Why is it necessary to search out sites that have only accurate and unbiased information on issues for which some have a strong opinion?
The following is from a book that discusses, among other subjects, literature, under the subject, "Resource and Research Material," and first and secondary sources. The book is by Joceylyn Paris, M.Ed., and Judy Paris, M.Ed., by Wiley Publishing, Inc., on the subject of elementary school education.
"Readers have the responsibility of making an informed assessment on the resources they use to gain facts,opinions, and ideas. Information is everywhere in today's society: television, Internet, newspapers, magazines, libraries, schools, neighbors, coworkers, friends, and so on. It is up to the reader to judge whether or not the information provided is reliable and trustworthy. To evaluate this, the reader must look at the source that provides the information. Key questions readers must ask themselves when analyzing sources are as follows:
What type of source is this? Whether the source is primary (1st person) or secondary, can play a large role in determining the validity and reliability of the information. Did the source actually witness or experience the information or is she simply relating it to the reader second hand?
Who is the source? Anyone can write literature or essays and post it on the Internet, claiming the information is valid. Check to see if the source is an expert or authority on the subject or topic before judging the validity. Explore the background of the individual providing the information.
Is the information accurate? The information provided needs to be clear, concise, and of high quality. Check to see if there are other sources which express similar information.
Is the information up to date? Make sure that the information given is the most current.
Is the source biased? Check to see whether the source is an objective observer/participant or if the source has something to gain by using the facts and providing the information (ex: politicians, TV infomercials, drug company findings, and so on.)"
End of quote
The above information is especially pertinent for the subject of Jehovah's Witnesses and the Internet. There are many groups and persons who are opposed religiously, one might say, in competition with Jehovah's Witnesses (what pastor wants some of "his" flock to leave the church and become a Jehovah's Witness. Because Jehovah's Witnesses evangelize, at times to persons who already are members of churches, this sometimes results in anger by pastors and ministers who anxiously guard "their" members. Others who write on the Internet about Jehovah's Witnesses are former Witnesses who may have been disfellowshipped for sexual immorality or some other reason. Jehovah's Witnesses only disfellowship those who are unrepentant, who don't respond to attempts to help, or who don't change in a course of conduct which is contrary to Bible principles.
The Bible states at 1 Cor 5:9-12, "In my letter I wrote YOU to quit mixing in company with fornicators, 10 not [meaning] entirely with the fornicators of this world or the greedy persons and extortioners or idolaters. Otherwise, YOU would actually have to get out of the world. 11 But now I am writing YOU to quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. 12 For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Do YOU not judge those inside, 13 while God judges those outside? “Remove the wicked [man] from among yourselves.”
Jehovah's Witnesses are one of the few Christian religions which actually follows this direction from the Bible, in their administration of the Christian congregation. This serves as a protection for others, so that no "womanizer" or other influence towards conduct which dishonors God or dangers others continues in the congregation, or influences others to imitate that bad example. One can see who this might result in some controversy, and how there might be some who, rather than humbly repent, try to come back to the congregation, which most do, instead, take to airing complaints in various ways on internet sites. Those who do this are by far the minority, but are also the most public.
So the message is, in researching the topic of Jehovah's Witnesses, make sure the source, even in what might be considered reliable information
(The main Wikipedia page on Jehovah's Witnesses being one example at present, where there is extreme bias on the part of the major contributes to the information on Jehovah's Witnesses, although this is against Wikipedia policy, it has yet to be corrected, after some attempts. The present webpage on Jehovah's Witnesses as it is on Wikipedia, presently reflects extreme bias, (what wiki refers to as POV-Point of View, something not allowed on the Wiki page, but not always enforced, neutral opinion is a requirement for wiki editors. The page has much outdated information, and has been produced unethically with "strong-arm" methods by some wiki-editors, what might be termed, "cyber-bullying". This is first person observation of the development of the main webpage on Wikipedia.org)
Part of the motivation behind this site, to provide links and other cooperative information about Jehovah's Witnesses from largely, outside sources. Therefore the links that are listed on this site, not from Jehovah's Witnesses, but not be 100% flattering to Jehovah's Witnesses, but are considered unbiased and honest, so can be considered reliable sources of information and unbiased. This can help the research to sort through fact and fiction, between truth and bias, on the subject of Jehovah's Witnesses.
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Source - paragraphs 2-9:
Paris, Jocelyn L., M.Ed., Paris, Judy, L., M.Ed., (2009). Praxis II: Elementary Education. Cliffnotes. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing, Inc.
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Comments by Bryan R. Wilson, Ph.D., (1826-2004), Professor Emeritus at Oxford University, on Apostates, Apostate Syndrome, and the
(un)credibility of the apostate as a source of informatio
“Apostasy may be considered no less to occur when a single erstwhile believer renounces his vows and his former religious allegiance. since c. 1960, with the appearance in western society of various new minority movements which have distinctive religious teachings and which require a strong sense of specific commitment, a member who departs is likely to be regarded as apostatizing, and all the more so, of course, if that member then proceeds to ridicule or excoriate his former beliefs and to vilify those who were previously his close associates. In recent decades, given the emergence of so many new religious bodies which make strong demands on the loyalty of their members, instances of apostasy have become matters of considerable attention for the mass media.
Apostates are often very willing informants, but sociologists generally exercise considerable caution with respect to this possible source of evidence."
See also: Apostates (on-site) for further quotes by Wilson.
Bryan R. Wilson was the former President of the International Society for the Sociology of Religion. He was also European editor of the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, and on the editorial board of the Annual Review of the Social Science of Religion.