by blondie 22 Replies latest jw friends
This audio clip is from our Circuit Assembly held during the 1990-1991 service year. Brother Joseph Howard, District Overseer, discusses why Jehovah's Witnesses do not wear beards.
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/5299/beards.html
Beards equal what?
What do you think then listen. It is not very long.
Blondie(who doesn't want to grow a beard again)
I couldn't hear the tape, but I can tell you that whatever he said was bullshit. There was and is sufficient scripture ordering men not to "damage the corner of their beards" and other such scriptures telling men that they had to take care of their beards.
The entire beard controversy is just another JW attempt to exert control over people in yet another corner of their lives. It was their unjustifiable meddling around in this very personal and particular corner in my life that led me to my final disgust with the bastards and OUT.
Edited by - francois on 27 November 2002 7:39:20
Sorry it wasn't audible.
You look very nice in your beard, Francois. I never could understand why beards were bad considering Brother Russell had one.
The CO said beards equal independent thinking.
That is whatever the WTS says even if there is no Bible basis, you must do it.
Achtung!
Amazingly, in the early Christian congregations, Jewish Christians wore beards because it was the custom of their community, Gentile Christians did not wear them because it was a custom of theirs. So there was choice. There was no forcing the Jewish Christians to shave or the Gentile Christians to grow a beard. Of course, they had the issue of circumcision. The Jewish Christians were trying to force that issue and it got slapped down (mostly through the efforts of Paul and Barnabas who spent more time with the Gentiles and knew first hand that God accepted these ones).
I don't want this to be a debate on beards but it is ridiculous.
Just a control issue.
Blondie
The Watchtower seems to want a perfect race, with all people looking alike, just like Hitler wanted. No beards, no long hair. They want it clean. But some people would look cleaner with a beard, because they have lousy skin.
My teenage daughter just asked about this the other day, wondering why Witnesses are "not allowed to grow beards" as she put it.
I explained that Witnesses still feel that beards are a symbol of rebelliousness, and that brothers who grow them are generally not used in the congreagtion, though they may be used in some locales. I also mentioned that since the Israelites, Jesus, and first century Christians routinely wore beards, there can be no scriptural argumentation against wearing them.
This is one more example of going beyond the scriptures in setting rules of grooming and conduct. As has been mentioned, it appears to be a control issue - one more means of maintaining control over people.
In the US, a well-kept beard is surely not a sign of rebellion. I don't think it really ever was. I've seen many professional men that look quite good with a nicely trimmed beard.
It has been rumored that there is an elder in our circuit that wears a beard. I have never seen the guy though, so who knows.
Oh, and Francois....nice beard.
Edited by - jack2 on 27 November 2002 9:30:43
hi blondie.
i listen to the horse poo that exibited forth from the mouth of that c.o.
i have always had a problem with this issue. got into MANY heated discussions too.
and i didn't care with who.
the bottom line is its up to another "mans concience", to decide how you should groom.
so......
after i left, in all good concience i grew what was natural.
and....
it looks better now, i got a good two months growth this SECOND time growing it this year
if i do say so myself. <sigh>
Haha...this reminds me of a series of attire protocols that evolved through the 60s and 70s. The ones I remember:
Beards (not)
Mustaches (not)
Sideburns (not)
Sport coats on stage (not)
Colored shirts on stage (not)
Casual shoes on stage (not)
Patterned ties on stage (not)
Unzipped pants on stage (LOL...did that a couple times myself)
Craig
Edited by - onacruse on 27 November 2002 9:48:52
Hi Blondie: I heard the tape just fine - actually two tapes, one pro-beard, and then the District Overseer's anti-beard statement ... typical Watchtower reasoning ... but a newer twist than what was used in the 1970s.
As to "Fashion" ... the DO Howard makes an interesting point in the tapes by asking that if JWs use the logic about Jesus wearing a beard, then using the same logic shouldn't they also wear the same clothing as Jesus did? Or the same type of shoes? ... The DO is a victim of his own failed logic ... for the issue is not about what is fashionable, but about "right and wrong." Of course if Jesus wore a beard and sandals and a dress-like cloak then it is a statement that there is nothing morally wrong with doing so ... but while sandals and cloaks are not fashionable today, beards "are" still fashionable, and JWs should not have any rules on this, especially in light of their own Watchtower magazine a few years ago that told Elders not to judge JWs on their dress or appearance.
Oddly enough, their own leader, Chucky Russell wore a beard. It was Rutherford who loved the clean-cut soldier-like Nazi look who did away with beards and mustaches by his own military-shaven look.
The DO then cites that having a beard in this time of the end is not proper ... he failed to use the better logic of the 1970s ... that is ... when they go door-to-door, JWs do not want to look like Hippies, because JWs want to represent Jehovah with a clean-cut look, like business sales people ... actually the logic of the 1970s makes more sense given their need to spread propaganda and make new converts.
Well ... I have a beard, and have had it for about ten years ... I like it, and it will stay. Mostly, I am glad that I no longer subject myself to the silly Watchtower logic ... forever being twisted to meet the whims of a few old farts in New York ... worshipping their own organization in the name of a God they created.
Edited by - Amazing on 27 November 2002 9:56:35
It was so unfair in our Hall that a certain sister was allowed to have a beard but brothers weren't allowed to grow one.
Most women can't grow beards but some of us have fantastic hairy legs.
Blondie
