thdurand
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Re:Thinking of conversion - what say ye? - 2005/03/20 06:43
Hi All
Thanks very much for all of the replies. I will be getting my Watchtower today and I appreciate your thoughts and comments, all of which I will bear in mind.
I am actually Catholic and not a fallen away one - I am quite active in sofar as one can be. That said, I am not sure if anyone on this board would consider that a valid baptism, altough I consider myself to have lived it.
Being Catholic, I am circumspect about hierarchical, secretive religious organizations that have difficulty remedying things that are obviously wrong in light of the Word and lying when confronted with the evidence of damage from them. Both Rome and Watchtower have a history of blown prophesies, cruel acts against their followers in the interest of preserving the status quo, and exclusive claims to salvation. I could add other many other bodies to this list but these are the two that are of immediate concern to me.
Readers may ask what has led me to the point where I am. What finally got me looking of the "reservation" was, I guess, the declaration of bankruptcy by some American Dioceses in an effort to protect them from legal liability for abusive clergy. This was a typically palmy and cowardly reaction of seeking redress and protection from the World rather than doing the right thing biblically - repent and restore, no questions asked, whatever the cost.
This contrasts sharply with what Watchtower presents itself to be. I have always had a great respect for the stands of individual Witnesses on matters that I feel my church is walking away from - nonviolence; public allegiance to God's kingdom proven by acts, not words; and inclusivity of all who believe on the Name regardless or race of status.
Studying the lessons of JW has further led me to evaluate the interpretation of scripturally obvious Christian beliefs in the context of the ethos and politics of the days of the Apostles and Fathers. So now I examine the trininty, professional clergy, paganization of christian ordinances, and continued tarnishing of the Good News by going to the centers of political and economic power to create and preserve things we can only do ourselves or force people to do things that only the spirit can draw them to.
So - I am receptive to the message but I really doubt that Watchtower, in its present state, is the vessel to carry it in. This makes me a poor candidate for membership regardless of baptism, wouldn't one think?
Post edited by: thdurand, at: 2005/03/20 09:25
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Or perhaps from the fire into the frying pan, it depends on your perspective....either way...its bad. 
But its close!