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As I was watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Winter Games last night, and seeing the athletes from countries around the world enter the Olympic stadium, I started to think about the Jehovah's Witnesses and got to wondering what their position is on the Olympics. Would a JW athlete be encouraged to try to become an Olympian? Would a JW feel comfortable attending an Olympic event and cheering for athletes who represent his country? I think I know the answers to these questions, but am curious to hear responses from the JWs on this forum.
I got in trouble for taking a small time academic award in high school. JW are heavily discouraged from excelling at anything as to do so would bring glory to themselves. I'm not sure what the standing is of Serena Williams within the congregation but I know sports of any type are all but outright forbidden for even high school students. Only "spiritually weak" parents would allow their child to participate.
They are for spiritual unity under Jehovah and would see countries coming together as silliness because only He can bring peace. It would be wrong for them to cheer for someone based on country because that is "worldly" and their allegiance only belongs to God and they show that by obeying His spirit-directed organization The Watchtower. There would not be a prohibition(that I know of) against watching or going. They can't pledge any flag though.
I got in trouble for taking a small time academic award in high school. JW are heavily discouraged from excelling at anything as to do so would bring glory to themselves. I'm not sure what the standing is of Serena Williams within the congregation but I know sports of any type are all but outright forbidden for even high school students. Only "spiritually weak" parents would allow their child to participate.
Wow. To me, that is just plain sad! Strive for mediocrity at all times, huh? I would think that God would want us to excel in any way we could. If He gave us talents, why would He not want us to use them? I've never been one to trash anybody's beliefs, but stuff like this just makes me nuts!
I didn't know Serena Williams was a JW. I guess Venus is too? Well, judging from what you've just said, I wouldn't think they'd be accepted as JWs by the rest of the group, but who knows... maybe exceptions are made in some cases.
I got in trouble for taking a small time academic award in high school. JW are heavily discouraged from excelling at anything as to do so would bring glory to themselves. I'm not sure what the standing is of Serena Williams within the congregation but I know sports of any type are all but outright forbidden for even high school students. Only "spiritually weak" parents would allow their child to participate.
They are for spiritual unity under Jehovah and would see countries coming together as silliness because only He can bring peace. It would be wrong for them to cheer for someone based on country because that is "worldly" and their allegiance only belongs to God and they show that by obeying His spirit-directed organization The Watchtower. There would not be a prohibition(that I know of) against watching or going. They can't pledge any flag though.
Thanks, as usual L8, for the information. I was not aware of these restrictions. Interesting, and good to know.
Wow. To me, that is just plain sad! Strive for mediocrity at all times, huh? I would think that God would want us to excel in any way we could. If He gave us talents, why would He not want us to use them? I've never been one to trash anybody's beliefs, but stuff like this just makes me nuts!
I didn't know Serena Williams was a JW. I guess Venus is too? Well, judging from what you've just said, I wouldn't think they'd be accepted as JWs by the rest of the group, but who knows... maybe exceptions are made in some cases.
Their position is simple: be happy with what God gives you, DO NOT TOIL AND SPIN.
To a JW, God doesn't give "talents" he gives "gifts." If you are a good runner, you shouldn't do it to "entertain the secular people" nor to "accomplish something for yourself." I guess they probably think you should be running into burning buildings instead of across fields.
Sports that aren't played for "good fun" but are played for money ("and blood/violence") are not honoring Jesus (a non-sports man, Biblically) in any way; and are only detrimental to a Yahweh-subservient psyche (soul, in their idea). Although I would suppose that they abhor gambling, they don't seem to like "games" or "sports" that aren't left to some degree to chance. I read that they hate chess because of how "competitive" and "non-cooperative" and "dog-eat-dog" it is.
Striving for mediocrity is a good way for false religions to stay in the shadows as they grow like a fungus through "underground" or "down-to-earth" soliciting. Eventually, when it becomes convenient, the Tower will drop its singular support of high birth-rates and low accomplishment rates. This is the technique of many false religions. Of course, top-down religious soliciting has worked higher wonders in the past.
I've known plenty of JWs that celebrate holidays and other not commonly "Tower" things. Does the Tower keep an excommunication list or something? I've never heard of it. Many people are comfortable thinking that merely their Cronyism to Jesus (as they imagine him) will be enough to achieve their and their similarly-minded loved one's immortality. Why bat an eye with what the Tower's theophilosophers think about brushing your teeth or dribbling a ball.
As I was watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Winter Games last night, and seeing the athletes from countries around the world enter the Olympic stadium, I started to think about the Jehovah's Witnesses and got to wondering what their position is on the Olympics. Would a JW athlete be encouraged to try to become an Olympian? Would a JW feel comfortable attending an Olympic event and cheering for athletes who represent his country? I think I know the answers to these questions, but am curious to hear responses from the JWs on this forum.
A true follower = Matthew16:24-- one must disown oneself to follow Jesus. It would take--hours and hours of practice to get that good--leaving kingdom interests in last place--Jesus said those interests must be in first place( Matt 6:33)-- the wise listen to Jesus, I know my teachers do.
A true follower = Matthew16:24-- one must disown oneself to follow Jesus. It would take--hours and hours of practice to get that good--leaving kingdom interests in last place--Jesus said those interests must be in first place( Matt 6:33)-- the wise listen to Jesus, I know my teachers do.
Well, to each his own, huh? I believe God thinks balance is important, and that He would want us to excel in whatever area He has gifted us with abilities, whether it be in sports, the arts, or a career in medicine or teaching or anything else that benefits mankind. People need to have interests other than preaching the gospel in order to lead the kind of lives I believe God wants us to live. Naturally, I don't expect you to agree.
I got in trouble for taking a small time academic award in high school. JW are heavily discouraged from excelling at anything as to do so would bring glory to themselves. I'm not sure what the standing is of Serena Williams within the congregation but I know sports of any type are all but outright forbidden for even high school students. Only "spiritually weak" parents would allow their child to participate.
They are for spiritual unity under Jehovah and would see countries coming together as silliness because only He can bring peace. It would be wrong for them to cheer for someone based on country because that is "worldly" and their allegiance only belongs to God and they show that by obeying His spirit-directed organization The Watchtower. There would not be a prohibition(that I know of) against watching or going. They can't pledge any flag though.
Well Serena Williams is supposed to be Jehovia Witness and I do remember her after her win she thanked Jehovia.
Yet I believe she faded away from going to Kingdom Halls, and she had a baby out of wedlock. That not acceptable in JW practices. If she continued going to KIngdom Halls then it be a bigger issue for JWs. She is not even a baptised member,
and JWs would not consider her to be a JW. However the JWS would certainly welcome the finances she can bring to the institution. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tglTAibExHI
In addition Michael Jackson grew up in a JW home and was JW throughout his life. A way his parents ensured they don't get part of the wrong crowd, their children were forced everyday to sing at home and take singing lessons there and the parents did that in order avoid as much as possible to avoid evil outside influences and keep them occupied. He also stated he was sorry for the release of Thriller song, and at the beginning of the song there is a message stating he does not into the occult or endorses it. Yet a few years later he stopped going to Kingdom hall. A few years after he left the JW, he celebrated his first Christmas after some years of convincing from Elizabeth Taylor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3HEARjO0uUSame with several of his siblings. He did have a JW funeral at the wishes of his JW mother.
I got in trouble for taking a small time academic award in high school. JW are heavily discouraged from excelling at anything as to do so would bring glory to themselves. I'm not sure what the standing is of Serena Williams within the congregation but I know sports of any type are all but outright forbidden for even high school students. Only "spiritually weak" parents would allow their child to participate.
They are for spiritual unity under Jehovah and would see countries coming together as silliness because only He can bring peace. It would be wrong for them to cheer for someone based on country because that is "worldly" and their allegiance only belongs to God and they show that by obeying His spirit-directed organization The Watchtower. There would not be a prohibition(that I know of) against watching or going. They can't pledge any flag though.
In my experience, only the weakest want equality. The rest of us are comfortable with betters and inferiors.
Wow. To me, that is just plain sad! Strive for mediocrity at all times, huh? I would think that God would want us to excel in any way we could. If He gave us talents, why would He not want us to use them? I've never been one to trash anybody's beliefs, but stuff like this just makes me nuts!
I didn't know Serena Williams was a JW. I guess Venus is too? Well, judging from what you've just said, I wouldn't think they'd be accepted as JWs by the rest of the group, but who knows... maybe exceptions are made in some cases.
Not excelling could be the reason why there translations of the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek are so far off...
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