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Post by hello on May 20, 2006 7:02:27 GMT -5
I notice how one professing young man mentioned on his MY SPACE profile that he "didn't have time for a tv!" Professing folks don't want to think that some worker influenced their ancestor to give up a TV and this belief has passed down through the generations! Nope, they see TV as a waste of time. Nobody is telling them they cannot have a TV, they say! Hmmm!
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Post by GuestS on May 20, 2006 10:11:30 GMT -5
so true....an expectation handed down from the heirarchy. Consciously or sub-concsiously the decision is not theirs. It has been made for them. And for those who are still hiding the TV....don't they know that God sees ALL?
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Post by l on May 20, 2006 10:36:29 GMT -5
The thing with T.V is you need control no control maybe you would be better off without it? but yes one can sure learn a lot on the tube
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Post by joseph on May 20, 2006 12:09:22 GMT -5
I got rid of my TV before I ever met a worker or went to a meeting.
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Post by justamom on May 20, 2006 13:39:05 GMT -5
I notice how one professing young man mentioned on his MY SPACE profile that he "didn't have time for a tv!" Professing folks don't want to think that some worker influenced their ancestor to give up a TV and this belief has passed down through the generations! Nope, they see TV as a waste of time. Nobody is telling them they cannot have a TV, they say! Hmmm! funny you should mention this... I have also been reading the Myspace comments that some of the young professing kids have made..... some of them state that they don't have time for TV but yet they will make a long list of all the movies they have went to and seen.... I mean if you don't have time for TV wouldn't you not have time to go see a movie also? I have also noticed that they will justify having a computer in their home and being on it because they can control the content of the computer.... well I can control the content of my TV too.. it is calling turning it OFF... lol I just found it very interesting... Have a great day all
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Post by one of them on May 20, 2006 13:55:21 GMT -5
"Don't have time for TV" could be another way of saying that it doesn't interest them at all. Some people simply aren't interested in what TV offers - f&w, or not.
Joseph, I know you are not the only one who has rid their homes of TV though it had nothing to do with meetings, workers or professing.
Over a period of 5 years, those teens could have seen 10 or 15 movies - that's 2 or 3 a year. That would hardly consume as much time as an hour a day of TV!! How many hours a year does the "average" person spend watching TV?
Concerning the content of TV vs. computers... Can you tell me any program on TV that isn't intended to entertain in some form or another? (Not that being entertained is sinful.) Even educational shows are designed to be entertaining. On the other hand, computers have many more uses than entertaining, and are widely used for other uses. I can't think of a TV program that would compare to this message board, for instance. Can you? Nor does TV have a format for communication like email. Where on TV can I search for a home, or information on a city I might be moving to or visiting? How aboout information on a certain disease? (Yes, I can wait until the programmers decide to provide me that information - not quite the same!) So I do think there is a significant difference in choosing to have or use a computer rather than a TV.
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Post by Cherie on May 20, 2006 17:21:25 GMT -5
I'm an ex-2x2. We have one TV--no kids at home--and I never turn it on. I barely know how to do so. My husband maybe turns it on about 3 times a month to see Star Wars, and a few times for the weather in the morning. It just doesn't interest me. I'd rather read a book, so I do lots of reading.
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Post by l on May 20, 2006 17:31:25 GMT -5
I'm an ex-2x2. We have one TV--no kids at home--and I never turn it on. I barely know how to do so. My husband maybe turns it on about 3 times a month to see Star Wars, and a few times for the weather in the morning. It just doesn't interest me. I'd rather read a book, so I do lots of reading. The T.V. is great for news but after you initially hear the news it's all re runs after that...but if there was a major news event like Katrina at New Orleans it sure got covered well same with that title wave
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Post by jxr on May 21, 2006 6:25:12 GMT -5
"Don't have time for TV" could be another way of saying that it doesn't interest them at all. Some people simply aren't interested in what TV offers - f&w, or not. ... It could be, but then again, it is more likely to be a throw-away phrase, used to justify why they don't have a TV, without taking the bushel off their lantern, so to speak.
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Post by gusset on May 21, 2006 8:29:35 GMT -5
you can get tv on (some) computer
don't be deluded-the kids on my space are definitly not representative of all the fields in the US
i'm not denying their comments, experiences just don't hold them up as standards there are people in California that would die to think that they are being represented by such a lot of worldly kids
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Post by amazed on May 21, 2006 18:13:39 GMT -5
I notice how one professing young man mentioned on his MY SPACE profile that he "didn't have time for a tv!" Professing folks don't want to think that some worker influenced their ancestor to give up a TV and this belief has passed down through the generations! Nope, they see TV as a waste of time. Nobody is telling them they cannot have a TV, they say! Hmmm! I think this may depend upon the person, regardless of being in the f&w. I know people "in the world" who have TVs and hardly know anything about what's on, then again I know of people "in the truth" who can hardly pull themselves away. I don't think it's a religion thing so much as an individual thing.
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Post by hi6 on May 29, 2006 7:49:16 GMT -5
One of the most absurd aspects of this group is the TV ban in Eastern North America. Young people today aren't going to give up a TV and they are keeping their group small by this silly ban. There are wonderful Christians who could add much to their group but they won't give up their TV. Expecting young people today to give up their television is like expecting someone to give up electricity.
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Post by ClayRandall on May 29, 2006 10:03:46 GMT -5
FCC chairman Newton N. Minow called television a "vast wasteland" Two notions strike me about this.
1) I'm pretty sure he wasn't professing
2) He made that comment in 1961.
The idea that television is bad is most certainly not unique to the Friends and Workers, no matter how much some of them may want to believe it...
Clay
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Post by Guest on May 29, 2006 14:29:28 GMT -5
Having no television is just a law of man. There is good as well as bad on television. This pertains to almost everything in life. There is good & bad in newspapers, books, computers, conversations amongst ourselves....EVERYTHING!! What people need is self discipline and control and remember they are responsible for what they chose to view/not to view. This should not be an universal law of the people. People should have freedom of choice & decipher between right and wrong in everything....of course with guidance from what they read in their bible as how to live.
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eurp
Senior Member
Posts: 290
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Post by eurp on May 29, 2006 14:40:12 GMT -5
"This should not be an universal law of the people."
It Isn't actually.
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Post by Hope For All on May 29, 2006 15:47:11 GMT -5
"Don't have time for TV" could be another way of saying that it doesn't interest them at all. Some people simply aren't interested in what TV offers - f&w, or not. Joseph, I know you are not the only one who has rid their homes of TV though it had nothing to do with meetings, workers or professing. Over a period of 5 years, those teens could have seen 10 or 15 movies - that's 2 or 3 a year. That would hardly consume as much time as an hour a day of TV!! How many hours a year does the "average" person spend watching TV? Concerning the content of TV vs. computers... Can you tell me any program on TV that isn't intended to entertain in some form or another? (Not that being entertained is sinful.) Even educational shows are designed to be entertaining. On the other hand, computers have many more uses than entertaining, and are widely used for other uses. I can't think of a TV program that would compare to this message board, for instance. Can you? Nor does TV have a format for communication like email. Where on TV can I search for a home, or information on a city I might be moving to or visiting? How aboout information on a certain disease? (Yes, I can wait until the programmers decide to provide me that information - not quite the same!) So I do think there is a significant difference in choosing to have or use a computer rather than a TV. I'll throw in my two cents worth. Computers on their own are not comparible to TV. However almost every computer today is connected to the intranet- and that is a whole different ballgame. I challenge anyone to show me how TV comes close to granting access (day or night 24 x 7) to stuff that is even close to being as ugly and destructive as what a person can find on the intranet with one click of your finger. Yet almost every F&W home has the intranet but the TV is still "banned" in most areas. Is this not a double standard?? I agree with all those who have said that workers need to let each one be guided by their own convictions and situation. Love, HFA
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Post by hi6 on May 29, 2006 20:39:17 GMT -5
I can respect anyone who feels the need to keep TV out of the home by PERSONAL CHOICE. I resent a minister/worker who feels the need to force everyone in the group to give up TVs. Especially in an exclusive religion where you are told you will go to hell (lost eternity) if you aren't a member of the group.
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Post by lizunplugged on May 30, 2006 15:38:11 GMT -5
I had an aunt (deceased) whose non-professing husband passed away. My aunt still had uncle's TV in her home when workers paid a post funeral visit. They expressed concern over the TV, wondering when she was going to dispose of it. She countered with, 'I don't know. No one (meaning the friends) has called me, checked up on me, invited me over, etc. and the TV is helping me cope with the loneliness of losing my husband. I 'm careful of what I watch., etc."
Shortly after this visit, my aunt received a letter from the overseer of state. In it was $$ she had given the sister workers along with a note explaining that the workers could not accept $$ from any of the friends who had a TV in their home.
How pathetic.
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eurp
Senior Member
Posts: 290
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Post by eurp on May 30, 2006 16:05:35 GMT -5
"Shortly after this visit, my aunt received a letter from the overseer of state. In it was $$ she had given the sister workers along with a note explaining that the workers could not accept $$ from any of the friends who had a TV in their home. "
I doubt that.
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Post by gift on May 30, 2006 16:15:29 GMT -5
"Shortly after this visit, my aunt received a letter from the overseer of state. In it was $$ she had given the sister workers along with a note explaining that the workers could not accept $$ from any of the friends who had a TV in their home. " I doubt that. Why do you doubt? There are many first hand accounts such as this one. Have you read reflections or reflected truths?
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Post by Thomas on May 30, 2006 17:27:44 GMT -5
"Shortly after this visit, my aunt received a letter from the overseer of state. In it was $$ she had given the sister workers along with a note explaining that the workers could not accept $$ from any of the friends who had a TV in their home. " I doubt that. Why do you doubt? There are many first hand accounts such as this one. Have you read reflections or reflected truths? Because it sounds like a story made up to make a point. Because there are many of these people begin to doubt them. This one has an easy solution - post the letter. If it exists it will really show what is going on. Otherwise it is just another story.
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Post by gift on May 30, 2006 17:31:14 GMT -5
Why do you doubt? There are many first hand accounts such as this one. Have you read reflections or reflected truths? Because it sounds like a story made up to make a point. Because there are many of these people begin to doubt them. This one has an easy solution - post the letter. If it exists it will really show what is going on. Otherwise it is just another story. I believe it's true and have heard other stories about workers not accepting money as such. I'm sorry that you choose to doubt.
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Post by Hope For All on May 30, 2006 17:53:42 GMT -5
Dear Teenager,
I also respect anyone's decision to not have a TV. What I object to are people who try and justify why no one should have one- yet who have the internet themselves. That is simply a double standard.
I know of very few kids who spend 5+ hours a day watching TV. Especially on a school day. That would mean watching from 4 to 9 non stop every night?? If so then shame on the parents for allowing it. There is a bigger problem there than the TV.
I have teenagers and we never had a TV until recently. And do you know something interesting? They spend less time watching it now than they did before. They would go to someone elses house to watch it and I never knew what they were watching.
Another interesting thing? They are home more now than before we had a TV. And they are not at someone elses place all the time.
My point is that when you ban something- kids seem to want it more. When it is right there- guess what- the urge seems to be less. Strange but true.
I have had 100 times more success "blocking" inappropriate channels/programs on TV than I have ever had on the internet. With new digital TV you can lock out just about anything you want.
All we allow access to are education, news, weather, sports or family channels.
Love, HFA
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Post by Lizunplugged on May 30, 2006 18:11:43 GMT -5
Eurp & Thomas:
And others wonder why exes sound angry & bitter!
The above incident involving my aunt DID happen. It's not contrived. I think I may still have the letter and will post it.
My posting, however, will be simply copying the letter, word for word, since I'm not a techno-weenie and know of no other way to do it.
Teenager: 2x2's and other christians, for that matter, claim that by not doing an activity, such as watching TV or surfing the internet, one has "MORE TIME FOR GOD". Unless you are a monk or live in a convent, can you truthfully claim that the time you would free up by not watching TV or surfing the net you would spend reading your bible, praying, or evangelizing others?!
In reality, I imagine you'd spend that free time hanging with your friends & family, reading, sport activities, hobbies, etc.
So how 'bout taking the phrase 'more time for God' out of your vocabulary??
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Post by pete logged off on May 30, 2006 18:28:02 GMT -5
A friend of mine in the western US told me the following story a few years ago and it gave me a chuckle (even though it doesn't exactly relate to the title of this thread).
My friend "John," a single man, was invited to lunch by one of the brother workers. During lunch, the worker mentioned something about the fact that John had a TV in his house and wondered if that was such a good idea. John answered that he just used it to unwind sometimes after work and it wasn't causing any problems in his spiritual life. The worker then told John that the workers would no longer be able to accept money from him (John) as long as he had the TV in his home.
So, when lunch was over and the check came, John told the worker, "OK, you're portion comes to $10.50. Since you aren't accepting money from me anymore I guess you'll need to pay your part."
The worker had not brought any money, assuming John was going to pay, so he had to ask John for a "loan" to pay for his lunch.
;D
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Post by Jessi on May 30, 2006 22:48:19 GMT -5
I profess Christ the Lord as my Savior and my God. I am a former member and I don't watch shows on TV at all anymore. I have one set up to watch teaching videos and sermons on CD and VHS, that's it. I AM NOT A MEMBER AND I DON'T HAVE TIME TO WATCH TV.
Works follow faith (James 2:18). If the Lord asks for the TV and I am His, I shouldn't hesitate to give it up. But I'm a sinner. I don't listen well. Took me a few months and some punishments, but I gave it up. Not because of a man's rule. That is nothing to the Lord. But if I am His, I know His voice and I follow Him (John 10:3-5).
Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin (Rom 14:23). Once I think something is wrong, but do it anyway, then it's a problem.
Jessi
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Post by Rob O on May 30, 2006 22:57:40 GMT -5
Jessi,
You may have already posted it, and if so I missed it, but what is your story with respect to how you came to be in the F&W group and how you left?
Just curious.
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eurp
Senior Member
Posts: 290
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Post by eurp on May 31, 2006 3:48:30 GMT -5
"Why do you doubt?
There are many first hand accounts such as this one. Have you read reflections or reflected truths? "
I doubt it as there are many made up stories to prove a point. I'm not declaring it false, as I don't have enough info to do that. I still doubt it. Thats not a reflection on an individual posting (it was posted anonymously as are all posts on this board), just that for me, the balance of probabilities is that this is not true.
ps. Yes I have read them, and I doubt many of them too. Anything posted on the internet is largely unverifiable.
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