NOONE is a fool for not believing that Prince is married, lovemachine. YOU are a fool for calling us that name because of the fact that we don't agree with you.

Prince is not married and he is not a JW.

migente777 said:

So Prince referring to his wife at soundchecks, wedding rings, 5 million dollar mansions in her name don't mean anything to you? Prince's people calling Channel 9 news in Minneapolis to break the story means nothing.



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[This message was edited Wed Dec 18 12:22:54 PST 2002 by lovemachine]

How many other musicians,actors,or entertainers are Jehovah Witnesses? I have no idea and it really doesn't matter,does it. Like JoeyCoco said, if you like the music or output of any entertainer it shouldn't matter what religion he or she belongs to.

Just enjoy what he gives you. He is going to live his life the way he wants and we are going to live our lives the way we want.

DavidEye said:

you Nailed it Bro.kinda like the Symbol Cat Imitated Him without Being Him Huh?

CalhounSq said:

same here...sprayin lysol liberally throughout this thread

Okay, let's look at the facts:

1)Prince has been spotted, in the company of the Graham family, attending various Kingdom Halls.

2) Prince has, at numerous concerts, advocated beliefs that are exclusive to the JW faith (Stauros, The New World Translation, not celebrating holidays, not celebrating birthdays, etc)

3) It has been reported, numerous times, that Prince married Mani in a JW ceremony (and to anyone saying that he isn't married, Prince himself acknowledged that he was at a soundcheck earlier in the year).

4) Prince stated in a post on the NPGMC site that he was studying with JWs, but had not been babtised as one YET.

5) Prince and Larry Graham have passed out "Watchtower" and "Awake" magazines at various shows. Likewise, he allowed JWs to pass these publications out on the grounds of Paisley Park during the first Celebration

6) In the video for "Come On", Larry and Tina Graham are seen giving out a JW tract to Prince's old man character.

7) The Prince penned "Democrazy" on Chaka Kahn's Come To My House CD reflects the JW beliefs regarding government. Likewise, Prince has stated that he doesn't vote, or take part in any govermental function (this is also JW based).

8) The Rainbow Children is filled with references to the JW doctrines. "The Digital Garden" refers to the characters going "door to door, in search of those willing to do the Work". This is, most likely, a reference to the JW practice of Witnessing door to door. The title track refers to the New Translation, which is probably a reference to the JW version of the Bible. He also refers, in "Family Name" to the devil having been on earth since 1914 (This is a belief that is exclusive to the JWs).

9) Prince has discontinued using swear words in his shows, and even fines his employees for their use. The JWs have a rather strict belief with regards to this

Now, it can be argued that all this doesn't prove that Prince has actually gone through the entire process of conversion. I would agree. In all honesty, I find it unlikely that Prince would actually want to label himself with any tag, especially when it comes to spirituality. HOWEVER, the fact is, the majority of Prince's views and beliefs are in line with those of the JW faith. Sure, he may not be "official", but he certainly seems to be one in every sense.

So, if you look like a duck, walk like a duck, quack like a duck and are seen in the company of other ducks, chances are really good that you're a duck!

"Everybody's looking for the ladder
Everybody wants salvation of the soul..."

jtgillia said:

They've squashed quite a bit so far.

lovemachine, don't even go there okay.

Mani doesn't mean SHIT to me, nor to anyone who could give two shits about her ass either.

JediMaster, WHO CARES?

joeycoco said:

excellent post...now about that signature...

JediMaster said:

So that's why he says, "We don't give a duck what you got on", he's a duck.

Seriously though, JediMaster is right, he may not be baptised yet, but he is still practicing and preaching JW beliefs. At the London shows he told us to read the new world bible translation. This version is only read by the JW's, if he did not at the very least strongly condone those beliefs, then he would not have said this.

So he might not be baptised yet but in the words of another famous Jedi master, "once you start the journey down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny".

migente777 said:

Well, obviously quite a few folks do, or else this thread wouldn't exist. I really don't give a crap, other than I don't quite connect with his message as much as I used to. All I was trying to do was point out the facts, since this debate has raged on for way too long.

One Nite Alone Live! Disc 1: Xenophobia

"Leave that blood alone! Don't you know 'dead blood' kills interferons."

Pretty damning evidence, if you ask me. Clearly one of the most twisted JW doctrines of all - refusal of life-saving blood products based on some twisted interpretation of the bible.

It's kind of ironic, actually. No one I know actually wants a blood transfusion - for me, I'd have to be hemorrhaging badly - but to allow death from blood loss over the acceptance of a blood transfusion is bizarre. And when a JW is making that decision for their child, it's criminal.

jtgillia said:

***

George Benson is a Jehovah's Witness. It has never prevented him from touring or making music.

Hank Marvin is also a Witness ... but that just isn't cool, so I won't go there.

In addition, Larry Graham was a Witness through most of his classic, funkiest GCS albums in the 70's.

For Jehovah's Witnesses spirituality comes first, so that may limit their touring slightly but that is all I can think of.

Among Jehovah's Witnesses there are people from all careers and sectors in life. They do not have to give up their careers, unless they personally feel it is not compatible with their beliefs.

Prince has changed his music and his live gig and that reflects the changes his conscience feels he has to make.

It is true that Prince may not be baptised. At the current moment in time there are 6 million baptised Witnesses (engaged in the ministry) worldwide, and a further 9 million who regularly associate with them.

Such association is reflected in beliefs and meeting attendance, but does not necessarily extend to the door-to-door ministry work and baptism.

However, Prince has included a news report (with a slightly negative tone actually) in the 'ONA Live' brochure which mentions his conversion to Jehovah's Witnesses.

In addition, John Blackwell mentions the New World Translation very boldly and explicitly in his personal commentary.

All of these inclusions in an official tour brochure are highly suggestive.

Mr 7 said




There are a lot of freedoms that the JW faith both inhibits and prohibits and the very fact that Prince has made some major alterations to the way him and his music are presented illustrates this.

Isn't it ironic that Prince was so headstrong about emancipating himself from artistic slavery, only to then enter in to a religion where those freedoms do not exist?! Out of the frying pan and in to the fire, I would say!

Hold on, all this talk about New Translation Bible... this scripture is also the bible for the 7th day Avengelists (hope got that correctly spelled) and not just related to Jehovah Witness.
Prince comes from a avengelists background and has been rapping about new translation for ages (listen to New World of Emancipation), long time before Larry (and thus JW) came into his life.


And whether he is Witness, or like Joey Coco says any other religion... if you don't like the words stop listening to it. Very simple.

At one of the ONA shows, I think it was London.
Prince was preaching and said "I'm trying to get out of here alive." Only a JW would make such a lame statement.

Wasn't Prince raised in the seven day Adventist church?

They have some of the same teachings and they don't eat pork.

Prince being a JW has changed a lot and will eventually change everything.
He lives in Toronto, there are no Friday nite parties,He dresses in suits. To be a JW you have to give up all fun except having a wife and family, your job, and going to the Kingdom Hall.and you are judged by them if you sin, like they are a panel of Gods themselves.

If you question anything they teach and they can't explain it they tell you that it is Satan trying to get you out of the truth.

Someone told me that Mani started to go to the Kingdom Hall to get in cohoots with Larry Graham and he got her the job at Paisley Park, and on from there and then Larry influenced Prince with the JW. I'd go to the Kingdom Hall to, if I could sleep with Prince, live in a mansion and never have to work or lift a finger around my house.

Prince being a JW does matter to the fans, because it influences the way he makes music and someday he might not ever make music again because of this fact.

My family is JW and they except presents anytime.
If I give them a gift, they say well, you arenot supposed to except Christmas presents, but they take them anyway.

I wish Prince's father would come to him in sprit and tell him about heaven, because if he is waiting for a paradise on this earth the poor guy will be waiting a long time.

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[This message was edited Thu Dec 19 7:26:46 PST 2002 by XxAxX]

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[This message was edited Thu Dec 19 7:27:21 PST 2002 by XxAxX]

I will probably always be a Prince fan, but it is a turnoff to people to have someone preach their religious beliefs or any other of their beliefs to you. I always dug Prince because he always did his own thing.I really didn't see him as someone who would follow a crowd. Anywho, the music of his I don't like I don't listen to.

lovebird, you are SOOO missinformed!! "they don't eat pork." Duhhh...WRONG!! I'm a "devout" JW, and guess what was for dinner last night? PORKCHOPS. They were delish! Bar-b-qued...with a nice cajun spice. No where in JW teachings is pork prohibited.
Next.."there are no Friday nite parties,He dresses in suits. To be a JW you have to give up all fun except having a wife and family, your job, and going to the Kingdom Hall.and you are judged by them if you sin,".SHEESH!! Where did you come up with this one?? We "party" any night and every night, as long as it does not interfere with regular Bible study and the worship of our creator. I went to a No Doubt & Garbage concert the other night. It was FAB. As far as the dressing "in suits", what the heck is wrong with this?? Would you rather Prince pull out his cut-out buttcheek pants from a decade ago. I think that he looks utterly yummy in a suit. Dignified!
"you are judged by them if you sin". BULL! Only God can do the ultimate judging. The congregation must be kept clean of wrongdoing, though. The Bible is clear about what is accepted to God, and what is NOT acceptable. If you don't like the "rules", then don't join.
"If you question anything they teach and they can't explain it they tell you that it is Satan trying to get you out of the truth". BALONEY! If a JW responds this way, it would be incorrect. There is an answer from the Bible, for virtually any reasonable question.
"My family is JW and they except presents anytime.
If I give them a gift, they say well, you are not supposed to except Christmas presents, but they take them anyway."
So what? Should they be pigs and throw the gift back at you? I would graciously accept a present anytime also. I ALSO generously give presents ALL year round. I'm not generous on several noted dates thruout the year, like the vast majority of mankind are, BUT I have the giving spirit all-year round, as the Bible instructs us to have.
"I wish Prince's father would come to him in sprit and tell him about heaven". Impossible...won't happen. Read Ecclesiastes 9:5 for the reason why.
Ironically as it may seem to most of you, Prince has achieved more freedom, by coming to know God and his requirements, thru study of the Bible. He is no longer "enslaved" to the pagan and untruthfull teachings that permeate so much of the so-called Christian organizations of today. Looks like this scripture would apply to him...John 8:32.
Before you post, it really would behoove you to get your "facts" straight, so you won't come off looking like such a buffoon!

lovebird said:

roverlo said:

Ummm, are you sure about that? The New World Translation is a Jehovah's Witness published Bible, and I've never heard of the Adventists using it. The reason that The NWT gets so much flack from Biblical scholars is that many of the verses are skewed to fit the JW doctrine, and are not really very accurate representations of the original text (this is especially true with regard to the passages regarding the Trinity). If the Adventists have started using the NWT, it probably relates to their common ancestory, but many of their beliefs differ quite heavily.

As I said earlier, I don't really give a crap what religion Prince is. Sure, I like it a whole lot more when I related to his lyrics a little better, but as long as he's producing music I like, I really don't care. I think many people don't want to accept the fact that Prince is no longer the same artist that he once was, and so they try to deny his JW affiliation, no matter how obvious it is.

BTW, just curious, but where does it metnion the New World Translation in the song "New World"? I read through the lyrics, and I can't seem to find any mention of it. The "New World" that the song refers to seems to be our increasingly technology dependant one, not the spiritual utopia of the JW faith. The song advocates "Love 4 1 Another" as a way of surviving the "New World". Just my take. Peace.

Good post, Gemee. Maybe the reason that a whole lot of folks don't see Prince's conversion is simply the fact that they are misinformed as to what the JW doctrines are?

BTW, can you answer the question as to whether or not the Adventists use the NWT? I know that, way back when, the two churches have a common ancestory, but I believe it was way before the inception of the New World Translation. Perhaps you can elucidate.

JediMaster, I always enjoy your posts. You are one of just a handful that makes any rational adult sense.
As far as the question "do Adventists use the NWT?" I do not believe so. I could be wrong, They might occasionally refer to it. It is published by The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. We (JW's) refer to other Bibles from time to time, for comparison of scriptures, so who knows...maybe the Adventists will use the NWT on occasion.
"the two churches have a common ancestory, but I believe it was way before the inception of the New World" . This is true. The split was made sometime around 1870.

In reponse to several posts regarding this matter :

Prince is a grown man 42 years old ,he has the right to worship God in any matter he wishes.

Several famous people are also JW's and it has not hurt their careers.Michael Jackson was probably the most famous.

The Holy Bible as we know it has been translated 1000's of times.The JW bible ,while villified by "mainstream" faiths,only tries to follow in that tradition.The Bible as we know it has several chapters missing.

What in TRC is racist ?
In the song FAMILY NAME several groups are taken to task regarding their histories, including the Black clergy, who have used GOD to make money.He closes the song with the famous "I Have A Dream" speach. Also read the intro to the song.It speaks volumes!

I am not JW but many ofthe things they teach is accurate with the BIBLE. So if they tell me something I sould be doing and it is accurate,then I need to be doing it1

Why do people think just because Prince is not doing the same things he was doing in the 80's he is not having fun?

lovemachine said:

Well call me a fool! Because I don't believe he's married! Anyone can wear a ring on their finger and let people speculate. As for the candy, it was wrapped in Xmas paper, that makes it a Xmas gift!

Berry said:

What about the suits?...I thought the suits are because he wants to portray a more sophisticated, mature look. It's been confirmed in the media...do you believe everything you read. Directly from his people...I'd like to read that article.

migente777 said:

Migente777 tell it like it is!

JediMaster said:

This is Prince being Prince!...All I'm saying is until I
hear him say it ...I'm not believing it!...Prince changes with the wind! I love him. He's the man. But he is full of contradictions.

There was a time when people thought he was gay and he wasn't doing anything to make people think he wasn't. He sung about it in his song Controversy. This is Prince getting attention.