Chandrasonic said:

You will cluck like a chicken.

You will cluck like a chicken.

LeGrind said:

That sounds like the Scientologists!

LeGrind said

The JW/Watchtower-Society brainwashes its victims to live a life dedicated to attracting more victims into the organization's web ($$$). That's how cults operate. All the while indoctrinating its loyal drones with the belief that the organization is not a cult (nor a bottom-line driven enterprise) and anyone who actively and publicly criticizes the organization is an evil, lying agent of some satanic-like agenda of "disfellowshipped" former followers.
This sad behavior can be clearly observed here at prince.org by participating JW-apologists such as "Bibleteacher" and the like.



All Christian organzations expect belivers to witness or spread the word. Prince cannot go door to door so he post stuff on his website or yells out Go with Christ at his concerts.

If you think spreading the word is brainwashing you must not have a brain.

No one can force to believe anything. You either have faith or you don't.

Prince isn't forcing anybody to do anything. Unless he has broken into your home and held a gun to your head, forcing you to sit still and shut up while he preached to you about his JW faith, no one has anything to complain about.
Each adult here has made the decision for themselves to listen to his music or go to his concerts. This is not something he can force you to do if you are unwilling.
Many people here make a big thing about Prince trying to force us to do this or that or trying to convert us to his beliefs but are not some of you guilty of the same thing when you say that Prince shouldn't have anything to do with the JWs just because YOU don't like them or that Prince is stupid for having the beliefs that he does? Isn't that like trying to force Prince to conform to YOUR beliefs?
It goes both ways.
Prince is a grown man with a right to his beliefs and his God. If you don't like it, that is your problem, not his. He can't sell you what you are not willing to buy.

"Should PRINCE force his beliefs on his Fans?"

You went to the Celebration.
You paid $100 to join his club.
You logged on to PRINCE.ORG.
You bought a Prince album.

You PAID for his opinion.They are not FORCED upon you.

Seems to me that there is, once again, a double standard. For years, fans have CHOSEN to listen to Prince. They have CHOSEN to buy his records and therefore CHOSEN to listen to whatever he happened to be feeling,thinking, or believing at any particular time. Even though all of us may not have been cool with everything he ever had to say or believed what he was saying was for us, we took it, considered it, and went from there. Now, all of a sudden, Prince is one of Jehovah's Witnesses. As such, his religious beliefs are a large part of his life. The ministry has taken a large role in his conscious thought. Therefore, some of what he is going to have to say will reflect that. But, for some reason, now, he is accused of FORCING his beliefs on us. Am I missing something? Before, it was ok...now it is wrong. Hmm. I think many need to think about this and see it for what it is. Prejudice and a double standard in the most obvious sense.

Like it or not, Prince is one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Like it or not, associating with Prince now will, at times, entail ones being exposed to his beliefs. You are not FORCED to do anything. If you now CHOOSE to reject Prince because of this change he has made, so be it. But, don't be hypocrites and try and FORCE him to change. We all have choices to make. Deal with it and move on.

laurarichardson said:

that's true. but it hurts when our hero tells us there's only one truth and that we are wrong if we don't follow it.

he used to embrace us all . . .

Bibleteacher89 said:

Let's stop arguing over the unfortunate use of the word "force." The topic question is easily understood to ask whether or not it's appropriate or desirable for Prince to openly urge his fans to agree with his religious beliefs.

He's always written music about controversial stuff - that's part of the allure. But when I read this topic question, I feel that it has little to do with the change in musical content. It's about the nonmusical crap.

Since when did Prince stop mid-song during a Dirty Mind concert in the 80's and say:

"I just want to know how many here in this arena agree fantasize about sex with your older sister! Incest is everything it's supposed to be. Let me see your hands if you agree. It's the only way, boys. Know the truth, have sex with your sister."

Well, if he had, it might have killed the music for me then as well. In years past, he let his MUSIC do the preaching. Now, he insults our intelligence with repeated nonmusical religious gibberish. In my opinion, it diminshes his art.

He's more than talented enough to fold these latest personal beliefs into his music (see TRC), leave us to interpret the messages (sadly, even the religious ones), and stop sounding like a religious lunatic at performances where most of us paid to hear MUSIC, not preaching.

Shut up already, DAMN!

___

He forced people who paid to endure his sexually explicit lyrics and nobody says a word. He sings about his own personal faith and he is lambasted for 'forcing his beliefs on fans.' A bunch of contradictory, weak minded people.

Well Christian people who do concerts, preach and talk also. Maybe Prince is steering over in that direction, after all he is a religious man now, so I guess most of his fans will be religious also, or are just not going to care what he preaches about as long as he's just doing his thing. I don't think he's forcing his beliefs on anyone, I think he's just talking from the heart and sharing his beliefs with his fans, which I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Since Prince is a different kind of artist, with a different set of fans that other 'artists' have, maybe he thinks that his fans are going to want to know where he stands and what is in his heart, especially since he's practicing his beliefs now more than ever before, which I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Maybe the praying that he does, is all in good will, not to hurt or offend anybody, but just so that God could bless him and each and everyone one of you. You don't have to bow your head down you know, so that's why I don't think he's forcing anything on anyone.
[This message was edited Thu Jul 11 21:13:22 PDT 2002 by Starmist7]

Wolf said:

I was thinking about this also. I mean, when he was doing all those sexually explicit songs, he was then 'influencing' religious people to be, and think a certain way against God's will??? But now that he's more on God, people who are not into religion get upset for his turning the other direction because they think he's trying in some way to convert them or influence his 'new' ideals, beliefs, practices, on his fans. (?)
[This message was edited Thu Jul 11 21:19:15 PDT 2002 by Starmist7]

Anxiety said:

just as well... mainstream pop culture has been so sucky as of late.

LeGrind said:

u forgot me & housequake. we r freaky cultists 2.

NPD313 said:

Prince has always talked about God in his music and it never seemed to bother me until recently. His stance, and lyrics have become more exclusive instead of inclusive.

For some reason, I had more respect for him when he jumped between songs like Irresistable Bitch and 4 The Tears In Your Eyes.
[This message was edited Thu Jul 11 22:04:44 PDT 2002 by Tom]

In a word? No. NO ONE should force beliefs on anyone else. Sharing beliefs is a different story altogether.

"Should Prince Force his beliefs on his Fans?"
Yes, of course
as stupid as a s)!: d!p*'s thread

apollonia7 said:

And don't forget me, SensualMelody and Saffireseven,
ans JW1914, and paradise4evr, and Sistergirl;
We are just people... and there is enough space for all
of us.

-

-
[This message was edited Thu Jul 11 23:45:16 PDT 2002 by SensualMelody]

I don't understand why people get upset because Prince talks about God at his concerts. I think this is a very small portion of a great experience.

He feels very strongly about this and it is a free country.
He can say what he wants. Why let it bother you?

Besides, I like it when he tells us how he feels about God,
It makes me feel like he cares about us and not just working and collecting money, like other musicians.

How would you feel if you gave a show or wrote something and the audience tried to tell you what to believe, what to say, how to perform. It wouldn't be right because it is your show.

laurarichardson said:

There's a difference between exercising your free speech rights and many of the tactics of cults. I'm not necessarily referring to pop stars screaming their indoctrination at you.

Prince aint forcing anything on anyone. But his message that he wants to convey at this point in time is dull. Im not interested in it and so I will just sit back, get the next three CDs and then dissapear into the wilderness and find something else that challenges me musically. Year 3? I dont think so. I am getting bored with Prince. Even the music is getting boring. ONA? Absolute shyte. TRC? Boring. Rave? Pants! NPS? Crap! Lets face it. The music sucks so the message needs to try and make ammends for that. Both of which send me to sleep these days.

The best thing about Prince at the moment? The Org!

Judging from the discussion I believe a certain distinction must be made.

- Prince, like anybody else on this planet, is entitled to voice his beliefs which is an example of exercising one's freedom (in this case freedom of speech). And I think no one who holds the value of individual freedom close to their heart has a problem with it. Including myself. What's important, Prince in the past offered us spirituality and I clearly understand that for many spirituality equals God. And that's fine with me.

In this light, Prince's past involvement with God was very interesting, intriguing and in fact welcome even by non-believers like me. After all, anybody who has the need to listen to high quality music must be open to spirituality, no matter how you call it. Therefore, if Prince in the past mentioned God, I always perceived it as a call for spirituality.

- Recently, however, Prince twisted spirituality with religion. Per se, it is not something I have a problem with, because his religion is his choice. But while most of us agree that he has the right to believe in what he chooses, he seems to forget that the same applies to us. So, if he wants us to accept his new choice, he should accept that we have a choice as well.

The problem is that he does not as he tries (jokingly or not) imply that something must changed about those who do not believe. He simply does not want to present the spiritual, he wants me (and others) to change our views and become religious. But, hey, I've got news for you - I am spiritual although I am NOT religious.

With all this in mind, it is particularly annoying when he uses the business venture (NPG Music Club) to spread his religious convictions. When I signed to the club nowhere have I read that by paying $100 I join a religious organization. Therefore, I do not want any kind of religion hinted messages in my mail. If he chooses to voice his opinions through the music he sends, then it's ok, because I joined the club to hear the music. But he shouldn't send any kind of the Christmas poem or the 12 questions - I do believe it somehow violates the terms of the contract I signed by joining NPGMC.

agarze said:

Great post. I totally agree.

NPD313 said:

Why is it that the non-believers feel they can "force" their views back? If you feel strongly about NOT believing in God...then why does Prince not have the right to believe?
we are all adults with brains...and with the capacity to choose what we listen to, especially in entertainment.
It is really is pointless to continue to argue HIS belief system that he wants to share...tune out and turn it off. there are many athiest musicians to go around.

wellbeyond said:

Exactly, I have never felt forced by his beliefs. Prince has always been different. It is that difference that attracts me too his music.

AnotherLoverHoleinYoHead said:

YES.

The Future of NPGMC

1st NPGMC club will be renamed Prince's Bible Club (PBC)

2nd all Music downloads and CDs will be replaced by the latest issue of watchtower to music starring Prince, Larry + Tina Graham.

3rd You will have to pay outrageous fees to support the JW nation via Prince's pockets it costs a lot to take ur kingdom of worship on the road you know.

4th You ll get downloadable sections of the "good book" every so often.

and 5th you can expect emails containing tips on how to spread the word.


I know i signed up to NPGMC for the Music not to be taken advantage of as a direct line to my email address for religous literature and views, If you signed up to a mail order music club and suddenly they started posting you the watch tower you d get a little pissed off.

I didnt pay nor give permission for my details to be used for the distribution of any religous material. Any body else?

I m starting the feel very put upon with prince's views, his arrogance towards others and their views is appauling. I dont appriecate being told this is wrong and this is the only right way cos My name is prince and the bible tells me so.

What makes him so right? I though religon taught the acceptance of others and that we are all supposedly the same in the eyes of god/gods, because for those who believe in religon didnt their god/gods create the whole world and everyone in it?

Its all right to have a view and share it but there are ways of doing so and Prince's way is not one of them. Prince is becoming more of a dictator than a sharer.

What ever happened to Respect?

Lil man your head is getting way too big! I hope someone comes along and pops ur bubble and washes the soap out of ur head!

Princes arrogance and religon dont mix just like he said in rave un2 the year 2000 "money and art don't mix" however 2 years later he s screwing us for as much as he possibley can.

Whats the chance of NPGMC actually posting anything but positive views and answers on this? Its about time NPGMC reflected the truth and not one sided views.

Mayte319

Love each other, it's almost time 2 go. Don't let the enemy distract you. Don't let anything make U hate. Be funky, be sexy.


Peace,

JD

NPD313 said:

How is Prince forcing his beliefs on us? Prince is praising and acknowledging God in public because he loves God and he is not ashamed of it. It is important for anyone who loves God to share that joy of knowing God and his wonders. He's just doing the work.