Posted by Kristin [Kristin] on April 05, 1999 at 15:39:10 {6.uz.4vynMctB9oBIfGcoe7EI.M9QY}:
In Reply to: ***Opinion About Reform posted by Kinsman on April 05, 1999 at 14:39:23:
Excellent treatise! The Catholic church of the past involved executing or torturing people who were sinners. Had reformists got to the church a thousand years or more earlier it might never have come to that, because its growth would have been slowed.
The internet is treated like the encyclopedia these days in schools. The Watchtower faces a situation where most who are studying the Bible will not consult the public library as my son did merely to check Watchtower references. Rather, everyone will type in two words to a search engine to learn more:
SEARCH --> jehovah witness ||SUBMIT||
Most kids in developed nations will have WebTV or cheap public internet access. Did the encyclopedia or public libraries warn those who studied the Bible in the past? No! So the Watchtower organisation grew and grew to over 5 million. Could those studying around the world walk up to a machine and type a question, getting answers from anyone worldwide who had "been there done that"? No! The organisation kept growing exponentially in the 1980's. Then came the internet. Then came forums. Growth grinds to a halt because the Society refuses to address issues that I raised on Russell's gravesite and even more pressing issues.
"Why can't I sit next to a Christmas tree?" someone asks.
"Because it is a pagan symbol," the elders answer.
"Then why does the Watchtower Society have a gravesite for the first Watchtower Society president with a pyramid, religious cross, that looks gawdier than a Bishop's gravesite at a Catholic graveyard?
"That's a lie," the elders answer.
"I saw photos on the internet and even spoke to a brother who visited the gravesite when touring Bethel!"
"My mistake. I meant, you're too spiritually immature to understand these deep matters. Wait a few years after your baptism when you're stronger and we'll discuss it," answers the elders.
The Bible study, insulted with this unwillingness to address his question, discontinues the study. The Society notices that only those in poorer areas who don't have computers are continuing their studies. Contributions grind to a halt as time progresses. Nobody with an education or computer who is earning an income is becoming baptised anymore. New witnesses expect to worship in nice Kingdom Halls without contributing anything because, like the widow, they gave what little they had.
There will appear so much information, and so many forums to ask questions unanswered, they won't have time to visit their public library. Neither might they choose to continue their Bible studies.
The Society MUST clean up its act very soon, so that their searches come up sqeaky clean. Reform is like Friend said, it's a steering process. Changing unscriptural policies will allow renewed growth, for they can honestly tell new studies, "what you heard about on the internet, the disfellowshiping, no holiday celebrations, and not being able to accept blood transplants, it is all part of our history. These are all conscience matters and you must decide for yourself."
Kristin