For what it's worth, I recently met a JW in Los Angeles who knows Larry Graham. According to him, Prince is of a status that has a specific designation (I forgot what it is as I had never heard of it before) that means he is fully trained in the beliefs and ways of the JW religion. However, he IS NOT baptized as a JW and, therefore, is not a full-fledged JW. This person told me that whether Prince does become baptized is totally up to him because he is schooled enough for it to take place. I find that interesting because I think Prince is still too much of an independent thinker to go all the way with it. I think he continues to search for the truth and move to the beat of his own drummer.

Peace,
Scott

TheRealFiness said:

exactly my point. it was sad to read in the star tribune special edition on sunday, March 14, 2004, that wendy melvoin herself confirmed that when she spoke with prince about a possible gig/reunion, 'someone' at paisley park refused and asked her to renounce homosexuality before he would consider it. see, http://www.prince.org/msg/7/84683

mind you this is no rumor, it's information that came right from wendy. was it prince's direct decree? i can't imagine anyone at paisley park would feel comfortable speaking for prince on this issues so it likely was.

so to me this means that prince was being extremely judgmental about wendy's sexual preference, which is really none of his business. moreover, it represents a departure from his previous belief system, which permitted him to work comfortably with wendy and lisa, two former band mates (the revolution) who happen to be lesbians. sad to read that prince would refuse to work with two people who knew him from back when because of something like that

fact edit dangit
[This message was edited Wed Mar 17 10:27:31 2004 by XxAxX]

All I know is, from my own personal experience studying with and talking with an "elder" from his own Kingdom Hall... I found out that JW's don't believe in Matthew 22:37 or John 3:16 as well as John 14:6, 16-17.

Maybe not all of them follow this doctrine, but for a "religion" that is seeking the "truth" it seems funny to me, that they would put more emphasis on the human MIStranslation of God's name, then some important passages, like these.

I'm not saying I'm right and they're wrong or vice versa, but it does come across as "weird" to people who DO believe that we have a soul... who DO believe in the guidance of the holy spirit, that Jesus was crucified on a cross, and He is the son of God, not an "appointed prophet" to quote the JW I studied with.

Now, I'm not perfect, but I have read the bible and I study it... the holy spirit never led me to agree with the beliefs of the JWs. I don't turn them away, I always talk to them, when they come to my house. I also ask anyone of JW faith to say a prayer for me.

If JWs believe in the "redemption of sin" they need to know that will only come from the blood of Jesus. Again, just my opinion, I am not trying to offend or judge anyone, because maybe I'm wrong. But my heart tells me I'm on the right path.

I just hope you guys take care of your own lives as meticulously as you do w/ Prince's.

hope4thenew said:

It's the new world translation of the holy bible

JediMaster said:

I think it is safe to assume that the story in Hahn's book about one of the other Revolutionaries overhearing Larry and Prince discussing Wendy and Lisa's sexuality is quite true. Of course Prince was behind that message even if he didn't have the nerve to handle it personally. Wake up.

klaatu said:

Amen

jojofran said:

What would you say if Hare Krishnas kept knocking on your door because they love people and want to open your eyes to the truth so you can share in their humble lifestyle?

What would you say if Scientology kept knocking on your door because they love people and want to open your eyes to the truth so you can share in their expensive lifestyle?

What would you say if Neo Nazis kept knocking on your door because they love people and want to open your eyes to the truth so you can share in their dangerous lifestyle?

And so on and so forth. Who's truth is the truth? What do you think starts wars? Wake up.

jojofran said:

And he sees them how?

MightBQueen said:

But Prince's sexuality and beliefs are our business, I take it? Certainly he keeps shoving it in our faces.

I don't understand the Jehovas witness faith, it seems a like religous cult to me. However, if Prince showed up at my front door wanting to discuss the WACTHTOWER, I wouldn't turn him away.

Serious said:

scififilmnerd said:

Why is this safe to assume? Thirdhand information is rather hard to trust.

Prince may very well have held those beliefs, or he may not. Obviously he doesn't hold that closely to it now, since he had Wendy join him on Tavis Smiley, and he played the Ellen DeGeneres show.

klaatu said:

As if!

laurarichardson said:

You haven't read much, have you?

laurarichardson said:

About a christian lifestyle, no.

JediMaster said:

Definitely a redeeming feature. Thank goodness Wendy doesn't hold a grudge.

scififilmnerd said:

scififilmnerd said:

he's lucky about that ain't he? if it were me i'd have a hard time forgiving a former friend who hurt me like that

scififilmnerd said:

JWs haven't started any wars. Futhermore, JWs do not even participate in wars. We're lovers, not fighters, my friend.

scififilmnerd said:

All they're doing is knocking on the door? Well, let's see, personally if I didn't want to discuss it, I guess I'd shut the door.

Considering how various religions, including Christianity, have historically converted non-believers (ex. invade your country, shed buckets of blood until the pagans realize the error of thier ways and convert) the whole door-knocking thing is pretty tame.


.
[This message was edited Wed Mar 17 12:25:40 2004 by Universaluv]

One of my most disillusioning Prince moments was at the ONA soundcheck. I was so surprised and grateful he was willing to interact that closely with his fans. Then one girl offered to show him her symbol tattoo and got rewarded with a sermonette on the evils of tattooing. One guy uttered a mild curse and was chastised and humiliated before all gathered there by Prince. Do I even need to catalog the insane amount of profanity in his body of work? Sure, now he's changed. But I can't believe his ego is so out of control he thinks that just because people like his music he can order their whole way of thinking around whatever his fickle ass is feeling at the moment. Why would you even want an army of mindless drones who can't think for themselves as fans?

I hope he can find peace in his life however he needs to find it. But I take issue with his preaching to his fan base. Anyone who has followed his career knows he has hardly been the model of ethical behavior. If you feel you know what is right and wrong, good for you. Put those principles to work in your own actions and be a living example. But I wouldn't listen to moralizing from a preacher with his history and I sure don't wanna hear it from him. Not from the stage, not in his lyrics, not on his website. And yeah, he's free to go on doing it just like I'm free to hit the skip button on the CD player and free to criticize.

Actually, I once went doorknocking for The Movement - a kind of New Age group I was briefly involved with in the early nineties. And I hated it. Just because I felt good about believing something didn't mean that I felt it was right trying to push it on others. If they were interested, they'd search it out themselves, like I had. And that was one of the major reasons why I left The Movement, because I didn't wanna go recruit.

And it's the same thing with my sexuality. I was involved with the Danish Gay & Lesbian organization for many years. But just because I love other people and would love for them to see the truth like I have - that being gay is the most wonderful thing you can be - I reason that people who are interested will find out the truth on their own. And, by golly, they continously do. There really is no need to go recruiting or to push my truth on other people. Love always wins in the end.

Why do Jehovas go recruiting? I think it is partly because they like it when they are rejected - it confirms to them that they are among the chosen few who'll be saved on the Apocalypse.

But I also think that it is because that if they didn't go recruiting, there probably wouldn't be any.

Prince didn't seek out JW. The JW came to him. And Larry took advantage of Prince being vulnerable following the death of his baby to the point where he actually moved into the house next to Prince so's he could keep working on that weak mind.

At least, that's how I see it.

unfortunately, it's true. he even goes door 2 door handing out copies of the WATCHTOWER.

freakebear said:

Well said.

ditto that.

my irratation with teh whole jw thing is that he has become all the more preachy and sanctimonious. there have been so many times i've read something or seen an interview just wnated to scream "just shut tha hell up and play music again!" he can be grating and self-righteous at times,imo.

i hate that he is so impressionable. i'm graham's a great bass player but since when does that mean he knows eveything about god or anything else really. i do hope prince is getting back on track-he appeared to have gone off the rails for a bit.

oh btw, i'm a newby. *big wave*

freakebear said:

wavesofbliss said:

Hi, Wavesofbliss. Welcome to the Org.

wavesofbliss said:

*Wave* back atcha.

Waves, unless you've personally had a conversation with Prince about exactly what he believes and why he believes it, how do you know that he is "so impressionable"? Seems about as sanctimonious as you accuse him of being, imo.

Im hoping u just joined the org cuz ur EXTRA late!!!

scififilmnerd said:

I concur. Because when they come to your door they'll expect you not to know your bible... they are trained, with intense precision, on what to say for any situation and any question you ask. Especially if you've just been thourgh a tragedy.

Now I know my bible and stand strong in my faith, so when I started asking why the name "jehova" and why they don't believe in praying or that the human body houses a soul... he didn't know what to say. He came back a week later with an elder and I blew him away too. They were both dumbfounded by my knowledge and walked away scratching their heads.

Now Prince has the power to send a message to alot of people through his music, and if he is sending man made information instead of following the holy spirit, I will disagree and stand up against it. I take care of my own life and I will continue to pray for Prince that he will find the real truth someday.

And don't tell me to stop listening to his music either, I can listen and denounce his religion just like he will denounce fans for cussing or getting tattoos. Peace.