Posted by The Liberal Elder [TheLiberalElder] on April 06, 1999 at 13:06:26 {JK6FUAMFdMONOMIVMLL2w1IXqCKa5s}:
I've been quite busy as of late and found it interesting to see all of the discussion involving
reform of the WTS.
Opinions are like belly buttons - everyone has one ;-)
Here's mine:
What is reform? Is it not simply change? Viewed
from
this perspective the WTS may be the most reformed
religious organization of the 20th century. Just stop
and think about all of the doctrinal changes that have
taken place this century. It is simply mind boggling.
WTS
leaders don't like to think about this in terms of
reform which has a derogatory conotation. Instead, they
have coined the phrase "new light" to describe these never ending changes in doctrine and policy. Witnesses
have become so
accustomed to change that they even look
forward to it!
We've all seen the looks of anticipation on the faces of the friends at the District Convention during a keynote address or when a new publication is released to replace another that contains too many "previous understandings."
I don't see any profit in arguing about semantics. Call
it what you want - change, reform, new light, etc. The bottom line is that the WTS has made many changes in the past and will
make many more in the future.
These changes usually come when they are backed into a corner. Interestingly, they have created the vast majority of their own difficulties - in effect cornering themselves. I suppose that we all do this.
This is certainly the case with their interpretations of Biblical "end times" prophecies. It is also true of
their blood policies, in my opinion.
Can we have any effect on when and how future changes come about? I believe that we can.
As more and more of the medical community and the Witness population in general become aware of the gross
inconsistencies in the blood policy, the pressure for
answers will increase. There are, in fact, no answers
they
can offer as has been so completely demonstrated
in the series of articles in the Journal of Medical Ethics written by Dr. Muramoto and David Malyon. The cognitive dissonance this creates at all levels of the organization is
significant.
The blood issue is one area where I believe that Watchtower dissidents will succeed. This make take some
time and happen gradually, but change seems likely to come.
Other areas, like the misguided policy of shunning,
will be much tougher. I would be surprised to see any meaningful "new light" in this area. I wrote an extensive letter to a high level WTS official several years ago outlining the unscriptural aspects of the current policy. The response
failed to even acknowlege
the issues raised.
I see that even liberal Christian groups like the Methodists like to keep these judicial powers to deal
with dissidents. The WTS, in my opinion, will never give them up.
I would surely
hope that we would be sensitive to what
other Witnesses who visit this site are going through.
It is incredibly difficult to process all of the information about the WTS, maintain a belief system,
and continue being a Witness.
Some find that they have to leave. Others would like to leave but have too many
ties to do so. Some decide that the only way that they can stay is if they make an effort to work on the problems in the organization. For some, such an
endeavor may require that they continue to think about
the WTS as "God's organization." It's important that to the extent possible, we try to understand the situation
others find themselves in and be supportive.
Warm regards,
LE