I may be wrong but I have never found any scripture where the bible writers called anyone by brother so and so, they called them by thier name and then said 'who is our brother or brethren'. I have tried to find an instance of that, in fact if someone knows of any where they are called brother so and so I would appreciate knowing , for it has allways been one of my pet peeves.
How Did Being Referred To As A Brother Or Sister Make You Feel?
by The wanderer 46 Replies latest jw friends
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The wanderer
Dear Logic:
You may have hit the ball out of the park raising that
question. I may be wrong as well, but after having
done a brief search in my comparative study Bible
I do not see the question you have raised in there
either.
Great point, I never realized that I was referring
to individuals using a title that is NOT based
soundly within the scriptures.
Respectfully,
The Wanderer -
WTWizard
It really didn't affect me that much. What it did affect most were those sisters whose husbands would have to address them as Sister *&^$#%. I bet it was also hard on those on the platform who had to call on their wives and children as Brother or Sister, instead of by their first name as they would naturally.
In our congregation, we used to have one Watchtower conductor that would call his children by their first names instead of Brother/Sister (for privacy, I will not mention which one). He would have to call his wife "Sister" *&$^#( (again, the name has been scrambled to protect privacy). This was one of the better elders that was railroaded for something stupid, ultimately to get reproved and then treated as disfellowshipped by the congregation. Eventually he ended up going inactive. Other details about this case will not be revealed.
However, the general rule is that if the children are baptized, you have to call them brother or sister from the platform or when addressing them from leading the group for service. To me, this was unnecessarily formal when addressing me as Brother (again, I will leave the snoopers guessing). It is very reminiscent of the time when a person would be referred to as Mr or Mrs (last name) instead of by first name. Totally Victorian, and thus out of date.
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L.Wells
It really irks me, as some people within the org use it as a title. Bethelites are always called "Brother *****" and expect it. In ireland, where i was raised, we weren't the slightest bit formal regarding this, and in out group study it was alway first names, unless there was a visitor. The bethel family were always first name as well, but that has all changed with the clean out they had in Newcastle.
Brother + Sister sounds so stuffy and fake, if people really are brothers (family) then surely first name should suffice
Love+Peace
"Sister" Emms
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flipper
Wanderer, Mr. Flipper here. To me using the term brother or sister so and so, was so impersonal. Kind of like it meant they didn't have to use your first name. It put everybody into the same pot or category, almost excusing anybody from getting to close to you by keeping things on a formalistic last name plane. It pissed me off, so I would just call the elders or others by their first name thereby hoping they'd get the hint and call me by my first name. Only close friends got the hint . Others would call me brother so and so. I'd say thanks, Susan or Dave. They'd look at me kinda weird. Even had meetings where we were counseled over the platform to call each other brother so and so by our last names, not first names out of "respect". To me it showed more disrespect, because it was so formal, you felt intimidated to get to know anybody better. It's just nice now to be myself, and not have to play the mind games anymore, which I never did anyway. Peace, Mr. Flipper
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Nowman
I would like to take this opportunity to confirm what kind of Ex-JW I am. As I have said in other posts, I left the org because I could not take my parents anymore. They were completely out of control. So, alot of what I post now-a-days is because I know more about the cult these days then I did back when I was 18 or before. The tern Brother so and so and Sister so and so always creeped me out, I never felt normal saying it. It was only my mom and dad in the org at that time, so in my household it was what I knew but when I was out and about, I never really wanted to tell people how I referreed to the other people in the org, it was embarrasing. I knew "WE" (mom, dad, and I) were not like normal "worldly" people. Therefore, my double life that I lead consisted of trying to figure how everyone talked in the "world".
In fact, Wanderer, I think I had secret goal of becoming "worldy" some day, just so I did not have to use the normal mungo jungo lingo anymore. Yuck!
Nikki
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Xena
Seemed weird at first but then I figured out it saved me having to remember people's names so I didn't mind so much.
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r51785
If I ever went back, I would insist that everyone call me "Comrade r51785" instead of "Brother r51785."
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Dagney
At the time, I felt part of the 'club'. Now it kinda creeps me out.
Yep.
Creepy like belonging to a Mormon compound (not that there is anything wrong with that.)
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Wordly Andre
I've always noticed that they used it to find out if you are a witness or not, like when my family has "the friends" over a family "gathering" they always come up to me with their hand extended ready for that JW handshake and say "Brother ??" like if you address your self as Brother Blah blah, ok your one of us, but like I always say NO its just Andre!
By the way WTF why do they have to use terms like the friends and gatherings, fuck just say church member at the fucking party, Damn,, and why do they always bring fried Chicken or potatoe salad to "gatherings"