Watchtower — baptism — thousands of Children

by Marvin Shilmer 28 Replies latest jw friends

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  sizemik

  the typical attitude seems to be that if the Watchtower does something, it must automatically be bad. Let's refocus on what's truly bad: The overuse and abuse of disfellowshipping. That's the problem. Not setting some sort of an age limit for baptism . . . jmorgan74

  It's just pulling the other end of the same piece of rope . . .

  Spending your life adhering to the rules and doctrines of a high-control religion is a decision that should be made by an adult . . . with mature thinking abilities. It will govern and determine the way they live their life . . . whether they get DF'd and shunned or not. That's not a commitment a child should be encouraged (or even allowed) to make IMO.
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  Marvin Shilmer

  jmorgan74 writes:

  “Marvin, the pictures are interesting, but getting old (at least with me). When will you go back to posting substantive articles? Those are the ones I liked to read.”

  1. I appreciate your interest in my presentations, and your comments whether pro or con.

  2. I disagree that this particular article is not substantive.

  3. Watchtower’s use of illustrations is language that communicates information about Watchtower. My opinion is that these communications have gone under-appreciated and under-presented for the information they contain and convey. The little prepubescent girls in this article presentation, for instance, were getting baptized and Watchtower showed this as a good thing. That is substantive. Just think about what that meant. For example, only three more years and those little girls were be expected to refuse blood transfusion as a though it were a transgression of divine will. (See: http://marvinshilmer.blogspot.com/2011/02/blood-what-happened-at-watchtower-in.html

  4. The time I spend on my blog is not all work. You don’t want my edges to dull, do you? All work and no play makes Marvin a dull boy.

  5. Please keep reading and please keep criticizing my work. All of it helps. I mean that. It is how all us humans learn and grow.

  Marvin Shilmer
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  Marvin Shilmer

  sizemik writes:

  “It's just pulling the other end of the same piece of rope . . .”

  That is damn fine prose! Poetic. Thought-provoking.

  Marvin Shilmer
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  Bella15

  The pressure of baptizing young children always bothered me - the bible sets a good example as Jesus himself was baptized a grown man. I got baptized or should I say I joined the Watchtower Corporation at 26.

  I like the idea of parents dedicating/presenting the children to God like Christian churches do, but you do not force or pressure them into baptism. I am so thankful to God that I didn't raise my kids as JWs. They are 12 and 13 now. Although I was attending meetings while they were still very young 2-3 years old, I was going to the Spanish congregation and they didn't understand a thing - I did this on purpose LOL! Funny that my daughter still remembers how boring Abuelita's (Grandma's) meetings were.
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  ldrnomo

  A woman who works at the bank I go to is a ex JW (DF'd in 04). She was baptized at the age of 9 and that was 18 years ago.

  She told me the primary reason she did it was because she wanted her Mom and Dad who are uber-witnesses to love her and have pride in her.

  It's really a sad story because now she has a beautiful 4 year old daughter and though her daughter sees her grandparents, this young woman has no relationship whatsoever with her Mom and Dad.
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  minimus

  They were just goin' swimmin'.
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  minimus

  Marvin, I love these postings. Pictures don't lie.
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  BluesBrother

  Why am I reminded of the Pied Piper leading away all the children, to their capture?

  twenty years or so later I was one of them , as were many of us on this board

  BTW Marvin I typed a comment on the blog but it does not show....What am I misssing?
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  Found Sheep

  I was 12 and had NO idea what I was doing!! I think the bad part is after you get baptized you can no longer Question them - or else! So at 12 i stopped testing to see if it was the "truth".... Way too young!

  FS
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  Marvin Shilmer

  BluesBrother writes:

  "BTW Marvin I typed a comment on the blog but it does not show....What am I missing?"

  I have no idea. All comments are accepted without any review by me. I checked the spam folder and nothing is there. Try again and let me know if it does not work.

  The only thing I delete is foul language, and I have only done this sparingly.

  Thanks for the heads-up.

  Marvin Shilmer