Where does one draw the line on whether the origins of a practice make it acceptable?

insearchoftruth

OK, am very confused:

Honeymoons and wedding rings, based in paganism, ok for a JW to do.

Windchimes, once prohibited due to the intent to ward off evil spirits, ok for a JW to have.

Pinatas, once prohibited due to origin, now since folks do not associate the fun with a pinata, ok for a JW to do.

Wedding anniversaries, not sure if they are formally addressed in the bible, ok for a jw to do.

Birthdays, two bad examples in the bible plus some stories how originally celebrated by the wealthy (choose to ignore Job 1 - Job 3 when a persons special day is celebrated), not ok for a jw to do (have not been at a birthday party ever where someone was beheaded)

Thanksgiving, actually a basis in the old testament for a celebration of the harvest, not ok for jws to do

You need to either rely on past practice and precedence or ignore it completely, but the WTS seems to speak out of both sides of its collective GB mouth.......

Satanus

'the WTS seems to speak out of both sides of its collective GB mouth.......'

Yah, well. Basically, anything originating from the wt corp needs to be scrutinized thoroghly.

S

blondie

The WTS draws the line and in some cases body of elders draw the line for their congregation. You have learned that in the WTS there are the written rules and the unwritten rules.

insearchoftruth

You have learned that in the WTS there are the written rules and the unwritten rules.

Will some congregations have less restrictive policies than those written, or is it always the case where they may be more restrictive.

Spike Tassel

some less restrictive, some more restrictive .. depends on the make-up of the congo's servant body

insearchoftruth

For those who have less restrictive policy, how do they justify the disagreement with the 'bible based literature'? Isn't it thought that the WT literature is all but equivalent to the Bible?

oompa

some halls permit masturbation if no lotion or pornography is used...............oompa

i think you make a great point.....origin should not matter AT ALL if the origin is no longer considered or even thought of in modern times........satan worshipers who slaughter animals and use their blood in sacrifice do not consider that this originated with GOD for his jewish people........they just think that since it makes satan happy...that is the most important thing.........oompa

The-Borg

You draw the line where the watchtower tells you to draw the line. And if they draw a new line you follow that one.

isaacaustin

for JWs? If it involves mingling with classamtes or workmates (such as birhtdays and holidays) it is banned. If it involves just the couple and another couple or friends (presumably JWs) ok- such as wedding anniversaries.

The idea is to isolate kids from an early age so they do not fit in and have no support system outside the witnesses.

insearchoftruth

origin should not matter AT ALL if the origin is no longer considered or even thought of in modern times

That is what really confuses me...is in some cases origin is used as a precedent (birthdays is the most obvious example...) and in other cases it is not considered at all (wedding rings, honeymoons, pinatas, windchimes). And then there are situations like Thanksgiving.....I have no clue about that except for it may take from the ministry.....

Where does one draw the line on whether the origins of a practice make it acceptable?

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