Jehovah's Witnesses post 'anti-gay' 'Harness Your Habits' leaflet in North Devon

by OrphanCrow 42 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Pete Zahut

  It's one thing for a religion or group of people to have their own beliefs on certain controversial matters but why go from door to door highlighting them? Isn't their goal supposed to be one of simply alerting people to the hope they believe the bible holds out for mankind and their believe that the end is close at hand? Why send unqualified lay persons and children to someones door with literature that offers overly simplistic ideas on how to deal with complex matters such as a persons sexuality? Why not stick to the gospel message rather than highlighting these sensitive topics and save them for when and if someone actually asks them what their beliefs are. Instead, like the clods they are they choose to blanket an entire community with "leaflets" and alienate everyone from the get-go.

  Now that I'm away from this religion, I can see how narcissistic and short sighted it really is.
  
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  OUTLAW

  

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  Vidiot

  DJS - "...Sounds like a lesbian bondage video with nuns."

  Which I'm sure exists, somewhere. :smirk:
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  scratchme1010

  As a gay ex-JW, in my experience, there are two aspects to this. One is the overall hateful stance on gay people, the other is individuals in the congregation who take hating gay people as a personal mission. 100% of the times, every time I met or had to deal with any of those who were personally attacking gay men (and their problem seemed to be mostly with gay men only), they were men who were struggling with their own sexuality.

  Once some elder in my congregation had the wonderful idea of solving "my problem" by having me date and marry a sister who also "had a problem". Apparently each other's sexual orientation were supposed to cancel each other out or something...

  Anyway, in retrospect, hate for gay people has been a constant in many religions, and only recently has there been a change for the better, that is, for those who give a hoot about religion at all.

  That event in Devon is nothing new, and I wouldn't be surprised if the sudden campaign comes about as a result of some closet case in the congregation pushing back against his own being.
  
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  millie210

  I dont think the message is for the public.

  They have a "problem" in the Org (in their own opinion) and this is how they are trying to address it.

  I know several people who are non practicing gay people (is that a socially appropriate term? I am not sure?) In my awareness they are tremendously popular with the "flock" and are cutting edge successful in the old dreaded world career wise also.

  Its a small but growing threat from within I think.
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  konceptual99

  I agree that the message is as much about communicating the party line internally as it is to "help" ones externally. There is zero doubt in my mind that the GB are worried about the general acceptance of all types of sexuality and sexual expression within society affecting the mindset of the membership, especially younger ones.

  They are trying establish the "hate the sin not the sinner" mentality and avoid language that implies it's OK to hate gays. They want to ensure that they are not seen by organisations like the Charities Commission (in the UK) and those responsible for taxation as extremists whilst promoting a supposedly tolerant line for members to take that limits the risk that too many people will start to question the whole matter of sexuality and sexual conduct.

  I don't think they really care how organisations concerned with LGBT rights really see them. They don't want or even expect people to become Witnesses who are gay or otherwise and know they will never win any kind of argument with those who clearly disagree with any form of discrimination based on the Bible.

  All they care about is stopping as many as possible internally from developing a laissez faire attitude to homosexuality and preventing the authorities from using the WTS stance on the matter as a lever to invoke financially painful arrangements.
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  millie210

  Thank you for stating that SO much better than I could Konceptual...that is what I was trying to get at.

  I think that is where the whole hatred for "metro" is coming from and the tight pants and colored sock "issue" etc.
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  Iown Mylife

  The bible says MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS, 1 Thess 4:11

  None of these stupid publications brings THAT scripture up.
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  darkspilver

  The Sunday Mirror 4 September 2016
  

  Labour MP Keith Vaz and the prostitutes at his flat

  Today the Sunday Mirror can reveal Keith Vaz, a married father of two, is leading a double life paying young male escorts for sex.

  He is one of the most influential MPs in the House of Commons and is currently overseeing the biggest shake-up of Britain’s prostitution laws in a generation.

  http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/married-mp-keith-vaz-tells-8763805

  
  

  
  
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  snugglebunny

  So the "leaflet" is actually the Awake magazine. In my pioneering days I would sometimes post freebie mags through doors to up my placement count. Maybe that's what's happened here, who knows.