They have morphologies, physiologies and behaviors that appear to have been carefully and artfully designed to enable each organism to appropriate the world around it for its own life. It was the marvelous fit of organisms to the environment, much more than the great diversity of forms, that was the chief evidence of a Supreme Designer. Darwin realised that if a naturalistic theory of evolution was to be successful, it would have to explain the apparent perfection of organisms and not simply their variation

This quote is so twisted and deceitful that it beggars belief.  Richard Lewontin is clearly stating that the integration of organisms within their environment was far greater than the evidence of diversity of life attributed to some Creator God.  They twisted his whole conclusion around, to make it fit their claims, without a seconds regard for honesty.

Next comes a different form of slight of hand;

Page 15: 

"Francis Hitching, an evolutionist and author of the book The Neck of the Giraffe, stated: "For all its acceptance in the scientific world as the great unifying principle of biology, Darwinism, after a century and a quarter, is in a surprising amount of trouble."" 

Hitching was nothing more than a sensationalist and a charlatan.  In The Neck of the Giraffe he claimed to be a member of the Royal Archaeological Institute, but he was not. He implied in the "Acknowledgements" of The Neck of the Giraffe that paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould had helped in the writing of the book. Gould said he did not know him and had no information about him. Hitching also implied that his book had been endorsed by Richard Dawkins.  Dawkins stated: "I know nothing at all about Francis Hitching. If you are uncovering the fact that he is a charlatan, good for you. His book, The Neck of the Giraffe, is one of the silliest and most ignorant I have read for years."

Once again the Governing Body shoot themselves in the foot by quoting the words of a man who has no scientific background. The reference work Contemporary Authors, Vol. 103, page 208, lists him as a member of the Society for Psychical Research, the British Society of Dowsers and of the American Society of Dowsers. His writings include: Earth Magic, Dowsing: The Psi Connection, Mysterious World: An Atlas of the Unexplained, Fraud, Mischief, and the Supernatural and Instead of Darwin.

Calling upon this man to substantiate their claims is akin to an Evolutionist quoting David Ike to prove that all Christians believe in vampires and aliens.

There are more deceptions and misquotes within this book but I think that I have made my point. This is an organisation that claims to be directed by Gods Holy Spirit.  Are we to believe then that Holy Spirit moves them to lie and deceive in their literature?  Of course not.  Holy Spirit (if you believe in such a thing) has nothing to do with subterfuge.

If they need to lie to prove their point their credibility is shattered.