Posted by Cygnus [Cygnus] on April 08, 1999 at 15:17:24 {vxsc0.TBNkdFQNCHpWZ.L4bdfUTIaI}:
Nico,
In a thread down below I asked you in this post the following:
I was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in December of 1989. I no longer believe in Christianity. Does that make me an "antichrist" and thereby subject to enforceable shunning by all Jehovah's Witnesses? Do you feel compelled by your conscience to shun me, even though I am interested in seeking the implementation of certain JW reforms?
I have moved your reply to this new thread and will respond here.
: 1. Current JW interpretation that we should not so much as say "hello" to a person may be a bit of a stretch. I can certainly cordially greet a person without "rejoicing" over or "supporting" his lifestyle choice.
I could understand that, but what if I told you that my lifestyle has not changed dramatically since I left the JWs. I have been faithful to my wife, I do not use foul language in certain company, I respect my elders and try to be as courteous and tolerant as possible, and I don�t have practice any of the applicable vices listed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 6. The only real difference in my life is that my philosophies have changed and I do not practice any form of Christian worship or revere the the Christian God or Jesus. Does that sort of �lifestyle choice� warrant nothing more than a cordial greeting? (BTW, you might find my take surprising, but I�d like to hear your opinion first.)
: 2. Conversely, if one claims to be a Christian, one cannot ignore what John said in verse 9. One may wish that verse wasn't there, but it is. If I do not want to uphold what John wrote there, perhaps I need to reconsider my decision to be a Christian.
Or perhaps you might not take the admonishment as literally as some suggest you to.
: With respect to reforms, I would only have one question for you. If you, by your own admission, "no longer believe in Christianity," what basis would I have for confidence that reforms you propose are based on Christian principles? Now please think about that question carefully. I did not say that reforms you are interested in are not based on Christian principles, nor is that my implication. I happen to know one particular area of interest for you, and I'm not saying I disagree with you on this issue.
: But, wouldn't it strike you as sort of strange if I, while not a believer in Buddha, started efforts to reform Buddhism. I wonder how Buddhists would view me?
Well, first, when I initially began participating on H2O, I was a die-hard Jehovah�s Witness. I gradually came to accept that reforms must take place if I were to conscientiously maintain a �good standing,� but eventually I came to the realization that the JWs did not have the truth at all. Nor, do I now believe, does Christianity (although I certainly do admire certain aspects of Christ�s teachings).
My current interest in JW reforms stem mostly from the fact that my wife is still an ardent Jehovah�s Witness, and I have two friends who were Jehovah�s Witnesses and both left around the same time I did a couple of years ago (although all three of us left for entirely different reasons). I do not feel that JW reform is something so urgent or of such importance that I need to spend all my waking moments analysing, reflecting on, or meditating on it, nor do I. I do however very much enjoy religious discussion, and since my background is JWism, and JWs take a more �rational� approach to Christianity, I appreciate the dialogue and point/counter-pointing.
I personally propose very little in the way of JW reform. There are in reality only a few things I�m that interested in seeing develop. A year and a half ago I�d tell you I would push for allowance of free choice in deciding whether or not to partake of the emblems at the Memorial and to consider one�s self of the Elect. I couldn�t care less about that these days.
Which brings me to answer your
question. I would hope that members of any group that seeks reform in whatever sort of organization would listen to opinions from all interested parties, provided their comments and suggestions are relevant and provoking. One does not
have to believe in Christ to demonstrate how the shunning policy is destructive, or that the JW leadership manipulates people into rejecting blood transplants, or that other certain idiosyncrasies inherent in JWism are potentially harmful.
All it takes is some facts and some common sense. One does not have to maintain faith in God and Christ to fulfill that criteria.