Posted by Rational on March 18, 1999 at 06:40:29 {MWcLcwTK8XheA}:
For those of you who do not keep up with Awake! magazine, the April 15, 1999, issue contains an article on a 17th century Dutch religious group known as "the Collegiants".
Under the heading The Collegiants' Beliefs, on page 24, the article states:
Since reason, tolerance, and free speech were the hallmarks of the Collegiant movement, individual Collegiants were free to hold different beliefs. Still, they were bound together by some common convictions. For example, all Collegiants appreciated the importance of personal Bible study. Each member, wrote one Collegiant, should "investigate for himself and not come to know God from another." They did. According to the 19th-century church historian Jacobus C. van Slee, more Bible knowledge was found among Collegiants than in other religious groups of the time. Even opponents praised the Collegiants for their ability to use the Bible skillfully.Beginning to sound hopeful? As if perhaps the Society is touting the value of unity without conformity? Freedom of conscience? Dream on. If so, it's only for other peoples and other centuries. The article continues on page 27 under Why They Faded Away:
Since the Collegiants did not aim for unity of thought within their movement, there were about as many different views as there were Collegiants. They recognized this and, therefore, did not claim to be "united ... in the same line of thought," as the apostle Paul urges Christians to be. (1 Corinthians 1:10) At the same time, however, the Collegiants looked forward to the time when fundamental Christian beliefs, such as unity of thought, would become a reality.Can you fathom this? The Society (without offering any quotes or other evidence) knows and expects us to believe that
Considering the fact that the true knowledge had not yet become abundant in the days of the Collegiants, they set an example many religions today could note. (Compare Daniel 12:4.) Their stressing the need for Bible study was in line with the apostle Paul's counsel: "Make sure of all things." (1 Thessalonians 5:21) Personal Bible study taught Jacobus Arminius and others that some long-held religious doctrines and practices were not based on the Bible at all. When they realized this, they had the courage to differ with established religion. Would you have done the same?As has been shown many times before here on H2O, the Society praises the idea personal conscience, personal responsibility to test the truthfulness of what one has been taught religiously ... but only for non-JWs. Try applying the above recommendations at the Kingdom Hall, say, during The Watchtower study. At least the article is genuine about one thing: it does take courage to differ when a person realizes "long-held religious doctrines and practices were not based on the Bible at all ...
Rational