Do JW meal-time prayers make you squirm???

by kid-A 19 Replies latest jw friends

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  kid-A

  I see my JW family all the time, of course, since I am not a JW, not religious at all, I am always a little uncomfortable when my dad begins the "thank jehovah" for the food routine before we start eating. Of course, I just go along with it to make them happy and not rock the boat.

  My question is, for all ex-dubs, whether you are atheist or still believe in god, does it make you uncomfortable when they "thank jehovah" for the meal (when you know what they really mean is we thank the watchtower corporation for the food before us!!)

  Do you just bow your head and say amen, even though the prayer is directed to the WTS???

  Rub-a-dub-dub.......thanks for the grub!!!! LOL
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  Legolas

  luckily I don't have to listen to such crap!
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  kid-A

  Whats your secret, Legolas??
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  Gill

  kid-A - Praying before meals is something that has ALWAYS made me squirm with embarrassment. It's just plain daft!

  My father, when I lived at home, always said and still always says the same crap and now does it as if he was rushing to catch a train. I refuse to bow my head or say Amen and have told my children not to indulge their grandparents by 'amening' for them but just to sit quietly whilst they get the superstitious crap out of their system.

  It's not even an 'English' habit but some US fundy ritual that I do not feel we need to indulge ourselves in.

  We may have done 'praying' in public in many years gone past but thank goodness we've 'seen the light' and dropped our old bad habits!
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  Legolas

  Whats your secret, Legolas??

  I don't have to deal with anyone who is still 'in', because we are all 'out'!
• 

  greendawn

  They used to because generally I hated the fact that JW prayers were always directed to Jehovah as if we were still living in old testament times or as if this was a Jewish religion in disguise.
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  searching4?

  I have to disagree. Just because they are part of the watchtower society, doesn't mean they worship it. When any witness prays, they ARE praying to THEIR God. I'm glad you are kind enough to remain respectful through your family's prayers.
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  TheListener

  Try giving the prayer and not just listening to it. Don't get me wrong I love God and pray regularly. But, when I pray for myself I can really use my normal everyday human being language (not dirty or disrespectful). But, when I give a prayer for other witnesses (mostly family members these days) I have to make sure to use some of the loaded WTS language. It's tough but I try to mention the WTS very little and I absolutely will not thank them for food at the proper time.
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  kid-A

  But, when I give a prayer for other witnesses (mostly family members these days) I have to make sure to use some of the loaded WTS language.

  Do you not feel you are compromising your principles if you must include Watchtower terminology you no longer support?
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  kid-A

  Just because they are part of the watchtower society, doesn't mean they worship it.

  I know my family extremely well. And yes, they most certainly do worship the watchtower society.