In 1965 in North Hollywood I was 11 years old and my mom had recently become a JW. Never having been involved in a religion before, I was really getting into it. Besides, it was pretty cool learning that I would never die! I had a pretty large collection of Superman and Batman comic books and, even though I was just 11, they managed to subliminally implant their thoughts into my head about how bad comic books were, especially Superman and Batman.
So, I gave away my comic books to a classmate, a jewish kid named Steven. Steven, being jewish, wasn't going to be in the New World anyway.
One of the things that made the biggest impression on this little 11 year olds brain was the fact that there was never a collection taken at the meetings, JW's were never about money, "You receive free, you give free!". This, above all else, really impressed me!
I don't know how I overlooked this all this time, but a few weeks after giving my comics away, I was in the back of the Hall one night when I saw a box that plainly stated on it, "DONATIONS". You could have knocked me down with a pamphlet!!!! I told my mom and she explained to me that they had to take donations in order to run the organization, but they would never pass a collection plate.
Yeah, I had to accept her explanation, but my attitude toward the Organization would never be the same after that, (at least for a few years)!
I went back to my friend, Steven, and asked him if he still had the comic books that I gave him.
"Yup! Sure do, and I'm keepin' 'em too!"
Yeah, I figured as much.
Fast forward a few years. I'm now 18 years old and living in Dallas TX. I spent some time in the "World" which caused me to rethink my thoughts on religion. Yada, yada, yada, I'm back in the Org and I'm feeling guilty about my large Rock n Roll record collection!
"Hey Brothers! Who wants to go help me dispose of all this vinyl?????"
Man, I had some really collectible Beatles, Stones, WHO records!
Rest assured, I am not throwing anything away for these ^%$^%'s anymore!!!
