An Armchair Scholar Answers Jehovah's Witnesses...The Problem of Evil

By Karen Clark

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, which guides and directs Jehovah's Witnesses world-wide, claims that evil events are contrary to the will of God and asserts that if God foreknew man would corrupt His creation with sin and created anyway, He is responsible for all the suffering that resulted from it. Is that true?

This book compares and contrasts Watchtower theology with orthodox theology on theodicy and the Problem of Evil.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Karen Clark
• Release date: Apr 22, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458180049

Karen Clark

Karen Clark is a true Renaissance woman with a vast career as an Italian-trained fashion designer, litigation paralegal, carpenter and wood floor mechanic to concert promoter, pet and housesitter, personal historian, landscape designer and IT/Word Processor at the ad agency that brought you the Pet Rock, just to name a few of her adventures. Like most midlife women who have gone through the “Change,” she now spends her time on artistic activities such as writing and spending time with her grandchildren—and yelling at politicians on television. Singing in Silence is her debut novel. Her next book is NestQuest, her memoir of the twelve years it took to write this historical novel while suffering a brain injury from workplace bullying which led to homelessness at age sixty and her continuing quest to find a home. Her journey led to wanting to know more about the history of her brave ancestor’s quest for a home in America, culminating in driving herself through England, Ireland and Scotland in 2015. That journey revealed Mayflower ancestors, including the pilot of that famous voyage and her ten-times great grandmother who was one of the original Separatists and the aunt of Plymouth Governor William Bradford. She has learned to Trust the Journey.

Book preview

AN ARMCHAIR SCHOLAR ANSWERS

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES...

THE PROBLEM OF EVIL

by

Karen Clark

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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PUBLISHED BY:

Karen Clark on Smashwords

An Armchair Scholar Answers Jehovah's Witnesses...The Problem of Evil

Copyright 2011 by Karen Clark

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright ® 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Xondervan. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the NEW WORLD TRANSLATION OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, Copyright 1961, 1981, 1984 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania.

Cover image (Image ID: 1201958, Bible Notes) provided by Billy Alexander, at stock.xchng http://www.sxc.hu

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AN ARMCHAIR SCHOLAR ANSWERS

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES...THE PROBLEM OF EVIL

Preface

This series of book contains results of the extensive study I began while studying with a Jehovah's Witness in the book, KNOWLEDGE that Leads to Everlasting Life in 2004-2005. For future reference, throughout the book, I use the following abbreviations:

JW = Jehovah's Witness

WTS = Watchtower Bible and Tract Society

KNOWLEDGE = KNOWLEDGE that Leads to Everlasting Life

BIBLE TEACH = WHAT DOES THE BIBLE Really TEACH?

NWT = New World Translation with References

WT = The Watchtower: Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom

I refer to multiple translations of any given verse in my Bible studies (KJV, NAS and NIV) and I have continued this practice here by adding the NWT to the list. For primary verses, however, I typically check all translations available to me to give me an overall understanding of how various translators treated the verse.

I highly recommend the following on-line resources, which have been invaluable in my studies:

http://www.e-sword.com --Free download of Bible software. Many translations plus original Hebrew and Greek texts, commentaries, dictionaries, various books and devotionals are also available as free add-ons. Great for off-line studying.

http://www.studylight.org --40+ Translations, many resources not available through E-sword. Simply outstanding.

http://www.crosswalk.com --A few resources not available in E-sword or Studylight.

http://www.biblegateway.com --A few more resources not available in E-sword, or Studylight.

http://preceptaustin.org/summary_of_references.htm --Links to Vine's Expository Dictionary, sermon searches, etc.

I provide my research here for all Christians who begin a study with JWs in the KNOWLEDGE book in prayerful hope that this material may be helpful to you.

A few preliminary guidelines and tips...

Witnessing to the Witnesses

1. PRAY! I prayed right before the JW I studied with was due to arrive, after our study time had concluded and every night during my regular prayer time. I prayed not only for the Holy Spirit's guidance, but also for the JW with whom I studied. Never, ever forget to pray! Prayer is essential!

2. Approach the witness with love. Smile. Offer him/her a drink before each study session. Ask how he/she is. Show an interest in the witness as a person. Also, as a matter of respect, if you have a dog, make sure the dog is penned or its movements suitably restricted before the JW arrives. (The JW I studied with often recounted tales of dogs biting, jumping on or otherwise threatening JWs.) If you have children at home, make sure they're occupied during your study time, too, so you will be interrupted as little as possible.

3. Make sure you understand what the JW perspective is before pursuing the argument. Ask the JW outright, "This is what I read. I