Posted by Polly [polly] on November 15, 1999 at 11:42:51 {AS5l1tybL6PFKPeDxyCky5tAMziUMM}:
In Reply to: **Can You Imagine? posted by gfam on November 15, 1999 at 10:43:10:
What is the point of religious unity if it is forced? If I don't believe a particular point but claim to believe it because I am told to, is that unity? It's a facade, created to impress men, and I doubt it fools God. If JW believe a basic set of doctrines necessary for salvation, then the unity should be alive and well, whether or not bro so and so gives a talk discussioning the possible interpretations of scripture. It would be better than flickering back and forth, changing "firm beliefs" and expecting the members to change on the spot.
For example, in an explanation on the age of the earth, a witness told me "we all believe that each creative day was 7,000 years long". Do you think that that was true? That all witnesses believed that? I doubt it, but they were expected to say they did. I don't think speculating on the age of the earth and admitting to doubts on the subject would create a lot of divison. What would be wrong with having an opinion that differed from the "educated guess" that the GB prints? Should it matter to one's salvation? Does it matter to Jehovah whether each witness honestly and truly believes that each creative day was 7,000 years long? If it doesn't matter to Jehovah, why should they worry about impressing men with the illusion of unity?
How about matters of conscience? If bro so and so feels free to talk to his DFed daughter, but another bro makes it a matter of conscience not to speak with his, is there disunity? I have read comments that absolutely no voting should be allowed. Now if the GB is telling witnesses to vote if their cnsciences's allow it, are they guilty of creating divisions?
It could be that inside the basic accepted doctrines, there is room for discussion and differences of opinions. If it is possible to have different beliefs on voting then why is it not possible to have different understanding of minor scripture?
Finally, does conscience matters cause disunity? Should the GB crack down and refuse to allow for ambiguity because it leads to disunity?