Stevieb1
You said,
". . .They said it would not be proper for someone to hold a belief that was contrary to the Society and still be expected to remain a JW, even in name only."
The goal is unity of belief. However, there are gray areas. Any truthful person is going to have some areas which they do not fully understand or agree with. However, most in this situation (who want to stay in the organization) choose to keep their disagreements private so as not to stir the pot. They do not feel it necessary to "explain" or "confess" every private thought, nor do they want to stumble a brother or sister whose conscience would be bothered by the disclosure.
You said, "I have stated to them that I can no longer preach the WT version of the "good news" so they automatically assumed that I am not obeying Jesus' command to preach."
Have they forbidden you to go in service? If not, do you WANT to go in service? If so, can you go to the doors and share with the householder the aspects that you CAN conscientiously endorse? If you don't want to go, then it isn't really a problem, is it?
I am in a bit of a predicament as you can see. They also assumed that I cannot say "Amen" to a prayer from the platform that might mention "Jehovah's organization" or "slave class" and such-like.
In all honesty, no one can keep you from saying "Amen" unless they have a hand clasped over your mouth. Also, don't people who come to a meeting from outside often say "Amen" right along with everyone else? Say it if you want to.
Even some of the songs I find that I cannot conscientiously sing.
Can you sing the songs you can conscientiously endorse? Do you want to?
On the plus side I have given some of the elders photocopies of portions of Ray Franz's books, so can I ask that your prayers are with them that they too can see Bible truths that I have come across?
Here is where I'm afraid that you're hoping you can somehow "change" other people's viewpoint. Unfortunately, you can share info, but you cannot change a person's view, unless they are open to it. (not at the door OR in the congregation).
I think your predicament is really this:
"I have seen/read/come to understand that I do not agree with some of the Society's teachings. Therefore, do I want to:
1) stay in and see if it is corrected over time, or
2) leave?
If you want to (1) stay in, you need to figure out how you can do that while not violating your conscience.
If you want to (2) leave, that's your choice as well.
But if you are holding out to (3) convert the majority in the congregation to see your new way of thinking, you will be disappointed. (Just the same as a JW who hopes to convert the majority at the doors will be disappointed.) People are people. You cannot change someone's view unless they are open to it. Very few respond; most do not. It's true at the doors - it's true at the Hall.
What I am saying is, the only thing you really have control over is YOUR OWN religious choice/view. That's really what it comes down to for each of us, ultimately. The bottom line is:
Despite the differences in your view, do you still want to be a JW?
Do you still think it is God's organization?
Can you still be a JW, endorsing the part you feel comfortable with,
while keeping to yourself private thoughts you know others will not understand/accept?
Can you trust that things you don't understand will be revealed/resolved in time?
If you ask yourself these questins, you will eventually make a decision one way or the other.
Incidentally, I share some of your "predicament." I also have some areas of the organization in question. However, after reading the posts on this forum over the past year, I have seen that the alternative life choices presented here are NOT what I want in my life. Even though I still come here occasionally for information and to re-think/re-weight my choice, I continue to feel that staying in the organization, despite the problems, is still the right thing for me. Here's why:
What I have noticed from many of the posts here is the following:
1. Many people on this forum started out with 1 or 2 legitimate, justified reasons for being upset with the organization. However, now many have progressed to the point where they have abandoned three-quarters of the Bible's teachings (its view of morality, idolatry, separateness from the world, belief in the new system, even the existence of God). For them, EVERYTHING in life is now a gray area, a "do it your own way" approach, and a subject for endless philosophical quibbling.
That is exactly where I was BEFORE becoming a JW. That life style was not satisfying to me. I can't see the logic of leaving the organization because of 10% of the teachings I question, and then exchange it for a situation where everything is, once more, "relative."
2. I see no evidence that those who have left JWs are any happier now than they were as active JWs. Read the posts for yourself.
3. Many of the charges on this forum are 15% truth and 85% false. Things are overblown and exaggerated. For instance, the RAND CAM charge, the SWAGGART court case, etc. Even the pedophile issue, as awful as it is, doesn't even begin to compare to the extent of the problem in Christendom, particularly Catholicism. Unfortunately, abuse of children takes place in all cultures, nations, economic groups, nationalities, and yes, religions.
Yes, it's horrendous. Yes, it should be addressed, taken seriously, and corrected as far as possible. But to expect it to be completely nonexistent in this system is a pie-in-the-sky expectation. When you find an organization without ANY of these problems, please let me know.
If we look, we are going to find bad things. Even in JWs. It's sad, but true. It's HUMAN. We aren't going to have utopia anywhere right now. If we believe God has an organization, all we can do is take information in and judge what religion (if any) is adhering closest to God's word.
On the other hand, if you don't think God has an organization, we're talking about a whole different matter of discussion.
I'm not advising you to turn a blind eye, but to weigh the evidence carefully and don't make any quick decisions. Which is what I am doing. I feel no need to "make" you go one way or the other. But I did feel moved to contribute my two cents worth.
I'm sure I'll be lambasted for it, but that's OK. We're all entitled to our viewpoint.
