by smokin 17 Replies latest jw friends
I am an non-active JW for abaout a year, and during my inactivity i had grown a goatee (a beard at first). My family were no to happy about it,but made no big stink. One of my closest friends insists it is very bad. But cannot clarify why? I never read any info saying it is a Sin?
Can anyone help me understand his point of view?
thanks
Beards are not a sin and will NOT get you disfellowshipped. But unless for very good medical or phsycological reasons (scars on face etc) you will not be appointed an MS/Reg Pioneer with a beard and certainly not an elder or CO. The reason -- well it is something to do with the fact that hippies in the 50s 60s etc and the flower power era had beards - because of course you all know that Mr Charles Taze Russel had a beard. Not seen it written down either but is in a BOE letter somewhere
They have no official policy. They will pull any "privileges" you have.
I was a MS and got fed up with the lack of love and the BS at my Hall. I left for one month, 30 days. No one came looking for me. I came back with a beard. Not one of those chichen-sh*t men said a word to my hairy face! I kept the beard for six weeks. I was not allowed to read at book study or the WatchTower even though I was on the list and was scheduled to do so. I had Service Meeting parts and a Bible Highlights. My name was crossed off and another MS's name was penciled over it. When I shaved the beard off, the Elder in my book study asked me to read. My reply, "I'm the same man I was last week. If I couldn't read last week, I'll not read now!" The coward said OK and asked someone else. He never said a word to me about it after the meeting. I knew they were full of crap then and started to fade. Mav
Where are my manners! Welcome! Nice of you to join us!
Welcome Smokin to the forum. The only real reason for not allowing beards is control everything is control .
News flash from Garybuss . . . beards are in . . . Watchtower is out . . .
First of all, Welcome to the board Smokin.....
I donot believe there was ever a written rule about beards....
Just one of their crazy rules they made up if they needed to complain about something or it did not sit well with them....
What ever suits them at the time I suppose.....Maybe someone else knows if there is written details in reguards to a beard?? never had the problem myself
It's probably somewhat different according to countries and places. I can still remember a number of French elders or pioneers who had a beard in the 70's and 80's. No CO's or Bethelites though.
One year when I was in Bethel, I spent my vacations on a tour to Norway with a group of Bethelite friends. None of the boys shaved during this time, and we all came back to Bethel with a 2-weeks beard... No official reproof, but a lot of staring and bitter-sweet allusions until the last one of us finally shaved, much to the relief of everybody else...
When I had a beard, I was taken aside by the PO and another Elder and told that it was a sign of rebellion......... I promptly gave the PO permission to shave it off but he refused !
I used to have a beard while going to meeting and got pulled aside and talked to but let the beard stay.
Beards according to many brothers is a sign of rebellion and they are half right because it is a sign of rebellions against the WT's prohibition,, and it is definately the start of "independant thinking" that the WT hates so much.
I reall beleive that Rutherford is responsible for the JWs being beardless,,secretly I think Rutherford had a strong dislike for Russell and when he became the WT dictator he had brothers shave their beards, and called it creature worship(Russell worship) if someone had a beard the only one he couldn't get to shave his beard was Van Amberg because he had too much clout.
What is the Official stance of the WT about beards?
To be worn only during a drama @ the DC
