Principles

1. We should not build our beliefs and doctrines on only part of the evidence; only SOME of the verses that pertain to a topic of interest and ignore or dismiss the rest. An extreme example would be to use only one verse as our key verse and ignore other verses that could add more information to the doctrine.
2. We should not ask our opponents to have better evidence than we are willing to accept for our own doctrines. We should have the strongest evidence and reasoning and logic.
3. So, if we test JW doctrine it will always have an answer; it will be able to withstand any challenge.
4. Is the NWT different from other translations? Is it an accurate and objective translation or does it support specific doctrines through its translation?
5. (in relation to 1Jn 5:7-8, JWs and the NWT follow a principle that if it doesn't exist in the oldest manuscripts, then it isn't in the original and it should therefore not be included in the Bible. Based on this principle they would never add words into the translation to support their own doctrine, like those who added 1Jn 5:7-8)
6. Does God lie? Has he ever lied? Or misled us? Or deceived us? Do you think that he would ever do these things?
7. If a translation or an interpretation contradicts another passage then it should be considered a faulty translation or interpretation.
8. We should try to follow principles not allow ourselves to ignore them when they hurt us.
   A person of integrity would say: If X then Y, even if it hurts me.
   A person looking for excuses for not following a principle would say: If X then Y, except when it hurts me.
9. A belief or a doctrine should be tested with contrary evidence in order to be stronger. Just like when you caculate your net worth, you don't just add up your assets but you also have to include your liabilities and debts to come up with an accurate figure. Otherwise you're just fooling yourself. In the same way, look for any contrary evidence (honestly) to see if there is any contradicting evidence for the belief or doctrine.
10. Refutation is not merely denial. Dismissing something is not the same as refuting it. Declaring or believing something to be true is not the same as proving something to be true.

Changes That Disturb People

***Watchtower Apr 22, 1970, p. 8***
One of the reasons is that people are disturbed by what is happening in their churches. Yes, millions of persons have been shocked to learn that things they were taught as being vital for salvation are now considered by their church to be wrong. Have you, too, felt discouragement, or even despair, because of what is happening in your church? A businessman in Medellín, Colombia, expressed the effect the changes have had on many.
“Tell me,” he asked, “how can I have confidence in anything? How can I believe in the Bible, in God, or have faith? Just ten years ago we Catholics had the absolute truth, we put all our faith in this. Now the pope and our priests are telling us this is not the way to believe any more, but we are to believe ‘new things.’ How do I know the ‘new things’ will be the truth in five years?”