Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!att!linac!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!psuvax1!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: gross@dg-rtp.dg.com (Gene Gross) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Questions for Jehovah's Witnesses, part 2 Message-ID: Date: 17 Nov 90 04:53:20 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Data General Corporation, Research Triangle Park, NC Lines: 79 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article cj@modernlvr.wpd.sgi.com (C J Silverio) writes: > >I'd be interested in reading something from a Witness who was >an active adult at the time, to confirm any of this (perhaps >provide references), or to set me straight on any of these >points. Let's hope that whoever it is can manage to be honest, >and non-revisionist. I no longer have access to the kind of JW >library my parents have, so I can't check my facts. > >(It's sort of amusing for me to watch the adherents of one set >of superstitions bash the adherents of another for some folly. >You all seem equally foolish from where I'm sitting.) Let me set the record straight here. I studied with the Witnesses for several years from the mid-50s on. My whole family was baptised, except for me. Prior to my baptism, I began to question several of the doctrinal positions held by the Society. My questions were never answered. I have not one thing against any individual publisher who comes to my door though I disagree with them doctrinally. However, I do have a bone to pick with the Governing Body. They are the ones who are responsible for the doctrine and the literature published by the Society. It is to them that I would like to address my questions, and have tried on many occasions, but to no avail. So I'm left with having to ask my questions of the individual publishers who come to my door or who sometimes show up on the net (or one of the Christian BBS's that I modem into via my PC at home). I have no need to revise the Society's history because it would be far too easy for a Witness to call me on a misquote or a misinterpretation. I well recognize the authority that the Society has taken as its mantle, which is something that outsiders have never quite understood. The Society, according to its own publications, is Jehovah God's mouthpiece here on earth. It is the "Ark" of safety for surviving Armageddon. To leave it is no small matter, which I'm sure any Witness out there reading this will readily admit. So please do not take what I did lightly; I never have. To leave, even though I was not baptised, was no small matter. I agonized for well over a year before making my decision. I lost many good friends over my decision, and my relationship with my family was extremely strained forever afterwards. 1975 passed without anything happening -- as had 1881, 1914, 1918, 1920, 1925, and the 1940's. Much publicity was given by others as to the failure of the organization's expectations surrounding 1975. There was considerable talk among Jehovah's Witnesses themselves. However, to my way of thinking, most of what was said did not touch upon the major point of the matter. For me, the real issue goes far beyond that of some individual's accuracy or inaccuracy or even an organizations's reliability or untrustworthiness. Though these are important issues, and I don't want to lose sight of them in the course of conversation. To me the most important factor is how such predictions ultimately reflect on God and on His Word. When anyone makes such forecasts and says that they are doing it on the basis of the Bible, builds up arguments for these from the Bible, assert that they are God's "channel" of communication -- what is the effect when their forecasts prove false? Does it honor God or build up faith in Him and in the reliability of His Word? Or is the opposite the result? Does it not give added inducement for some to feel justified in placing little importance upon the Bible's message and teachings? Those Witnesses who made major changes in their lives in most cases could, and did, pick up the pieces and go on living in spite of being disillusioned. Not all could. Whatever, the case, however, serious damage had been done in more ways than one. Please spare me the emotive and inflammatory comments. They serve no useful purpose in the search for truth. And that is all that I'm after here. And I do understand why most of the Witnesses on the net do not openly comment to me or respond to my postings. They are under obligation not to associate with someone who is disfellowshiped (which I'm not) or who is disassociated. And this includes not talking with them. This is indeed unfortunate in that I still have questions, but no answers. I want answers, but I'm not going to blindly follow the "party-line" as it were. For the glory of God and of the Lamb, Gene Gross