BEARDS: Why JW men don't have them

I know this has been dished over before, but when I was doing some research I discovered a couple of interesting points. 

As far as I can find, there is only ONE WT article that implies that JW men should not have beards. Here it is: 

“I’m sorry, young man, I do not want to become involved in student revolt.”

Wow! I never knew about that article! Thanks for sharing that nonsense 00Dad. LOL 

CoC

While we're on the subject, let me add this little tidbit: 

*** g00 1/22 p. 24 - A Close Shave ***

"The clean-shaven look continued through the 18th century. But then, by the mid-to-late 19th century, the pendulum began to swing the other way. Hence, photographs of C. T. Russell, the first president of the Watch Tower Society, and fellow Christian W. E. Van Amburgh show both men wearing stylish, well-trimmed beards that were dignified and appropriate for their time." - Emphasis added

Certainly "stylish" is subjective and changes from time-to-time, but I can't ever imagine anybody considering this beard to be "well-trimmed". That's just silly!!! And what about that hair while we're at it!!!

(bookmarking)

Blondie, thanks for the additional references. They didn't come up when I searched the Publications Index on the 2008 WT Library (the last one I had). 

Still, none really explicitly state: Thou Shalt Not Have a Beard!

But the implications are obvious to anyone wanting to "please Jehovah" (READ: Please the local elders). 

00DAD

I remember the 75 article.  That was the go-to article when I was young.  Only beatniks, hippies and revolutionairies had beards.  Decent, fine, upstanding folk were clean shaven and had one of five haircut choices from the barber shop.  

Now this one I like: 

W. E. Van Amburgh wearing a stylish, well-trimmed beard that is dignified

We've got a bro.. an MS in our cong who has a beard and an elder from another cong gave a public talk not long ago.. but then I guess it's a bit different in europe...

Yes I've heard it's different in Europe! 

It's an interesting study in human psychology and manipulation that the WT can make a few statements that, although they carefully avoid explicitly prohibiting something like wearing of beards, clearly imply that anyone not getting the "hint" is not a spiritual person. 

Then, the next thing you know the local elders turn it into a law and "voila!" it's officially an "unofficial" doctrine/policy of the WTBTS! 

We humans really are strange things. 

When I was going to meetings regularly I wore a Goatee.  It was great cause the Elder's were scared shitless of aproaching me and I wasn't ever given any "Privilege's" Awesome  

Also I've noticed that in some WT's mags, the "Worldly Guy" who was dipicted as immoral or materialistic... whatever (basically the Bad guy) would many times be shown wearing a beard or goatee.  The whole thing is just to keep mental and physical Conformity within the group.  Just another example of the Borg trying to use control tactics.   

Zordino, it's good to know that the elders were scared of you because you had a goatee, although it's equally hard to figure WHY? But, whatever. 

I'll keep mine, it's my new secret weapon against JWs everywhere! 

Their stand on beards is yet further evidence that the JW religion contains man-made rules, just like any other religion does.

Their downer on beards is found even in countries where it is customary for all men to wear beards - such as Papua New Guinea (a country in which I recently lived for a total of eight years, and thus had ample opportunity in which to observe 1. what is local custom, and 2. what the WTS stand was.)

This beardless culture would have more to do with Rutherford's attempts to emphasize that he was now in charge - not C.T. Russell, than it had to do with any imagined "Student Revolt."

Bill.

OODAD:  I'm 260 pounds 6Ft tall with a tough guy Look (I do Concrete Forming for buildings) and didn't give the Elder's the time of day.  Maybe thats why they were a little intimidated by me.     

So Zordino, you're telling me that it's not JUST the goatee, that I need to grow 2 inches and add 85 lbs. (presumably of muscle) to be as intimidating as the mighty Zordino! Damn, I thought I had something there.

I bow to your awesomeness.  I think I'll go buy a Sig Sauer, it's healthier ... for me at least! .. lol

00DAD

I had a goatee for some time never did shave, now don't even attend the brainwashing sessions. but no one ever said anything anyway, guess I didn't give a s**t one way or the other what they thought, i was happy with it and wore it and still do.

Just trimmed mine back from full ZZTop  to ZTop.

OODAD,  Its not just muscle.  There's a Lot of Fat too LoL.  Kinda Like a Big a Big Teddy Bear    

Based on those articles, I keep imagining people like this:

If they have a beard like the one below, I seriously doubt that in this day and age, people would be so repulsed by a person that they refuse to listen or acknowlege them. ...or that they are in some way "undignified".

COME ON PEOPLE! You know it's bad when even Disney allows neat beards!!!!

It's simple I sold door to door insurance for a while and was told you will sell a lot more if you don't have a beard. So no matter how the spin is, it is all a marketing ploy to place more rags.