Going beyond what is written...beards!

[Ms_ladyblue]

Well Lady Blue if you all saw me you would say WHAT! WAIT! I wear a very very very short close crop hair style. ONLY A FEW sisters make comments and I say
WHY ARE YOU IN MY BUSINESS. No kidding
.
Not one elder etc. has said one single word about my almost bald head long dresses, boots or flat shoes and earrings. But I betcha they are like
Lord have mercy! No problems when I went door to door EVER.

I don't like hair. I go to barber every two or three weeks

Forgot to say when husband was alive he had no problem with my appearance. He dressed up. I dressed down whateva

Oh well.

I hope that I didn’t offend you with my comment earlier. I was just trying to say how WT talks like it’s mainly beards that “distract“ from our message but if they are going to gauge by that standard why not look at other trendy styles and say the same? They just want make certain rules because they can and for some weird reason, other than what they are saying, brothers growing beards are the target.

 

[Deborah]

I hope that I didn’t offend you with my comment earlier. I was just trying to say how WT talks like it’s mainly beards that “distract“ from our message but if they are going to gauge by that standard why not look at other trendy styles and say the same? They just want make certain rules because they can and for some weird reason, other than what they are saying, brothers growing beards are the target.

Oh no. I am not that sensitive. I see some clothes and hairstyles that blow me away too.
But I can't say much because of the style I have chosen. Been dressing like that since the 80's.

What is funny is when I was in the work force I had a supervisor who would say E& E that dress is ugly can't you find something that fits. I have always been thin and loved baggy clothes.

I would just laugh.

I do wear clothes that fit better now but still
long. Been wearing short hair for over 50 years.

My mother hated it. She was from old old school. She wanted me to burn my brains out to straighten my hair. They did not have the products they have today to do that then.

She also thought I was gay. . She said to me once ARE YOU OK. I said mom every woman who wears her hair short is not gay. Come on now.

So no I am not one of those black folks
that you have to tip toe around. I only take issue with false statements and mean hateful stuff no matter what race it is.

So no worries with me.


Hugs

 

[BrooksB]

They softened their beard

with lavender essential oil

 

[alan ford]

taken to the back room and they measured his pants

That's ridiculous! What a shameful display of power. I'm assuming it's not a tailor measuring tape in which case I'd be

 

[David Peter]

That's ridiculous! What a shameful display of power. I'm assuming it's not a tailor measuring tape in which case I'd be

A shameful display of control just like the pharisees for sure. No - not a tailor tape, it was baggy pants back then & it's tight pants nowadays,or Beards or whatever. They need to just get out of that dress and grooming Cult like attitude they are known for. They make the whole Organization look ridiculous and foolish . But maybe that's what the saboteurs inside the Organization want .

 

[alan ford]

A shameful display of control just like the pharisees for sure. No - not a tailor tape, it was baggy pants back then & it's tight pants nowadays,or Beards or whatever. They need to just get out of that dress and grooming Cult like attitude they are known for. They make the whole Organization look ridiculous and foolish But maybe that's what the saboteurs inside the Organization want .

These past few years especially, they've been harping on about unity when it's actually uniformity.

 

[Ms_ladyblue]

Oh no. I am not that sensitive. I see some clothes and hairstyles that blow me away too.
But I can't say much because of the style I have chosen. Been dressing like that since the 80's.

What is funny is when I was in the work force I had a supervisor who would say E& E that dress is ugly can't you find something that fits. I have always been thin and loved baggy clothes.

I would just laugh.

I do wear clothes that fit better now but still
long. Been wearing short hair for over 50 years.

My mother hated it. She was from old old school. She wanted me to burn my brains out to straighten my hair. They did not have the products they have today to do that then.

She also thought I was gay. . She said to me once ARE YOU OK. I said mom every woman who wears her hair short is not gay. Come on now.

So no I am not one of those black folks
that you have to tip toe around. I only take issue with false statements and mean hateful stuff no matter what race it is.

So no worries with me.


Hugs

Thanks @Eyes & Ears I can appreciate your response. It’s hard to know who and how to respond because of not knowing ones, like yourself personally. Now, I just learned a little bit more about you. TBH I thought you were an ex witness brother. Lol,

 

[bagwort]

1974 Yearbook, pp. 97-98. Brother Balzereit had a beard and Rutherford thought it was in imitation of Russell and told him to shave it off. The tradition stuck and other reasons were rationalized to explain it.

 

[LuisMerino9412]

Growing up one of Jehovah's Witnesses, I don't think there are some things we have given a lot of thought to. We knew you couldn't have a beard, we knew it was "worldly", but of course we never knew why. It certainly wasn't based on the Bible. Imagine trying to say the requirement's for beards was part of the Mosaic Law Covenant", that Jehovah God required his people to wear beards, but now in our modern age, Jehovah now hates beards! Yet "Jehovah never changes."

To remain within actual Bible context and consistency, at best you would have to say beards are a conscience matter. However, you could argue with way more Biblical authority, that a beard, which clearly distinguishes men from woman, would continue to be something not only approved of by God, but preferred. Now with the transgender movement gaining more and more support, it becomes even more evident, the prohibition on beards is neither Biblical, which we all know, but the lack of a beard would have been and was historically considered by Jehovah to be worldly. Not the other way around.

So the real question that anyone should ask, is why the prohibition on beards? Ask any JW, and they will tell you "because it is worldly." But why is it worldly, and why in every single drama, do they wear FAKE BEARDS, when they dress up like the men who were actually inspired by God's Holy Spirit to write the Bible?

What's the reason for the prohibition? Well all you have to do to find out, is look it up in the Bible....oh wait, I mean in the WT publications. And if you ever ask that question, elders will line up down the block, with printed materiel from WT publications, mostly if not all published in the 1970's about how beards are worldly. Worldly according to who? WT!


While we're on the subject, why no prohibition on woman shaving their legs and arm pits?
Also ask any JW why beards are worldly? And when they stumble around for an answer ask why the brothers who portray Jesus Christ in Dramas for example have to wear a fake beard.

The blatant ludicrous hypocrisy is so inconsistent it's hard to believe anyone has gone along with this!

So how do we know beards are worldly? Because the F&D,S say so. And how do we know they are the F& D. S. Same reason, because they say so! And we have proof, just ask them!

I disagree with this too. It makes me feel angry you know. If the jews were told not to cut their beards completely why in the world the wt forbids it? Like for real? All the jews used it.

 

[Deborah]

Thanks @Eyes & Ears I can appreciate your response. It’s hard to know who and how to respond because of not knowing ones, like yourself personally. Now, I just learned a little bit more about you. TBH I thought you were an ex witness brother. Lol,

EX witness brother . OMG that made me laugh really hard. Nope still in good standing so far. I know what is going on and this forum is the only place I CUT LOOSE.
Otherwise I would be swinging on my ceiling fans from going nuts.

So again no worries about me. I have a fun sense of humor. I am like several here older, seen stuff and at some point you just say so be it and move on cuz it does not make sense and not important.

Have great day LB and thanks for cracking me up.

 

[BARNABY THE DOG.]

with lavender essential oil

Definitely a disfellowshipping act - a beard AND scented oils - a double whammy with overtones of “gay” scented accusation. I wonder what they would do if a brother wore a false beard. Technically, he is not growing a beard and watchtower approved actors in watchtower approved bible story acting get watchtower approval to wear false beards, and so it’s clearly not a disfellowshipping offence. There is actually no evidence that any person met in the ministry has either complained about a brother having a beard, and there is no record anywhere down through the ages of any one whom has said or held the opinion that a beard signifies or implies what ever meaning that can be applied to the term “worldly”. There is no evidence whatsoever that wearing a beard shows a preference to material values. The opposite in fact, in that they shun worldly razor blades! In fact, there is every reason to believe that Jesus had a beard and there is no doubt that he was not worldly as he was a spirit being for all but 33 years of his life. And at what point does stubble become a beard anyway? The only possible reason for watchtowers refusal to allow beards must be that they have stocks and shares in Gillette. Come to think of it, is not selling Kingdom Halls for profit ”worldly” or travelling first class, or participating in airport song and dance greetings of governing body members? Being a member of the a United Nations NGO may be a teensy-weeny bit worldly too, though I’m not quite sure about that.

 

[BARNABY THE DOG.]

Oh no. I am not that sensitive. I see some clothes and hairstyles that blow me away too.
But I can't say much because of the style I have chosen. Been dressing like that since the 80's.

What is funny is when I was in the work force I had a supervisor who would say E& E that dress is ugly can't you find something that fits. I have always been thin and loved baggy clothes.

I would just laugh.

I do wear clothes that fit better now but still
long. Been wearing short hair for over 50 years.

My mother hated it. She was from old old school. She wanted me to burn my brains out to straighten my hair. They did not have the products they have today to do that then.

She also thought I was gay. . She said to me once ARE YOU OK. I said mom every woman who wears her hair short is not gay. Come on now.

So no I am not one of those black folks
that you have to tip toe around. I only take issue with false statements and mean hateful stuff no matter what race it is.

So no worries with me.


Hugs

I had a quite wonderful moustache in my youth in the watchtower, and wore leather, stack-healed boots and a full length leather trench-coat. I always left a slight scent of free-range cow behind me wherever I went. So they picked on me for “slouching” in my chair at the hall. We had those nasty plastic school chairs to sit on that always seemed too fragile to support anyone who weighed more than a stone. I couldn’t get to sleep sitting up straight in them so they picked on me for that. Some of the brothers took droning-on in their talks to an art-form; it was as though I was jabbed in the arm with an instant narcolepsy potion - sometimes I slept through most of the watchtower study too. (I had heard it all before). I remember one elder giving a talk who began by dramatically holding up his hand and wiggling his fingers. He said, “Where would you expect to find the muscles that move your fingers?” So naturally, thinking that he was about to make an embarrassing mistake I put my hand up and said “In your forearm” and went back to sleep. Apparently , I had stolen his thunder. He was all set to reveal the same ‘amazing’ fact. So you see, there was precious little to stay awake for.

 

[Deborah]

BTD,

I am glad it is winter and my windows are down cuz I know my neighbors would think oh that's just Ms. Eyes and Ears laughing to herself again.

You know she has been off since losing her husband poor dear.

My sides hurt from screaming in here. Mr. Doodles my ran into the spare room.

In my kh a sister's son always wore black. Was not baptized. That Gothic look. Black shirt, pants boots and looong
Black coat. I thought cool cuz I loved Black clothes.

But I always wondered where he buried the bodies . Can't remember if he had beard. Also he was quiet but nice.

No one in my kh had beards but some bald heads. Isn't it interesting how now bald heads are ok but not beards.

I love Jehovah and his son, but I have to say there is no way in Hades I would associate with many of witnesses if I did not have to. The Bible is right there but unless they read it in WT/AWAKE they don't believe it.

Well I guess they will stay in the box until they get so wound up jack says it is ok to pop out .

Have great day BTD , love your way with words

 

[Ms_ladyblue]

I had a quite wonderful moustache in my youth in the watchtower, and wore leather, stack-healed boots and a full length leather trench-coat. I always left a slight scent of free-range cow behind me wherever I went. So they picked on me for “slouching” in my chair at the hall. We had those nasty plastic school chairs to sit on that always seemed too fragile to support anyone who weighed more than a stone. I couldn’t get to sleep sitting up straight in them so they picked on me for that. Some of the brothers took droning-on in their talks to an art-form; it was as though I was jabbed in the arm with an instant narcolepsy potion - sometimes I slept through most of the watchtower study too. (I had heard it all before). I remember one elder giving a talk who began by dramatically holding up his hand and wiggling his fingers. He said, “Where would you expect to find the muscles that move your fingers?” So naturally, thinking that he was about to make an embarrassing mistake I put my hand up and said “In your forearm” and went back to sleep. Apparently , I had stolen his thunder. He was all set to reveal the same ‘amazing’ fact. So you see, there was precious little to stay awake for.

BTD, you have a way with words alright! Making the simplest of anything into something so comical. That’s why I read your comments with anticipation….for the “punchline.”
If you ask me, I’d say the elders chose the wrong brothers to be giving talks. You should’ve been giving talks!

 

[Ms_ladyblue]

EX witness brother . OMG that made me laugh really hard. Nope still in good standing so far. I know what is going on and this forum is the only place I CUT LOOSE.
Otherwise I would be swinging on my ceiling fans from going nuts.

Lol @Eyes & Ears I can see you have a way with words too. Of course we women can get away with it because we tend to put our emotions into what and how we say it.
But these days it’s all we can do to try and stay sane in an insane world! I think that’s how @PJ54 says it. And it’s true.
You are right, this forum helps to keep us from going out of our minds.

So again no worries about me. I have a fun sense of humor. I am like several here older, seen stuff and at some point you just say so be it and move on cuz it does not make sense and not important.

Have great day LB and thanks for cracking me up.

Yes, I see that you have a fun sense of humor. You‘ll be one of the first I’ll want to meet when we can finally get out of this “prison“ our first parents put us in. Won’t that be a relief?

You have a great day too E&E
And I’m glad I could help out by cracking you up. Same here too!

 

[Deborah]

 

[PJ54]

But these days it’s all we can do to try and stay sane in an insane world! I think that’s how @PJ54 says it. And it’s true.
You are right, this forum helps to keep us from going out of our minds.

Yup! Keeping it together is all we can do these days.

 

[Nomex]

Some of the brothers took droning-on in their talks to an art-form;

I grew up in the south, and not only did we have boring brothers, but we had some that had such bad accents, you could hardly understand what they were saying. There was one brother who wore reading glasses, and one day one of my brothers noticed that when he looked over those glasses, he looked exactly like he was crying. After that you could not look at him without bursting out in laughter. And we would whisper to each other, "look he's doing it." Man we got in so much trouble with my parents for that one, and we would do it to each other over and over again, and it got to wear you could not look at him without laughing audibly! Which meant all the more fun for us brothers trying to get one another in trouble with our parents.

 

[Ms_ladyblue]

I grew up in the south, and not only did we have boring brothers, but we had some that had such bad accents, you could hardly understand what they were saying. There was one brother who wore reading glasses, and one day one of my brothers noticed that when he looked over those glasses, he looked exactly like he was crying. After that you could not look at him without bursting out in laughter. And we would whisper to each other, "look he's doing it." Man we got in so much trouble with my parents for that one, and we would do it to each other over and over again, and it got to wear you could not look at him without laughing audibly! Which meant all the more fun for us brothers trying to get one another in trouble with our parents.

Typical boys...and brothers on top of that!

 

[Nomex]

Typical boys...and brothers on top of that!

I was laughing while typing that! It makes me laugh every time I think about it.

 

[Seeker]

@David Peter that was a very interesting and informative video about how WT rules the roost!

Btw does anyone remember when back in the 90’s or early 2000’s when quite a few brothers ( maybe WT or several opinionated witnesses) were talking against brothers with bald heads or shaving their heads bald?
Well, I’m not sure if it was only being talked about in the circuit but this went on for a while then just died down.

I studied while in high school in the 90s but never got baptized. Was a big Michael Jordan fan so decided to shave my head (circa ‘92). I remember a dear brother complimenting me at the Hall, saying “the shaved head really suits you, you look like Jordan!”
At my next home study with my annoying, overzealous bible teacher, I was lectured about my head shaving choice, and how it would “negatively take away from my ministry”.
One of the many things that turned me off to “the Society”.
Always have and always will love Jehovah though.

 

[Jennifer]

The founder of the WT wouldn't even qualify to be a mic runner today. Besides the beard, he has hair down over his ears.

View attachment 3363

Looks like he has eye-liner on too!

 

[Deborah]

CTR always reminded me of an ole Amish man. But his hair and beard in this image is very neat. Some of Amish men look scruffy I guess because of their man made rules on trimming/shaving them.

 

[BrooksB]

I had a quite wonderful moustache in my youth in the watchtower, and wore leather, stack-healed boots and a full length leather trench-coat. I always left a slight scent of free-range cow behind me wherever I went. So they picked on me for “slouching” in my chair at the hall. We had those nasty plastic school chairs to sit on that always seemed too fragile to support anyone who weighed more than a stone. I couldn’t get to sleep sitting up straight in them so they picked on me for that. Some of the brothers took droning-on in their talks to an art-form; it was as though I was jabbed in the arm with an instant narcolepsy potion - sometimes I slept through most of the watchtower study too. (I had heard it all before). I remember one elder giving a talk who began by dramatically holding up his hand and wiggling his fingers. He said, “Where would you expect to find the muscles that move your fingers?” So naturally, thinking that he was about to make an embarrassing mistake I put my hand up and said “In your forearm” and went back to sleep. Apparently , I had stolen his thunder. He was all set to reveal the same ‘amazing’ fact. So you see, there was precious little to stay awake for.

Over the years I perfected sleeping at the meetings to my own personal amazement. I went from head bobbing to being able to keep my head perfectly stable. Having a Bible opened in front of me as if I were reading it (and likely when not asleep I was reading it to remain interested in being at the Hall) I would nod off quite readily just like what you said BTB, like having been jabbed with a narcolepsy potion. Occasionally however I would be busted for napping by dropping my Bible onto the floor which made a bit of a ruckus. @SusanB would just sit there amused but every once in a while would do me a favor and wake me up. I absolutely could not get through any meetings without falling asleep. Tough duty those meetings! I always felt bad because Jehovah was being talked about and every so often so was Jesus, but I could not help it.

 

[BillyRay]

Over the years I perfected sleeping at the meetings to my own personal amazement. I went from head bobbing to being able to keep my head perfectly stable. Having a Bible opened in front of me as if I were reading it (and likely when not asleep I was reading it to remain interested in being at the Hall) I would nod off quite readily just like what you said BTB, like having been jabbed with a narcolepsy potion. Occasionally however I would be busted for napping by dropping my Bible onto the floor which made a bit of a ruckus. @SusanB would just sit there amused but every once in a while would do me a favor and wake me up. I absolutely could not get through any meetings without falling asleep. Tough duty those meetings! I always felt bad because Jehovah was being talked about and every so often so was Jesus, but I could not help it.

Meh…. I have a neatly trimmed goatee, mustache, soul patch combo. Did some research and found that I can attend meetings, comment, go in service, etc…. I just can’t be a MS or Elder - which I’m fine with. Nobody has said a thing to me about it outside of a couple close friends - and their comments were just fine.