Hypocrite.

I guess that's how I am feeling at the moment. I hold a bible study group at my home on a Tuesday night. My role is to conduct the study by reading a portion of information to those gathered, ask them questions and ensure that everyone understands the subject under discussion.

Currently we are using a study aid called "Revelation, its grand climax at hand" which is a verse by verse analysis of the book of revelation.

The problem I have is twofold.

First, the book has been revised since it was first published on the basis that its authors changed their minds in regard to the information it contained. They feel the original version contained inaccuracies. In the real world, this would be a noble approach. In the world I currently live in, a world controlled by the authors of this book, one must employ doublethink in order to happily accept the revised version.

To those on the outside, this must seem quite bizarre.

Simply put, the authors claim to speak for God. The are God's channel of communication to mankind on the earth today and God has put his words in their mouths. Ultimately, they are Gods modern day prophet. These claims have been published repeatedly for over 100 years by the authors.

Hence, the information they publish is considered to be from God, 100% true and accurate. In fact, if any member of the religion relentlessly disputes the information published by the authors, they are expelled from the religion and their family members are instructed to shun them. Incidentally, failure to shun also leads to expulsion.

To doublethink in this instance is to accept that the authors speak for God, yet at the same time, accept that they are fallible human beings and will publish mistakes from time to time. Interestingly, the authors openly admit their fallibility.

My second concern is that if the original version of the book contained inaccuracies, how are we able to discern whether the revised version is free from such errors. To openly express this concern would be dangerous within the religion, ultimately resulting in expulsion as described.

I feel a hypocrite as my present role dictates that I teach from this book as though it has been communicated to mankind by God, via its authors. I do not believe this to be true, yet I currently act and speak in a way that supports this view.

This situation is not just limited to the small study group that meets at my house on a Tuesday evening.

We also meet on a Thursday evening and Sunday mornings, where all of the information is presented as originating from God, via the authors.

NineteenSeventy.

London England 2007 AD.