"They got exactly 1 fisherman to ‘study’ but became a problem when it came to earrings and facial hair - it was hilarious for us trying to ‘civilize’ this person into a suit, shaven, without his earrings and going in service, and then the elders got all uptight when he came back from his voyages with his earrings, beard and smelling like oil and fish (it’s not solved by taking a shower). And then the fact he kept using words that were practically curse words in the ‘proper’ language."
Colonial era mission efforts were often criticised for their insistence that the natives wear trousers. That outward appearance was more important than inward change. The WT, for all its assurance that it is superior to the superficiality of the churches, has always been about the surface.
Anony Mous, would they be more lenient towards "such a one", after the changes in dress standards?