We left the 2X2 sect a year ago and just 6 weeks after leaving I purchased a TV with an incorporated VCR. I set rules for my 3 young children (14,13,11) and we have since then watched a lot of TV. When active in the 2X2, we found that our kids were in a constant state of stress at school because they were so different from the rest. This situation gets to be hard on children and affect their performance significantly. However, it might surprise you to know that the grades of all my children improved quite a bit since we left and all 3 children’s grade average is about A-. Our children are happy like never before and enjoying the company of very interesting and open-minded friends and family. Francois Masson 25 Jan 2000

Thirty years ago the worker, W.B., decided that there would be a meeting in my home, and he wanted to see me about it. Before he and his young companion arrived I was wondering what the discussion would be like and what questions they would ask to check my qualifications. Bill asked only three questions: What do you think of TV, do you watch TV and would you ever have a TV? He said that since my wife had long hair, wore her dresses long, and "looked Godly", and since we did not have or want a TV, meetings would start there the following week. I was amazed at the superficiality. Not one thought about spirituality, doctrine, harmony in the home, honesty in business dealings, etc. Strictly the "outside of the pot". I came to realize that was what mattered most in the system! - Leigh Townsend, Quebec City, Canada August 12, 1999

Leigh: Your post wrung a wry chuckle out of me. Nine years ago when we were being considered for the privilege of having a meeting in our home (in Connecticut then), the criteria from C.S. was that we not have a radio or TV in our home. I remember feeling so disappointed that nothing had changed. Since I knew radios had been routinely accepted out west for decades, I had naively hoped that the east had at least come that far. But no. "Jesus" was "still the same" in the east, "yesterday, TODAY and forever," apparently. It never occurred to me to feel resentment at the obvious control issue involved here. So blind I was...oh my. Thank the Lord for deliverance! (BTW, We're back from a fantastic trip to Ireland and England! Belated thanks to well wishers from the List before our departure. We were able to visit some wonderful exes in Ireland, and to visit the "cradle" of our infamous cult - County Fermanagh. ____, I will eventually be sending you pictures of Crocknacrieve, "The Impartial Reporter" office and its founder, Weir's store on Baggott Street in Dublin (first home meeting) and the Keswick (England) Convention Centre. We also visited the Faith Mission Bookstore in Belfast but didn't make it to their headquarters in Scotland.) With love to all, Jeanie Dudley August 13, 1999

Radios were a definite "no-no" years ago in the Truth but
today they are acceptable in most areas.   

A lady who professed around the time we did, was told she had to get rid of her TV before she could be baptized. She did, and was baptized. Later, out of loneliness, she bought a very small TV and hid it behind an 8x10 picture of the Oregon Workers.

Computers are used by some of the "friends" to bring in TV signals, and with the aide of a VCR the watching of movies is quite common. I know of three families (2 elders) who have TV's and or VCR's in this area. Recently one of the members told us he has a TV, but rarely watches it. My grandchildren used to say they had a "monitor" not a TV. Finally, I think I've convinced them it is a TV.

I wonder if the workers are kicking themselves for not banning computers when they first came out like they did to television. Obviously they couldn’t have guessed that Internet would be accessible via computers and that Internet would carry so much information about their fellowship.

We had a TV for several years after we professed. Some of the friends came to our house often to enjoy a program or a movie. We succumbed to the hypocritical practice of "hiding" the TV in a cabinet for a time. I rationalized away at this, because my conscience bothered me so much. My best effort at attempting to soothe my conscience was to think, "this is best for my grandchildren (since there is so much trash on TV I can lock the cabinet when they are here). UGH! The deceit that is taught children and grandchildren by such things is so repulsive. Some put their TV's in their bedrooms, in or out of a cabinet. We did that toward the last. I remember the revulsion I had to this, but after all we had meeting in our home!!! Sick!!!

My husband never professed so we had a TV. I watched TV all the time I professed and, in fact, I watch it LESS now that I don’t profess!

I also knew of several other well known, higher ranking, professing folks who wouldn't dream of having a TV in their home, but would go away to a hotel for the weekend and spend their time watching movies and sports games. Also they would be more than happy to watch it at a sub-saints home who did have a TV whenever the opportunity presented itself. Where does such logic come from??? Who are they fooling???

I was taught as a child that the reasons the meetings were not taped was.....because the Spirit could not be transmitted via tape. You needed to witness the real live thing to benefit from the Spirit.Crazy, huh?>>I was told this same thing by Harry Brownlee in 1990!<<

I had asked the workers if I could tape record their sermons and I was told "No, because it might get into the wrong hands." Looking back I wonder why that didn’t sound strange to me. One would think that if God’s true word is being preached, there would be nothing to hide. Isn’t God’s word able to stand against any test?

About t.v.'s...one of the friend's children told me that they have a "small" t.v. 'cause it is easier to hide. He was about 8 when he told me that. Imagine!! What kind of message is that child learning?

Somehow, it was always understood without it being said that one wasn't to tape meetings. Don't know how we who were raised in it learned that--maybe from our parents.

Not that I ever wanted or asked to tape any--until my grandmother was dying of boredom in a rest home that she wasn't able to leave to go to conventions, meetings, etc. When I asked about taping convention for those in rest homes who couldn't get out, etc, Harry Brownlee (1990) told me that the spirit couldn't come through on tapes.

Beats me how the spirit can come through TYPED notes of the very same meetings--but not through tapes! People speak in meetings about notes they have been reading, and how these notes "spoke" to them. Indeed, some notes go on speaking as long as they are read...

These two practices do not seem consistent...to me anyway?

If the spirit COULD come through tapes, then people could profess through tapes--and not have to go through the workers.

I heard that Jack Carroll wanted to broadcast on radio when radio first came in, but Geo. W. didn't. Don't believe Jack ever did, but...interesting that he wanted to! So it could be possible that the "spirit can't be recorded theology" was started as a result of hashing out that matter back then. 2/97

Yes, I too heard we should never tape record worker's sermons, but thereason given me was because "we wouldn't want these words falling into the wrong hands". The same was true for hymn books. "It's best not to pass these around to non-professing people. They may fall into the wrong hands." I could never understand this. 2/97

Someone in a recent post mentioned the TV going in and out of the closet. As some of you know many of them were on rollers. Wish I could tell some stories about my experiences there but can't for other's sake. Anyway, we began to refer to these mobile television sets as HOLY ROLLERS!!!!! 2/97

"It is so easy for worldly things to creep into our lives, into our homes, if we are not careful. In Madagascar there was a rich lady that professed and her home was about the only one suitable for fellowship meetings. The problem was she also had a television set. When we asked her about the meeting and told her about the TV, she just said "What stopping you from taking down the aerial" and sold her TV too. Something else that takes away our time is computers. All kinds of programs are available and some young people get hooked on them, same way as being hooked on TV. Be careful about the way young people use computers." Worker Ken Pagington, 9/96

When I was professing I was proud I didn't have a TV--even the world was saying TV's were "bad" and looked upon you as a strong principled person if you chose to do without one for that reason... 6/97

I also know some professing folks who had meeting removed from their home for having a TV.

I notice that as one travels westward the "standards of truth" are more relaxed. That is, things are more accepted in the west- Xmas trees, radios, VCRs and Camcorders, hair that's shorter and permed in women, stereo systems in homes, recreational activities of the young people. 6/97

The workers are warning the young people against using the internet, or spending too much time on the computer. No doubt, the reason for warning them not to use the internet is because of the websites about the 2x2s on it that they don't want them to find.

I remember a worker arriving at our home (convention ground home) in a car with an antenna. He had taped up the antenna with white tape all the way up and down it—to show PLAINLY that HE wasn't using the radio and what he thought of it! ("Thank God, I am not as other men...."etc.) I was sorely disgusted as a teen--and now too! Sickening!

In 1978, we lived in a small community in southern Alberta. I was professing and refused to listen to the radio. My husband had a radio (he was not professing) which sat silently on top of the fridge.

One day after sending my daughter walking the 10 blocks to her school, I bundled up my two little boys, plopped them in the sleigh and set out for downtown. It was about eight blocks. We had to go downtown to collect our mail, so we made this little walk every couple of days. It was soooooo COLD. BRRRRrrrrrr..... By the time we reached main street the children had already been crying for several blocks, because they were too cold. These tears probably kept their little cheeks from frostbite. We stopped at a little restaurant to warm up, before going the next two blocks. While we were there, my neighbor asked what on earth I was doing walking in this weather...and with the children yet!!! He was quite upset. "Don't you listen to the weather in the morning? Even the schools are closed!" Immediately I began to panic, as I had sent my 7 year old daughter out walking to a school that would have closed doors when she arrived. My neighbor drove us over to the school to find her. Though she wasn't there, we were relieved to find her safe at home. One of the teachers had found her at the door, and had driven her home.

Yes, I was obedient to the workers, regarding the radio, BEFORE this incident...but I was downright REBELLIOUS about it afterward! During the winter, my radio was on every morning! 9/97

As a child, I remember being irritated that I could not do as my school friends, ie.: join the Boy Scouts, play hockey, or other team sports, celebrate Christmas, as other Christians did, have a T.V. (although we did have a radio), go to school dances.

Another 2x2 rule of particular interest to me is that
regarding televisions.  In 1994, friends of mine
had a meeting removed from their home and were
excommunicated because they refused to remove the TV.  The
sentence passed on both my friends was as follows:

They were allowed to attend meetings, but were denied the
emblems.  They were not allowed to take part and were not
allowed to make contributions to the workers.

My friends had a meeting in their home for over 40 years,
and most of the folk who met there were aware of the TV.

Your thoughts on this matter will also be greatly
appreciated. 

9/97 

A few weeks ago I was told by a local professing person here in Oregon that "everyone in meetings around here have TVs." I know that to be true of people who have meeting in their home. But these TVs are not visible to most who would attend meetings. I don't think people feel free to have TVs out where anyone could see them. Whether or not they have worker approval for these TVs, I don't know. 9/97

It is quite a joke, when you consider how many, pious, pious, pious, friends, have T.V. If they don't, they frequent their neighbour’s home, or they have it at their work places. Some of my family spend hours at night watching T.V. at unprofessing relatives homes, keeping these people up at night. One of my family members, a few years back, became so desperate for the hockey games, he used to sit in the waiting room for expectant fathers.

Eventually, he was told to leave, and so he spent the time in a store at night leaving his wife at home with three children. I remember getting one before I left the meetings. I was a slave to it. Strangely enough, after I left and found Jesus, I have little time for the T.V. now. One day, a worker phoned me, and asked me what I was doing. I said that I had been on my knees, watching the television under my bed. She laughed at this, but it was true, (now okay, it wasn’t under the bed) but it was well hidden. I have a long driveway, and a precious dog, who warned me well in advance of a visitor, but I felt so awful greeting them and feeling soooo guilty. No wonder most people have nerve trouble in the 2x2's. We were getting tired of the "let’s pretend game."

All the 2x2 religion taught me was to make sure you appeared okay to others. Thank God, I can be real now. Face God in the morning with a smile and say, "Here I am Father, you change me, mold me, use me. All that matters now is to get Your smile and favour. 9/97

I am very ashamed that I was with Everett Swanson when he had us sneak up on an older couple to catch them watching "TV" in 1967-8. I was then also, but I lacked the courage to say anything in those days -- too scared I would be black-listed, "kicked out", or "what ever". 9/97

The one thing that has never left my mind is the hypocrisy of those who are within the church. (Not all of them, but certainly some). The TV thing for instance, used to be and continues to be a stickler for me, how many times was I shunned because my folks weren't professing and had a television, or how many social events for younger people was I left out of because my grandmother was no longer living, and I lived with unprofessing parents. 9/97

You were talking about the friends owning TVs, and asking a worker if he had ever seen one. A few months ago we had dinner with some ex-friends who told a very amusing story.

Some people they knew had had some workers over for dinner, and after the meal were informed that the workers wanted to have a "serious talk". These professing people wondered what on earth could be the problem, and if they were in trouble for anything. The older worker talked on for a while about worldliness in the home, outside influences, keeping them out of God's way, etc etc. This family became more and more bewildered, until finally the older worker said he was very concerned about them owning a TV. Bewilderment turned to utter amazement, and they asked whatever he meant! The "TV", situated (funnily enough) on a shelf in the kitchen, turned out to be a microwave oven! 9/97

You also wrote about a worker snapping the radio aerials off cars at convention. I have heard occurrences of this in Australia also, and it has resulted in one of the older workers now being unaffectionately known as "Snapper".Aussie lurkers, you will have to guess at this one! :-) 9/97

After the excommunication of my friends, I requested a 
meeting with the overseer of Ireland (Tommy Gamble) 
and his deputy (Bertie Anderson).  The following is a
transcript of a conversation I had with them on 14 November 1994.

Regarding the issue of radios, Bertie Anderson said they 
would 'prefer' converts not to own or listen to them.  
I mentioned that 15 years ago, Bertie's policy on radios 
was similar to his current attitude to TVs.  Specifically, 
I referred to a Christmas meeting I had attended in which 
Bertie denounced radios - the term 'prefer' certainly did
not reflect his attitude at that time.  Bertie and Tommy did
not comment further on this inconsistent policy, but stated 
that no meeting could be held in a home with a radio.

Bertie and Tommy also stated that in the case of 
parents of un-professing children, where the children have 
a TV in the home, the parents would be excommunicated, as 
they had the responsibility for the home.  I pointed out 
that one bishop I knew of had been in this position for 
many years.  They immediately asked me to identify this person.
I refused.

I asked Bertie if he had ever seen a TV.  Bertie responded 
that he had seen a TV on a plane, and was shocked by what he 
saw. I responded that what he had seen was the replay of a 
video, and I pointed out that, in my opinion, the battle 
against TVs was already lost.  Many converts own TVs, 
particularly in the USA.  In England, some are known to 
hide a TV in the garden shed.  I also said that possibly in 
5 years, and certainly in 10 years, most homes will have a 
computer controlled screen connected to an information 
'superhighway'.  This screen would provide video telephone, 
shopping, banking, education, information and entertainment 
(TV) functions.  I pointed out that it was inevitable that 
these systems will be owned by a large number of converts.

My wife pointed out to Bertie and Tommy that TVs are 
widely used for educational purposes in schools.  9/97

In Ireland, radios were an extremely contentious issue in 
the 70's and early 80's.  I remember that a number of 
professing folk removed the radios and aerials from their 
cars - some even taped over the radio with adhesive tape.
One young friend recently told me that as a child, he recalls 
that his dad told him that he taped over the radio 
to "prevent it being stolen".

Radios are now commonplace in the cars of the friends. 
Portable radios in the homes of the friends are 
common, but they are generally concealed from workers.

Regarding music, in the 70's all forms of records and 
cassettes were banned.  In the 80's cassettes became 
accepted, but LP records were never accepted.  Indeed,
workers now openly use cassette tapes to aid the learning 
of languages.  At present, CDs seem to be treated similarly 
to cassettes.  However, I know that workers have commented 
negatively about hifi systems in the friends homes.
 
It is interesting to note that it was the devices/media on 
which the ruling was made - not the content.  9/97

On the topic of television I was just wondering... with the 2x2's is it a no-no to watch TV full-stop or is it just wrong to own one? When I was "in" I always felt it was wrong to do both. ( but did both anyway ) <grin> Well no-one ever really told me and I didn't really want to ask at the time. 10/97

In the western part of the US, the friends are taught early on that the TV is an idol and should not be brought into your home. They are taught that watching it is like "adoring" an idol. This is the first sign of the world to leave someone's home when then profess. It is slightly less of a sin to watch the TV in a motel, store, or even another (not so saintly) friend's home. One friend will often go to another friend's home to watch some special or historical occasion, but the workers are never invited and I don't believe they are aware this is going on. 10/97