Posted by a.j.w. [aw] on April 06, 1999 at 04:51:27 {JK6FUAMFdMgy8SS8Re/Q9b2GZPq.rk}:
on witness myth:
Friend says his views are well known to the Society and a lot of brothers in between. What views you may ask?
Well, Friend has quietly laid to rest a catalogue of myths:
1. that the Faithful and Discreet Slave is
providing the food at the proper time
2. that the blood transfusion ban is a scriptural injunction
3. that the Jehovah's Witnesses are a Theocracy
4. that H2O is a hot bed of apostacy
5. JWs conform to a common set of
beliefs
6. the stauros is the accurate understanding of the instrument of Jesus' crucifixion
7. that eating at Jehovah's table is required for entry to the New World
"many of the teachings of JWs as having resulted from what the community of JWs has wanted"
this does not sound like the action of the FDS providing food for the domestics.
Which teachings was he refering to?
"The blood ban is an example."
and
"In the face of overwhelming pressure from
many individual JWs the position was changed to one of banning the practice."
No reference to any scriptural injunction at all. Is banning blood transfusions really a bible-based dogma?
"In that action�like many others�the Society was
acting
as it should by reflecting attitudes of its supporters."
So much for Theocracy - sounds like Democracy is alive and well in the WTS (well, in some places anyway ;-).
So, what about H2O?
"Frankly, based upon my own experience and exposure, I�m of the opinion that many of the divergences expression on this forum are already believed by most of the 5 million."
I feel a whole lot better. The conformance to a common set of beliefs that is so often trotted out as evidence of the unique chosen status of Jehovah's Organization(TM) had to be shot at the first jump of the real steeplechase (oh well, it looked such a promising gelding ;-).
More importantly, H2O represents the breadth of views that can be found at the Kingdom Hall, or even out in field service these days.
So, having put to bed a few old chestnuts, what of the stauros:
"the only reason JWs have ever made an issue over this is because of the cross being idolized."
Whoa! Tell that to the local elders after the Memorial study, where they made such a point of the importance of the accurate details and that the Cross of Christendom represented their false teaching. Anyway, I guess Australia is a long way away from Bethel, and the further away you get the more dogmatic they get :-)
So, just when I was considering reaplying for baptism and admission as a publisher, I am saved from all the red tape and need to make any further admissions, when he let me off the hook:
"I do not believe that association with the WTS is required for salvation."
Oh Friend - You'll never sell anything if you tell it that way :-)
Love,
Andrew.