Cheryl Schatz

Tom,

You said:

Our not doing Christmas is a detail of our faith, no where near close to the main thrust. And this star is a detail as to why I don’t celebrate…

It is a detail that as Christians we are allowed to test by the scriptures.  It is a detail that doesn’t match up with the truth found in the scripture.  Are you willing to admit that or do you want to follow man’s words that contradict scripture?  I for one am willing to disregard man’s words and follow what God has to say.

You also said:

And the point that should stand out from the excerpt I quoted is: “It is not claimed that explanations in this publication are infallible.”

The point that we are trying to make here is that only the bible is infallible and whatever is contrary to the scriptures needs to be discarded.  Can you give us any reason not to discard the Watchtower’s view that the star of Bethlehem is satan’s star?

Another question – can a person be a Jehovah’s Witness and believe contrary to the Watchtower?  i.e. Can a person believe that the star of Bethlehem was sent by God to guide the wise men instead of the faulty view of the Watchtower that it was satan’s star?

These are very important questions and deserve to be answered.

You said:

So I’m not sure what you mean by your comment that the Watchtower “says they do know.” As the above quote shows, any explanations offered represent their best understanding at the present time. There’s no claim of infallibility.

The bible doesn’t change.  But the Watchtower does change sometimes back and forth to the same previous view and back again to another view and then back again to a previous view.  Our own infallible source is the bible and this does not change.  The reason that I said that the Watchtower says they do know is because they have argued that the star of Bethlehem IS satan’s star.

You said:

So I don’t know that they are wrong about this point….I suspect they are right. Chris’s reasoning doesn’t seem especially persuasive to me. But since it’s a very minor point on a subject for which no infallibility is claimed, I can’t work up too much interest….certainly not for the sake or arguing the point with you.

Which part of Chris’s reasoning does not seem persuasive?  It may seem a minor point, but is it not a major point when God’s work in sending the star is stated as satan’s work?  Isn’t this blasphemy?  I don’t think that blasphemy is a “minor point”.  Do you?

Would a Jehovah’s Witness be able to publically agree with Chris that the star of Bethlehem is not satan’s star or would they have to agree with the Watchtower view even if they disagree in their heart?  Is there “forced” unity or is there room for a conscience by letting the bible speak for itself?