by Outaservice 12 Replies latest jw friends
On another thread many made the comments that the congregations not in the United States seem to have different rules than elsewhere, and also more freedom.
Do people in other countries think of it mostly as an American religion? Do Australians for instance show reverence for the Governing Body as much as an American seems to?
Outaservice
On another thread many made the comments that the congregations not in the United States seem to have different rules than elsewhere, and also more freedom.
We had a pioneer sister that went to France to visit and was invited to pioneer school while she was there. She said one day as they were about to go out to service someone opened a bottle of champagne and they all had a drink before going out to field service.
I used to get a lot of comments in field service that jws are an American religion, as the world HQ is in Brooklyn, and the founder, and all his successor have also been American. Of course, I used to try to point out why this wasn't true, but yes, a fair number of people in the UK do perceive the wts as an American religion.
It certainly isn't one of America's better exports!
Ian
Don't you know there are just fewer sheep in other lands?
On another thread many made the comments that the congregations not in the United States seem to have different rules than elsewhere, and also more freedom.
I suppose that makes "elsewhere" = the US of A...
From (1) what I am reading on this board and (2) my JW memories from over 20 years ago, I doubt this is true as a general rule. Of course everywhere there are more or less strict interpretations of WT instructions by different bodies of elders, and there might be national nuances according to the branches, but the room for difference is very limited (unless the difference is part of the NY policy, e.g. Mexico vs. Malawi, the blood official stance Bulgaria, etc.)
Do people in other countries think of it mostly as an American religion?
YES. Everybody does except JWs.
We had a pioneer sister that went to France to visit and was invited to pioneer school while she was there. She said one day as they were about to go out to service someone opened a bottle of champagne and they all had a drink before going out to field service.
LOL, Champagne is something pioneers can rarely afford (but are sometimes offered).
I grew up in a wine-producing area (Beaujolais) and the general unwritten policy was not to accept a glass of wine during FS, except at the last call.
Otoh there was wine at the Bethel table (also in Italy and Greece I was told) but this was Brooklyn-approved.
Ian,
It certainly isn't one of America's better exports!
Amen ... I feel shame everytime I think about JW-ism and Mormonism being exported to other nations.
Jim W.
Americans who like to keep themselves in their protective bubble have the most miopic view of the world. Much like the writers of the wt. I find my American friends that travel the world and have lived in other countries have a much different world view than those who only get their world news from say Katie Couric or something.
It is an American centered religion. It has been a white American religion. It is American centered in its interpretation of prophecy.
'Do Australians for instance show reverence for the Governing Body as much as an American seems to?'
I don't know about Australians, but in the UK very few people know the names of any of the Governing Body members, or at least very few of them.
