Posted by ros [ros] on November 25, 1999 at 10:00:27 {yaNwUlwC5cdmhhsMJ.h27/SY5I9NtE}:
In Reply to: The Greater Issue posted by AP on November 25, 1999 at 07:56:54:
I can appreciate your interest in rational consideration of these points, AP. Some of us have been out long enough, and our views have so developed into another kind of reasoning without the constant enforcement by the Society, that its almost hard to remember we once thought the same way you do.
Relative to what you wrote, questions I would ask you now:
How can you say the Society would be changing its policy on blood if it allowed components of stored blood, when that is exactly what its present policy does allow. There just is no clear rationale offered for which components it does allow, and which it does not allow. And how does this equate "abstinance" from blood if even one component (e.g., Factor VIII) is permitted for hemophiliacs. But numerous other blood factions from stored blood are allowed that were not a few years ago.
On the KM issue (was that on avoiding the Internet?) in order to not plagiarize someone else's research or material:
What other kind of research is there? Do they not expect you to do that very thing using recent Watchtower publications instead? Unless you print something out and almost read it verbatim, what you study and research must be developed by someone else. The argument seems very much in conflict with their instruction to avoid "independent" research and thinking. It is not well received by many congregations when presented, even to merely elaborate with additional thoughts on a paragraph in a book or Watchtower study.
The 6/1/67 Watchtower on page 338 very explicitly discourages independent research, saying that the Watch Tower has already done it for you. Your study is best confined to the Watchtower, Awake! or a new book from the Society.
As for being uniquely a religion preaching God's kingdom in His name, you might be very surprised what an engine search on the word "Yahweh" would reveal. As a matter of fact, in an article of a popular magazine that reported on all the sects/denominations of Christian churches in America, Jehovah's Witnesses were listed in the "Adventist" category; not the "Sacred Name" category.
Blessings,
Ros