Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Curse of Music.

by donny 34 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  BU2B

  When I used to go out in service with a guy that is now in bethel, we used to listen to rock like Rush, The Tragically Hip, Audiosave, and others while driving around doing calls. Also, I sometimes hear cars pulling into the KH parking lot blaring Hard Rock inside their cars. This one sister had her windows down blaring the Goo Goo Dolls as she pulled in for Sunday service lol.

  On the flip side, some uber dubs listen to the KingDumb Maladies all the time, even when sitting at home, doing chores, or running errands. To me it sounds like tinny, piped in North Korea State television music, praising the Dear leader. Plus this new songbook is really much worse than the old one. I actally liked a couple in that one. Now Jesus is never praised.
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  DNCall

  I completely ignored anything written against any kind of music. I listened to whatever interested me or whatever I enjoyed listening to. While I had respect for the theology of the WTS (until I didn't) I had no respect for their opinions regarding music. I am a musician raised by a musician, Witness father who didn't respect the WTS's position on music.

  For those of you who know me, you will appreciate the irony of this because of my involvement with WT music.

  Yet another area of enjoyment of life/entertainment that the WTS seeks to stifle.
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  Black Man

  Yeah, this used to kill me. THe Society would be up in arms over all kinds of contemporary music, yet the only music alternative they offered us was the KINGDOM MELODIES??!!
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  MrFreeze

  I can't believe there were brothers/sisters who listened to Kingdumb Maladies in their cars. I just know they were listening to those evil Beatles when nobody else was in their car.

  There were only a few people I knew that were very strict about music.
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  Band on the Run

  I was just about killed for liking the Beatles, esp. John Lennon. We had a green cover songbook when I was growing up. Few in the area could play an instrument My gm could play basic piano so we heard these tunes all the time. One meeting night it is announced that we can no longer use the green books. The congregation is shocked. A brother continued that some of these melodies were written by Beethoven and Handel. Therefore, they are forbidden. We must purchase these awful magenta colored songbooks. "We are Jehovah's Witnesses" was the first song. Only my gm was no longer with us. No one could read music. I don't know how many conventions passed but soon the WT has hawking an expensive series of LP albums.

  The recorded music was ungodly. They despise music. Oh, when the bro read the announcement, he could not pronounce Beethoven or Handel. Beet-as in the vegetable-hoven. Well, even the most ifgnorant person who never heard Beethoven's music knew the name. It was one of those embarassing moments for me. There is nothing wrong with not knowing how to pronounce a name. When you dictate the length of my skirt, my hair, everything. learn how to pronounce common names.

  Now I wonder if it was the pagan music. Everyone knows Beethoven and Handel are demonic. Everyone. Satan and his demons showed up at public performances. All of Vienna saw it. I asked about some old English hymns at the local church. The music director explained that they have to pay some royalty everytime a piece is performed. After I was told this, I started to notice that copyright info is listed when the music is part of a general church program. All the Hymnal songs have copyrights. I find this strange b/c these tunes are so old I would expect them to be in the public domain.

  I wonder if copyright infringement or not wanting to pay for a license was the reason for the sudden departure from the old songbook.

  The local church people don't have time to answer all my questions. What do others think?

  Some of the worst religions have better music than we do.
• 

  tornapart

  I remember decades ago I went to a pioneer school. I travelled in with a brother (He was at the same pioneer school and I was staying with him and his little family). We travelled several miles alone in the car (neither of us had a problem with that, nor did his wife) and all the way there and back we listened to Yes and Mike Oldfield. I was invited to a sister's home for tea one evening, her son was a Bethelite, he'd left his music collection behind as it wasn't allowed in Bethel. He had Black Sabbath, Led Zep, Deep Purple etc... My own record collection was filled with rock albums... today I enjoy gospel rock too.
• 

  life is to short

  I will never forget the elder who when I had him and his wife over for dinner went through my record's and when he found out I had Prince's 1999 song went through the roof and told me I had to get rid of it. That was before Prince became a JW. I wonder what he would say now about 'Brother Prince.'

  Also this same elder we were on coffee break and this song came on about a guy who used to live with this woman and he ran into her latter on the song says that "I did not recognize her face at first." This elder said to our car group that he really liked that song. Now this elder was in his mid 30's and I was just 18 years old and never talked back to elders but I just could not stop myself and I dogged him. I am like 'yha Prince is bad but a song about a man who lives with a women and years latter he runs into her and he dose not even recognize her is OK.' I said 'I guess he never really looked at her face all those years he lived with her.' Man was that elder mad at me.

  LITS
• 

  Conanthebeliever

  OK, I am currently doing a bible study, with a man I class as a great friend.

  He listens to some metal, and so do I-the elders of my Kingdom hall are aware of this. I am not yet baptized, but have been going to every sunday meeting for around 7 months (I have missed last weeks and this weeks due to being Ill, and my friends mum is currently undergoing chemotherapy, so infection is really not good, so I need to be fully well before I am back studying and attending meetings).

  I have started to go to Thursday meetings to, which are more to do with field service and witnessing, and thoroughly enjoy it.

  Now, I don't know if it is different here in the UK-but I have been told by the elders, metal and the like IS advised against, but it is how it personally affects YOU that it the issue. If it makes you happy, and is not blatantly evil, like black metal, there is no issue-however, if it plays on your mind a lot and makes you depressed, then it is bad.

  I have learnt so much in my study, and I was looking for a faith for a long time, I always thought JW's were strange people who occasionally knocked at your door to preach-but I always spoke to them.

  Eventually, the person I am doing my study with knocked with another very nice gentleman, and that is when I said "why not, I am interested".

  I found my ideas around JW's were completely different to what we actually believe-and to my astonishment, it was what I already believed, I just did not know this!

  I live in the UK, so I don't know if that is why there is a difference-but I know there should not be, as worldwide we read the same watchtower, study the same thing, where as other "Christian" churches teach whatever they want, and keep you going by fear of hell. I was glad to learn hell did not exist-and that I had never done anything in my life bad enough to not warrant resurrection/survival of the end.

  So, it seems odd with the music, but as long as in your heart you are a good person, and are following what you should be, me and the elders at my local hall see no issue with music, even metal. Like I said, it is how it affects you personally.

  It is quite daft some of the comments I have read, that people have been approached by their elders after someone else has seen them driving playing the "wrong" type of music.

  I also vape-I do not use nicotine anymore, and the Elders and other witnesses think they are great, and see no issue with that either-I make my own juice, and am not putting anything inherently dangerous into my body, so they have no issue there either.

  All the best, Conan.
• 

  Vidiot

  @ Conan...

  Wait'll they get you baptized.
• 

  SonoftheTrinity

  Nothing more awesome than being the nonbelieving husband chauffeur blasting Bob Marley playing "We'll be forever loving Jah" while pulling into the KH parking lot sporting a beard long hair wayfarers handlebar moustache and a cowboy hat and getting a backhanded compliment, "nice bass." by some elder, to which I reply "thank you!" then getting a talk by my wife that I totally brush off with a "whatever."