Who/how many of you (or others you were directly aware of) gave much (or any) thought to ancillary (non-biblical) literature promoted by TWI and/or Wierwille in the 1970s?

[waysider]

There was a little book sold in the bookstore called Christian Etiquette by Dorothy Owens. It was probably about 50 pages or so. It had a lot of advice on things like how to set a table, what fork to use,  proper dinner conversation, etc. Most of the trivial details have become antiquated in today's society. The overall concept it stressed, though, remains true. Our "etiquette" should be concerned with making people feel at ease and should never create an atmosphere of stress. I would recommend the book and reiterate it should be used with that thought in mind.

Edited Monday at 04:24 PM by waysider

[Rocky]

13 hours ago, Nathan_Jr said:

Try this

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/19/opinion/naval-academy-speech-censorship.html?unlocked_article_code=1.BU8.ogZd.g8h66XEae4M_&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Excellent resource. Thank you. And thank you for making it a gift article. 

[Twinky]

A good newspaper article.  Off topic, but sort of relevant.

[Joe Maslow]

On 4/21/2025 at 8:42 AM, waysider said:

There was a little book sold in the bookstore called Christian Etiquette by Dorothy Owens. It was probably about 50 pages or so. It had a lot of advice on things like how to set a table, what fork to use,  proper dinner conversation, etc. Most of the trivial details have become antiquated in today's society. The overall concept it stressed, though, remains true. Our "etiquette" should be concerned with making people feel at ease and should never create an atmosphere of stress. I would recommend the book and reiterate it should be used with that thought in mind.

I still have that book at home. Some "HQ guys" said off the record that it was meant to "level" or "standardize" the customs/habits/patterns of believers from different countries to the "standard" of God's Word - God's Love in the "Renewed mind in manifestation".

[Rocky]

12 hours ago, Twinky said:

A good newspaper article.  Off topic, but sort of relevant.

Yes. But since I started the thread, I am not bothered about it.

[waysider]

9 hours ago, Joe Maslow said:

I still have that book at home. Some "HQ guys" said off the record that it was meant to "level" or "standardize" the customs/habits/patterns of believers from different countries to the "standard" of God's Word - God's Love in the "Renewed mind in manifestation".

I'm not at all surprised some "HQ guys" interpreted it that way. When we used it in FellowLaborers. however, that is not at all the message we were expected to draw from it. In fact, it was just the opposite. We were to adapt to other cultures, not expect them to adapt to us. If you're at an event where it's common practice for everyone to eat with their fingers, you should do the same to put others at ease, adapt a "when in Rome" sort of attitude.

[Twinky]

16 hours ago, Joe Maslow said:

Some "HQ guys" said off the record that it was meant to "level" or "standardize" the customs/habits/patterns of believers from different countries to the "standard" of God's Word - God's Love in the "Renewed mind in manifestation".

Not so sure about that.  As an "International," the way I use a knife and fork are very different from the way Americans use these utensils.  Dorothy always said that we should keep our own "national" table manners, and eat appropriately - but neatly!  We Internationals weren't encouraged to eat American-style.

[oldiesman]

https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Etiquette-Dorothy-Editor-Owens/dp/B001BVCPNM#detailBullets_feature_div

[waysider]

Thanks, oldiesman.

Looking at the date of publication, I'm wondering if this was still in a syllabus format when I was in FellowLaborers (mid 1970s) or if it's a second edition. Not that it matters either way. Just curious.

[Raf]

3 hours ago, oldiesman said:

https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Etiquette-Dorothy-Editor-Owens/dp/B001BVCPNM#detailBullets_feature_div

What a cash grab. Just an awful means of providing a written foundation for relentless legalism

[Joe Maslow]

7 hours ago, Twinky said:

Not so sure about that.  As an "International," the way I use a knife and fork are very different from the way Americans use these utensils.  Dorothy always said that we should keep our own "national" table manners, and eat appropriately - but neatly!  We Internationals weren't encouraged to eat American-style.

Well, I traveled to ADV Class 2020 - 2023 and Donna M. taught parts of the book (Dorothy's) during breaks after class, including how to eat an orange with a knife and whether or not to rest your arms on the table. I realized that many believers, especially Africans, were unfamiliar with certain manners. 

[waysider]

If you don't like the sound of slurping noodles, stay away from S. Korea. Heh.  On the other hand, there is a very detailed set of rituals regarding drinking  that should be followed if you don't want to appear rude.