http://www.paducahsun.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?/200110/05+06gi_religion.html+20011005+religion
Former Witnesses encourage debate
The group will meet this weekend at Kentucky Dam Village Campground.
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By C.D. Bradley [email protected].8650
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Former Jehovah's Witness J. Michael Terry left the church after his disagreements with the denomination's operating methods grew too large to ignore.
Terry, a social worker who works in Arkansas prisons, is now a member of the Free Christian Movement, which he describes as a "schism" from predominant Jehovah's Witness teachings. He said the movement encourages discussion and debate of theological issues and tolerance of other's beliefs in contrast to the strict adherence required from the Witnesses.
The group, which has used the Internet to organize and communicate, will meet at Kentucky Dam Village Campground Saturday and Sunday.
"There are a number of meetings like this around the country and outside the country," Terry said. "This movement has a number of groups internationally. We don't keep a real tight census because we don't collect money for the church. We don't have professional clergy. A lot of us come out of organized religion, but we're universalists in outlook. We believe in freedom of thought and beliefs, but miraculously we agree on most things."
Terry said the movement began among former Witnesses, who rebelled against some of the denomination's more controversial beliefs such as forbidding the acceptance of blood transfusions, and is still made up overwhelmingly of former Witnesses. He did note that some members of adventist denominations, including Seventh-Day Adventists, as well as Protestants and Catholics have joined the group.
Terry said the groups generally have structured prayer services followed by open discussion of theological issues.
"There are people that want to worship in that way and like the freedom and the format," Terry said. "Most of us are not Trinitarian, but we tolerate anyone's beliefs. That brings knowledge to everybody, and if we're wrong about something, then we can grow."
The meeting this weekend is generally a chance for people involved in the movement to get together, share ideas and discuss religion, Terry said.
"This is for people in the movement who are interested in the group," he said. "It's not really a public meeting; we don't want everybody there. But anyone interested in learning about us and studying the Bible is welcome."
For more information about the meeting and the movement, go to www.jehovahs-witness.com on the Web or e-mail [email protected].