The Rich&Famous JWs WT Dilemma

by frankiespeakin 8 Replies latest jw friends

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  frankiespeakin

  As we all know the WT has a special way of treating famous JWs, becuase it puts them squarely on the horns of a dilemma. On the one hand they have angry JWs that can't understand the WT Societies laxity, and if the WT does DF the worldy people see the WT as demented old self righteous christians.

  I found this site that talks about famous JWs and makes this observation better than I can:

  
  

  http://www.adherents.com/people/pj/Michael_Jackson.htmlYou might wonder why this is so interesting to me. The answer is because the Williams sisters are Jehovah's Witnesses (JWs), and JWs are not supposed to sing anthems, pledge allegiance to the flag, or have a nationalistic bone in their bodies. The Olympics are considered by the Watchtower Society (the JW's equivalent of the Pope) to be a nationalistic event, and therefore to be avoided. Carrying the flag is considered to be an act of idolatry. Singing the anthem, or giving a standing ovation, for that matter, is tantamount to offering prayer to another god. This isn't just a minor thing like the Catholic "prohibition" against eating meat on Fridays. It is a very big deal.
  

  At least, it used to be. Sixty years ago, JWs were beaten, threatened, stoned (with rocks, you weirdo!), jailed, and had their property destroyed because of their firm stance against nationalism. You can read more about that at Jehovah's Witnesses, Litchfield residents clash over religious beliefs. When I was a kid, I staunchly sat in my seat during the singing of the anthem while other students stood up and sang. Although some teachers tried to cajole me into at least standing for the anthem, I adamantly refused.

  In fact, I never sang the national anthem until I was in my fourth year of university. The woman next to me complimented me on my singing voice and I said to her, "This is my first time singing this song." I don't think she believed me.

  I can't help but wonder how many anthems the Williams sisters have sung. Venus is quoted as saying, "This is the one moment in time for me, for my country, for my family, for the team" (italics mine) (from Gold in hand, Venus grows up at the Olympics).

  Personally, I don't care if either of the Williams sisters carry the flag, yodel out the anthem, or receive stars-and-stripes enemas. There are, however, numerous repurcussions bouncing about amongst the JW and ex-JW communities. This tempest in a tennis court is similar to the Michael Jackson Thriller scandal of the 1980s. Once upon a time, Michael Jackson was considered a JW in good standing. Then he started a solo career. JW children everywhere were clamouring for Michael posters and trendy but oh-so-tacky leather jackets.

  At public assemblies of JWs, elders (JW priests) gave cautionary lectures on why we shouldn't give adulation to lowly people, but only to God. "After all," they said, "we don't have posters of our elders hanging on our bedroom walls, do we? So why should we have posters of some other JW, or even worse, a worldly person (JW-speak for a non-JW)?"

  Then the Thriller video came out, and the sh-- really hit the fanatics. "No Jehovah's Witness would have such an involvement with the occult!" screamed outraged JWs. Michael Jackson carefully backtracked and added a disclaimer to the beginning of his video saying something to the effect of "I don't really believe this zombie crap. It's all make-believe."

  But the JWs were not assuaged. Jacko was soon out of "The Truth" on his ear.

  So, will the Williams sisters be out on their ears? Will their fame shrivel up like Jacko's did after he got the boot? Only time will tell. Because of the Internet, JWs are now able to discuss this scandal amongst themselves. Some seem to think there is a special dispensation for rich and famous JWs. If you're in the spotlight enough, you can get away with more. After all, if the JWs kick the Williams sisters out, they'll have just lost their golden poster children. Then again, if the girls are penalised, the people of the world will get a lesson in just how upright and the JWs really are (er, think they are).
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  Gopher

  Michael Jackson was not put out of the organization. He wrote a letter of disassociation. His fall from popularity had little to do with his leaving the J-dubs, but had more to do with the controversy surrounding his interest in young boys.

  I don't know that the tennis-playing Williams sisters are even baptized as JW's. I know they are believers, but if they're not baptized -- then the WTS can really do little or nothing to them. If one or both of them are baptized, I'd say they just need to keep their generous donations coming in, and as long as they don't commit an actual crime, the WTS would look the other way. How famous they continue to be after their playing careers are over is largely up to them. They have several career choices that could keep them in the spotlight if they so choose.
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  shamus100

  Hi Frankinspeak,

  Interesting comments. I always wondered how those sisters could be considered JW's and be professional athletes at the same time. IT was considered heavy demonism to even consider being an athlete when I was a dub - how times have changed.

  One thing that I found odd - standing during a national anthem was a conscience matter when I was a dub. Obviously, there was no singing or putting your hand over your heart. Personally, I stood - it was a mockery not to show respect by standing, IMO. The hard-cores would remain seated, and it was nothing more than a public spectacle.

  What will become of those two for singing the national anthem? Maybe they will get DF'd. Who knows.
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  Rohag

  Serena Williams seems to be into fashion. Her line is "Aneres" - Serena spelled backwards.

  Surfing through that site, I'm having trouble imagining Witness sisters so dressed showing up at my door.
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  jamiebowers

  Rick Fearon did a video on the Williams sisters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPL2C8F8PaQ and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdNVrVAuyBE&feature=related
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  DanTheMan

  I don't know what congregation is their "home" congregation. I don't know how often either of them even goes to the KH. Did they pop into any meetings at any of the congs in Flushing over these past few weeks of the US Open? I imagine they probably did: a quick duck-in at the start of the meeting and a quick duck-out after it was over. The four major tournaments means that they likely aren't in any one place for too long.
  
  Who is going to be elder to confront them over their Olympic involvement, and sexy photos, and for carrying the idolatrous flag? Who is going to be the JC to put either of these two 'out on their ear', and dry up what is (again, likely, as this is all so much speculation) a significant revenue stream for the WTS? And think of the headlines: "Williams Sisters ousted from Jehovah's Witnesses for participating in Olympics". That will neverhappen.

  These two have a free pass as long as they don't do anything too outrageous. Kinda sickening, considering all the ticky-tack disfellowshippings that occur every day in JW land. It would bother my conscience like hell if I were them, knowing that I was getting away with shit that gets other JW's disfellowshipped in a heartbeat. But then again, they did grow up attending a congregation in Compton CA didn't they? I've read on this board that the poor black JW congs aren't so big on enforcing all the rules, so maybe they don't realize just how special the treatment they're getting is.

  
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  kool aid man06

  Watchtower double standards. Pop star Prince also gets away with it!

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDLDLvl4KTw
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  mrsjones5

  These two have a free pass as long as they don't do anything too outrageous.

  Uh yeah, I think they've crossed that line according to jw so-called standards...see below

  Such a fine example of a modest sister
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  james_woods

  Not to mention Mickey Spillane...