... A time to bake, a time to smell, a time to eat, and a time to throw
I generally prefer the 3rd option. The 4th is great on film but under most circumstances probably isn't very practical.
>> I would love to post this "Not so simple" on that forum just to see what some of the friends might say <<
I'm sure you would, and no doubt it might lead to some interesting discussions. On the other hand, I would rather avoid being gang tackled. If we're going to do this, let's keep it one on one where some degree of mutual respect and understanding has been established. Long threads with many participants at various levels of understanding are at best confusing, and at worst downright ugly. I'm aware that others might discover there's activity on the normally dormant battle board, but for now I'm willing to take that chance. If you want to save the threads and share them with a few friends privately, I have no objections. It's not like anything I say is copyrighted.
>> I don't agree with your assessment that nothing can be learned, decided or discovered by reading various authors, especially when we compare their quotes to what the Scriptures really teach <<
It's not that nothing can be learned, it's simply a matter of practicality. If we are going to discuss these matters, we should endeavor to do so from a mutually agreed upon basis of truth - the word of God. We should also do so from our own resources: our knowledge and understanding as guided by the scriptures and the Holy Spirit of God.
If our discussions devolve into a quote war, then they will be unprofitable. If a quote becomes necessary, let's make it short and to the point. Long essays - especially if they're quoted from someone else - generally give me indigestion. I'm likely to simply ignore them.
>> could respond to many items, but we should advance it beyond what I'm curious about, such as what similarities you see between Bible Students who are non-denominational, and the Jehovah's Witnesses and their organization <<
My knowledge of BS and JW doctrines, practices, and organizational structures is fairly limited. I doubt I have any insights that haven't been beaten to death already. It cannot be denied that the JW's have their origins in the BS movement. How much (or how little) they departed from the original BS doctrines, practices, and organizational structures is a matter of debate between the participants. Since I am not a participant, I prefer to keep my nose out of it. Truly, it's none of my business.
Similar things have happened before and since and no doubt will continue to happen. Why, it's even biblical (after a fashion). After all, the New Testament Church was hijacked from within. Paul, Peter, John and Jude all wrote about it. Indeed, by the time John was old men like Diotrephes (III John 9-10) were already taking over the visible "corporate" Church. Such men were the true forefathers of today's "Churchianity". On this I'm sure we would agree.
It is the nature of religions in this world to splinter.
>> to stick with the Scriptures, now that's just fine. If you do that, my sweet Joan, you'll be on the right road apart from the world <<
I hate to disappoint you, but I'm not really Joan of Arc. Also, there are many roads which are by and large "apart from the world", but which still could lead into a ditch. I think we can agree that the mainstream brands of "Christianity" (Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant and related derivatives) are an integral part of this world's religious systems, and as such they are deceived by and under the sway of Satan (Rev. 12:9, 1 John 5:19).
But that still leaves a great many different flavors of "Christianity", all quite different from one another but different enough from the mainstream that they cannot really be considered part of it.
