Why do I never see a bearded Jehovahs Witness (man I mean!!!)?

sting

I heard recently that JW men are not allowed to have beards - is this correct and what about CT Russell?

stillajwexelder

Because they do not want to imitate Jesus - they prefer to be like women

what_Truth?

Because beards are reserved for beatniks, bikers, and hippies

TheListener

Because when food gets stuck in beards it begins to smell bad. Bad smells have been proven to contribute to low meeting attendance.

I think the real truth is that Rutherford hated beards and keeping JWs clean shaved further removed them from the influence of the movement's original founder Russel. Rutherford wanted the Society to be all his after kicking out any old Russelites, discouraging beards among his followers gave him visible reinforcement that his opinions carried all the weight. Fred Franz was one of Rutherford closest aids and helped him push the "old light" JW concept that Jesus was clean shaven as well. If you have access you should see the older publications right up to the early 1960's where Jesus is clean shaven in the Society's illustrations. This shows how little the leadership knew their own Bibles since it says that the Romans pulled Jesus's beard prior to his execution, not to mention that Jesus was a Jew forbidden to shave his beard by Law. The fact that Jesus later recieved a beard in the Society's more recent illusrations is yet another example of a Watchtower flip flop because the leadership's opinions are more important than reality.

iiz2cool

Because when food gets stuck in beards it begins to smell bad.

On the other hand, this stored food provides the person with something to nibble on during meetings, helping them to stay awake.

Walter

undercover

The previous answers may seem flip but they do prove a point...there is no real good reason why JWs can't have beards. There is nothing written in the publications outright forbidding it but it is a verbal rule handed down from on high.

The rule basically states, with variations depending on how conservative your congregation is, that if a 'brother' grows a beard he cannot be used for 'privileges' which includes running the sound system, using the roving mikes, parts on the platform, etc. They definitaly cannot serve as ministerial servants or elders. They can go in service, in fact they are expected to, but the wearing of a beard would signify that the one doing so is spiritually weak.

There is no biblical reason for the rule. It has been suggested that it started way back in J F Rutherford's day and that he banned beards because he was trying to erase any allegiance to C T Russell, the founder of the WTS, that may still have existed after Russel died and Rutherford did a hostile takeover of the WTS. I don't know if that's true or not but it makes about as much sense as any other reason that can be given.

It all boils down to control and making sure the 'sheep' follow rules and obey without questioning anything.

FairMind

It all boils down to control and making sure the 'sheep' follow rules and obey without questioning anything.

Ain't that the truth! I remember telling a PO that the WTS was all about absolute obedience to authority and not about what is right or wrong.

Doubtfully Yours

Beards are not allowed, unless the person can show medically that he has a skin condition that he cannot be clean shaven.

In my whole JW life, I've only seen one of those such cases, and this guy had to keep his beard very trimmed and in good appearance. He used to get a lot of harassment for it from other JWs that didn't know his medical skin condition.

DY