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DD is going to a Jehovah's Witness worship event

11 replies

yeOldeTrout · 07/09/2015 17:52

I want to say Sunday services but that's probably not what they call it.
DD is 13.
One of her BFFs is JW. Nice girl & family
I would call myself Humanist, DH is Indifferent.
Many men in my family have caught religion & become obnoxious Gits about it (including a bout of JW).
So... as a resolute secularist am I naive in telling DD "That's nice dear off you go!"?
Tell me nice things about JWs or good things to remind DD why she can respect their club but please don't join.

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FadedRed · 07/09/2015 18:04

I would ask (conversationally not confrontationly ?sp) why she wanted to go and what did she expect from going? Was she just going to keep her friend company or was she curious about her beliefs?
Is DD interested in different religions?

Had she thought about what she might do if she thought it was interesting or if there was anything that she thought odd?
Are you worried about her going?

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Wankarella · 07/09/2015 18:06

My DS went to the meeting every Sunday up until he was around 8 (with grandparents) and found them boring. I'm unsure what I would say if he wanted to go now tbh.

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yeOldeTrout · 07/09/2015 18:41

My mother had screaming rows with my brothers over religion.
My uncles/cousin brought a lot of discord into the family (unpleasant arguments).
My grand-dad merely cheated serially and was a bully (he was a minister).
So those are my small worries.

DD is pretty fiercely pro gay/gender-different rights so I probably shouldn't worry. She's just curious about her friend's life.

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FadedRed · 07/09/2015 19:05

It would be interesting to hear what she makes of the experience.
You sounds as if you and your Dd are able to discuss things, so hopefully you'll get some feedback? Maybe you could share, without all the gory details, some of your experience of the discord that happened in your family in regard to religion, and how you came to your own views.

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DriverSurpriseMe · 07/09/2015 19:09

You know they're quite heavily into recruiting people? I would be concerned about that. In fact, I wouldn't let her go if I were in your shoes.

Why does she want to go, out of interest?

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goblinhat · 07/09/2015 19:19

I wouldn't let her go.

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Lessstressedhemum · 08/09/2015 09:51

JWs are completely anti gay and very gender stereotyped (women aren't allowed to take positions of responsibility etc), they are very good at recruiting and have highly developed methods for overcoming objections.

Your DD is young and at an impressionable age, she also has a nice friend who is involved (which surprises me, it wouldn't have been allowed in my day). I would be very uncomfortable about getting her go if she were mine -and I was a jw!

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specialsubject · 08/09/2015 18:36

hmm, bad idea - this lot are heavy recruiters. No child should be going. When she is an adult, usually defined as 18, she can make her own decisions.

As her views are so opposed to those of the JWs, she will probably find it very irritating. As I do when the buggers bang on my door. The no-call list has only sort-of worked so far.

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yeOldeTrout · 08/09/2015 22:50

ah... but I have the Magic Words. That which DD cannot live & which JW disapprove of. There can exist no more compelling reason to resist conversion.

"Harry Potter"

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specialsubject · 09/09/2015 10:25