Jehovah’s witnesses at the door, what do you say?

[singsong]

I believe in god but not from same pov as Jehovah?s witnesses. I have no complaints about people choosing to follow this religion, I think it?s everyone?s right to make their own choices. Also I?ve nothing against Jehovah?s witnesses as people, we had some lovely family friends once who were Jehovah?s witnesses (although they have now moved away). But I?m not really very keen discussing these issues at the door with a complete stranger. Had a lady come round today (very nice polite lady) who was ?spreading the word? I did what I normally do in this situation which was be polite and have a short conversation with her about the issue in her magazine (avoiding talking about it from a religious pov but just life in general) and then said goodbye. My mum on the other hand is quite rude to them and tells them to go away quite abruptly. It?s really not in my nature to be rude but I?m worried that by engaging in conversation in this way I?m maybe misleading them into thinking I might convert and join them in their religion.
What do other people say?

you cant take her anywhere ( coddy shoves twig out of door)

ow .. quit shoving

... wouldn't mind I said the posh word too (sorry no offence meant, could not think of another mundane behaviour that wasn't mentioned)

lol twiglett.

I just say I have my faith as I'm a practising Christian. I thank them for coming though.

I spread the word by my acts rather than knocking on peoples doors. I do for others and try to be as Jesus would like (as much as I can)

My friend has just split up from her JW dh and he hasn't been a nice person. Another JW came yesterday to tell her she should report him but she isn't going to. Smacks a bit of telling tales in school.

Can I ask a genuine question?

I can totally understand why JW children are not allowed to take part in school assemblies/Christmas celebrations etc as this would be asking them to take part in an act of worship thatis against their faith.

However, what is the difference between them being allowed to sing a gospel song in music class and them being asked to sing a song about a mythical character/fairytale.

If the school are doing a play , what is the difference between acting a character who beleives in a particular religion and acting out cinderella for example.

Neither is an act of worship and neither is making out that it is true as such.

Can someone explain it to me.

I wouldn't be happy with my DS singing gospel music at School as it is religious (although I love gospel music ), if it was just gospel style but not religious I wouldn't have a problem.

I also wouldn't have a problem with him acting out a character in a play, although if he was acting out someone with religious beliefs I would want to know exactly what he would be doing and would make a decision then. Some things are conscience issues and one JW could feel differently than another about something like this.

Julie, hey i think you already touched on your own explanation, good point. Also, whats the worse thats gonna happen to your kid if he plays the part of jesus in a play. Jesus is part of society's history. No different than acting out King Tut or Winston Churchill. Its not like your kids are going to be "brainwashed" by acting out a religious figure. MIght even do them some good as they might think about it and make up their own minds or ask some questions.

We believe in Jesus, for my DS to take part in such a play I would want to know what Bible scene they were reinacting just so I could check out what he was being asked to do.

As someone has already pointed out the children of JWs are given plenty of chances to ask questions and make their own minds up, baptism is something that happens as teens/adults when they are capable of making their own minds up and making their own choices.

Am dead chuffed with this thread as it has been very calm so far. I was notapushyjweither and am 'outing'myself as a witness!

horraH!

Hello Collision, funny I had a feeling you were too from something you said on another thread!

Hello Collision.......happy outings!!

Hee-hee.....hi demented....i knew you were too!! a little bird told me!

LOL! Wonder who the little bird could be! Does she have four chicks?

Thanks Demented. The gospel song was brought in by a temporary teacher as an example of that particular style and because gospel music is great for children interms of rhythm, vocal range and harmony. Our initial reaction was OMG what do we do now when the child told us she couldn't sing it.

It does limit what we can do in some ways as there is such a lot of repertoire that originates from one religeon or another.

I don't know if you are familiar with the plot of Guys and Dolls, but how would you feel about this musical?

synopsis here

I am familiar with the plot of Guys and Dolls my School performed it and as I was very involved with the music department it was almost a dead cert that I would be involved. However after discussions with my Mum we (I was very involved in this decision and if I had been determined to take part I would have) decided I wouldn't take part. The issue being the time spent rehersing and it encroaching on time I had already put aside for things I was involved in with my religion. At the time I was playing in the School orchestra and attending regular rehersals and we felt that Guys and Dolls would be too much.

If I had taken part I personally would not have felt comfortable playing the role of Sarah (think that was her name, sorry I haven't had time to look at your link, I'm not supposed to be here, I'm supposed to be at the supermarket) it wasn't an issue anyway as although I'm not tone deaf there was no way I was going to be picked for one of the lead roles with my limited singing ability . Don't have anything against the musical, I thoroughly enjoyed going to see it with my Mum.

Meant to say me not feeling comfortable playing Sarah is a personal thing and by no means the opinion of all JWs.

I am presuming you are a music teacher Julie?

I accepted at School that there would be some things I couldn't do and accept the same with my DSs, sometimes the only option would be to sit-out. We are however very grateful to teachers who do make an effort to include our children in things but most reasonable parents will realise that it is impossible for you to include them in everything, especially in the month of December!

Chirp chirp chirp - hi collision and demented!!

If I'm working, and trying to catch a deadline, then I just say
"sorry, I'm much too busy at the moment" and close the door.

If I have a couple of extra moments I wait till I can get a word in, then try
"Look I have my religion, and I don't feel the need to come knocking on your door to tell you about it. My religion is private, now please don't disturb me again."
Then I close the door.

My Granny used to say "I'm Jewish" and slam the door shut (she wasn't).

Julie, had a chance to look at your link. Reading through it reminded me of a few things I had forgotten. I would not have been happy to sing "Follow the Fold" either as it is a hymn (not sure if it is a real hymn but certainly in the play it was a hymn). As I remember it in my School's production there were plenty of other songs/activities I could have been involved in (the musical was always an extra-curricular activity making it optional so not so much of a problem). I was thinking about this further whilst in ASDA (as you do ) and am sure I have heard of actors/actresses turning down roles as there is something about the role that they are playing that they do not agree with or do not feel comfortable with, so it's possibly not that absurd.

I know when I was involved in the School orchestra at times hymns would be picked for the orchestra to play and there was never a problem with me sitting those particular pieces out and then joining in again when it was something I could participate in.

Anyway I'm waffling!

Thanks, obviously anything will be discussed with the parents but I was just trying to find out the reasons behind things. I am not a music teacher but help to run an after school activity which the parents pay for their children to attend so whilst on the one hand we feel obliged to cater for JW's we also can't cut out large aspects of the genre for other children. The thought that we can never do a Christmas theme play perturbs me a little but it is something we will deal with. I would also have preffered that we were told about it before the day with the temp teacher lol!

I read on the official website (looked at it when the issue first arose) that JW's do use music in their worship. Is it that the content of mainstream Christian hymns etc go against JW beliefs, if so in what way. I know you don't beleive in the Trinity. Is there a list of acceptable songs that you sing?

Incidentally, back to the original subject, I always used to say I was a born again Christian (true) but found this to encourage them too much. I have taken the literature and read through it in the past, some of it was thought provoking but I still felt that my faith was the way to go.

Now I usually tel them I am busy and with two young children it is usually true.

We have a book of songs, some of which were written by witnesses imprisoned during the second world war, all are supported by Bible texts but would probably be unknown to anyone who hadn't attended our meetings. As far as hymns go there wouldn't be any that I as a JW would be happy to sing but surely there are many songs that could be chosen that don't have a religious theme?

I really appreciate teachers going out of their way to accommodate my DS1 but I realise that there are times that he will have to sit out and certainly wouldn't want the other children in his class to miss out on something they and their parents believed in and felt was important. I suppose IMO it's about striking a balance, it wouldn't be fair to the JW children to have every activity centered around things that they can't participate in and also the other way round, not fair to the other children never to include things that they believe in. I appreciate it must be really difficult.

Worth noting too that it is not only the children of JWs that are kept out of church services etc, I've hear of children of atheists and children of Hindus (? I think) being kept away from these events.

Just realised I haven't yet made any comment about the original post! You can't shut me up tonight!

I don't see the need for anyone to be rude a simple, 'no thanks' is generally enough. Incidently I have been on the other end when the Mormons called round, we were preparing the house/a meal for friends coming round, my DH explained this, explained that we were JWs and we were very unlikely to see eye to eye anyway, to which they said something along the lines of it being nice to spend time with friends and wished us a nice evening.

But do you keep a register of houses that have politely said 'no thanks', so you know not to bother them again?