Posted by Friend [Friend] on November 24, 1999 at 13:30:48 {BlpRHB6gpcePXjHnUl.IOgnjR4Br/g}:
In Reply to: *********For Friend posted by AF on November 24, 1999 at 13:10:28:
AF
As they say, the proof is in the pudding. I and many, many others have been accused of being "apostates" merely for expressing divergent views to a tiny number of close relatives and to the Society itself. These accusations came from individual JWs, elders and the Society itself. In the face of such demonstration of real attitudes on the part of living, breathing JWs -- especially the parent organization -- your theoretical apologetics are meaningless.
Your comment is somewhat humorous for several reasons. First, your contention assumes that the majority of JWs who have offered suggestions for change have been accused of apostasy or apostate leanings, which is where the pudding is. That is not the case. Second, you hold such an adverse experiences paramount to those who had contrary experience, which dismisses some of the pudding as not pudding. Thirdly is your laughable cry of “Theoretical apologetics!” when Watchtower references dispute your claim. When Society references support your contention it is heralded as “Hard evidence!” but when they support my contention it is “Theoretical apologetics!”
Seriously, I said somewhat humorous because regardless of which of us is correct in our view the Society’s framework for hearing divergence is too constraining on top of not being well understood by those charged with maintaining it. All that leads to inconsistency and abuse that I think both of us agree exists. In that case then my contentions are evidenced because inconsistency and abuse are symptomatic of what I claim more so than what you claim. If your contentions were true than people like me would not have the experience we have had.
Friend