Posted by AF [AF] on October 24, 1999 at 20:01:52 {f8eW6hUOe21EwaxRomAMdaOt1gg/Zk}:
In Reply to: *? 4 practicus posted by practicus on October 24, 1999 at 13:58:09:
: If "keeping in expectation" of Jehovah's day is a fault, it has been a fault of loyal servants of God for quite a long time. Nevertheless, the Bible encourages us to "keep on the watch" and to "keep in expectation."
There is rather a large difference between the Bible's simple exhortation and what the Society has done for 120 years: shout from the rooftops that they knew for certain or almost for certain "the day and the hour".
Do you or do you not understand the difference?
Do you understand that people who claim to speak for God and cause others to believe it and then make false predictions in God's name not only cause intelligent people to see them for what they are, but cause many to lose faith in God altogether? How will Watchtower leaders answer Jesus when he says to them, "But Master! Did we not perform many powerful works in your name?"
: And finally, I have never abrogated my common sense nor my personal responsibility.
That's debatable.
: Get yourself reinstated, man. I would love to have a real conversation with you!
Hah! "1" is not DF'd, nor are lots of ex-JWs on this forum including me.
What excuse will you now offer for not having a "real" conversation with him?
Tantalus gave you some good counsel about your desire for real meat in a conversation. You know very well what usually happens when JWs get in a real conversation: they get scared and run for the hills. Remember when "Maxwell" posted some real "meat" on the now-defunct "Bible Research" forum on Witnesses.net? The true colors of most JWs came out -- they showed that they leave real thinking to someone else.
What's really very sad is that it doesn't have to be that way. Just today I received a nice email from a JW that I've had many an email debate with. It's always cordial even though we've discussed some pretty controversial subjects. Do you know why? Because he doesn't blow off my arguments with that typical JW arrogance that assumes that the Society speaks for God. Similarly I treat him with respect and give consideration to everything he says. It's too bad that such people are so rare in the JW organization -- they exist in spite of the organization not because of it.
AF