Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 03-13-2011 WT Study (MARRIAGE)

In what way did God instruct Adam and Eve about marriage? How successful was that considering the first marriage failed? Adam and Eve had never seen a marriage in action.

START OF ARTICLE

1. Why does Jehovah deserve our respect?

JEHOVAH GOD, the Originator of marriage,

surely deserves our respect. As our

Creator, Sovereign, and heavenly Father, he

is rightly described as the Giver of “every

good gift and every perfect present.” (Jas. 1:

17; Rev. 4:11) This is a manifestation of his

great love. (1 John 4:8) Everything he has

taught us, everything he has asked of us,

everything he has given to us has been only

for our welfare and benefit.—Isa. 48:17.

COMMENTS

How could marriage have been a good gift if Adam and Eve were not properly prepared for marriage? The WTS taught that Eve was created less than a year after Adam; considering her age, was she prepared?

Does information today come from God or only as the WTS/FDS/GB explains it?

2. What instructions did Jehovah give to the first

married couple?

2 The Bible presents marriage as one of

these “good” gifts from God. (Ruth 1:9; 2:

12) When he performed the first wedding,

Jehovah gave the couple, Adam and Eve,

specific instructions on how to succeed.

(Read Matthew 19:4-6.) If they had followed

God’s direction, they would have enjoyed

permanent happiness. However, they

foolishly disregarded God’s command and

suffered terrible consequences.—Gen. 3:6-

13,16-19, 23.

COMMENTS

Are there “bad” gifts?

Adam and Eve did not have parents to leave…………

The first marriage failed because another person interfered…..

3, 4. (a) How are many today disrespecting both

marriage and Jehovah God? (b) What examples will

we consider in this article?

3 Like that first couple, many people today make

Marital decisions with little or no

regard for Jehovah’s direction. Some reject

marriage outright, while others try to redefine

it to suit their own desires. (Rom. 1:

24-32; 2 Tim. 3:1-5) They ignore the fact

that marriage is a gift from God, and by dis-

respecting that gift, they also disrespect the

Giver, Jehovah God.

COMMENTS

“Some redefine it [marriage] to suit their own desires.”

WTS taught that spouses could not scripturally divorce on the grounds of homosexuality or bestiality.

***w56 10/1 p. 591 par. 20 Marriage Obligations and Divorce***Sodomy (or the unnatural intercourse of one male with another male as with a female), Lesbianism (or the homosexual relations between women), and bestiality (or the unnatural sexual relations by man or woman with an animal) are not Scriptural grounds for divorce. They are filthy, they are unclean, and God’s law to Israel condemned to death those committing such misdeeds, thus drastically putting these out of God’s congregation. But such acts are not adultery with the opposite sex, making the unclean person one flesh with another of the opposite sex. (Rom. 1:26-32)

***w72 1/1/ p. 32 Questions From Readers***While both homosexuality and bestiality are disgusting perversions, in the case of neither one is the marriage tie broken. It is broken only by acts that make an individual “one flesh” with a person of the opposite sex other than his or her legal marriage mate.

But

*** w77 10/1 p. 607 Questions From Readers*** Adultery, homosexuality and bestiality were bases for ending a marriage.

4 At times, even some of God’s people lose

clear sight of Jehovah’s view of marriage.

Some Christian couples decide to separate,

or they divorce without having Scriptural

grounds to do so. How can this be avoided?

How can God’s direction at Genesis 2:24

help married Christians to strengthen their

marriage? And how can those who are contemplating

marriage prepare for it? Let us

look at three successful marriages in Bible

times that illustrate how respect for Jehovah

is a vital key to a lasting marriage.

COMMENTS

How many divorces among jws have you seen as a jw? In my area, it averages about 50% like “the world.” But some jw elders don’t count it as a jw divorce if one or both were da’d, df’d, or inactive when the divorce was final.

I can think of 2 “Christian” couples that decided to separate and/or divorce without having Scriptural grounds.

Charles Taze Russell separated from his wife Maria and later divorced…without a scriptural basis.

Joseph F. Rutherford separated from his wife Mary ostensibly because of her health. What the WTS neglects to mention is that Rutherford lived in southern California at Beth Sarim because of his health…but they did not live together.

***Proclaimers book (jv) chap. 7 p. 89 Advertise the King and the Kingdom! (1919-1941)*** Brother Rutherford was survived by his wife, Mary, and their son, Malcolm. Because Sister Rutherford had poor health and found the winters in New York (where the Watch Tower Society’s headquarters were located) difficult to endure, she and Malcolm had been residing in southern California, where the climate was better for her health.

---------------Was it when he was 72 that Rutherford first started living at Beth Sarim?

(Ibid) Brother Rutherford, 72 years of age, survived the surgery. Shortly thereafter he was taken to a residence in California he had named Beth-Sarim. It was evident to his loved ones, and to medical experts, that he would not recover. In fact, he required further surgery.

*** p. 76

Brother Rutherford had a severe case of pneumonia after his release from unjust imprisonment in 1919. Thereafter, he had only one good lung. In the 1920’s, under a doctor’s treatment, he went to San Diego, California, and the doctor urged him to spend as much time as possible there. From 1929 on, Brother Rutherford spent the winters working at a San Diego residence he had named Beth-Sarim. Beth-Sarim was built with funds that were a direct contribution for that purpose. The deed, which was published in full in “The Golden Age” of March 19, 1930, conveyed this property to J. F. Rutherford and thereafter to the Watch Tower Society.

--------------So from 1929 to 1942, why did not Joseph and Mary Rutherford live together? So were either one subject to the loss of privileges or were they instead the head of the WTS until the day they died?

Cultivate Loyalty

5, 6. What situation may have tested Zechariah

and Elizabeth, and how was their loyalty rewarded?

5 Zechariah and Elizabeth did all the right

things. Each married a spiritually-minded

partner. Zechariah faithfully carried out his

priestly duties, and both of them kept God’s

Lawto the best of their ability. They certainly

had much to be thankful for. Yet, if

you had visited their home in Judah, you

would have soon realized that something

was missing. They had no children. Elizabeth

was barren, and both of them were

well up in years.—Luke 1:5-7.

COMMENTS

So did Jewish women have any personal choice in who became their husband? What if their father chose a non-Jew, could they refuse to marry them?

***Insight (it-1) p. 436 Child, Children ***Parental authority was also manifest in marriage inasmuch as the parents selected wives for their sons or made arrangements for the marriage. (Ge 21:21; Ex 21:8-11; Jg 14:1-3)

6 In ancient Israel, childbearing was highly

esteemed, and families were often quite

large. (1 Sam. 1:2, 6, 10; Ps. 128:3, 4) An Israelite

man back then might treacherously

divorce his wife if she bore him no children.

Zechariah, though, loyally stayed with Elizabeth.

He did not look for an easy way out of

their marriage, nor did his wife. Although

having no children saddened them, they

continued to serve Jehovah together faithfully.

Miraculously, in time Jehovah richly

rewarded them with the birth of a son in

their old age.—Luke 1:8-14.

COMMENTS

Why was childbearing to esteemed that barrenness was a reproach? Perhaps because every Israelite woman wanted to be the one who gave birth to Messiah? Or carry on the family name? While the law did not allow Jewish men to divorce barren wives, they could marry other women who were fertile. But they could divorce their wives for doing something “indecent” what that meant.

(Deuteronomy 24:1) . . .“In case a man takes a woman and does make her his possession as a wife, it must also occur that if she should find no favor in his eyes because he has found something indecent on her part, he must also write out a certificate of divorce for her and put it in her hand and dismiss her from his house.

-----------------------------------------

What other women were barren? Rebekah, Sarah, Rachel, Hannah, Samson’s mother.

7. In what other way did Elizabeth prove loyal to

her husband?

7 Elizabeth showed commendable loyalty

in yet another way. When her son, John,

was born, Zechariah could not speak because

he had been struck with speechlessness

for questioning God’s angel. Yet, Zechariah

must have communicated to his wife

in some way that Jehovah’s angel had told

him to name the boy “John.” The neighbors

and relatives wanted to name the boy after

his father. But Elizabeth loyally upheld her

husband’s direction to her. She said: “No,

indeed! but he shall be called John.”—Luke

1:59-63.

COMMENTS

“in some way” why the mystery, she could have lip read what he said silently or he could have written it out (which is plainly stated in the Bible).

So was it likely that Elizabeth would have not supported or been loyal to Zechariah as to the name of their child?

8, 9. (a) How does loyalty strengthen a marriage?

(b)What are some specific ways in which a husband

and wife can show loyalty?

8 Like Zechariah and Elizabeth, married

couples today face disappointments and

other challenges. A marriage without loyalty

will not flourish. Flirtation, pornography,

adultery, and other threats to a wholesome

marriage can irreparably destroy marital

trust. And when trust within a marriage

breaks down, love begins to wither. In some

ways, loyalty is like a protective fence around

the family home that keeps out unwelcome

visitors and threats, providing a measure of

security for those inside the home. Thus,

when a husband and wife are loyal to each

other, they can reside together safely and

open their heart to each other, letting their

love grow. Yes, loyalty is vital.

COMMENTS

Will any relationship survive without trust and loyalty?

Why flirtation?

I can't count the amount of times I've been approached by a friend who struggles with these definitions. Usually an episode within their love-life brings some serious questions into their minds. Where does the line of flirting begin and end? Can flirting be considered cheating? Can flirting lead to cheating? In marriage, what are the rules?

First of all, I looked up the word, flirting, and two definitions came up. In the first instance, flirting is defined as, "playful behavior intended to arouse sexual interest". In the second occurrence, the definition of the word is, "to behave amorously without serious intent, to show superficial or casual interest". The text definitions are as contrary as the opinions of married and dating people around the world. Some people might ask themselves why a married person would want to flirt with another person other than their spouse. It's a question that fuels a fire in the mind.

The truth of the matter is that flirting seems to be a harmless interaction between friends or acquaintances.

With that being said, there should be a line that isn't ignored or crossed. When you're dating someone casually, there are no rules in the game. Being married is a whole different world...a world of commitment and promises. And with those promises come a responsibility to your partner to be faithful.

http://www.essortment.com/marriage-advice-whats-flirting-whats-cheating-36639.html

9 Jehovah told Adam: “A man will leave

his father and his mother and he must stick

to his wife.” (Gen. 2:24) What does that

mean? Former ties to friends and relatives

have to be adjusted. Each mate must first

give the other his or her time and attention.

Friends and relatives can no longer take priority

at the expense of the new family; nor

should the couple allow parents to interfere

in family decisions or disagreements. The

couple must now stick to each other. That is

God’s direction.

COMMENTS

But Adam had no parents to leave. He had no friends or relatives

“Nor should the couple allow” the elders “ “to interfere in family decisions or disagreements.”

10. What will help marriage mates to cultivate loyalty?

10 Even in religiously divided households,

loyalty brings rewards. A sister with an unbelieving

mate says: “I am so thankful to Jehovah

for teaching me how to be in subjection

to my husband and have deep respect

for him. Staying loyal has resulted in 47

years of sustained love and respect.” (1 Cor.

7:10, 11; 1 Pet. 3:1, 2) So work hard to make

your marriage mate feel secure. By your

words and actions, look for ways to reassure

your mate that to you, he or she is the most

important person on earth. To the extent

that it depends on you, do not let anyone or

anything come between you and your mate.

(Read Proverbs 5:15-20.) Ron and Jeannette,

who have been happily married for

over 35 years, say, “Because we loyally do

what God requires of us, we have a happy,

successful marriage.”

COMMENTS

So while women and some men are told to be loyal to their non-jw spouses, what about ex-jw spouses?

Unbelieving = nonjw (as if nonjws have no valid religious beliefs) = aren’t ex-jws nonbelievers?

Or is it something of the past with 35 to 47 years of marriage?

Is the non-jw truly “the most important person on earth”? Or is any jw considered more important than the non-jw mate?

*** w8811/1p.22par.8WhenMaritalPeaceIsThreatened***If the unbeliever chooses to depart, the Christian will let him go. But the believer, hoping that the unbeliever may be won over to Christianity, will not initiate the breakup.

Unity Strengthens Marriage

11, 12. How did Aquila and Priscilla cooperate

(a) at home, (b) in their secular work, and (c) in the

Christian ministry?

11 When the apostle Paul spoke about his

close friends Aquila and Priscilla, he did not

mention one without the other. This united

couple is a good example of what God

meant when he said that a husband and a

wife should become “one flesh.”

(Gen. 2:24) They constantly

worked together in their home,

in their secular work, and in

the Christian ministry. For example,

when Paul first arrived

in Corinth, Aquila and Priscilla

kindly invited him to stay in

their home, which he apparently

used for a time thereafter as a

base for his activities. Later, in

Ephesus , they used their home

for holding congregation meetings

and worked together to help

new ones, such as Apollos, to grow

spiritually. (Acts 18:2, 18-26) This zealous

couple then went to Rome, where they

again opened their home for congregation

meetings. Later, they returned to Ephesus,

strengthening the brothers.—Rom.16:3-5.

COMMENTS

United “one flesh” “constantly worked together”

What about elders? Do they constantly work together with their wives? How many wives did you know that rarely saw their husbands? How many ended up divorced? I can think of 10 right now.

*** w99 6/1 p. 19 par. 17 Appreciating the “Gifts in Men”*** What about the wives of the elders? Do they not also deserve our consideration? After all, they are sharing their husbands with the congregation. This often calls for sacrifices on their part. Occasionally, elders must spend evening hours caring for congregation matters when they could otherwise be spending time with their families. In many congregations faithful Christian women are willingly making such sacrifices so that their husbands can care for Jehovah’s sheep.—Compare 2 Corinthians 12:15.

12 For a time, Aquila and Priscilla also

worked with Paul in their common trade,

tentmaking. Again, we find the couple together,

cooperating without competition or

strife. (Acts 18:3) Surely, though, it was

the time they spent together in Christian

activities that kept their marriage on

a high spiritual plane. Whether in Corinth,

Ephesus , or Rome, they became widely

known as “fellow workers in Christ Jesus.”

(Rom.16:3) They worked side by side to further

the Kingdom-preaching work wherever

they served.

COMMENTS

“cooperating without competition or strife”—so what is this point? Are we to think that Aquila and Priscilla never had an argument just because it is not recorded in the bible?

How many elders wives did you see that actually went door to door together with their husbands or on bible studies? How many elders or other men in the congregation who wandered around the room at the meetings, or left their wives in charge of the children during the conventions. I’m wondering how many husbands are studying with the wives on “Family Worship” night? When brothers found out my husband and I studied the bible together, they would say “why, you don’t have children and you are both adults?” Their wives would be jealous that my husband spent that time with me. I knew 2 WT conductors that deliberately studied alone not wanting to be distracted by their wives comments.

13, 14. (a) What situations can work against unity

in a marriage? (b) What are some things marriage mates

can do to strengthen their bond as “one flesh”?

13 Indeed, unity in goals and activities

strengthens a marriage. (Eccl. 4:9, 10) Unfortunately,

many couples today spend little

time together. They work long hours at their

separate jobs. Others travel extensively for

their secular work or move abroad alone to

work to send money back home. Even at

home, some marriage partners find themselves

isolated from each other because of

the time they spend on television, hobbies,

sports, video games, or the Internet. Is that

true in your household? If so, can you adjust

your circumstances to spend more time together?

What about sharing in such common

tasks as preparing meals, washing the

dishes, or working in the yard? Could you

work together as you care for the children or

assist your aging parents?

COMMENTS

“unity in goals”—“spend little time together” Is it secular work, tv, hobbies, sports, video games, internet—sounds more like things that men do rather than spend time with their families and add to this 5 hours of weekly meetings, 2 hours travel time, 3 to 4 hours total Saturday morning (husbands rarely go out with the women and children). After 40 or more hours work, coming home to this, how many people justify needing to relax by themselves?

So where is the time available for “adjustment”?

A husband helping cook???!!! Of course, some husbands do cook, mine does, but he had the other elders make fun of him, that it was my job…washing dishes—women’s work again; working in the yard….the elders wives had to “sacrifice” and do that in this area. Care for the children or aging parents…women’s work again.

14 Most important, regularly spend time

together in activities related to worship of

Jehovah. Discussing the daily text together

and sharing in family worship provide excellent

opportunities to keep your family’s

thinking and goals aligned. Also share together

in the ministry. If possible, try pioneering

together, even if your circumstances

allow you to do it only for one month or

one year. (Read 1 Corinthians 15:58.)A sister

who pioneered with her husband says:

“The ministry was one of the ways we could

spend time together and really talk. Because

we both had the common goal of helping

others spiritually, I felt that we were a real

team. I felt closer to him not just as a

Working together helps

couples to stay united (white husband/black wife…rarely seen in the publications, don’t want to tick off any racist non-jws, but now that they magzines aren’t made available to the public…)

husband but also as a good friend.” As you

work together in worthwhile pursuits, your

interests, priorities, and habits will gradually

harmonize with those of your spouse until,

like Aquila and Priscilla, you will increasingly

think, feel, and act as “one flesh.”

COMMENTS

Out of 30 families, maybe there is one “holy” enough to discuss the text. I remember a 9 year old boy that was in a demo for the assembly say later that their family had never done this but they said they did.

At the meetings for service, the men would all pile in together with “man” privileges to do (perhaps taking a 12-year-old boy) while the women went off with the children.

I knew elders that would pioneer one month but only with the brothers, never their wives.

So no time alone in bed to talk…only door to door?

Let Spirituality Guide You

15. What is the key to a successful marriage? Explain.

15 Jesus knew the importance of putting

God first in marriage. He saw Jehovah perform

the first wedding. He observed how

happy Adam and Eve were as long as they

followed God’s direction, and he saw firsthand

the trouble that resulted when they ignored

it. So when Jesus taught others, he

echoed his Father’s instruction found at

Genesis 2:24. He also added this thought:

“What God has yoked together let no man

put apart.” (Matt. 19:6) Deep respect for Jehovah,

therefore, is still the key to a happy,

successful marriage. In this regard, Jesus’

earthly parents, Joseph and Mary, set an

outstanding example.

COMMENTS

If Jesus saw Adam and Eve, why didn’t he warn them about Satan or protect them?

16. How did Joseph and Mary manifest spirituality

in their family life?

16 Joseph was kind and respectful toward

Mary. When he first learned that she was

pregnant, he wanted to deal mercifully with

her, even before God’s angel explained to

him what had happened to Mary. (Matt. 1:

18-20) As a couple, they obeyed Caesar’s decree

and also closely adhered to the Mosaic

Law. (Luke 2:1-5, 21, 22) And although only

men were required to attend the major religious

festivals in Jerusalem, Joseph and

Mary, together with members of their family,

attended each year. (Deut. 16:16; Luke 2:

41) In these and other ways, this godly

couple endeavored to please Jehovah and

showed deep respect for spiritual things. It is

no wonder that Jehovah had chosen them

to care for his Son during the first part of Jesus’

earthly life.

COMMENTS

You mean Joseph didn’t smack Mary---only to be told by her parents that she had to stay with him?

Why is it wrong to smack your wife but all right to smack your child in the WTS?

Did you know that only men were required to attend the festivals? Why are female jws required to attend the meetings/assemblies/conventions?

17, 18. (a) In what ways can a couple put spirituality

first in their family? (b) How will this benefit

them?

17 Does spirituality similarly guide your

family life? For example, when you make

important decisions, do you first research

Bible principles, pray about the matter, and

then seek advice from a mature Christian?

Or do you tend to resolve problems by following

your own feelings or those of family

and friends? Do you strive to put into practice

the many practical suggestions published

by the faithful slave on marriage and

family life? Or do you find yourself simply

following local customs or popular secular

advice? Do you regularly pray and study together,

set spiritual goals, and talk about

your family’s priorities?

COMMENTS

Do jws research bible principles or ask the elders knowing that pleasing them is more important than pleasing God? That the elders/WTS define what is spiritual?

“suggestions” by the FDS—right!

Pray together…the only group prayers many jws participate in are at the KH.

18 Regarding their 50 years of happy married

life, Ray says, “We have never had a

problem we could not overcome, because

we kept Jehovah as part of our ‘threefold

cord.’ ” (Read Ecclesiastes 4:12.) Danny

and Trina agree. “As we have served God together,”

they say, “our marriage has become

stronger.” They have been happily married

for more than 34 years. If you always put Jehovah

first in your marriage, he will help

you to succeed and will richly bless you.—Ps.

127:1.

COMMENTS

50 years or 34 years…what were their marriages like after only 3 years? How many jw marriages never made it to 34 years?

Married for 50 years…20 of them happily, haha.

Continue to Respect God’s Gift

19. Why did God provide the gift of marriage?

19 For many today, the only thing that

matters is their personal happiness. But a

servant of Jehovah sees things differently.

He knows that God provided marriage as a

gift to further His purpose. (Gen. 1:26-28) If

Adam and Eve had respected that gift, the

whole earth would have become a paradise

filled with happy, righteous servants of

God.

COMMENTS

“servant of Jehovah” only jws—are they Christian…wasn’t “Christian” good enough for their name in the NT?

20, 21. (a) Why should we treat marriage as sacred?

(b) What gift will we study about next week?

20 Above all, God’s servants see marriage

as an opportunity to bring glory to Jehovah.

(Read 1 Corinthians 10:31.) As we

have seen, loyalty, unity, and spirituality are

godly qualities that fortify a marriage. So

whether we are preparing for, strengthening,

or trying to save our marriage, we must

first see marriage for what it is: a divine and

sacred institution. Keeping that truth in

mind will move us to do our best to make

marital decisions based on God’s Word. In

this way we show respect not just for the gift

of marriage but also for the Giver of that

gift, Jehovah God.

COMMENTS

“God’s servants” = only jws

Where is the glory to Christ?

Decisions based on God’s word or WTS words?

21 Marriage, of course, is not the only gift

Jehovah has given us; nor is it the only road

to happiness in life. In our next article, we

will look at yet another precious gift from

God—the gift of singleness.

COMMENTS

There was a time that singleness was almost required and marriage looked down on in the WTS? Why?

How Would You Answer?

How should loyalty influence married

Christians?

Why will working together in unity

strengthen a marriage?

What are some ways married people

can let spirituality guide them?

How can we show respect for Jehovah,

the Originator of marriage?

CONCLUDING COMMENTS

Jehovah’s witnesses don’t have a better batting record when it comes to marriages than non jws. Being “spiritual” even tends to make a marriage more likely to end with the extra pressures on elders and MS.

Remember that in paragraph 3 that “some try to redefine” marriage “to suit their own needs.” How many jws were hurt when the WTS defined bestiality and homosexuality as not being grounds of a scriptural divorce, only to change it in 1977? How hard would it have been to understand that under the Law people doing those things would have been executed, freeing the other mate to remarry?

Next week, MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR SINGLENESS. I have been married now just as long as I was a single adult. Think about what you already know and what you anticipate the WTS might say.

Love, Blondie

mrsjones5

Paragraph 8 just made me bristle and reminds me of all the times my parents have tried to interfere with my marriage and the many times they have told me to leave my husband. I am not supposed to be loyal to my husband because he's not a jw. *Newsflash parental units* I'm not a jw either!

Thanks for the comments Blondie.

Band on the Run

hThe rage within me gets boiling. I'd love to know how they compute Eve;s age or even Adam's age. They were not even adolescents and research shows, as many thought,that their brains weren't complete. Imagine the loneliness. I'm surpised they did not kill each other. I respect anyone who can stay calm and note Witness teachings. If one thing convinvced me the Witnesses were trash, it was the relationship between the sexes. In contrast to Jesus and even Paul, there is a fundamental lack of respect for women.

I'd rather be dead than married to a Witness male. Truly. Growing up all I heard was male supremacy. Male supremacy was someone who held a menial position and could not support his family. I'm not saying he wasn't Donald Trump (horrors in a different way). I'm saying basic support. My mother had to work and was chastised as though his lack of balls wan't the reason. Decades later, I am still souped up by all this that I can't believe its power.

I did see some good marriages among the Witnesses. Some. I believe these people would have good marriages as members of any religion. The prime directive is never good spirituallity but door to door service. I say expose their practices but, without the venom I have. We have a First Amendment in this country. It doesn't mean we have to respect every church that falls within its ambit. Let judges be neutral. The public should be forewarned.

palmtree67

As usual, "wifely submission" is touted as the solution to all marital problems.

As usual, no mention or practical hints on how the husband should treat his wife.

Grrrrrrr!!!!

St George of England

Three areas that generally cause problems between married people:

SEX

MONEY

CHILDREN

Needless to say the WT article avoided all three issues! Totally useless article.

George

witnessofjesus

I don't think the Bible shows a lack of respect for women at all, in fact, the first eye witness of the Savior's resurrection was his mother, Mary, who had come to the tomb to tend to his decaying body, when he appeared to her, and said, 'touch me not, for I have not yet ascended to my Father and to you father, to my God and to your God', so a woman, and not a man was the first eye witness of the resurrection, that's a show of great respect for women from the very Son of God Himself.

Diva

Working together helps

couples to stay united (white husband/black wife…rarely seen in the publications, don’t want to tick off any racist non-jws, but now that they magzines aren’t made available to the public…)

I think you'll find that this couple have appeared in previous magazines and were also featured on the JW calendar several years back...way before the magazines were for JW only use .

Nickolas

Is the non-jw truly “the most important person on earth”? Or is any jw considered more important than the non-jw mate?

Both good questions, Blondie. I have felt like I have been playing second fiddle to a mythical god for decades and that any JW is more important than any non-JW, mate status notwithstanding, is part and parcel of the Watchtower dogma.

I don't think the Bible shows a lack of respect for women at all

Are you and I reading the same bible?

blondie

Diva, I didn't want to give the impression that this was the first and only time...but it is a fairly new development. I can remember when I toured Bethel, they explained how they were careful not to show a black and white married couple on the covers of the magazine so that jws in the southern US would not negatively influence people at the door when featuring that magazine.

What is actually amazing is that the WTS suggests that men help with the dishes. The younger jws may be amenable to that but the older ones always told my husband that it was not manly and that he was setting a bad example.

Many women are expected to work full-time, take care of the children, and do all the housework to free up their husband's time for more "important" things.

Imagine mom and dad get home from work, the kids haven't eaten yet, it's 5 p.m. Dad has a talk on the service meeting and is the school overseer. Who is going to cook and clean up afterwards, get the kids ready for the meeting, get ready themselves? Dad....hardly. Mom will get even his clothes ready and get his book bag ready. Now I'm not ignorant to think that 100% of the men at the KH are like this, but a high percentage are and women are expected to do these things.

blondie

I hope witnessofjesus you are not confusing my comments about the WTS and how they treat women with your excellent point from the bible. The WTS knows that point, yet women are not treated like Jesus did in the WTS. I can attest that in my 45 years as a female in the WT organization.

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 03-13-2011 WT Study (MARRIAGE)

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