# **********AP and AF

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Posted by Friend [Friend] on November 18, 1999 at 15:50:14 {KEdmzBXaT6hxaL3hj3H2OgnjR4Br/g}:

In Reply to: *********AP and AF posted by Julie on November 18, 1999 at 11:25:25:

Julie

> You say that you can disagree with the Society as much as you want and will suffer nothing for it. Right? As long as you don't go sharing you "divergent" views with others you're ok.

Yes, that is pretty much correct.

> Isn't this a bit of a double standard? I mean, when I studied with a JW the message I got was that if you find stuff wrong about your religion isn't it only right to alert those you love to the errors in their religion? In fact the WT strongly urges that you write a letter that would DA you from the religion that is in error. No doubt the WT then wants you to join their church, implying they are not in error like wicked Christendom. Of course a good Christian would try to get all those they love to see the errors and correct it immediately (again join the WT).

Just being in error is not the question. The Society has never maintained that it was error free. The question has to do with extent of error. On that question your point hold some validity and I have weighed it very carefully.

The most serious of these errors has to do with our blood policy; it takes lives. My problem is that I know of no community on earth without equally serious problems or worse. If I am to support some community I must be willing to tolerate something while I fight for improvement. In this case, so far, I have chosen to remain in association with Jehovah’s Witnesses and fight the fight. As for the immediate consequences of our blood policy, when I am called upon to assist individuals then I do so by assuring them they have a decision to make and I insist that that decision should be private between them and their physician. Besides that I explain that all JWs do not feel the same about blood transfusion. Afterward I assure that whatever their decision I will support them. Have I taken some heat now and then for acting as I have, yes. Have I intervened on occasions where individuals were about to be tried over the issue? Yes. Can I fix everything by myself? No! But I try to, and that is the best I can do.

> Maybe I am misunderstanding you but that's how it appears to me. You cannot share WT error with fellow JWs but say, a Catholic who found error with the RCC is obligated to "rescue" family and friends from this Church in error.

I can share what I believe to be error with fellow JWs. I must only be selective about who is mature enough to deal with it in a non-reactionary fashion. Frankly, discussions about teachings we feel some measure of disagreement with are pretty common. It’s just not the type thing you so with brother/sister hypersensitive. As for rescuing, to an extent I consider my actions amounting to that.

Friend

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- ***********AP and AF Julie 17:20:50 11/18/99 (0)

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