A YouTube video recently uploaded by a delegate to one of the 2014 international conventions is causing a stir among current and former Witnesses alike.
Now with over 11,000 views the video, shot on June 6th by a delegate to the Detroit international convention, shows an entertainment event being hosted in what appears to be a kingdom hall.
Jehovah’s Witnesses from three different congregations are shown partying with their delegate guests to a series of songs, mostly comprising ‘worldly’ hits from the Sixties.
Classic hits such as “Stand By Me,” “Up On The Roof” and “Stay” are performed by a musical ensemble led by an older brother on the drums, who introduces each song as though it has a ‘theocratic’ angle. Delegates are told that “Stand By Me,” for example, has “lyrics that emphasize the closeness that we have to each other in Jehovah’s organization.”
Once the band has vacated the stage, the kingdom hall later erupts into dancing to the song “Happy” by rapper Pharrell Williams (see time marker 29:55). This is the same song that was recently danced to by a number of former Witnesses, including yours truly, in a special video.
Interestingly, as any relatively well-informed Witness will tell you, kingdom halls (as buildings dedicated to worship) are usually deemed as fitting venues ONLY for regular meetings, ‘theocratic’ arrangements, weddings or funerals.
And as the following excerpt from page 127 of the Shepherd the Flock of God elder’s manual shows, even couples getting married should not expect the playing of so-called ‘worldly’ songs at their ceremony.
After reading the above, you might be tempted to see the YouTube video as evidence that Watchtower is becoming more relaxed and mainstream. But if this is the case, please don’t get your hopes up!
As already explained in a recent article, international conventions are a huge money-spinner for Watchtower. Those wealthy enough to be “delegates” (and who meet the physical and ‘spiritual’ criteria) must fork out eye-watering sums of money to stay at Watchtower-approved hotels, and in some cases will pay a premium on their flights if they book through one of the organization’s prearranged travel agencies.
I write with some personal experience on the matter after being told how much a close relative from the UK once paid to attend an international convention as a delegate in mainland Europe. The amount he paid Watchtower for an event only two hour’s flying time away was closer to what I would have expected him to pay to jet off to Australia.
Unsurprisingly, those who are willing to pay handsomely for the privilege of attending an event where they have an opportunity of rubbing shoulders with a Governing Body member (which is the only significant difference between an international and a regional convention), are treated like royalty.
After all, Watchtower wants these elite individuals to also consider being delegates for future events, and not become disillusioned.
And so it is that the rulebook can so easily be thrown out of the window where international convention delegates are concerned.
A couple getting married are not giving hundreds or even thousands of dollars to Watchtower, so they don’t get to walk down the aisle to Celine Dion. An international delegate, on the other hand, is lining Watchtower’s pockets quite nicely, and so can expect some bang for his buck when it comes to entertainment and ‘hospitality’.
And when it comes to keeping their wealthy backers happy, the Governing Body are only too willing to oblige.
***UPDATE – Since this article was published the following video has been obtained showing line dancing at a kingdom hall in Euless, Texas, to entertain international delegates***
thanks Cedars for another good post .
it is not “how you feel” that will count …. “it’s WHO you KNOW” that will make the eternal difference.
……. what a sickening slick video, this is so hard to watch, these are sincere lovely people who think they have the real article, but have never compared what they have with the real item.
God help them.
I too noticed double standards with the International Convention. For instance, the amount of rehearsing for the ones involved in the entertaining the delegates, also the amount of time that went into preparing gifts. Yet, at the convention we had all the time wasting pursuits crammed down our throats once again….Just tired of it all….
It depends on what Bethel heavies hold the most clout! Theocracy? My a***e!
It is the ugliest of Plutocracies… with a handful of genuine Theocrats, amongst a bunch of power mad bullies.
Puffed up with pride, they are ignorant enough, not to acknowledge their own c**k ups and mistakes…. letting the little ones, the kids, the tender new lambs in the flock… suffer whilst their self imposed standards beat them into submission.
Yes, Cedars, Les Hoy has it right! It isn’t what You know it definitely is WHO you know. Sickening bunch of a**e lickers!
Mein Gott… that felt good, comrades.
“Stand By Me,” for example, has “lyrics that emphasize the closeness that we have to each other in Jehovah’s organization.”
Unless of course you get disfellowshipped or disassociate yourself, or even simply quit going to the meetings. Then the tune changes significantly to “Shunned by Me!”
Queen Elsa,
Yes, my dear old Mum has been attending weekly craft days, where a bunch of pensioners make bags, and magazine folders, and goody bags.
They even had a photographer attend and take pictures of their hands as they crafted for the Kingdom.
On one hand, it’s a nice social event for my dear old Mum, and it’s nice to give gifts to guests, but on the other it’s a big Teflon coated Love Bomb and it’s aimed squarely at those with the wherewithal to pay inflated prices to attend a bog standard District Convention!
It truly sickens me when I see good hearted, frail people like my dear old Mum used and abused by these charlatans.
So, I’m not surprised that they’re partying to pop tunes in the Kingdom Hall.
Now, if I was in charge of entertainment, I’d get Prince to perform!! 1999 – the last time the 1914 obsession had any last credence!!!
What does any business do when they are being out competed? They adapt or die. This is the continuation of a transformation that began around a decade ago, more or less.
Great article, Mr Cedars! I’m astonished that they were able to film. Still, even more ammunition for the battle ahead.
Peace be with you
Excelsior!
The truth is that Jehovah says (Hosea 4:8) . . .They feed on the sin of my people, And they are greedy for their error.
From Hosea to today’s “DUKES”, Jehovah’s Witnesses have not changed they feed on the sins of poor minded people who give away their money, intimacy and feelings as a price to escape Armageddon!!
See what has happened today:
*** Text for Monday, July 07, 2014 ***
Let him call the older men of the congregation to him, and let them pray over him.—Jas. 5:14.
Could the desire to receive glory from humans affect even dedicated servants of God? Suppose a young man is assigned to preach in an area where he is fairly well-known in the community but is not yet known as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Will he shrink back in fear? Or what if someone is ridiculed for his pursuit of theocratic goals? Will he allow those without clear spiritual vision to influence his choices in life? Or perhaps a Christian has committed a serious sin. Will he hide his wrongdoing because he is afraid of losing his standing in the congregation or because he does not want to disappoint loved ones? In the latter case, if his foremost thought is to repair his relationship with Jehovah, he will “call the older men of the congregation” and seek their help.—Jas. 5:15, 16. w13 2/15 4:9
WOW – the same Pharrell who produce “Blurred Lines” and “Sing” and numerous other songs about sexual misconduct. I have no problems with this song but really to have an artist like this song, played in a KH. Not to mention being told that gatherings and partying should be kept small. Oh that’s right this is a special occasion, but so is getting married, graduating and some other life events. Like you said Cedars a person can not even have a song like Endless love, My Heart Will go on and other song by singers whose life style is a 180 from Pharrell at their weddings in the KH.
Cedars,
First off, I love the site. But this is worse than what infowars.com does, man. I mean seriously, who cares! Most likely this BOE and congregation took liberties that the organization would not have approved of. I subscribe to your emails to get major impact stuff, not updates on rap songs in one KH.
Much love!
@blue Hawke
I get why Cedars posted this… It shows the consistent double standard often put forth by the organization. I’m sure the circuit overseer or hospitality dept approved it.. So even if it wasn’t approved, some big wig approved it and broke the “rules “.
I skipped around video, no way I could watch that in a linear 30 minutes. I feel kind of bad for these folks. Most look bored or uncomfortable. When “happy” comes on you can see some awkwardly coercing others to get up and dance, and nobody wanting to be the odd person out, they got up and started dancing. Painful to watch.
They look like they’ve been put into a trance by the maenad from True Blood. LOL
I think those international delegates are going to go back to their home countries and tell them how “crazy liberal” the Americans are in their Kingdom Halls over here. Shocking is all I can say to this display but on a side note, it’s such a shame that the guy that did the first song didn’t become a recording artist instead of wasting his life on the organization. Maybe in the “new order?”
Is this really happening. I am having to pinch myself. It keeps getting weirder…
wow! crazy ! not sure what to say
haven’t seen you before blue hawk, sound like a WT apologist to me! correct me if I am wrong.
Will Satan demand copyright or intellectual property over these songs?
As a special convention delegate, I’ve been wined and dined in the Kingdom Hall. Literally, they served wine. Would never happen in the USA. Also had tango dancing and other things in an assembly hall. International and special conventions are basically corporate retreats for the most “faithful” members. You get fed and entertained and given a million goodie bags. It’s basically a propaganda event. It helps you to forget all the false teachings and prophecies.
Just rewatched the video. Did any one pick up on the surveillance cameras on the ceiling. Are they recording meetings now? Looks like one is for the speaker and one for the audience. I am pretty sure they did not have those while I was growing up. I spent too many indoctrination sessions staring at the ceiling waiting for the meetings to end. Yikes! It is Orwellian’s 1984.
Getting married at the Kingdom Hall, I think any couple
Planning this, needs to know that elders are instructed to
ask STRAIGHTFORWARD questions about their conduct
during courtship, : What a pointless, nasty, humiliating, and
Intrusive , thing to do, And if the right answers are not
forth coming it could lead to congregation discipline, Souring
the whole occasion before it starts, Where is the trust in
their brothers and sisters integrity,?
And I actually feel sorry for elders being made to do this,
I would feel I was giving the impression I had a prurient
Interest in their personal relationship, And I can see no
justification for such an interrogation.
I found the old-ladies (sisters) swaying back and forth, while waving their arms, to be a mesmerizing and yet disturbing tableau vivant.
Rainbow, you’re absolutely right. Wow! Wouldn’t be surprised to see them outside, certainly. But inside the Kingdom Hall? Man things have gotten weird indeed.
LMAO
I have never seen so many people clap out of time with the rhythm of a song. Even their dance shows their lack of freedom.
@Cedars
Consider it flattery that they got together and tried to imitate you. Just one huge difference, they had to tell everyone what to do before the song. They weren’t even free to dance their own way, not that any of them could dance.
The bewildered look on so many peoples faces coupled with the terrible clapping out of time and all of the BBWs on stage, did not know whether to laugh or turn away. I think I will stop admitting to my friends that I ever was a JW.
I could never understand why the khall couldn’t be used for social events, after all it is supposed to be with the spiritual family so to speak to enjoy one another’s company. my mom would say ‘its only for serious theocratic activities we dont ‘play’ in Gods house’.
yea omg, lets not have any fun for crying out loud our face might crack from a real smile. so gee, like bible games would have been so horrid? or having a talent show? what do they think will happen? the place will get trashed or something?why not build a activity room in the basements, so they dont have to rent out halls to do stuff in? on the other subject mentioned,
I had no idea that candidates had to pay the society to get them to the conventions. did i get that right? why would it cost more than what they could pay on their own? if they are able to go to the conv, why couldn’t the local hall out of their funds pay for the tickets? or family donate? i always thought it was free for missionaries and regular pioneers to go to special conventions.
[and speaking of conventions, id like to know why people can no longer stay with people in their homes, we always did because we could not afford a hotel so we always were placed with a family. it was free. my mom made a few friends that way. now if you cant afford a hotel you don’t go or you drive back and forth.
where i come from the cong’s rarely got together to do anything, maybe a picnic once a year or five… lucky if i ever got invited to a wedding. the last witness wedding i was invited to was 8 years ago. no one gets married anymore. maybe its because they dont want to walk down the boring undecorated isle with a sleepy kingdom song playing. and maybe feel guilty for wanting to get married elsewhere.
my father who was not a witness, always criticized the org, for not having social things for the young people, he went to a Lutheran church as a boy and he was in social activities weekly. but us? he would see how bored and lonely my brother sister and i were growing up, despite my mom personally inviting persons over our home to try to make some friends, many times she got excuses why they could not make it, and it was always , ‘some other time maybe’. in the 45 years of being a jw, in 3 congregations, as an adult, i had two dinner invitations.
20 years apart.
the lack of association was always a problem here
Unfortunately, it would leave one w/ the impression that all JW’s are talentless.
Oh wait…
This is pretty weird. What’s next, a keg at the kingdom hall with some barbeque?
If you watched the video especially the singing, Simon Cowell says it best
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3cTEQFP3VQ&list=RDtoVOCZxeVk0&index=2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFpeCKyUvuc&feature=kp
Hope this link works if not, it likes like my skills at offering links is as good as the dancing on the video. lol
at almost exactly 2 minutes in Simon Cowell says it perfectly
That is quite a surprise. ‘ oh won’t you stay (so i can commit fornication with you) just a little bit longer’.
Interesting that the song stand by me has been used & has been considered to be an anti God judgement song.
Jimi Hendrix also understood the implications of the song. If 6 was 9.
Quite surprising, ‘ oh won’t you stay( so i can commit fornication with you ) just a little bit longer.
Interestingly many people have viewed stand by me as an anti God judgement song. Jimi Hendrix if 6 was 9.
Imagine if Jehovah’s witnesses got their judgement wrong and 6 turned out to be 9.
So glad that I checked this website before I went off to sleep! I needed to have a good chuckle before slumber and this did it.
I honestly don’t know what is worse; sitting through two hours of “meetings” or this geriatric talent show (with one hottie in the middle). I can’t imagine the delegates thinking that they are getting their monies-worth with this kind of a show. Is there nothing better to do after flying around the world and coming to America?!?
I did two of these conventions in the early ’90’s and we never were forced to sit through something like this! Although it was a huge waste of money and it brainwashed me even more, at least we spent all of our time seeing some interesting stuff, besides the days listening to a convention in some other language. That didn’t matter as you one can remember anything about the parts anyways. (It was a great way to meet sisters from all over the world although you couldn’t touch.)
I bet people sold off some organs to get included in this bizarre freak show and the ones that were excluded will have to hear about for at least a year in every part and comment at every meeting they attend.
This looked like something from a David Lynch flick. Like it was meant to be intentionally disturbing on multiple levels.
All they needed was some rattlesnakes and this would have mimicked J. Hovah’s singers from the classic car flick “Vanishing Point”.
I’ve just had an horrendous glimpse into the paradise. It’s true their all wearing 1950’s farmer clothes & singing kum ba yah. Someone please turn my life support off.
And where was Abba’s money money money?
That’s some rocking party.
Shoot me man & stop being a p×××y.
That’s one of my favourite videos of all time:-) it runs along side Robert Unwin YouTube lol;-)
Wow whatever next!! This:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_JmXCNPs6Y
This video is a work of genius:-)!
Picasso couldn’t have painted that:-)
Be warned it’s addictive:-)
Wow how they resonate ! No wonder !!!
PHARRELL WILLIAMS – Happy
Here come bad news talking this and that, yeah,
Well, give me all you got, and don’t hold it back, yeah,
Well, I should probably warn you I’ll be just fine, yeah,
No offense to you, don’t waste your time
Here’s why
azlyrics.com/lyrics/pharrellwilliams/happy.html
I Have not watched the video as yet as my computer is sort of acting up not playing videos properly…so i guess that these ones at that km was behaving just like my old computer… acting up and out of sinc with what is pure and holy, as they would love the whole world to believe ….wait a minute…are they not suppose to be different from the world around them???? so how come they’re acting up and acting out things that they so strongly condemn, and are now shamelessly reverting to get up on the bad foot ;dancing to the the golden calf as it were at the foot of the holy mountain.They always claimed that the KM IS JEHOVAH’S PLACE OF WORSHIP AND AS SUCH IS DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER PLACES OF WORSHIP AND NOTHING UNCLEAN OR UNWHOLESOME HAS ANY PLACE WITHIN…WELL I GUESS THAT WAS WHEN THEY WERE THEOCRATIC …But now that they have become hierarchical aristocrats,just like everyone else they are now part of the world with a longing for the things of the world, if only for a privilege few which in fact would seem to always been behind the curtain 101,now we are seeing the crass hypocrisy behind curtain new light 2…so what’s behind curtain 3 ??? look out now !!! heeer comes the kingdom pedophile band ,playing James brown sex machine; so everyone let’s make the kingdom hall our party hall join hands and do the ZONK DANCE HA,HA,,HA,LOL,LOL !
Reporting on the Moose in Awake! 2013, the WTS says “There is tenderness evident between cows and bulls during the rut, and […] Calves adopted by humans have even formed maternal bonds with their keepers. (http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/l/r1/lp-e?q=g+3%2F13+p.+9; g 3/13 p. 9)!
Awake! as Jehovah’s Witnesses are MAMMALS with same desire as the Moose. Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (3rd Edition) defines a mammal as
“any animal of which the female gives birth to babies, not eggs, and feeds them on milk from her own body”
As examples, the dictionary says “Humans, dogs, elephants and dolphins are all mammals, but birds, fish and crocodiles are not.”
Do not fool yourself! JWs are mammals and when not watched on, they behave as any mammal males (brothers) fighting for females (sisters) in many occasions.
Same people same mammals:
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/l/r1/lp-e?q=Deuteronomy+21%3A10-14