Can't call him father, so "This is my [dad, daddy, daddyo, papa, pops, pappy, sire, beginner, don, begetter, male parent]

FatFreek 2005

Dear Question From Readers

I realize that Watchtower is clear in avoiding fancy titles when it comes to people. Jesus said, "do not call anyone YOUR father on earth". Yes, we certainly don't want to give undo attention to such lowly creatures. I can understand that "Honor your mother and your father" must certainly be old light.

As I don't want to offend Jehovah, how may I correctly introduce my male lifegiving parent to other people?

I mean, wouldn't the use of a synomym be just as bad? Like I know that we're not supposed to say nasty words that show disrespect to Jesus, such as Jesus synomyms -- Jeez, Cripes, and Cheezits.

So wouldn't synonyms like dad, daddy, papa, pops, pappy, sire, beginner, don, begetter, male parent be just as bad? I am confused and need your help. The PTA conference is tomorrow.

Len

VIII

If the first name is good enough for The Heavenly Big Guy, why not for the earthly spawner?

dinah

Funny, Len!

FatFreek 2005

Thanks, Dinah.

If the first name is good enough for The Heavenly Big Guy, why not for the earthly spawner?

There was one family in our congregation where the boys called their dad, Jim.

I never could get comfortable with that practice. My dad Wesley was never addressed by that name -- from me .

Len

Awen

Check out this link, which is concerning the title of "Father" that is used by the Catholic Church. It goes into great detail and shows that Jesus and the Christian writers often referred to genetic fathers and people who weren't their natural fathers by this title.

http://catholic-forum.com/churches/luxver/father.htm

Juan Viejo2

Good question, Len.

Well, if he's a JW, how about:

"Hey, Bro!"

"My Brother!"

Christian Head of Our Household

Forefather

My Old Man

JV

FatFreek 2005

Hi Awen,

That link is interesting. "In Matthew 23 our Lord is forbidding us to call anyone rabbi, father or teacher if that title in any way diminishes our dependence on God". That illustrates to me that the Governing Body of JW's isn't the only group capable of applying spin on demand.

This is typical where the role of scriptural interpretation enters the picture. Some folks call it SPIN and religious leaders -- all I've ever heard -- are commonly known as spinmeisters. Once that spinning door is open there is no limit. It becomes a free-for-all.

I suggest that, if that's what Jesus meant to say then why didn't he say it. Didn't he know that without stating that condition, it would cause confusion in future generations? Was the original language not capable of making such a statement? Did he actually mean for followers to play Bible verse hopscotch in order to support a point? Without appearing disrespectful, didn't he know better?

Hi JV, I like the "this is my Old Man" one. I can hear Dad now -- and what he's saying doesn't sound good.

Len

cyberjesus

how bout "my closets ancestor"

"my sperm pusher"

"my patterfamilia"

"my mother's husband"

"the spanker'

mrsjones5

How 'bout "my mama's baby daddy"?

FatFreek 2005

Hey, CyberJ and MrsJ -- ya'll crack me up!!!!

Len

Can't call him father, so "This is my [dad, daddy, daddyo, papa, pops, pappy, sire, beginner, don, begetter, male parent]

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