Being hard-line about one or two issues while ignoring others helps jws who deviate from the strict practice of the religion rationalize their own actions. My guess is that's what is happening in this situation.
worldy girl living with inactive JW, confronts his father about religion
by Mulan 17 Replies latest jw friends
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jschwehm
Hi Mulan:
I think I might have a reason for why the sexual sins are tolerated and the others are not.
For a JW to celebrate Christmas is to reject the authority of the JWs and their elders. One could say about sexual sin that they just are having a hard time fighting against those desires of the flesh which are so powerful. But, to say that the JWs are wrong on some point of doctrine is to reject them as God's official spokesperson.
A few years ago, when I was leaving the JWs my JW father made some interesting comments to me. He told me that he knew that I did not do the things that my younger brothers did. (Such has have sex outside of marriage, experiment with drugs, etc.) But then he said that I was worse off than my brothers because I reject the JWs as having "the truth". He said my brothers, even though they commit these immoral acts, at least still believe that the JWs have "the truth". (At least that is what he thinks, in reality they do not believe this but they will not ever tell him that to his face like I did.)
In any case, the worst sin a JW can commit in the eyes of another JW is not fornication, or stealing, or even murder. The worst sin a JW can commit in the eyes of another JW is to reject the teachings of the Watchtower Society. So, by celebrating Christmas, which is considered a religious act by the JWs, his son would be guilty of a sin worse than fornication. It is the sin of apostasy in his eyes.
Jeff S.
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RunningMan
I think you hit it right on the head, Jeff.
The only sin that is unforgiveable to a JW is to sin against the holy publishing corporation. All else is just human nature.
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asleif_dufansdottir
Mulan - It's great that she could see the humor in the situation!
Runningman...where did you get your Charlie Brown pic?...(I love Peanuts) I can't make it out completely - is it on the web somewhere?
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RunningMan
It was posted on this site a while back. It is a picture of Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Linus running and getting struck by lightening, with the caption, "It's Armageddon, Charlie Brown!". I'm not sure where it resides, now, but I could email you a copy.
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Mulan
In any case, the worst sin a JW can commit in the eyes of another JW is not fornication, or stealing, or even murder. The worst sin a JW can commit in the eyes of another JW is to reject the teachings of the Watchtower Society. So, by celebrating Christmas, which is considered a religious act by the JWs, his son would be guilty of a sin worse than fornication. It is the sin of apostasy in his eyes.
Right you are. Don't ever question their authority.
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Stephanus
For that matter if ,she and 2 kids all want a tree, they should vote. That is 3 for a tree and celebrations, and 1 against. Majority rules....oh wait, witnesses don't vote, either.
Besides, there'd be no voting on family issues, because the husband is the head of the family. Oh, wait, he's not her husband...
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Carmel
Oh, Princess! Had I known you were having a Christmas party I wouldn't have scheduled one at my house.. Darn!
carmel