Jehovah's witnesses talking to my teenager.

[Tau]

This morning there was a knock not the door. My partner was out and I was scrubbing the loo in my dirty pyjamas. so my 15 year old answered the door.
The visitors were Jehovah's witnesses who immediately started asking my son questions about his opinion of the state of patience in modern society, and presented him with a watchtower booklet.

Now I kind of admire the determination of those people, but I think it is completely inappropriate to start blabbering about your religious convictions, uninvited, to a minor in his own home. They couldn't even know if he was home alone or not. So I dashed down the stairs, damp, dirty and smelling of disinfectant, told them to leave and shut the door. Yes, I was a tad rude.

Am I unreasonable? Should I accept that they come to our home and talk to my son? He probably would've been a lot harsher to them than I would ever have been, but that is not the issue. I feel those people were out of line.

Er, no, it really isn't. Condemning someone to hell is like condemning them to Narnia. Death from blood loss is very real.

Narked Not all JW are extreme. That's not hard to understand is it?

Narked Are all Muslims murderers? (No they are not.) You didn't respond to my second example.

Not all JW are extreme

Of all the JWs who have knocked on my door over my lifetime, only one has ever suggested my mother should have let me die at birth and could repent.

it's also a choice Narked - not one parents would be allowed to make for a child

Doesn't There are extremists nutters in all aspects of society.

I think anyone who knocks on the door to sell/ preach or whatever should really be speaking to the 'grown up'. so I see your point. I would have told them this in a polite way, instead of kicking them out. They meant him no harm.

Completely unrelated, but I remember when 2 Jehovas witnesses called at mine. I was in the middle of feeding baby and toddler had bolted upstairs. As the lady was talking to me I could see my toddler lining his trucks up at the top of the steps. As he began his countdown to launch, she stepped in (at bottom of the steps),i warned her about her impending fate and she just smiled. I tried to protect her with the door, but it was too late and she felt the full force of my ds's truck collection. It was hilarious , I couldnt stop apologising and she never called again.

You really had to be there.

A 15 year old is a child in my book. See the link. That was allowed. And I think you should see how common that belief is amongst JWs before suggesting it's 'extremist'.

Yes - the point being she was the only one I've come across :) all other callers have been sent on their way with a polite not interested thank you. I think I have elaborated once or twice when they have asked why and they have left satisfied.

Rudeness is never needed.

A good life skill to acquire-how to deal with cold callers. I can't see why you needed to get involved.

In the link the child made their own decision based on their beliefs.

But the blood transfusion thing isn't an 'extreme' position within this sect - its their standard doctrine which only a minority reject. They don't try to inflict it on non-believers though.

My understanding of the "no blood transfusions" rule is that it isn't just adhered to by extreme JWs, it's fundamental to the JW faith.

That Telegraph story about the 15 year old boy who died is very sad. I'm surprised that legally the doctors weren't able to override his wishes.

But the blood transfusion thing isn't an 'extreme' position within this sect - its their standard doctrine which only a minority reject. They don't try to inflict it on non-believers though.

Yes they do. Well, one certainly did when I was a child.

children are allowed to make their OWN choices about medical treatment if they are found competent to do so - which obviously this 15 year old was :)

Thanks Narked I Have done my homework. And I think you should see how common that belief is amongst JWs before suggesting it's 'extremist'. It is not a view held by all JW. Therefore it is extreme and people use it to stereotype JW as a cruel, brutal organisation. (Who hate Catholics with a passion) .

In the link the child made their own decision based on their beliefs.

A child who had been (presumably) excluded from RE lessons ...

Is it really valid to say anyone has 'their beliefs' in any meaningful sense unless they are aware of - and have been allowed to properly consider - alternatives?

here

No. Not all. Hardly a tiny minority though! It's far from being an extremist fringe belief. It's mainstream teaching. And for a 15 year old child to be allowed to die because he's been brainwashed by a cult is appaling. If some Glastonbury reject claiming to be the new messiah had told him to reject life saving treatment he would have been sectioned and fed. Because it's a known 'church' and his parents agreed he was left to die.

a 15 year old has the right to refuse treatment if found competent to do so - regardless of their religion - just because you don't like their views and choices doesn't mean that is wrong - however sad the consequences

Pint number 4 from your own link:

'4. If blood fractions were always acceptable to Jehovah, who is responsible for the Witnesses that needlessly died refusing them, due to Watchtower policy forbidding them prior to the year 2000'

How does a 15 year old raised in that environment have any true choice?

Narked It's mainstream teaching. Have you actually read what they teach?

FFS! The world will end because your 15yo read the Watchtower! By 16 he will be living in a compound and being use as a sex slave by the cult leader!

I think maybe you are overreacting and were unnecessarily rude. They were hardly handing him heroine! He won't catch religion by speaking to them or reading The Watchtower!

Narked You would have to quote the whole article to give a true picture of their teaching. No use quoting out of context.