I don't know where to begin exactly and I don't want to send a novel!
I guess you could say that I am sitting on the fence right now.
I am currently “professing,” going to meeting, and in fact, have Wednesday night meeting in our home. My mother's parents professed in the 1930's and my mom professed in the 50's, so I was born and raised, albeit in a divided home since my dad did not profess,.....although his mother and some siblings did.
I professed in the late 1960's. I have always believed in God even as a little girl.
I believed this 'way' was the 'only way.'
But certain things have bothered me over the years, like absolutely no pants for women ever, ..........movies are unacceptable, but going to a play is OK, .........hair is supposed to be in a bun, although I couldn't find any reference to a bun in the Bible, ........the heavy emphasis on never, ever missing a meeting for any reason (except being on your death bed), the fact that no one will be saved but the 'friends,” etc!
When someone is professing, no one ever asks another about that person's spirit and does he/she seem to have a love for God, and so forth.
No, the question is, “How is her/his meeting attendance?”
Even with these concerns, however, I did not doubt that this was the only way because this is what I had been taught by my mom and others. My mom was a wonderful, kind lady though, and she was fairly lenient in my upbringing.