by Room 215 12 Replies latest jw friends
Based on what I've read of your experiences and even heartbreak on this forum, it's obvious that you have more than your share of JW hard-liners in your disparate corners of the world.
Please believe me when I say that I intend no criticism whatsoever; but I've often wondered how it is that so many of your compatriots can sell themselves over so utterly to an upstart (125 year-old) apocalyptic AMERICAN religion as we have done here?
Probably for the same reason McDonalds has done so well.
Personally I can't stand the stuff.
Ignored One.
Hi ignored one,
You are hilarious! HAHAHAHAHAHA McDonald's (?)
OMG! You're incredible! I'll be smiling all day.
Speaking personally from the UK.
a) Upstart 125yr old? No problem since we bought entirely the reasoning,using Matt.13 24 -30.that the true religion would only be evident at the end of days.. No point preaching the "Good news" about a kingdom unless it is imminent
b) Apocalyptic ? Yes that's the exciting thing about it.
c) American ? So what? I believe that Europeans are a lot less patriotic than Americans and we never thought anything wrong with it starting over there. We are subject to American culture in films, television etc , we quite like it. As dubs we always viewed ourselves as citizens of the kingdom and felt a rejection of local nationalism, as I still do incidentally
You should see the version of the Watchtower we've got in South Africa. Talk about hardcore. You'll get counselled for just about anything! There is no such thing as a "groovy congregation" here in SA! Just hardliners!
It always did make me wonder, (don't get me wrong - Americans rock, well, non-Assimilated Americans that is ) why should we obey words written on the other side of the planet by people we've never seen or spoken to? Who we weren't allowed to question, ever?
But of course, certain people in the past few months have restored my faith in the American people in general. You know who you are.
Edited to replace stupid "are are" typo with "you are"!!!!!
Edited by - SYN on 16 July 2002 15:20:42
This is a really interesting observation!
The "American-ness" of the religion, I believe, actually puts UK JW's into a slight state of disequilibrium. The language is quite different, but similar enough that we understand it pretty well. It does however, always have the effect that many witnesses here feel as though they are on slightly foreign ground.
I would never have been converted personally, but my Father was converted over the doorstep, because the American style logic appealed to him. He'd been trained to fly as a bomber pilot by USAAF in Alabama before the US entered into the war, back in 1940. The training methods appealed to him, so when he returned to join the RAF, he was pretty well aux-fait with the American way.
Actually the JW reasoning is quite simplistic, and doesn't sit that easy with Europeans, but my Father loved it. It was this sort of reasoning that got him:
"You can't have a creation without a creator."
"When you buy a new car, you get a maintenence manual with it. The Bible is life's maintenence manual. If you follow it the car / your life will run well."
"Obviously Jehovah's organisation is based in the US. It's the biggest country in the World, so that's where Jehovah bases it."
He had dozens of similar sayings, which, whilst they satisfied me as a child, did not reach my heart in the same way that it reached his. So I left!
Englishman.
Hello Englishman,
Your observations are always so insightful. May I enquire how that documentary is coming along
that member "invisible" mentioned some time ago.
Thank you kindly,
YoursChelbie
Hi Chelbie,
Invisible and I are meeting up this weekend and we intend to discuss it, so will keep in the pic when we know more.
Englishman.
Hi Man, how you are?
The JWs, like all mass movements, political parties, and cultic religions appeal to a very definable type of personality. You can find this bent personality type everywhere there are people. That's how come.
Next question?
Francois
As I pioneer, I came across the 'oh that's an American up-start' very often. My response was to deny it. It may have initially started there but, we are in xxx million counties (including rocky outcrops in the middle of the pacific) and we are an international brotherhood without boundaries.
Of course, I now understand, but like E-man, I was brought up in the truth. The scariest aspect is the poor souls who are brought up in it and don't have a chance to see the world through open eyes.
