Those who were around in the early 1980s, may remember the phrase “Avoid Independent Thinking”, It was the subheading on page 22, in the January 15, 1983 issue of “The Watchtower. The article was titled “Exposing the Devil’s Subtle Designs.” For quite some time, the Watchtower magazine has been cautioning Jehovah’s Witnesses about the supposed risks of what they call “independent thinking.”
This segment is all about diving into how the Governing Body views independent thinking today and how that perspective has changed over the years.
What’s interesting is that the Society hasn’t always seen “independent thinking” in such a negative light. In the August 1, 1957 issue of the Watchtower, they were actually encouraging independent thought! They pointed out the downsides for those who felt uneasy when left alone with their own ideas and beliefs. This earlier viewpoint shows a much more open attitude towards personal reflection and critical thinking, which is a stark contrast to the more recent warnings against those practices.
7 Though not sought by crowds as Jesus was, his followers today are hard-pressed by modern living to find solitude for meditation. In many places in the world simplicity of living has been replaced by a life of complexity, with waking hours crammed with both important and trivial matters. Moreover, people today are developing an aversion to thinking. They fear being alone with their own thoughts. If other people are not around, they fill the void with television, movies, light reading matter, or if they go to the beach or park the portable radio goes too so they will not have to be with their own thoughts. Their thinking must be channeled for them, ready-made by propagandists. This suits Satan’s purpose. He deluges the mass mind with anything and everything but God’s truth. To keep minds from doing godly thinking Satan keeps them busy with thoughts that are either trivial or ungodly. It is tailor-made thinking, and the tailor of it is the Devil. Minds work, but in the way that a horse is led. Independent thinking is difficult, unpopular and even suspect. Thought conformity is the order of our day. To seek solitude for meditation is frowned upon as antisocial and neurotic.-Rev. 16:13, 14. – The Watchtower, 8/1/1957, page 469, para 7, “Will You Get to Live on Earth Forever?”
In the August 1, 1958, issue of the Watchtower, the writers chat about how the Irish folks often don’t think for themselves much. They say this is mainly because the Church has such a big impact on their lives and beliefs. The piece dives into how this religious power affects how they see things and make choices, which might hold them back from really thinking critically or reflecting on their own.
Fear has a great hold on the people. People are afraid of what their neighbors, their friends, relatives and clergy might think if they were even so much as to read the Bible on their own. For centuries the clergy have dominated their lives, told them what they can read, what they should believe and do. To ask a sound religious question is a demonstration of lack of faith in God and the church, according to the clergy. As a result, the Irish people do very little independent thinking. They are victims of the clergy and fear; but freedom is in sight. – The Watchtower, 8/1/1958, page 460
In the 1957 edition of the Watchtower, they talked about how the world bombards us with all these thoughts and ideas that are pretty much set up by Satan. It’s like this whole manipulation thing to keep people from thinking for themselves or really questioning things. But then, just three years later, the Watchtower comes out with a different take, saying this:
Today the trend of this world is to seek independent thinking as the ideal goal, but even as the unrealistic thinking of a scientist who tries to ignore the law of gravity is doomed to failure, so also is the unrealistic thinking of those who try to ignore the fact of man’s dependence on God. .“It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his steps.” (Jer 10:23; Prov. 16:1-3) When men try to think independently of God, they set aside the perfect standard of goodness, righteousness, virtue and faithfulness and become victims of their own selfish, sinful inclinations and degrade their own thinking ability.-Rom. 1:21-32; Eph. 4:17-19. – The Watchtower, 2/15/1960, page 106-7, para 5, “Safeguard Your Thinking Ability”
Wow, can you believe how much the world has shifted in just three years?
It’s pretty amazing to think about all the changes that have happened in such a short time. Now, when we look at how the Society has been using the term lately, it’s clear there’s a certain way they’re interpreting it. It would really be great if they could use the term to talk about thoughts and views that aren’t tied to Jehovah. But sadly, that’s just not the case right now.
“It seems that some in association with the early Corinthian congregation were disregarding Paul’s authority, looking at him according to what he appeared to be in the flesh, and neglecting to take into account his special commission from Christ. Today, too, there are those who, by their independent thinking, question Christ’s ability to have and use on the earth a specially appointed governing body of imperfect humans, to whom he has entrusted all the Kingdom interests or “belongings” on earth. (Matt. 24:45-47) When such independent thinkers receive counsel and direction based on the Bible, they incline to the thought, ‘This is only from fleshly men, so it is up to me to decide whether to accept it or not.’ – The Watchtower, 6/1/1966, page 324, “Intellectual Freedom or Captivity to the Christ?”
So, they’re saying that independent thinkers usually don’t question the organization itself, but more like, “Can Christ really have and use a specially appointed governing body made up of imperfect humans here on earth?” Just to be clear, I definitely don’t doubt Christ’s abilities in this area; my worry is more about whether the Watchtower Society actually reflects those divine abilities.
In the January 15, 1983, issue of the Watchtower, there were two articles that really tackled the whole independent thinking thing. In the first one, which was titled “Avoid Independent Thinking,” the Watchtower said:
How is such independent thinking manifested? A common way is by questioning the counsel that is provided by God’s visible organization. For example, God’s organization has from time to time given warnings about listening to certain types of immoral and suggestive music, and about frequenting discos and other types of worldly dance halls where such music is played and people are known to engage in immoral conduct. (1 Corinthians 15:33) Yet certain ones have professed to know better. They have rebelled against such counsel and have done what is right in their own eyes. With what result? Very often they have become involved in sexual immorality and have suffered severe spiritual harm. But even if they have not been so affected, are they not reprehensible if others follow their example and suffer bad consequences?-Matthew 18:6. – The Watchtower, 1/15/1983, page 22, para 21, “Exposing the Devil’s Subtle Designs”
You know, rather than really digging into the teachings and principles in God’s Word, the Watchtower seems to suggest that if you think for yourself, you’re actually questioning “the counsel that is provided by God’s visible organization.” It’s like they’re saying that their guidance is inspired by God and shouldn’t be up for debate.
19 As we study the Bible we learn that Jehovah has always guided his servants in an organized way. And just as in the first century there was only one true Christian organization, so today Jehovah is using only one organization. (Ephesians 4:4, 5; Matthew 24:45-47) Yet there are some who point out that the organization has had to make adjustments before, and so they argue: “This shows that we have to make up our own mind on what to believe.” This is independent thinking. Why is it so dangerous?
20 Such thinking is an evidence of pride. And the Bible says: “Pride is before a crash, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.” (Proverbs 16:18) If we get to thinking that we know better than the organization, we should ask ourselves: “Where did we learn Bible truth in the first place? Would we know the way of the truth if it had not been for guidance from the organization? Really, can we get along without the direction of God’s organization?” No, we cannot! -Compare Acts 15:2, 28, 29; 16:4, 5. – The Watchtower, 1/15/1983, page 27, “Armed for the Fight Against Wicked Spirits”
It seems like independent thinkers are often seen not as people who are actually challenging God directly, but more like folks who think they get things better than the organization that stands for Him.
In the world, there is a tendency to reject leadership. As one lecturer said: “The rising education level has improved the talent pool such that followers have become so critical that they are almost impossible to lead.” But a spirit of independent thinking does not prevail in God’s organization, and we have sound reasons for confidence in the men taking the lead among us. For instance, only those meeting Scriptural requirements are appointed as elders. (1 Timothy 3:1-7) They are trained to be kind, loving, and helpful, yet firm in upholding Jehovah’s righteous standards. The elders adhere to Scriptural truth, ‘holding firmly to the faithful word, that they may be able to exhort by healthful teaching.’ (Titus 1:5-9) Of course, we should not magnify their human imperfections, for all of us are imperfect. (1 Kings 8:46; Romans 5:12) Instead of feeling frustrated by their limitations and treating their counsel lightly, let us appreciate and accept the Bible-based direction of the elders as coming from God. – The Watchtower, 9/15/1989, Page 23, para 13, “Be Obedient to Those Taking the Lead”
In recent years, they continue to promote against independent thinking. For example on the “Morning Devotion” segment on JW.org,Ralph Walls on his segment“Protect Your Thinking Ability”, he says:
“Thinking ability is not to be confused with independent thinking, which Satan promotes.”
Gage Fleegle on his part “Jehovah unifies his people” says:
“…pride, stubbornness, independent thinking, they don’t exist in the spiritual paradise.”
The Society’s characterization has undergone a significant and drastic transformation since the year 1957. In more recent times, the focus has shifted away from fostering independent thought in relation to God. Instead, it has increasingly been oriented toward promoting a mindset that encourages independence from the Watchtower organization itself.