Those are NOT all true. Some are regional unwritten rules as well.
47. Chess? I've never met a single JW with an adversion to playing chess, despite some very old WT quotes saying questionable things about it.
66. Windows in KHs? Not a rule, but all the new plans done by the WT do not have windows, more than likely for cost and vandalization reasons.
23. As a JW, I bought plenty of Girl Scout cookies.
34. Serving on a Jury is a conscience matter.
49. That is NOT a rule of JWs. My family reported a JW child molester to the police. Unfortunately it may sometimes be the case, but it is not a rule.
57. Not true. Sexual positions do NOT need to be officially approved. They have flip floped several times on oral sex being OK, but currently it is a conscience matter not to be inquired of.
59 and 63. I've never heard anyone say or do this.
71. I like how they word it as if women are slaves to elders, not true.
72. Debatable, paying taxes supports the country.
91 and 98 are also wrong and stupid.
I like how the number 1 "strange belief" is that God is not a Trinity. Yeah, that's as equally strange as believing that God IS a Trinity. These people are just as whack as JW's.
Help is this true??????
by finger 22 Replies latest jw friends
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amac
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willyloman
Thanks to onacruse for providing the "answer sheet." Must be a former TMSO.
One observation: I think No. 37, "Cannot accept a Xmas gift," is incorrect. I was asked that once and did the research and believe the answer was something to effect that while we don't exchange such gifts, nor encourage them to be given to us, that in some circumstances it would be alright to accept a gift rather than make an issue of it (at the same time explaining why our Christian conscience wouldn't allow us to give them one in return). I'm sorry I cannot provide a citation in support.
I know this is a common loophole and many brothers and sisters DO accept Xmas gifts from relatives or employers. The attitude appears to be, it's okay as long as you aren't happy about it.
One year, a sister complained in the car group that at her place of employment her boss brought in a box of frozen turkeys to be distributed among the employees as a Xmas gift. The sister was irate because the office manager wouldn't give her a turkey, insisting that "since you don't celebrate Christmas, you shouldn't accept this." Of course, this was payback for all the annoying witnessing she'd been doing in the office about the holidays. In the end, the sister made a lot of noise about it and got the bird.
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Zoewrex
33. You cannot vote in any political campaign--incorrect (latest "new light")
Really?! I wasn't aware of this one and will check out the site for more threads...........
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onacruse
LOL w/ willy
Must be a former TMSO.
As a matter of fact, I was never an elder.
But 40 years "in" does earn some frequent flier miles.
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finger
the fella that wrote that page also wrote this sad story: http://www.exmormon.org/exjw4.htm
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onacruse
Zoe, here ya go:
*** w99 11/1 pp. 28-29 Questions From Readers ***
How do Jehovah?s Witnesses view voting?
There are clear principles set out in the Bible that enable servants of God to take a proper view of this matter. However, there appears to be no principle against the practice of voting itself. For example, there is no reason why a board of directors should not take a vote in order to arrive at decisions affecting their corporation. Congregations of Jehovah?s Witnesses often make decisions about meeting times and the use of congregation funds by voting with a show of hands.
What, though, of voting in political elections? Of course, in some democratic lands, as many as 50 percent of the population do not turn out to vote on election day. As for Jehovah?s Witnesses, they do not interfere with the right of others to vote; neither do they in any way campaign against political elections. They respect and cooperate with the authorities who are duly elected in such elections. (Romans 13:1-7) As to whether they will personally vote for someone running in an election, each one of Jehovah?s Witnesses makes a decision based on his Bible-trained conscience and an understanding of his responsibility to God and to the State. (Matthew 22:21; 1 Peter 3:16) In making this personal decision, the Witnesses consider a number of factors.
First, Jesus Christ said of his followers: "They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world." (John 17:14) Jehovah?s Witnesses take this principle seriously. Being "no part of the world," they are neutral in the political affairs of the world.?John 18:36.
Second, the apostle Paul referred to himself as an "ambassador" representing Christ to the people of his day. (Ephesians 6:20; 2 Corinthians 5:20) Jehovah?s Witnesses believe that Christ Jesus is now the enthroned King of God?s heavenly Kingdom, and they, like ambassadors, must announce this to the nations. (Matthew 24:14; Revelation 11:15) Ambassadors are expected to be neutral and not to interfere in the internal affairs of the countries to which they are sent. As representatives of God?s heavenly Kingdom, Jehovah?s Witnesses feel a similar obligation not to interfere in the politics of the countries where they reside.
A third factor to consider is that those who have a part in voting a person into office may become responsible for what he does. (Compare 1 Timothy 5:22, The New English Bible.) Christians have to consider carefully whether they want to shoulder that responsibility.
Fourth, Jehovah?s Witnesses greatly value their Christian unity. (Colossians 3:14) When religions get involved in politics, the result is often division among their members. In imitation of Jesus Christ, Jehovah?s Witnesses avoid becoming involved in politics and thus maintain their Christian unity.?Matthew 12:25; John 6:15; 18:36, 37.
Fifth and finally, their keeping out of politics gives Jehovah?s Witnesses freeness of speech to approach people of all political persuasions with the important message of the Kingdom.?Hebrews 10:35.
In view of the Scriptural principles outlined above, in many lands Jehovah?s Witnesses make a personal decision not to vote in political elections, and their freedom to make that decision is supported by the law of the land. What, though, if the law requires citizens to vote? In such a case, each Witness is responsible to make a conscientious, Bible-based decision about how to handle the situation. If someone decides to go to the polling booth, that is his decision. What he does in the polling booth is between him and his Creator.
The November 15, 1950, issue of The Watchtower, on pages 445 and 446, said: "Where Caesar makes it compulsory for citizens to vote . . . [Witnesses] can go to the polls and enter the voting booths. It is here that they are called upon to mark the ballot or write in what they stand for. The voters do what they will with their ballots. So here in the presence of God is where his witnesses must act in harmony with his commandments and in accordance with their faith. It is not our responsibility to instruct them what to do with the ballot."
What if a Christian woman?s unbelieving husband insists that she present herself to vote? Well, she is subject to her husband, just as Christians are subject to the superior authorities. (Ephesians 5:22; 1 Peter 2:13-17) If she obeys her husband and goes to the polling booth, that is her personal decision. No one should criticize her.?Compare Romans 14:4.
What of a country where voting is not mandated by law but feelings run high against those who do not go to the voting booth?perhaps they are exposed to physical danger? Or what if individuals, while not legally obliged to vote, are severely penalized in some way if they do not go to the polling booth? In these and similar situations, a Christian has to make his own decision. "Each one will carry his own load."?Galatians 6:5.
There may be people who are stumbled when they observe that during an election in their country, some Witnesses of Jehovah go to the polling booth and others do not. They may say, ?Jehovah?s Witnesses are not consistent.? People should recognize, though, that in matters of individual conscience such as this, each Christian has to make his own decision before Jehovah God.?Romans 14:12.
Whatever personal decisions Jehovah?s Witnesses make in the face of different situations, they take care to preserve their Christian neutrality and freeness of speech. In all things, they rely on Jehovah God to strengthen them, give them wisdom, and help them avoid compromising their faith in any way. Thus they show confidence in the words of the psalmist: "You are my crag and my stronghold; and for the sake of your name you will lead me and conduct me."?Psalm 31:3.
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TD
Base on my research:
20. You cannot be a police officer
The "cannot" needs to be replaced with "should not." A Witness, may not serve in any capacity whatsoever in the congregation if his occupation involves use of a firearm. However holding such an occupatoin won?t result in expulsion.
26. You cannot marry a non-Jehovah's Witness
The "cannot" needs to be replaced with "should not." Frowned upon, but doesn?t result in expulsion.
47. You cannot play chess*
Not really even a "should not" An article on the game's orgins once cast it in a negative light.
54. Women cannot pray in the presence of men without a hat
Almost true. A Witness female may not offer a prayer in behalf of others without covering her head.
57. Only officially approved sexual practices are allowed in marriage
Technically true although they seem to have moved to a "don't ask - don't tell" policy. More specifically, anal intercourse and fellatio are forbidden.
61. You cannot use pet foods made with blood or blood products
Technically true but an "archaic" rule by Witness standards. Few Witnesses give this a second thought today.
66. Jehovah's Witness meeting places have no windows
True, when the Witnesses themselves have built the place. Not a requirement per se because Witnesses also meet in rented and purchased buildings and private homes.
67. If you see another Jehovah's Witness breaking the rules you must turn them in to the elders to be interrogated
Most true.
71. Women must submit to Watchtower elders
Not sure what this means. All Witnesses must submit to Watchtower elders.
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Phantom Stranger
So the "new light" on voting keeps them out of trouble in some countries somewhere, eh?
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flower
I agree ...a lot of these are not true the way they are stated. some are things that may have been encouraged or discouraged in certain areas but they are not hard fast rules and not subject to punishment.
some of them are exagerrations like the chess one. i came from a very strict jw home but we played chess and i've never heard anything negative about it. games like dungeons and dragons were discouraged but we played a card game called WAR all the time and it was not a problem.
this list is a good compilation of what its like to be a jw but its slightly overdone.
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