Posted by ExDub [ExDub] on November 01, 1999 at 07:04:21 {2gTL9dbN6kS2pgVcL2CgYwT5J/kZ46}:
In Reply to: Apostates violate rules posted by Alan on November 01, 1999 at 06:49:51:
Alan, if you knew what a small issue the holidays are to some exJW's you might have worded your post differently.
Having been one for a long time and not celebrating holidays, my family is now free, FREE! We celebrate the holidays if we want to, if it seems like a good thing to do at that time. And sometimes we don't celebrate. It depends on our moods and our means.
I don't even look at it as following the world. The world would dictate that I have to celebrate Xmas. But I don't want to every year. I think we have entirely too many holidays. It is hard to keep up with them.
AND, what do you mean by independent thinking? the WTS literature seems to be written at a young age level. How on earth can any people who may be of above average intelligence get any mental stimulation following just the JW literature?
The GB has made so many drastic mistakes, damaged and ruined so many decent lives, that one HAS to think independently to protect themselves and their families from such things. God gave us free will and the WTS is trying to remove that.
It gets dangerous. Not just spiritually, although spiritually the JW's are suffering horribly I believe, but actual physical danger when a young person is expected to take a stand alone against a country's government, and wind up horribly tortured. Or when someone needs blood. The shame and shunning are dangerous to everyone's well being.
Do you really think it is a good thing as an example to small children to shun someone? Anyone? That is teaching them exclusivity and one upsmanship. It is teaching them values completely contrary to compassionate living.
Jesus was about compassion. Can anyone really, with a clear conscience, say that the WTS is about compassion?
ExDub