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Race, women and health · Claim record

In May 2003 The Watchtower answered 'No' to the question whether a Christian who hears voices is necessarily under demon attack, noted that schizophrenia is 'a disease often treatable with medication', and said that 'while an individual who reports hearing voices or who has other disturbing sensations may not want to discount demon harassment, he should definitely be encouraged to consider investigating whether there is a physical explanation'.

Claim ID claim-attitudes-voices-2003-medical-firstConcerns 1 May 2003Later reinterpretation
Later reinterpretation · 1 May 2003 Verified

In May 2003 The Watchtower answered 'No' to the question whether a Christian who hears voices is necessarily under demon attack, noted that schizophrenia is 'a disease often treatable with medication', and said that 'while an individual who reports hearing voices or who has other disturbing sensations may not want to discount demon harassment, he should definitely be encouraged to consider investigating whether there is a physical explanation'. The Watchtower, 1 May 2003

Show the evidence (1 source)
Primary JW publication Verified

The Watchtower, “Questions From Readers”

1 May 2003 · p.31 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania

“It is reported that some who suffer from schizophrenia, a disease often treatable with medication, hear voices or experience other symptoms that could appear to be something uncanny. ... while an individual who reports hearing voices or who has other disturbing sensations may not want to discount demon harassment, he should definitely be encouraged to consider investigating whether there is a physical explanation for what he is experiencing.”

A ruling answering 'If a Christian hears voices, does that necessarily mean that he is under demon attack?' The answer begins 'No.' A footnote refers readers to the 8 September 1986 Awake!

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Full item read on the Watchtower Online Library on 19 September 2026; the page marker in the page's own HTML places it on page 31. The ellipsis marks an omission of about 20 words. An earlier version of this record cut the quotation at 'something uncanny.' and resumed at 'he should definitely be encouraged', which removed the concessive clause that governs that sentence; the clause has been restored.

Corroborated by. src-hlth-g-1986-0908-mental-illness-cure

Notes. The answer still leaves demon harassment open: the reader 'may not want to discount demon harassment', while being urged to investigate a physical explanation.

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-hlth-w-2003-0501-qfr-hearing-voices

Claim page Correct or update

A direct link to this claim is https://jwtruth.org/evidence/claim-attitudes-voices-2003-medical-first/. Every source above opens the original document or the best available copy. If you believe the wording, date or context is wrong, report an error.