by Rod P 46 Replies latest jw friends
Yes I remember this over chess. But I also recall that the view changed over time and chess became acceptable again. Think they realised that some other board games can be just as competitive.
Ah, that explains it. I played chess in competition for quite some years. About 8 months ago, one of the elders at the KH asked me if I would teach his kid how to play chess. I was always confused when I read that chess was not allowed, and here I was teaching an elder's kid how to play this game.
Blondie,
As usual, you are on top of your history in terms of the JW's.
When you mention the camel/gnat thing, that is Exactly what I said to myself at the time. I would have said it out loud, but I had to behave because I had just gotten reinstated, and did not want to "rock the boat".
Regards,
Rod P.
Running Man;
I wanna know how you did that!
I posted my opening remarks on this thread at 14:01, trying to remember an article from years ago. Then at 14:04 (3 minutes later) you post the precise article from Mar.1973 (32 years ago). You must've passed thru a time warp or wormhole or sumthin'. What's your secret?
Rod P.
Jacob wrestled an angel... to win.
Jehovah fought for his people... to win
JC is gonna whoop Satans ass... to win
Competition is the essence of man... our entire existence is based on it (especially if you're an evolutionist)
"Winning isn't everything.... ask any loser" - I rest my case.
u/d (of the in every contest there must be winner and a loser.... leeeh huuu zeeeh heeerr, class)
I remember when that article came out back when Bobby Fischer was big news. It was one of the first articles I put into the category MNFS. Then I basically ignored it. As time went on I put more and more articles into the MNFS category, until finally, from 1986 on, I started putting the whole religion into the MNFS category.
Tammy
As far as I remember ( which ain't sayin much), Chess being a no no was never emphasized by the society. If it wasn't in a 'study article', but rather was an article such as in the AWAKE!, and was given a negative coverage.......most dubs didn't view it as really binding.
When the article about having pets in the home and letting them lick you in the face after they licked their arses came out........most all dubs let the info go in one eye and out the other........they kept their pets and continued letting the little buttlickers lick them. Chess was the same way.....it was never sactioned as a no no........only given a negative coverage and most dubs did as they pleased regarding it.
Gumby
Well, Hello the Gumby! Haven't "seen" you in a while.
When this incident over chess came up, I had been out of the Org for a while. After getting reinstated, and was finally allowed to attend bookstudies, I recall being very surprised that they were studying from one of the magazines (Awake, in this instance), rather than from the usual book publications that I had been used to before I was disfellowshipped (i.e. when I joined the Mormons).
I am and was aware that articles in the Awake magazine do not carry the same weight as those in the Watchtower, especially in matters affecting doctrine. Awake was more about News Articles and such. Still, if you look at the article pasted above by Running Man, there was some pretty strong language and admonition. Where I lived, it was not regarded as a "take it or leave it" proposition. I remember a number of incidences where some of the Elders as well as R&F would use the Awake as the basis for counselling a certain behaviour or rationalizing a certain outlook. In other words, it may not be 100% Gospel, but JW's still better regard the contents seriously.
When we read that article in the bookstudy vocally, paragraph by paragraph, I felt sick to my stomache. Every fiber of my being was screaming inside that this was all so wrong. I wanted to rebel and protest, but bit my tongue for the greater good of getting my family back (a wife and 3 daughters). This kind of internal conflict is pure agony, and I do not envy anyone who finds themselves having to go thru it. How do you respect an organization who circulate such propaganda? It is sickening. It also made me question what the heck I was going thru all this for, and how it was even possible to carry on in this environment for the rest of my life, family or no family......
So now I bring this subject up after all these years, and am surprised to learn from the posters on this thread, that now it is all OK to play chess. Well, good for the Borg; they at least came to their senses on that one. But then, their New Light and Truth from Jehovah changes once again. And which shell is the pea going to be under next time?
Rod P.
Greetings:
There are some funny quirks about your post. It seems like you are referring to relatively recent Book Study but the article provided by the other poster is a 1973 article from an Awake!. Did the friends "study" Awakes! at the Book studies?
I don't quite remember, maybe we did, I don't know I was just a kid and I have a vague memory of reading the WT at the Bookstudy but not Awake!.
Anyway more to the point, I don't think this was ever a really big taboo in the Org and your post topic title may be misleading to any newbies or lurkers or non-JWs.
I used to play Chess all the time with the brothers during our Congregation bar-b-ques, including playing with some of the Elders. Some of the bros were very good at it and gave me quite a run for my money. If it was really "wrong to play Chess" I am certain the Elders or other old-timers would have said something.
So I hope no one will be mislead into thinking that your post/topic is accurate or an accurate reflection of current JW culture/belief.
-Eduardo
Competition is the essence of man... our entire existence is based on it (especially if you're an evolutionist)
U/D....excellent points made in your post;
I always played chess as a kid was actually quite good too and played and beat most adults...however just to set the cat among the pigeons...the only adult I couldnt beat at Chess was a WOMAN.....ha ha...! the WTS have it wrong again. She was an amazing chess player and could have mate within a few moves...although it did take her longer with me....
Not played for years though...
DB74
Rod P,
Perhaps your bookstudy conductor had a special place in his heart for chess and that is why you discussed the article in detail. Awake articles were not officially reviewed at bookstudies. But, in 1973 the conductor had much leeway with how much information he would cover in a night so it's possible that your conductor saw this as an opportunity to discuss his pet peeve.
If the discussion was recent, your bookstudy conductor is nuts. Nobody is going to use 30 year old article as a reference for not playing chess. At least not anyone sane.
Plenty of the friends play chess.
As an aside, isn't it funny how the dubs know exactly what places information must be placed in for them to follow it. An Awake can say just about anything and the dubs will no doubt ignore it. The WT can say the same thing and the dubs will march together to follow it. That's kind of like the recent AW comments on holidays and pagan origins. No one seemed to really catch it but us on the forum.
