Just a couple Questions...

jolly_green_giant

i was just wondering if anyone knows what year the JW's banned smoking and celebrating Christmas. plus, anyone here still know active JW's that still smoke secretly? i know a couple that do.

Mum

The ban on smoking came about 1973, if memory serves. The Christmas ban is much older.

Seize the day, and put the least possible trust in tomorrow. - Horace

I have learned to live each day as it comes and not to borrow trouble by dreading tomorrow. - Dorothy Dix

Mulan

Mum is right. It was 1973. My folks became dubs in 1950 and Christmas had long been a no-no.

I knew of a man who smoked secretly. No one ever found out. He died a few years ago, at about 58. Not related to the smoking directly. He had a serious heart defect. I'm sure smoking didn't help though.

There are far more secret alcoholics. I could list dozens, including many elders.

Marilyn (a.k.a. Mulan)

Yerusalyim

1925 Comes to mind as the last time Bethel celebrated Christmas, can anyone verify this?

YERUSALYIM
"Vanity! It's my favorite sin!"
[Al Pacino as Satan, in "DEVIL'S ADVOCATE"]

target

Marilyn:
Secret alcoholics! We had a pioneer elder and his special pioneer wife who came to meetings with alcohol on their breaths (morning meetings) and carried a flask with them out in service. They fought terribly. They were the two most judgemental JWs I ever saw. Very self righteous duo.

Target

JonnieMae

It's amazing what you can get away with if you just keep your mouth shut. I was a heavy smoker 1 1/2 pks a day 'til about 1985 when I finally quit. Went to all the meetings, hardly missed any. And no one ever knew. To this day I drink very regularly. Gotta have a drink just before leaving the house for a meeting. Inactive, so I really don't care what anyone thinks. Family is still active so I have to please them. Just keeping my mouth shut.

Xena

My mom was d/fed back in the 80's for smoking..lol it was a secret till my sister who came to visit us squealed on her...can you feel the love???

Satanus

Jonnie

You may have found the secret to good meeting attendence. If more (especially elders) would imbibe before meetings, things would likely roll along more joyfully, no? After all, how natural/normal is it to go to 3 meetings like that your whole life? I can hear yoyo say these aren't normal times. These are probably the best times there have ever been.

Best wishes
SS

YoYoMama

SS: hey no mind reading allowed.

more2C

This happened years ago but I remember when another sister and I wanted to visit this elderly sister, who had been sick. We climbed the stairs, rang her bell and I smelled cigarette smoke. Just as I turn to the other sister to say something. The elderly sister yells,
"I'll be out in a minute." Then all we could hear was the sound of an air freshener being sprayed for about five minutes before this elderly sister opened her door. We looked inside, and there was this thick, blue haze.

I always thought of her as the grandmother I never had, so I never "reported" this to the elders. She must have been in her late 80's. I always thought that this matter was something between her and Jehovah, and the elders didn't need to know this anyway.

more2C

Just a couple Questions...

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