Thanks for the replies, yall! Actually, I did have a minor confrontation with them just over a week ago after the Sunday meeting. I don't exactly remember why, but I was in a bad mood. I think it may have started with something that was said before the meeting. There was some comment made on a television program about Evolution that morning, and my relative made some negative remark about that. They, of course, think that Evolution is a bunch of hogwash, nevermind the fact that all they know of it comes straight from the Society's publications. I didn't say anything at that time in response. (AND the point of this thread is NOT to discuss Evolution or Creation. Thank you! )
So, I went to the meeting with them. I literally couldn't wait to get out of the hall after the final song and prayer. When we got home, they asked me what was bothering me; why I was so quiet. They could tell I was not in a good mood. So, against my better judgement, I opened up a little. I started out by asking how they can berate Evolution without knowing anything about it, and the Society's books don't count in that regard because they're obviously biased. I insinuated that the Global Flood of Noah never happened because there is no evidence for it in ice cores and tree rings. I brought up the myth of the Tower of Babel. Why would God be so afraid of men building a tower to reach his throne? I started to ramble a bit. Why do the accounts of Jesus birth in Matthew and Luke contradict each other? Weren't the Patriarchs and Israelites just as pagan as their Canaanite neighbors? I came right out and told them that there will be no solution for mankind's problems, no Kingdom, no Armageddon, no Paradise, no Everlasting Life; that I fully expect to die in this old world and that they would too. And then I shut up because I knew it wasn't having a beneficial effect for any of us. They are happy with what they believe, and nothing I say will change that.
Speaking of meetings, I have found the discussion of sexuality at the CBS thoroughly disgusting, especially the part on masturbation this past week. If I were a parent I would not have allowed my children to be present. Closely related to this was the discussion of Balaam both in the CBS and the WBR. No one, it seems, can see the apparent contradiction between the Balaam of Numbers 22-24 and the way he is portrayed in the rest of the Bible, nor could they give a scolarly explanation of why that contradiction exists. There is absolutely no scholarly examination of the Bible whatsoever in congregation meetings. WTS talking points seem to solely revolve around simplistic and guilt inducing stories. Of course, I already knew that to be the case, but having been inactive for over three years, it really hit me just how cult-like the meetings really are. BTW, you can Google "leolaia" and "balaam" for some good material about Balaam.
Dave
