by Gill 69 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
ALL WEDDING PRESENTS ARE TO BE GIVEN ANNONYMOUSLY LEST THEY STIR UP COMPETITION!
That was what many did when I got married. Then the ones who gave gifts anonymously bitched for years afterward that they didn't get thank-you cards.
Well, DUH!!!
How am I supposed to thank someone for a gift that didn't have a name attached to it?
W
*muses*
If nowadays, they do 'bible charades' at gatherings... what did they do in 'bible' days - before they were known as 'bible days'?
*strokes chin thoughtfully*
Regards,
Jim TX
I missed this thread somehow. I wished I had seen it earlier...
I went to a JW wedding a few weeks ago. The wedding itself was non-descript. Bride was beautiful enough (she wore a veil...it seems that I remember that JW brides weren't supposed to wear veils...do I remember that correctly?). The groom was nervous as hell. The KH was nicely decorated, though the paint and wallpaper were distracting...very dated and out of style. The talk was boring and dull as was expected. It was almost word for word right out of a talk manuscript about christian marriages. Hardly personalized at all. I can't even remember if the brother giving the talk even called them by their names or not.
The reception was most interesting. I was expecting a typical dull dub affair. I was partially correct at first...no alcohol, not even champagne for the wedding party. But the brothers of the groom were known for their taste of the juice. I kept an eye on them and noticed that they kept making trips outside the clubhouse where the reception was held. I finally invited myself along one time and discovered the cooler full of beer and booze in the back of a car. We spent more time outside than in after that.
Later when the dancing started, I expected the same old dull, boring, "safe" music that only an eighty year old conservative elder would approve. Boy, was I wrong. The DJ, a JW, who had the whole setup...disco ball, lights, strobes, subwoofers, cranked out good dance music. He started off with some old shag/swing stuff, then switched to 70s disco and then over to a blend of techno and hip hop club mixes. I was surprised at the beat of the music and the lyrics. Not knowing a lot about hip-hop, I still recognized a few of the songs and knew the content was not JW approved. Even some of the old disco was not approved back in my day. That was the most shocking thing about this wedding...I remember when my generation was all getting married, music and dancing was strictly regulated. Even innocent songs weren't allowed because of the "beat". Dancing was almost non-existent because the music was so bad. I expected that it would be similar since so many elders and older ones would be there, but this reception turned into club night at the clubhouse. They turned the lights off, the strobes on, cranked the speakers up loud and let er rip. And the kids got their groove on. I was surprised at some of the "moves" the girls were making. It was like watching the video hos on hip hop videos. Not that I complained, mind you.
Then everyone who had been making trips outside started coming back in (complete with brown bags and plastic cups) and the party really got going. Most of the wedding party was sloshed and a good many "brothers" who were friends or relatives of the groom were definitely going to have hangovers the next morning.
I actually had a great time. It was good to see them cut loose, but I wonder what ramifications will come from it later.
Afterwards I was a little meloncholy(sp) about it...I grew up under such a tight, controlling atmosphere and we couldn't have those kinds of receptions or parties, yet here was a new generation letting go and having fun, with no apparent (at least not yet) problems from the elders in attendance. I was glad for them, but sad that I wasn't allowed it back in my youth. Maybe jealous is a better word, I dunno.
To me, the WTS keeps printing the same old shit, but the JWs aren't listening anymore. They're going to the hall, going in service, going to conventions, but they have the ability to ignore the more cultish aspects of control, fear and guilt. I guess that's good in a way, but it irritates me to some degree to see the hypocrisy of such actions. And some of them have the gall to whisper about me behind my back or attempt to shun me.
Great post Gill,
I had a laugh on "controlling the last fart."
This reminds me of what an elder told me a few months ago. He lamented not being able to organize a congregation picnic because "the Society discourages large gatherings."
I looked at him with pity. College education with a good job and yet can't discern the foolish wisdom behind this thinking.
Obviously, the congregations well being came second to numbers.
As for the part on alcohol, they tentatively mention that Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine - yet they demonize even the thought of having alcoholic beverages at any function.
My congregation has a Prohibition mentality when it comes to alcohol - one brother even said he would hide his alcoholic beverages if they had company for dinner who were teetotal. Others will drink in private so as not to stumble anyone.
God, what a cult.
As for the congregation gatherings I have been to, which chiely consist of someone's high school graduation (never a college graduation), everything is controlled and regulated. It's just like a meeting, except you don't have to have a suit and sit in a chair.
Undercover,
Sounds like the music and dancing at the wedding you attended was better than the standard entertainment I've experienced.
Cha Cha slide and the Electric Slide. Another "safe" song is the Kool and the Gang "Celebration" - the dubs don't even know the meaning of the word "celebrate"
TS - It's just totally pathetic really, isn't it! Adult people being told how to spend every last moment of their time. What's even more pathetic is that they just accept it and follow the 'guidance'!
That's a thick veil over the eyes of Joe and Jane JW! Some will come to their senses and see how the control freakery is so ridiculous. Sadly, some will stick with it and make their worlds smaller and smaller. It's a very sad thing to see happening to family and former friends.
Gill,
Puppet on a string, that's what it is. You're never really in control of anything in your life, because your Bible trained conscience does the string pulling - and we all know where our Bible trained conscience comes from.
I find that small, intimate gatherings that are private affairs are more likely to generate the most interesting talk. Most dubs however, particularly 30 and under, never talk about spiritual things.
It's almost an unwritten law - thou must not talk about spiritual things if you're young.
This amazing, incredible and fantastic hope of Paradise that we all share in common never manifests itself beyond the four walls of the Kingdom Hall.
I missed this thread too. Here's my suggestion for a small gathering. JWs should get together and the host should spell out the rules clearly for what will and will not be done within his domain. Everyone should get a copy of the rules so that they can read over what is expected. 5 minutes should be given prior to the actual "party" for questions and answers if anything isn't quite clear. After which, a prayer should be said by either the host or some brother picked by the host. Such things as requesting Jehovah's favor upon all those in attendance, asking Jehovah God for wisdom and discernment to remain loyal to Him and His Organization, and asking Jehovah to watch over them lest they fall into the hand of the evil Birdcatcher. Then it would be only natural for meditation to occur, so as to reflect upon what was just agreed to in prayer. After a set time for meditation, each Christian should tell an upbuilding experience that happened in field service that week. Meanwhile, quietly and carefully, one of the brothers should put on a Kingdom Melody that will reflect the solemness of the occasion. Since some small children will no doubt be in attendance, it would be a perfect time to teach the children to sit still and not move or make a sound......Certainly, such gatherings can obviously be upbuiling occasions to shine as Witnesses of Jehovah!!
Identifying the givers of gifts could lead to 'stirring up competition' as to which is the better or the more costly gft. Thus wise Christian newlyweds will refrain from publicly announcing the names of gift givers. Announcing the names of givers might embarrass others who were perhaps unable to afford to give a gift.'Granted, it is not wrong for the bride and groom to know who gave a certain gift. They could possibly learn that from an appropriate card that accompanies the present but is not read publicly. When buying, giving and receiving wedding gifts, we all have a chance to prove that even in such a private matter, our faith is affecting our actions.'
I would think this is a fine opportunity for the cheap ones to give as cheap a present as possible since they will NOT be known as the one giving the cheap present!
If/when I get married, my wedding is going to be huge. I'm going to play the hip hop dance club songs and the 70s hits that most of us grew up on... and if they don't like they can scratch their asses and get glad. Ther's a new generation here.. and I'm going all out. Maybe I'll have the DJ do a remix of "Forward You Witnesses." Think they'll go for it?
