Is reading literature a no-no?

by Frazzled UBM 9 Replies latest jw experiences

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  Frazzled UBM

  My wife doesn't read literature. I think it is such a shame because reading is one of the joys of life so I have been encouraging her but am meeting resistance. Is there a general prohibition on reading 'wordly' books?

  I pointed out to her that authoritarian regimes are threatened by books and knowledge which why teh Nazis burned books and the Khmer Rouge interned anyone wearing glasses. She didn't lioke me telling her this so I figured I was on to something. Any suggestions about how to gently persuade her to start reading?
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  prologos

  what are her interests? go to the public library and keep books on her topics around EVERYwhere she rests, looks, even if only temporarily.
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  Londo111

  Likely, she doesn't have time to read anything but cult publications. There's so much of it that she's burnt out of reading.
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  braincleaned

  My JW ex-wife is wonderful. But I am convinced that the reason she is still in is because she does NOT read the JW magazines.
  I'm always updated on all the WTS material. Not so ironic because I keep informed about what my kids are learning. So I read, AND STUDY all of it.
  There are many like this who are not curious. It's intellectual laziness... and the WTS builds on that.
  Most of those who actually love and do their "personal study" like me — end up like me — questioning and reasoning.
  The Borg counts on those too lazy to fact check it's mine-quoting rubbish.
  
  Of course, as an avid reader, I don't just focus on the society's stuff...
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  sir82

  A common guilt-trip among JWs (one that has been directed at me countless times) is this: "if you love to read so much, and you've got so much spare time that you can read 'worldly' novels. why aren't you reading the Bible more? Why aren't you reading the Society's publications more? Have you finished the Yearbook yet? Yargle bargle blah blah..."
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  braincleaned

  LOL! Yes sir82! Right on — I got that all the time. I remember as a kid being mocked at for reading Lord of the Rings! How could I waste my time like that! LOL!
  
  I did stump them though, because I did read my Bible recularely, and read the magazines as soon as I got them.
  I practice speed-reading... except for a good book. Then a savor it slowly!
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  jgnat

  11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd. [b] 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. - Ecclesiastes 12:11-12 NIV

  Hubby's quoted this. Kind of ironic, considering he kowtows to a publishing corporation.

  I read several books a week. He struggles to finish his assigned reading.

  If a Witness were to study the materials as prescribed, they go through each article four times*, not counting the monthly written review. This isn't study; this is rote memorization. To give him a break, I sometimes mark his articles for him. I figure I am messing up his indoctrination; less drilling of the drivel in to his head. It also keeps his cultist calm, not seeing me as a threat.

  1. Read the paragraph.
  2. Read the question, and scan the paragraph to highlight.
  3. Read the review questions, and scan the paragraphs to identify.
  4. Listen to the paragraph read in the meeting, and offer a comment.

  Also to give him relief, I will read him excerpts from whatever I am reading.

  She arched against him reaching for him. "I want to touch you." He moved
  slightly to grant her access, and her hands slipped around him, adoring him with
  her touch. - http://home.epix.net/~jlferri/romexc.html
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  blondie

  The WTS tells jws to analyze movies, music, books, magazines, games, etc., as to their interpretation of what could make them bad. jws aren't told not to go to any movies for example and jws do go to them. Perhaps reading was not something important to her or her family. I found many jws did not enjoy any reading. I can see why the WTS has made the study articles easier and easier, shorter, but even some find that too much. They would rather plunk down in front of the tv, computer, movie.
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  L3G

  Right on, blondie! My experience too. Literate JWs are pretty rare.
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  Bugbear

  The GB has "blocked" the mind from all theirs supporters, not to read anything else then publications from the watchtowers. This is brainwashing, and a number of totaliaran regimes use this to keep their inhabitants in their mind-prison. Remember the communist, the Cambodians the chinese and the talibans?