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Original poster

To just go to a jehovahs witness meeting?

796 replies

blobtobetter · 07/04/2012 21:05

One of the older women at work is a Jehovah's Witness. I don't really know what they are but they don't like blood or birthdays. I thought they were just another type of Christian but apparently not.

She keeps asking me to go to a meeting and I keep putting her off. Thinking now that I should just go once and then never again!?

It sounds really shallow but I wouldn't want to give up Christmas!!

Part of me wonders what it would be like. Would they be over friendly? Would they be distant as I am a heathen type? Can't imagine it really.

OP posts:
HerRoyalNotness · 09/04/2012 21:11

You wouldn't be letting anyone down Blob. People are just happy to teach those that are interested. If you decide it's not for you, fair enough. You've looked at it, had a go, and made a reasoned decision. That is all anyone asks.

hiddenhome · 09/04/2012 21:13

Learn the characteristics of a cult and apply them to this organisation. It is a man made, self serving organisation. No matter how nice and friendly they come across as, they are simply after more members. You are meat on a plate to them.

lisad123 · 09/04/2012 21:13

Why fake hh? On what grounds?

lisad123 · 09/04/2012 21:14

Why do we need more members hh? We know only god can see heart conditions, bums in seats makes no difference tbh

Original poster
blobtobetter · 09/04/2012 21:14

I worry about letting everyone down - a character failing of mine. My family already have issues with me believing in God at all so any steps closer to any religion are seen as a let down by them.

Why do they want more members? Is it a money / contributions thing or a saving people thing?

OP posts:
hiddenhome · 09/04/2012 21:15

blobtobetter some churches aren't as friendly as others. You need to go a few times so that they start to recognise you, then you can make a decision. Some congregations are more outgoing than others. Get yourself round a few different churches before you make any decision. Don't just join these people because one woman happens to be friendly towards you. Examine her motives, please.

hiddenhome · 09/04/2012 21:16

More members = More money

lisad123 if you don't need more members then why do you send people round my neighbourhood every month or so? Hmm Please, don't take us for fools.

calzone · 09/04/2012 21:17

hh what a nasty thing to say!

Do you really think that they are just after numbers?? What an odd thing to say!

Witnesses preach because it is a command from Jesus to do so....preach about God and numbers really do not matter. You can accept it or not. Your choice.

Have you ever been to a JW quick build of a kingdom hall or a convention with 28,000 members at Twickenham stadium.

No?

I thought not.

Am not sure what witnesses have ever done to you but you come across as vindictive.

hiddenhome · 09/04/2012 21:17

Friendliness can be an act = more members, more members, more members......ad infinitum, ad nauseum........

Original poster
blobtobetter · 09/04/2012 21:18

I am not calling off my search by any means - just trying to be open to where I am meant to be. I don't really want to rule anything sensible out.

OP posts:
lisad123 · 09/04/2012 21:18

You won't be letting anyone down, you don't have a gun to your head. You do what you feel is right.
Money isn't really an issue to JW. We are encouraged to donate what we want and can afford but no one knows who puts in what. It's not like they pass around a plate for all to see. I don't think we put in a penny for quite a few years Blush
All accounts are read out quarterly and all accounts are available for anyone to read as they are classed as a charity.

hiddenhome · 09/04/2012 21:18

Vindictive? Hmm Dear me, if you think that's vindicitve you need to get out more Sad

HerRoyalNotness · 09/04/2012 21:19

Contributions are strictly voluntary and private. You donate if you want to or not.

HH, the Bible clearly tells Christians to go forth and make disciples. Matt 24.14 sasy, this good news of teh kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth. If JW don't take up the challenge, who will?

calzone · 09/04/2012 21:19

More members more money!

What a lot of tosh!

There is no collection pot Blob.

There is a small box at the back of the hall if you want to donate but there is certainly no pressure to do so. JW's are certainly not money grabbing people.

Original poster
blobtobetter · 09/04/2012 21:20

That is what I am trying to do - find the place that feels right. It is harder than I thought. I need a big lit up arrow directing me!

OP posts:
calzone · 09/04/2012 21:21

I get out plenty thanks hh.

You just sound so bitter and vindictive about a group of people who cause no trouble, preach the word of god and happen to be a friendly bunch whereas you have put a nasty twist on what they do.

HerRoyalNotness · 09/04/2012 21:21

I think perhaps we are the arrow ---> this way Blob! Grin

All I can suggest is that you pray about it and ask for some direction to help you make a wise choice.

hiddenhome · 09/04/2012 21:22

Right, enough already. There is not going to be a lit up arrow for you blobtobetter. Unfortunately.

I'm not having anything to do with this any longer because I can see what's happening.

Do not be naive blobtobetter Be strong and don't be taken in by these people.

lisad123 · 09/04/2012 21:22

I have been to a number of different places of worship when I left JW. It always felt odd to me. We have a number of people who started in different faiths in our congregation who said the same.
You lose nothing by going and being open minded. You don't have to stay, you don't have to go again.
But know you won't find god on mn Smile

Original poster
blobtobetter · 09/04/2012 21:24

An arrow would make it easier for sure! :p

Hiddenhome - I am not going to just jump into anything - I just have a lot of questions. I really do appreciate your concern!

OP posts:
WhiteShores · 09/04/2012 21:27

blobtobetter If you believe in a higher power/God, then he will be accessible to everyone, whoever you are, wherever you are, what ever time period you lived in, whether you were a primal jungle tribes member or a modern day westerner.

This means that all the tools you need are inside of you. You have your mind, your conscience, your heart, and prayer.

You don't need anyone to tell you how to find your path. You are the helmsman.

BelaLug0si · 09/04/2012 21:29

OP it sounds to me like you're looking for a sense of belonging, security, closeness and community. As you might have gathered from the variety of responses on your thread (from current/ex JW and non-JW) there is a spectrum of how doctrines are interpreted and applied. There is a core of beliefs but local congregations may have firm/looser stances on them.
E.g. Elders can vary quite a bit and I know of situations where they have appeared at front doors and insisted on interviewing teenage children who were deemed to have done something wrong (which they hadn't)
What you can't tell initially is what your local congregation is like, nor what they will expect of you. You could feel entirely at home and find that sense of belonging, however in time it could then become restrictive and claustrophobic.
If you then wanted to leave, as you've seen from WhiteShore's posts extracting yourself would be more tricky.
At it's best it could be incredibly supportive, at its worst intrusive and like a very small village where everyone knows each others' business and you can't sneeze without it being discussed by the others. For some people a small village community sounds idyllic for others dire.

Think of it as getting a large tattoo somewhere you can't cover easily with clothing: how long would it take you to decide to have one done? Would research how to get it removed?

jjkm · 09/04/2012 21:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MmeBucket · 09/04/2012 21:30

Calzone, I see you used the word apostate when you referred to hh links? Were you inferring that HH is an apostate?

Is 13 not the normal age to get baptized when being raised a JW in England? I would say here in the states the average age was that when I was baptized. (At 12, after several years of my JW family letting me know it was time to do so)

calzone · 09/04/2012 21:31

Are you a witness Bela?