I only get to post here once in a while because of my schedule but I do want to address some of the comments. I did say I was interested in your comments and you certainly did deliver and I found ALL of the comments very interesting.
GTTM: Your question about why I'm here is a good one. I find it refreshing to hear unfettered comments about what's going on with Jehovah's Witnesses, both from those who are still active and those who are inactive or even opposed. Believe it or not, I do understand very well why people would reject and even attack Jehovah's Witnesses. I try to answer questions here as an active elder so as to provide answers that might not otherwise be available either due to the extreme secrecy that is practiced within our organization or just because I want to be helpful. I know that not everyone is going to be ok with someone who is here on this board but doesn't reject the religion outright, which brings me to....
J-DUB: I asked for your opinion and you delivered. I don't think it is fair for me to ask for your opinion, whatever it is, then get upset becuase you gave it or because of how you gave it. I'm able to read through your tone and approach to what I think you really mean. I do believe I understand your point of view in that you believe that once something seems to be wrong then you should just leave it and I can respect that point of view. It may help (or not) to understand why I stay in (for the moment). I know that you believe I'm f-ing up peoples lives by serving as an elder, but I continue to hold on to this because I can help people behind the scenes by having this authority. I'm not the regular run-of-the-mill elder, though. I am selective about what direction I follow. I don't advertise my views. I understand that someday this might get me removed or even disfellowshipped. I have participated in many judicial committees, but since I've gained a "wider worldview" to euphemize waking up, I have been able to guide judicial committees (since I'm usually the chairman of committees I participate in - hence the user name) not to disfellowship, because I haven't seen a case yet since I have this new viewpoint where it is justified. Even though I'd love to engineer a walk-away (I will at the right time), for now I can try to help those I can who cannot leave - especially those who know what's really going on but that for some reason cannot bring themselves to go away. I know you'll probably disagree...that's ok.
Giordano - I really loved your comment and especially your description of me as a humanist. I do believe that religion is a very large misunderstanding of what books like the Bible were written to accomplish, and although I do believe in God (somewhat contrary to being a humanist entirely) I'm pretty sure that if and when we ever get direct communication from him he is basically going to do a head-slap and say "Guys, this is totally NOT what I meant in all of these books I caused to be written." To Jehovah's Witnesses, I'm afraid what he will say is "My son told you that the true religion would be known by the LOVE shown, not the reports gathered or how extremely organized or strict it was....it would just be known by how much love you for every human being and your brothers and sisters in faith in particular". I feel like the mission is clear in the beginning for most religions, then it is lost through its transformation to an institution.
CC
