Dear Readers,
The excellent forum on yuku.com for ex-Jehovah's Witnesses, had a discussion that I have posted on my blog about the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society's new edition of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures which is the JW version of the Bible. It was noted that they changed the phrase "Men who lie with men" to "homosexual". Funny, the word "homosexual" did not come into being until the 1800's. This is just another way for the JW's to use the Bible to support their homophobic bigotry. Regardless, of the JW's adage of the word "homosexual", the Bible is still wrong about homosexuality at the end of the day. The NWT does, in some parts, seem to be more accurate than other versions of the Bible, but that does not mean that the JW's are the "truth" as they like to call themselves. It just means that they have a decent translation of the Bible. However, they don't list the translator's names or their credentials so that we can verify them, the WBTS claims that they want all the "glory" to go to Yahweh. That's pretty biased if you ask me.
Famed actor, Terrence Howard has expressed interest for years in becoming a Jehovah's Witness. He knows that he will have to give up having sex with women whom he is not married to. As others have pointed out, non-marital sexual relationships aren't the only thing you have to give up, Terrence in order to become "one of Jehovah's Witnesses". Why would Terrence Howard want to belong to a fundamentalist Christian denomination that doesn't allow you to question, disagree or change any of it's beliefs, practices or anything written or said by it's clergymen? Why would you want to belong to a group that technically denies being fundamentalists or that it is not sexist, when it fact, JW's are fundamentalists and are quite sexist. Why belong to a group that has a deep hatred of LGBT community and non-members of the denomination? Why belong to a group that requires you to refuse certain medical treatments that could save your life? Why belong to a group that condemns critical-thinking skills? Why belong to a group that practically requires you to avoid associated with loved ones who do not share your religious beliefs and who do not wish to convert to your particular Christian denomination? Why belong to a group with a deep hatred of consensual sex and sexuality between consenting adults? Why belong to a group that does not seem to be very effective in handling cases of child molestation within their church congregations? Why belong to a religious group that requires you to give up the vast majority of your civil rights, besides the ability to practice your religion as you choose, through voting? Why belong to a religious group that requires you to shun ex-members, whether they are loved ones or not? I really don't think that Terrence is taking such issues into consideration first. Look, if he wants to become a Jehovah's Witness, one day and he does, that's fine with me.
I did hear him say that he likes their reformed Edenic earthly paradise concept, yes it may seem like a nice concept and all, but where is your concrete, peer-reviewed and testable proof that that is ever going to happen, Terrence? Terrence Howard is a great actor and good-looking, but he seems to be incredibly naïve and vulnerable. If he ever becomes a JW, that's fine but I think he should give more thought to it first. The JW's, most of them are good people, but I think that they have lot of very wrong views about life. I just think that Terrence Howard needs to be sure if he can agree to all that the JW's do and believe. Of course, he could always leave the Organization if it doesn't work out, but leaving the JW's is not without it's consequences.
I find it hypocritical that JW priests or Elders as they are called have told young members to lie in court about their future plans. Wanting to be an actor, a sportsman, a scientist or any other profession that takes time away from one's religious beliefs is frowned upon. Going to college is only viewed as acceptable, if you are going there to learn a certain life-skill or trade. Educating yourself is looked down upon, as it might make you rethink what the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is telling you. As a Jehovah's Witness, your only go should be to do whatever the denominational leaders tell you, including going door-to-door on Saturdays to spread your particular Christian denomination's message to others, sometimes resulting in converts, sometimes not resulting in any converts.
A word on JW celebrities. Famed tennis-playing sisters, Serena and Venus Williams are supposedly members of the JW's as is their mother, but I don't know if either girl was officially baptized into the WBTS. I've heard that the Kingdom Hall that they attend is a very run-down building. Competitive sports are looked down by the JW's, yet these girls are tennis-players. I cannot be the only person who sees hypocrisy in this.
Prince, Larry Graham of Sly and the Family Stone, Lark Voorhies from Saved by the Bell, Velma Terrell of Diana Ross and the Supremes and Katherine Jackson, mother of the Jackson Five are all JW "celebrities" and strike me as hypocritical. Here are some hypocritical things about the artist formerly known as Prince. I read three IMDB articles on Prince being questioned about gay marriage. He pointed to his Bible and said that Yahweh saw people sticking it wherever and he just decided to clear it out. A clear reference to the Sodom and Gomorrah story. Well Prince, I don't think your god would have any reason to clear it out when consenting adults are sticking it wherever with other consenting adults. Prince also threated to kick two lesbian women out of his band if they did not break up with each other. Hopefully, these two ladies did leave his band and continue their relationship with each other because who wants to work with a bigot? Prince said he has gay "friends" that he studies the Bible with, oh really, well would you stop associating with them if they are in a romantically and sexually-active relationship with another person of the same-sex, despite the fact that what gay people do in bed isn't any of your business, Prince? He also has made some very outrageous statements such as that he admires that in the Middle East, there is only one religion: Islam. He admires that Muslim women are forced to wear a burka and admires the control that Muslim imams have over their members. He stated that the music industry inspired him to do "evil" things and yet he is still involved with the "worldly" musical industry. Hypocritical much? He also changed one of the lyrics in his songs to " close your mind and open up your Bible". Wow, just wow. That's not very open-minded nor is that really could advice. Not to mention, Prince still cross dresses, despite the fact that the Torah views such an activity as an "abomination", even though cross dressing doesn't hurt anyone. I don't think there is anything wrong with cross dressing at all, I just think that Prince shouldn't be doing it.
Katherine Jackson let her kids celebrate Christmas with her parents' despite the fact they were being raised as Jehovah's Witnesses, but she "supposedly" did not want to force them into the denomination. She let Michael's kids, Paris, Prince Michael and little Blanket celebrate Christmas while she had them under her custody, even though she and her one daughter took them to meetings/ religious worship and praise services at their Kingdom Hall that they attended. She coerced Michael into marrying that Debbie woman and told her about the "sanctity" of marriage and the Jehovah's Witness denomination, yet Michael had disassociated/resigned his membership from the Jehovah's Witnesses before he already married her, so he wasn't a Jehovah's Witness anymore but his mom still treated him as if he was, which I don't think your supposed to be doing. Katherine even said that she felt sorry for the Jackson kid's half-sister for being born out of wedlock. So what's your point, Katherine? Isn't she a human being like everyone else? Who cares if she was born out of wedlock? You shouldn't have married Joseph in the first place. I wouldn't have if I had been in her place. She once stated that she feels "bad" about not teaching her kids about "Jehovah". Your kids and even your grandchildren don't have to be a member of your particular Christian denomination if they don't want to, Katherine, this is called freedom to make choices about religion.She also stated in the 1990's in an interview with Ebony Magazine that the Bible condemns homosexuality and that Michael couldn't have been gay because he was a Christian. Well, the Bible's condemnation of homosexuality is wrong and Michael could have been gay even as a Christian, but he wasn't. Oh, by the way, Katherine Jackson is an ex-member of the Baptist denomination, although I don't know which branch she was from, doesn't that make Katherine an apostate? Yes, I think it actually does.
Now, I feel bad over what happened with Michael, I sympathize with Katherine over the loss of her son. I feel bad for her over the loss of her baby. No parent deserves to lose a child. George Benson, an excellent Jazz player and JW has said that his music is about romance instead of sexuality. Why? well, it seems to me that he has a deep hatred of sexuality not confined to a married heterosexual couple that is monogamous which reveals that he is intolerant of the fact that consenting adults express their sexuality different than him. Yet, Prince's music videos have unmarried couples engaging in some pretty steamy and sexy lovemaking. Hmmmm? I just wish JW "celebrities" did not act like hypocrites, it has nothing to do with jealously, it's more their behavior and some of their beliefs like being homophobes that I have a problem with. Think about it.
Sincerely,
B.W.
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