by quellycatface 11 Replies latest jw friends
I have never understood why the JW's did'nt have a Sunday School or some kind of educational thing going for children. It seems pretty selfish and antiquated.
I remember growing up, I was terrified of "Satan" and "the demons". Not forgetting the "Jehovah is watching you" crapola.
I think it's wrong letting young kids listen to fairly adult themed talks, items etc....It's got to affect them mentally.
Any thoughts?
Considering the Society's refusal to run crb checks or do anything resembling protection of children I actually find it a great relief that they don't provide any kind of youth ministry.
We were talking about this once and an elder said that there is no provision for this because in ancient Israel all of god's people met together at the festivals and assemblies. Additionally there is no mention of first century christians doing this therefore, we follow those patterns today.
And yes I agree its antiquated and stupid.
Oh, there's such great child-oriented materials out there in Christendom's Churches. A few coloring books won't help the WTS catch up.
Laika, I noticed that in my search for a new church, all had information on child protection.the advice on some church webpages was if you suspected or needed to report child abuse was to call 999. The jw's are bringing reproach on their own god.stoopid.
I have to agree, this reminds me of a WT article about five years ago that discussed oral/anal sex being porneia, etc,etc. Can you imagine the questions from little Johnny on the way home from that meeting? Awkward!
I chatted with a bro last night about this and he said how happy he was that the kids dont have sunday school. He said when he grew up in the church he took sunday school classes and rarely learned Bible principles....he says Witnesses prepare their mids to pay attention and learn patience....
lol
At one of the meetings in the late 1970s, an announcement was read from the platform that "some brothers" had written to headquarters suggesting a Sunday-school-like arrangement be set up in congregations for children - to be run in conjunction with the Sunday meetings.
The suggestion had been patronizingly and firmly declined with the usual rot about not running ahead of Jehovah and our needing to follow the example of the Israelites (yikes - what an example of religious ignorance).
We were told that some of those brothers who had wanted this kind of Sunday school arrangement subsequently "left the truth". This was before the Ray Franz episode in 1980. There were the usual snide comments questioning the brothers motivation for taking it as far as writing to the Society (as the organization was then called). Oh, what pride may lurk in the hearts of brothers who seek special meetings for children when the kids are already well provided for, etc. You get the drift?
Does anyone else remember hearing such an announcement. We New Zealand Witnesses talked in hushed tones among ourselves after the meeting wondering who on earth these brothers were. I got the impression that this happened in the States - but I've nothing than a hunch to base that on.
Any enlightenment on this?
My mother always used the sickening brainwashed response for why Dubs don't have a Sunday School, "the other churches always separate the children from the parents when learning the Bible, but the JWs and their children learn together at the meetings" . . . that's so pukeorthy, but I have to say, I wasn't sitting next to her but one of my friends on that Sunday afternoon in the 1970's when the Watchtower meeting went into a full-on explanation of oral sex, I was just eleven or so at thet ime, so I have to say my first time of learning about oral was at the meeting, how fitting is that for a house of worship?
I think they did have a class for teens and children around the 1940s or sometime back then. Maybe someone knows more about this. I could be wrong. Since then, they stick to the "one size fits all" idea. I remember hearing brothers from the platform saying that we have the necessary "spiritual food" at the meetings for all ages. They discourage parents from having their little kids nap, have toys or color during the meetings. They pretty much expect them to sit down quietly and listen the whole time and then go on to critizise other Christian religions for providing child care services and seperate schools.
It would be nice to provide something for children. All I remember about meetings as a child was daydreaming and not paying attention the majority of times. And maybe occasionally given the task or writing down bible texts and tally the number of times the name Jehovah and Jesus came up at the meetings.
