Name "Conscience Matters" That You Can Get In Trouble Over

by minimus 29 Replies latest jw friends

  • undercover
    undercover

    Some of these have been mentioned but from my first hand experience:

    1. Grooming - hair length, mustache length, no beards
    2. Grooming - clothes; elders dictated the kind of overcoats to be worn in service; they dictated what kind of suits could be worn on stage at hall and assemblies; bright, colorful ties were frowned on and sometimes outlawed.
    3. Movies - R-rated out for pioneers and MSs; even some PG-13 were taboo; MSs were called in on the carpet for owning R-rated movies and removed as MSs if they didn't comply with the "counsel" to get rid of them.
    4. Music - During the late 70s, early 80s we were forced to purge our collections of anything considered "debased". Artists included The Beatles; James Taylor; Elton John not to mention heavier rock bands and disco of the era.
    5. Concerts - Rock concerts specifically; those that went had to keep it on the down low; those that bragged about going got "counsel" from the elders about "bad associations"
    6. Motorcycles - both street and track; dangerous risk taking; interesting side note: dirt bikes seemed okay cause some elders kids had dirt bikes.
    7. Cars - as in racing; all motor sports were frowned on and if you pursued recreational (but legal) motorsports then privileges were limited or removed.
    8. Playing in a band; as in four or five adult brothers started a classic rock cover band and played in small venues around town. Some over-zealous JWs complained, the elders investigated, the circuit overseer pulled the plug on them. They were forced to disband.
    9. Continuing education; anyone who thought of going to college got "counsel" from the elders; local tech school was okay, but out-of-town colleges/universities were cautioned against.
    10. Games; we used to get together and play board games and parlor games; some self-righteous sisters complained about some of the games and I got counseled on "worldly entertainment" and was asked to not pursue those pleasures as I was an MS and was to set the example for the other friends.

  • kwintestal
    kwintestal

    Many (too many to list) bedroom activities.

    Kwin

  • Doubtfully Yours
    Doubtfully Yours

    Minimus,

    I've never heard anyone from the platform or read any recent publication from the WTBTS saying that JWs can now vote.

    Believe me, if voting would be a matter of conscience, I'd be the first one to line up for it.

    DY

  • eyeslice
    eyeslice

    Although it keeps coming up, in all my years as an elder, "bedroom activities" never came up as an issue to deal with. Keep things quiet and the elders will probably not even have the nerve to investigate. My wife an I have always had an 'interesting' sex life.

    Eyeslice

  • undercover
    undercover
    I've never heard anyone from the platform or read any recent publication from the WTBTS saying that JWs can now vote.

    Hey Doubtfully Yours,

    See the following thread and the WT article that's quoted regarding voting. Though it doesn't come right out and say "you can vote" it does word it in such a way so as to not take responsibility in telling you that you can't vote. To me it reads as that it's a conscience matter even though it says "true christians" don't get involved in politics or voting.

    If they aren't willing to take responsibility for telling people they can't vote then I don't think they should be able to take action against someone who does vote.

    http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/12/86075/1.ashx

  • rebel8
    rebel8
    I've never heard anyone from the platform or read any recent publication from the WTBTS saying that JWs can now vote.

    Well, DY, get in line! (Oops! Was simultaneously posting it with the last poster.)

    "There appears to be no principle against voting itself....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..." --w11/1/1999, pg. 28 (http://www.jwfiles.com/vote.htm)
  • in a new york bethel minute
    in a new york bethel minute

    is apostasy considered a conscience matter now? have their been any new developments on this matter yet? im just waiting to come out of this closet... it's so dark in here. i need new light!!!

    bethel

  • upside/down
    upside/down

    I remember "voting" at the Kingdumb hall about all kinds of things. To pay the CO's outrageous weekly expense, to give to the Society, to buy this or that for the hall Etc....

    What I found funny was (as the accounts servant) when our PO (a broke window washer) would put before the congo the paying of some "expnese" when we couldn't even pay our utility bill. The congo would unanimously ALWAYS approve the expenditure. One time I raised my hand before the "vote" and asked if we actually had the funds on hand to pay if this was approved. I recieved "counsel" after the meeting for asking such a question (we DIDNT have the funds). I was told J would provide if the congo approved. Well guess what? The check BOUNCED and I had to go to the bank and explain and COVER the expense.

    So much for waiting on J and following the "arrangement".

    Never Again!

    u/d

  • TresHappy
    TresHappy

    Jury Duty

  • minimus
    minimus

    buying food from a church bazaar.

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