JW Commercialism

[2EVES]

Is this going to far? or is it a conscience thing? JW.ORG is plastered on almost everything. 

 

 

https://www.pinterest.com/IngridTaillefer/jw-ministry-supplies/

 

[Tortuga]

Personally I think it's going too far. Enthusiasm is exceeding good taste.

[Precision]

Personally I think it's going too far. Enthusiasm is exceeding good taste.

 

Ahh...come on Turtle. I'm looking for a pair for my sweetheart wife...6" Stilettos   

[minister159]

Personally, I find this form of advertising undignified and more about making a buck than helping people find the truth. Is it really necessary? I don't think so. 

[Tortuga]

Personally, I find this form of advertising undignified and more about making a buck than helping people find the truth. Is it really necessary? I don't think so. 

Agreed. I think it dilutes the intent of the website and eventually makes a mockery of it.

[campanula]

Agreed. I think it dilutes the intent of the website and eventually makes a mockery of it.

 

But what a wonderful shoes!  

[Precision]

Personally, I find this form of advertising undignified and more about making a buck than helping people find the truth. Is it really necessary? I don't think so. 

 

I totally agree Ken, I thought the pictures were photo shopped and taken as a joke ! I can't believe that any one would even consider wearing something like that!

[Precision]

Agreed. I think it dilutes the intent of the website and eventually makes a mockery of it.

 

So True !

[Tortuga]

I like the tie....

[campanula]

I totally agree Ken, I thought the pictures were photo shopped and taken as a joke ! I can't believe that any one would even consider wearing something like that!

 

Would be very comfortable for preaching  in remote territory.

[Precision]

Would be very comfortable for preaching  in remote territory.

 

I don't know if I would wear them in the Ukraine Sis. The Police might have a problem with them.

[dozerman5676]

I totally agree Ken, I thought the pictures were photo shopped and taken as a joke ! I can't believe that any one would even consider wearing something like that!

I don't know....... I have a cute black dress they would look good with......

(I think it was a joke.... of course no one would wear them, just adding a word picture to Romans 10:15)

[campanula]

I don't know if I would wear them in the Ukraine Sis. The Police might have a problem with them.

Do not know about Ukraine, but in Russia definitely. lol 

[Stavro]

It seems to me that the JW.org imagery has long passed the point of advertising a means to learn the truth, instead becoming a mockery at best, or a semi-acceptable replacement for the cross at worst.

 

I don't mean to imply that most people are worshipping the logo or giving it veneration, but for some people, their constant devotion to plastering the logo on anything and everything they see is virtually indistinguishable from idolatry.

[Tortuga]

It seems to me that the JW.org imagery has long passed the point of advertising a means to learn the truth, instead becoming a mockery at best, or a semi-acceptable replacement for the cross at worst.

 

I don't mean to imply that most people are worshipping the logo or giving it veneration, but for some people, their constant devotion to plastering the logo on anything and everything they see is virtually indistinguishable from idolatry.

 

That's a pretty strong viewpoint. I'll need to dwell on that thought for a while before I agree or disagree.

[Lance]

She must feel like a heel trying to save soles like that

[Luezette]

It's ridiculous!!!

[Downunder Guy]

Personally, I find this form of advertising undignified and more about making a buck than helping people find the truth. Is it really necessary? I don't think so. 

In some cases it's about drawing attention one's self,  "look at me I've got the jw.org logo on my shirt/umbrella/bumper sticker/witnessing bag/whatever."

[Tortuga]

She must feel like a heel trying to save soles like that

 

Oh my, there is no way I'm going to try and shoehorn my way into a line like that.

[Julsey]

Great.  The website on shoes that you used to travel to the Red Light District to see.<sigh>

[Tortuga]

I get a strong feeling there will be an article or talk about this soon. I wouldn't be surprised if we get reminded about copyright laws, making a profit off of brothers and sisters and showing proper respect for our spiritual tools.

 

What's next, silver NWT luggage? GB bobble head dolls?

 

[train]

The shoes in the picture are a joke at worst.

I do agree that some are overdoing it with the logo. I have cufflinks with the logo, but that's it. I took a 3" logo sticker OFF my car when an apostate took aim at me after seeing my car. It was serving no purpose other than making me identifiable to other friends, but I would prefer to do that by my conduct. I don't wear the pins. I think some saw how the branch was applying it everywhere and thought it an easy way to preach, but it has turned into overkill. I don't quite see it hitting the level of the cross, but yeah.

For the record, I'm not opposed to the pins. I'm not opposed to a keyring. Whatever; these things might spur a conversation or two. But it A) is not wise to plaster it on every surface, and is NOT a substitute for traditional preaching efforts!

Silver NWT luggage, eh?

[rbrown1205]

Perhaps this was overdone by some, like not too many decades ago when friends used to have little Watchtower pins.

 

But on the other hand, the pins do advertise the website.  I could see the propriety of wearing a pin when doing public cart witnessing, and even to make it a subject for conversation to those who stop at the cart.  And we have the website advertised on the sign identifying the Kingdom Hall.

 

But gaudy T-shirts (don't know of RBC volunteers wear simple ones), or casual hats, or stiletto shoes?  I don't know if my conscience would allow for that.  There is a line between legitimately advertising our ministry and crass commercialism.  Different friends draw it differently.

[Qapla]

I would think the essence of this article should help sharpen our view of using the logo (this is an aside from the copyright issues)

 

 

 

*** km 9/74 p. 8 Question Box ***
● Is it fitting to display the Hebrew or English letters of the Tetragrammaton on automobiles, jewelry and other items?
This is a matter that should rightly be left for each Witness to decide, based on the dictates of his own conscience.
Nevertheless, circumstances vary, and what may be appropriate in one locality may not be fitting in another area. For example, where there is considerable prejudice against Jews, displaying the Tetragrammaton in Hebrew letters could give rise to needless problems due to mistaken identity. And some Jews themselves find the public display the Tetragrammaton objectionable. Also, in some areas there are other reasons why such a practice might be viewed as strange and so create misunderstandings.
On the other hand, some have found that displaying the Tetragrammaton either in English or Hebrew letters has aroused curiosity and given openings for informal witnessing. Then, too, it has served as a means of identifying other Witnesses when traveling.
If a person should decide to display the Tetragrammaton on his car, he should also appreciate the responsibility of not misrepresenting it by disregard for Caesar’s laws or by careless and inconsiderate driving. (We could substitute the logo for the tetragrammaton because it has the same effect - also, there are many places besides on our automobile that these principles apply)
As Jehovah’s servants we are responsible to uphold the dignity of his name. This is done primarily by preaching and by setting a good example in Christian living. Should the public display of the Tetragrammaton detract from that, it would obviously not be fitting. Furthermore, we do not want to give others the impression that the Tetragrammaton is the symbol of Jehovah’s witnesses as a whole. We have no organizational symbol to identify ourselves but show that we are Jehovah’s Christian witnesses by living in harmony with God’s will.—John 13:35.
 

Edited July 24, 2015 by Qapla

[Stavro]

If the URL is on a book cover, service bag, pin, etc, it's clearly visible to the householder, and remains within the context of the ministry.

 

If the URL is on tennis shoes, t-shirts, or painted toenails, that's very tacky and approaching the realm of disrespectful, but at least it's sometimes visible to the public.

 

If the URL is on a wall hanging in someone's home, there's no possibility for interested ones to see it and learn about the site. Personally, I feel that this starts to cross the line into veneration and commercialism. There's no Kingdom preaching purpose served by these items, and they often take the same places and forms where someone in false religion would normally see the cross or other religious icons.