If God doesn't want brothers to have beards, why does it grow? (page 3)

JAVA

Beards are a mystery--that's why we don't understand why God made men (and some women) with beards, and why the Watchtower demands they come off.

Everybody knows beards stumble weak ones; about 6,000,000 JWs. They are ugly, and you can't trust men with beards!

Now lets move to another topic, such as "how long should men's sideburns be?"

iiz2cool

Only problem was, they didn't ban mustaches, so all the guys in my cong grew big bushy ones, to compensate for being denied beard privileges. They all ended up looking like 70's porn stars in bad polyester suits.

I was constantly hassled by elders for having a moustache. Now I finally know why - I must have looked like a porn star.

Walter

El blanko

I started to grow a beard and turned up at the meeting (this was while I was drifting away) and one elder approached me and based upon my facial hair, he asked if everything was alright.

They are obsessed with facial hair.

I was told that we had to trick the householder to view the information by using an aesthetic they could relate to.

The problem is, that approach turns the JWs into an organization that appears to be made up of drones. Most people understandably are afraid to be absorbed into what appears to be a rigid hive structure.

It is daft and well groomed beards should be allowed.

Rules made by petty men my friends!

iiz2cool

This is what was shown to me when I got into a discussion with elders about beards:

*** w75 8/15 pp. 500-501 Do Not Let Yourself Be Ensnared by Fads and Entertainment ***
9 Extreme hair styles can easily lead one into a trap of the Devil also, and cause others to stumble. For example, a young man in the United States was making fine progress in his study of the Bible, and he was moved to share with an experienced Witness in preaching to others about the good things he was learning from the Bible. From early youth he had let his beard grow, and since some in the business community wore beards, he felt that his wearing one in preaching to others would be acceptable generally. But in speaking to a lady he was unable to do more than introduce himself, when she said: ?I?m sorry, young man, I do not want to become involved in student revolt.? No amount of explanation after this sufficed to clear up the misimpression. After the conversation ended with the closing of the door, he asked the experienced Witness what had happened. He was invited to consider his appearance in relation to what he claimed to be, a servant of God. Not wanting to be responsible for even one person?s being stumbled so as to miss the way to everlasting life, this new Kingdom publisher shaved off his beard. Would you be willing to do the same or to make similar adjustments if your appearance gave the wrong impression in a certain community?

Walter

Terry

As a Baby BOOMER (actually, I've never "boomed" personally) I can recall the origins of this distinctive Watchtower Weirdity.

The end of the 60's (that's 1960's; not 1860's) saw young people everywhere breaking off dependance on the older generation by "rebellion" that manifested itself in shocking Rock n' Roll (ala Beatles), marijuana smoking, and long hair and beards.

The JW teens longed for some self-expression too. But, alas! The only outlet available to me as a teen in the Kingdom Hall was becoming a full-time pioneer. Ugh.

Anyway...

The growing of long hair and beards identified itself so strongly with this Youth Movement, Peaceniks, Hippies, anarchists, war-protest, etc. that strong measures had to be taken to prevent JW teens from looking like their peergroup of worldy yoots.

Was this necessary?

Kind of.

My peers were really taken with the Beatles and Stones. The local kids all had some garage band or group they formed. The couldn't grow their hair, so, they bought beatle wigs! Yes, I kid you not.

My best friend, Johnny, who is still an active JW, called his group "Act of Kindness" as a sop to the gentle nature of their inner being. Ha ha ha. One of the group, the drummer, was not a JW. When he'd sing THE GREEN BERETS the others would merely play their instruments and not sing along. What magnificent integrity!! Hooray.

Moreover, it was all pretentious silliness; but, the older brothers really took umbrage. They had to crack down or they would lose control.

You see, CONTROL is what religion is ultimately about.

Men stopped growing their hair long eventually as styles changed. But, the lingering distaste of the possible self-expressive stylizations of beard-growing remains a touchstone of absolute authority the Governing Body helots have over the mere publisher-grunts.

The line is drawn in the sand. The control-freaks cannot budge. It would start an avalanche.

Is this "scriptural"? Oh for heaven's sakes! Is ANYTHING the Governing Body insists is "TRUE" ever based on reality? It is all sheep-dipped in scriptural mumblings and laid on thick with an air of authority. But, it is all muscle-flexing and nothing much else.

You see, if they don't give you a hard target to refute them; you can't really argue with them, now can you?

Terry

freedom96

It amazes me that more witnesses don't see how silly this rule is. Come on, a beard?! Though you won't be df'd for it, you know they won't get to do anything in the hall, and will be looked down upon.

I remember in the late 70's, maybe early 80's a guy in the hall was on stage, and tears were coming down his face as he told everyone his decision to shave his mustache, so that he wouldn't stumble anyone. Even though he had it his entire adult life.

And of course he was praised for this.

upside/down

So should Dub men have their nipples removed...?

It's so feminine!

u/d

If God doesn't want brothers to have beards, why does it grow?

JAVA

iiz2cool

El blanko

iiz2cool

Terry

freedom96

upside/down

prophecor

Dan-O

gaiagirl

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