JWisms

[shanmonster]

Here's some Jehovah's Witness trivia for you (please note that some of this may be slightly out of date since it's been about twelve years since I lived the JW lifestyle).

Did you know that JWs are not supposed to practice yoga or martial arts? Yoga opens the mind up for demonic invasion. Martial arts can do this, too, and has the added detractment of being violent. The only acceptable violence is beating your kids for being smart-asses or disobedient. I would hazard the guess it would be considered unacceptable to use any martial art technique on your disobedient child. Spanking, shaking, and whipping are ok, though.

JWs have a phobia of the word luck. It is also against a JW's religion to gamble, but not necessarily wrong to enter free draws. Fund-raising raffles are definitely out, though. The taboo on the word luck extends to spheres other than gambling. If someone finds a fifty-dollar bill in a deserted field, that person is not lucky. She or he is fortunate. And math classes on probability and chance are particularly problematic to the young JW student.

JWs aren't supposed to play any games which incorporate elements of war. I remember my parents having heartfelt discussions with one another about whether or not it would be acceptable for my sister and I to learn how to play chess (the verdict, lucki..., er, fortunately, was yes).

JWs are not allowed to share toasts (clink glasses) or give standing ovations. In fact, if a JW is at a play or a concert, and everyone jumps up to clap, a JW is supposed to remain seated. If they were standing up to begin with, they will sit down with their hands in their laps when the clapping begins.

Comments

[wolfeskitchen.livejournal.com]

This past weekend when my Kung Fu circle was meeting at my home for discussion of the Tao Te Ching, we had what has become a regular visit from the JW's. They make an extremely interesting addition to the theological and philosophical discussion.

On this particular day, we talked about Jesus as a leader among his disciples, apostles and other such followers. The week before we argued their boast that God will grant everlasting life.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

If the JWs in question are aware that you're a kung fu group discussing some sort of Asian spirituality, I'll betcha a doughnut they go back and boast about how they're preaching God's word in a pit of demons. And if they keep returning, you have been considered a "return visit." Better watch out, or they'll consider you a "Bible study"! Heh heh....

[wolfeskitchen.livejournal.com]

Oh, they've been regulars at our Saturday meetings for a while now. I even draw quotes and questions from their books. I'd love to be the fly on the wall when they gossip about us.

It's when they knock on my door during late sleeping days that irks me. I have GOT to remember to bury the concussion charges in my lawn.

[kitschicat.livejournal.com]

Hi, I found you via the LJ interests, I'm an ex-Dub myself.

Isn't it interesting how the JW's will shun some things they consider "pagan" but not others? For instance, "luck" and "fortune" basically carry the same meaning. Why is it alright to be "fortunate" but not "lucky?"

Also, the wedding rings being worn on the ring finger (which came to us through the Romans I believe, with their belief in the vena amori.), brides wearing white, etc.

I'm so glad to be out of there. :)

Cheers,
Trase

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's good to be out!

As for the wedding rings, I think it predates the Romans. I've heard it was an Egyptian thing, and that the ring finger on the left hand was believed to be connected directly to the heart. And this is why we wear wedding rings.

However, I am a bit suspicious about this one. In Arabic culture, the heart isn't considered the seat of love. Instead, love resides in the liver.

Maybe things were a bit different a few thousand years back.

In any case, for a while, wedding rings were a source of dissension among the JWs because of their pagan backgrounds. My guess is that someone in the governing body wasn't too keen on getting rid of his wedding ring. Heh....

[balthcat.livejournal.com]

My first thought was "luck = fortune"

Arabic culture... it wouldn't be the same thing as Egyptian culture though, would it? Are the pre-Roman Egyptians even from the same stock?

I can't say I remember... but I wouldn't immediately assume so. Then again, perhaps I make a mistake in associating Mohamed too much with the word "Arabic"

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I don't know, actually. My knowledge of ancient history is mostly of Mesopotamian and the Hellenes.

Still, the Arabs are nomadic people, and North Africa is their turf, so I'm willing to bet there were at least a couple of them hanging around the Nile way back when.

[balthcat.livejournal.com]

I did some brief googling and reading. It seems the ancient Greeks believed love to come from the bowels/belly. The Alexandrian Galen identified it as being in the liver. Most of what I read pointed to India when it came to the heart being the seat of love. And there's lots of Christian / Jewish stuff about the heart.

I found Egyptian love poetry, and despite reference to "heart" I imagine that the translators might have translated "liver" or "guts" or "abstractwordforseatoflove" into "heart".

I wish I had that book of Egyptian religion here with me. It's sitting at home on my floor.

[kitschicat.livejournal.com]

My guess is that someone in the governing body wasn't too keen on getting rid of his wedding ring. Heh....

LOL...I'm sure that's what it boils down to, as always, whether they could get the 2/3rds vote or not. ;)

[moonborn.livejournal.com]

My teacher says the ancient Egyptians considered the heart the seat of the soul - like our brain - the place where consciousness resides. It does seem an odd tradition to link wedding rings to your brain.

Austrians and Germans...

[cynebeah.livejournal.com]

wear their wedding rings on the opposite hands of North Americans so take form that what you will. :-)

interesting thread...

[sociopathetic.livejournal.com]

However as an ex-jw myself I have to say...most of that is true. Although the standing ovation thing I don't remember because at assemblies I've seen people get a standing ovation. Especailly this one elderly annointed brother who was from bethel. God the guy sounded like the priest marrying Buttercup in The Princess Bride. "Ahmageddwon that's wat bwings us heair today, and Wuv....trooooo Wuv of Jaihovwa is wat oonights us on our qwest of bwuvahood" it was positively unbearable. Anyway good post, consider me thoroughly captivated with your life.

Re: interesting thread...

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Wow! Really? When where you in "The Truth?" I was in from birth (1971) through to about 1992 or 1993-ish. I remember quite a few lectures on how giving a standing ovation was tantamount to offering up worship to a person.

Then again, maybe there's been "new light." My hubby claims my parents joined in the standing ovation I received during a dance performance, once. But I distinctly remember watching them remain seated when I starred in a play and there was an ovation.

I don't remember terribly many details of any elder voices. I think my mind blissed out and took me to a happy place during many a meeting.

Re: interesting thread...

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I've heard from another ex-JW (anonymously) that standing ovations were considered ok in his congregation. This makes me think that maybe it's a regional thing, which is pretty funny because the JWs like to pretend their beliefs are identical from congregation to congregation.

Maybe that's why it's ok for JWs to pay bribes in Latin America so officials will pretend they've done mandatory military service (rather than face jail time), and why JWs in certain countries in Africa are not allowed to do so (even though it means they can be executed for treason).

It must be something like that.