The influential paper the Telegraph comments on this American invasion of tropical pictured propaganda every where in London. The commentator was not impressed. Now read on......
Being Waylayed, it Feels a bit off says the Telegraph
by Slidin Fast 9 Replies latest jw friends
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FlyingHighNow
Couldn't stomach the entire article, but did read some.
This new approach blew in from America, and is based on communicating how the Bible can help people deal with daily issues, such as stress.
"Stress has become a problem in your life? Just wait until Jehovah has several billion of your fellow humans, and possibly you, rubbed out."
"That sounds pretty stressful."
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rip van winkle
It's interesting how the set-up disturbed the reporter. I wonder, why? The religion in this format is NOT in yer face.
This JW tactic is successful for the very reason the reporter reported; the JW's do NOT approach people. To find out what they are doing YOU must approach them.
People are curious. People ARE curious.
(Edited to add): Just wish the reporter would have provided REASONS why the JW religion is dangerous.
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DesirousOfChange
Frankly, I think most people will think it is better than being awakened too early on Saturday morning. I'm surprised they don't approach people, but I guess that is a strategy to keep from having complaints. Many people will admire their devotion to their religion.
Doc
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NeonMadman
I think that many who lean to the political left are becoming so determined to marginalize religion, and particularly all forms of Christianity, that they manage to be offended by any public display of religion at all. The JWs weren't knocking on this writer's door, nor did they even approach her on the street. She went up and talked with them. Yet she expresses offense that they are in a public place exercising their (supposed) freedom of religion. What will she want next? For all crosses and other religious symbols to be removed from churches so she doesn't have to be offended by seeing them as she goes by? Are her beliefs so fragile that she can't even handle the concept that some people believe differently than she does?
Freedom of religion means the freedom to express and live out one's beliefs publicly, not huddled in one's home or place of worship hiding from the rest of the world. The worst anti-Christian and anti-religious dictatorships in the world have never been able to prevent people from practicing their religion where nobody knew about it. And if one's religion includes the requirement to evangelize, Western democracies have pretty much always honored that right. Unfortunately, we now have some institutions trying to replace freedom of religion with so-called "freedom of worship." And the definition of the latter seems to be, "practice whatever religion you want as long as you do it privately and nobody knows about it." Stalin himself couldn't have said it any better.
I'm no fan of JWs, having lost 30 years of my life to them. But in this instance, they did nothing wrong. They simply practiced their faith as they saw fit, which is what they are supposed to be able to do.
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Slidin Fast
NeonMadman of course you are right, the JWs are excercising their freedoms absolutely precious in our country. The freedom to think and say what you think is fundamental in a free society. Men have paid for that freedom with their lives.
Perhaps this columnist expressed her disquiet because she sensed the ugly barbed hook behind the bait that means that tose who take that tasty morsel and swallow it will have to give up those hard won freedoms, that pecious and priceles ability to express what you think without fear or favour.
I don't think she was objecting to the expresion of their faith, she was expressing a feeling of as I said ealier, disquiet.
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cofty
Maybe it's a cultural thing. I agree with every word of what the journalist actually said.
It doesn't matter that they don't approach you on the street. The fact that they are now proselytising in public everywhere just isn't British.
Most Brits prefer others to keep their religion to themselves.
British people do not, as a rule, like the hard sell – whether it’s salesmen cold-calling us to flog some product we haven’t asked for, or Jehovah’s Witnesses waylaying us to spread the Good News. To take something as fundamentally personal as faith and shove it into the public realm just feels off.
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BobFlanagan007
@NeonMadman - I would take your opinion more seriously if you weren't referring to an editorial in the Daily Telegraph, a famously and historically right leaning British newspaper. But I guess your just another Christian expressing the imaginary persecution complex that seems to he endemic in your religion.
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Slidin Fast
Cofty, dead right. I think Voltaire (or his translator) had it "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it". It is all about freedom of speech.
The irony is that the law and the freedoms enshrined in it defend the right to strangle people's freedom of speech and thought.
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DATA-DOG
This story shows why it is so important to educate the public about JWism in a "matter of fact way." When the INFORMED PUBLIC, ( can that be friggin stressed enough?!?! ) sees the JWs exercising their rights, the INFORMED PUBLIC can frigging ignore them!!!
As far as I am concerned, if you are not willing to actively fight against the cult of YHWH, then you are enabling them. For the love of humanity, do SOMETHING, ANYTHING!!! So they cry persecution on their way to obscurity?? Who the hell cares?? Get off you ass and do something or stop complaining. Make up some JWfacts.com cards and hand them out. Give them to ANYONE you see, especially if you see them get something from a JW LITTERATRASH cart!! Just do SOMETHING! The tide will turn if we all do SOMETHING! You have to believe that!
DD