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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To find this a little disturbing

43 replies

nonewnamesagain · 20/03/2017 14:10

I appreciate I might be flamed for this, but a friend of mine from school is a Jehovah's Witness, and she has a very little boy. This popped up on my Facebook today that she had liked it, and it made me feel a little uneasy. For anyone that doesn't know it's a badge for her small child when attending the district conventions.

Please don't get me wrong, I'm fully accepting and appreciative of other's beliefs, but the 'indoctrination' of small children at these conventions is a little worrying to me. Or Aibu?

To find this a little disturbing
OP posts:
MaidOfStars · 20/03/2017 14:13

I have no idea what these sets are supposed to mark the child as? What are district conventions?

Isadora2007 · 20/03/2017 14:13

And it differs how from little skullcaps worn by Jewish boys? Or mini wedding dresses worn by 7 yr old catholic girls making their first communion. Or any other symbolic religious attire for a child...

hesterton · 20/03/2017 14:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

19lottie82 · 20/03/2017 14:14

Meh....... JW's always had a bad rap when I was younger but I know a few and they're all good people and don't try to push their beliefs on to me. I don't see the problem with this?

ImFuckingSpartacus · 20/03/2017 14:14

Child involved in parents religion? What is disturbing about that? It's completely normal.

19lottie82 · 20/03/2017 14:15

Would it be any different if parents were taking their child to a chapel or mosque?

Original poster
nonewnamesagain · 20/03/2017 14:15

It's a three day event where they, to my understanding, preach and instruct jehovahs witnesses on how to live etc.

The badges sort of mark the children and adults out as to what district they are from. It's not really about the badges but the fact they represent children going to these things and how they are enthusiastically sold as cute items iyswim

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 20/03/2017 14:17

I personally don't see it as any different to any other religion, I'm sorry op. Plenty of parents include their kids in their religious activities from a young age. Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, catholic, whatever.

PuppyMonkey · 20/03/2017 14:18

Well, yes, it's all clearly bollocks but the items don't seem particularly outrageous to me - a couple of ties and a name badge? They're hardly KKK white hoods or etc.

Minniemagoo · 20/03/2017 14:19

What about parents taking their children to sporting events, in the colours of Dads favorite team before the child can make up their own mind?
YABU

TheElephantofSurprise · 20/03/2017 14:20

They always look fabulous when attending conventions locally. Very smart! And, I've never seen anyone looking oppressed as they leave the conference halls...To an outside observer, it looks like a whole load of people getting together with those of like mind and having a great time.

Original poster
nonewnamesagain · 20/03/2017 14:23

Ok I can see I'm being unreasonable with the comparable examples

Think I've got a bit of a bad view as the woman in question at school was constantly miserable, she couldn't join in birthday celebrations, dance or anything similar. So I suppose I'm just sad that her child might now have the same experience Sad

OP posts:
MySordidCakeSecret · 20/03/2017 14:31

Trust me.. as someone who was indoctrinated into a religion very similar to JWs.. it's not fun and games, it's very damaging and has long term negative effects.

EssentialHummus · 20/03/2017 14:33

Look, there's a debate to be had about the children of religious individuals being indoctrinated into the faith at an age where they may not be able to question things or think for themselves, but this particular thing seems harmless to me.

shovetheholly · 20/03/2017 14:34

I am close to someone who had the worst experience as a young person due to being a JW. When she tried to leave the movement, they closed ranks so that she had to leave her entire family and friendship circle behind, and threatened her. Her experience is far more like that of a cult than of a religious organisation, and she had to exercise quite unbelievable levels of bravery as a young woman to emancipate herself. This would have been 20 years ago and maybe things have changed now. I seriously hope so.

PLUS we get them doorknocking, and they are often hugely sexist. One middle aged evangelist told me I should "put by my little womens' magazines" and read Watchtower instead. I lost it at that point, and told him I was actually reading Hegel and far too busy trying to understand absolute dialectics to be bothered with his stupid magazine. Wanker.

1horatio · 20/03/2017 14:45

Think I've got a bit of a bad view as the woman in question at school was constantly miserable, she couldn't join in birthday celebrations, dance or anything similar. So I suppose I'm just sad that her child might now have the same experience

I don't think YABU.

The indoctriation of children, especially when it's indoctrination into a religion/cult that may severely restrict their options, is imo concerning.

However, this tie thing here?

Not necessarily. Most religions seem to have items like this...

Original poster
nonewnamesagain · 20/03/2017 14:48

@1horatio

I guess I was trying to say that the thing I found disturbing was what it represents

At first I thought "cute" then I realised what the tie and badge were for iyswim

OP posts:
stopfuckingshoutingatme · 20/03/2017 14:49

Please don't get me wrong, I'm fully accepting and appreciative of other's beliefs

I dont think you are actually! anyway religion bashing seems to be a sport on MN so Ill leave it there

harderandharder2breathe · 20/03/2017 14:49

Most religious parents indoctrinate their children into their religion. Why is this worse than any other?

HeyRoly · 20/03/2017 14:49

I get what you mean OP.

In dressing up kids with name badges etc, they are seen as active "cult members" (and it is a cult) on par with adults who have chosen to be JWs. It's icky for sure. But it's a minor thing compared with the other shit JW children have to deal with.

1horatio · 20/03/2017 14:50

I guess I was trying to say that the thing I found disturbing was what it represents

Because it represents this religion/cult? Something you happen to disagree with or...?

BertrandRussell · 20/03/2017 14:50

"Most religious parents indoctrinate their children into their religion. Why is this worse than any other?"

It's not. It's just as awful as all the others.

Original poster
nonewnamesagain · 20/03/2017 14:56

@1horatio sort of yes!

I think it's very different indoctrinating a child into a very restricted lifestyle which cuts them off from society and taking them to three day events in which they have no choice but to be told these things

Compared with someone taking their child to church or mosque regularly but them being still able to participate in society with free will

OP posts:
Annesmyth123 · 20/03/2017 15:00

But that's what religious parents of any denomination and religion who take their kids to services/synagogues/temples/mosques etc do?

1horatio · 20/03/2017 15:06

think it's very different indoctrinating a child into a very restricted lifestyle which cuts them off from society and taking them to three day events in which they have no choice but to be told these things

Compared with someone taking their child to church or mosque regularly but them being still able to participate in society with free will

Yes, that is in some way true. Not all religions tend to excert the same dominance and control over their followers. And seeing as the JW tend to freeze out any relatives that leave... Yes, it does seem especially sinister to me personally.

But your friend was also born into it, right?
She does most likely genuinely believe she's doing what's best for her DC.