Posted by 5GJW [5thGenerationJW] on April 05, 1999 at 19:17:22 {6.uz.4vynMlo6QIt25t6ZX9D1q7/.6}:
In Reply to: *******?s for the reform minded posted by Friend on April 05, 1999 at 18:31:18:
Hello Friend,
You said:
>Fine, think what you want. My contention is based upon facts, my problem is that I cannot show you the evidence, it does not mean that the evidence does not exist.
I believe that letters exist. I know some whom have written letters, asking for clarification of WT doctrine.
>In other words, the matter is established to those who know them, but not to anyone else. If you care to read back you will notice that my earlier response indicated that the facts were not well known. Have I ever contended differently?
No, you have not. Do you understand why I am not willing to accept what you claim as fact, when you can offer no proof?
>Also, to J you said:
I never heard any
of them even suggest that letter writing, to petition for a change in doctrine, would even be conceivable, let alone something that they would do. The only time that I know of letters being written were to clarify the teachings of the
WBTS, and not to ask for a change.
>That just does not cut the mustard. An example of that very thing indeed happening can be found in article entitled Questions From Readers. Frequently changes in WTS teaching have been found in those article. Isn't the article entitlement any admission at all to you? Countless JWs have written such questions accompanied with suggested revisions and they have been accepted.
I have always assumed that this is just a sneaky way of changing doctrine without making a big deal about it. Rather than putting it on the cover, "new light" is often found buried in "Questions From Readers". Doesn't this strike you as a backdoor approach to introducing new policy? The letters also strike me as contrived, but that is just my opinion.
>Like I said before, think what you want. But don't expect those knowing better to discount facts they are well aware of.
I am not asking you to discount anything, but I will need proof before I accept your claims as fact. Wouldn't you ask the same of me?
5GJW, who no longer accepts things on faith alone