Posts by ttm1988

29

Watchtower views on Homosexuality

by ttm1988 in

afternoon all,.

a bit on my background.

i studied with the jw's a while ago in my teens, was acitve in meetings, and all the other things good witnesses do.

ttm1988

Thank you all for your replies.

I did mean to reply sooner, but the forum isnt very Smartphone friendly so I have to wait until I am at work. I wasnt just starting yet another gay topic, and then disappearing from the scene. I will continue to post on the times I am able to.

I liked the point about two brothers marrying in a State where it was legal. What could they be disfellowshipped for? It would be seen as homophobic, and the Watchtower would have a sticky situation to deal with if the two brothers decided to pursue legal action.

One thing that I never understood is the absolute hatred of gays I see in some Christians, based on a handful of Scriptures *(where the original meanings are dubious and open to interpretation) yet people forgetting, or not placing as much emhasis on other sins such as drinking, revilery, and adultery. It is all so very odd. I do hope one day we move to a point where homophobia is seen as serious as racism within religion. However, if that happens is anyones guess.

29

Watchtower views on Homosexuality

by ttm1988 in

afternoon all,.

a bit on my background.

i studied with the jw's a while ago in my teens, was acitve in meetings, and all the other things good witnesses do.

ttm1988

Afternoon all,

A bit on my background. I studied with the JW's a while ago in my teens, was acitve in meetings, and all the other things good Witnesses do. Eventually I put off dedication and baptism because I am gay. Knowing this, and the impact being a JW would have on my life, I didnt want to let anyone down and left.

When I was somewhat "in", I did a lot of research into the Watchtower and its view of homosexuality. What I discovered was a lot of the earlier articles in the publications were very hostile towards us, but the later ones seemed to empathise with this particular "struggle". I also found the same view and atitudes in members of the congregation. Older JWs would look at me stragely once they knew I had attractions to the same sex, however younger members of the congregation would still include me in all social activites, and encourage me when things got tough because I was "pleasing Jehovah" and "doing what is right".

In the past year I have returned to the meetings and have started to make new friends in a new congregation. With the decline in numbers, and "the love of the greater number cooling off" as we see in the West. Do you think the Society will ever change its view on Homosexuality in order to 1) attact more members from sections of society who would have never been interested before and b) encourage gay members to stay, in the knowledge that God does not hate them, as long as they moved into monogamous loving relationships, much like heterosexuals.

I personally know a lot of gays and lesbians who are conscious of their spiritual need, yet feel they have nowhere to go with regards to religion, as it seems all of them reject us in some way or another.

Do any of you think someday soon, with the heightened acceptance in our world of gay rights and equality, the Watchtower will reflect and embrace this trend in order to attract others to the organisation? I sometimes think of it as being the same as points in the organisations history when views on different races were bad, and the bible was used as evidence to segregate people with regards to colour. But where now all races and colours are accepted to become Jehovah's witnesses...as long as they are heterosexual, of course.

Just your views?

Thanks for reading. x