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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:
SophieNeveau · 10/04/2012 15:01

The JW bible study would keep you ticking along until September, you don't have to volunteer you are studying in two places to JW lady. Just try to focus more on the bible than the JW book.

Original poster
blobtobetter · 10/04/2012 15:38

It feels a bit sneaky to use them as a stop gap! Wonder how different their bible is.

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BonfireOfKleenex · 10/04/2012 15:42

blobtobetter - I think 'sneakily studying elsewhere' should probably be the least of your concerns. You're feeling guilty at letting the JWs down before you've even got there! Has nothing that you have heard about them here put you off? Confused

Codandchops · 10/04/2012 15:45

If you have a Bible Blob you could always read from that and look online at theirs to see any differences.

I haven't looked too closely but know that they allegedly changed the Gospel of John to meet with their belief that Jesus was not God personified on Earth.

John 1 says that "...the Word was with God and the Word WAS God" . Later in that chapter it says "....and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us".

The JW Bible words this differently to reflect their belief that Jesus and Jehovah God were not the same.

BonfireOfKleenex · 10/04/2012 15:45

blobtobetter - please don't forget that freedom to make choices in your life without guilt (as long as you aren't hurting anyone else) is a very precious thing.

Original poster
blobtobetter · 10/04/2012 16:06

I feel guilty about all sorts - overthinking situations I think.

I don't think it would work with me being one anyway if you have to reduce contact with non believers I wouldn't give up my family. Wonder how it works in those cases. The lady at work split up with her partner when she joined!

The blood thing is odd but the general rules don't bother me - I like rules!

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WhiteShores · 10/04/2012 16:23

You would be allowed to associate with your non-JW family, but they are essentially considered 'bad associations' (as is anyone who is not JW), so you would be expected to keep this to a minimum, or ideally try and get them to become JW themselves.

As a JW, the religion is supposed to come first and foremost. Before your family, and before your life.

SophieNeveau · 10/04/2012 16:27

Blob, have you been in a controlling personal relationship in the past?

God gave us rules, ten of them, to live by, and Jesus gave us more.

Codandchops · 10/04/2012 16:36

God also gave us free will Sophie Smile. Generally they are not rules we cannot live by. Of course we all get things wrong sometimes but those are the times we can reflect and pray. It's not about bring controlled unless you are in a cult of course.

hiddenhome · 10/04/2012 17:05

blob if you like rules and you 'do guilt' then become a Catholic Grin

SophieNeveau · 10/04/2012 17:12

Here are Ten rules

SophieNeveau · 10/04/2012 17:13

Jesus gave us these

Codandchops · 10/04/2012 17:19

Catholics have Reconciliation though ....but not all go, last time I went I sat and giggled through the chat with the priest Grin

Original poster
blobtobetter · 10/04/2012 17:50

I don't need any help feeling guilty!

No - never been in a controlling relationship, I think it is just one of my (many) character flaws. I just tend to put others first and think too much.

My parents would NEVER EVER convert! They don't believe in God (none of my family do) so they think my belief is crazy anyway. To the point of asking me if I believe in all fairy tales / unicorns etc.

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BonfireOfKleenex · 10/04/2012 19:30

blobtobetter - maybe if you think that feeling guilty is a character flaw, you might be better doing an assertiveness course before embarking on the journey to find a church? Just because it's important to find out what's right for you, not what other people might want you to do? If a course is too difficult / expensive, maybe consider reading up a bit on assertiveness? Sorry if this is something you already know about, and I really hope you're not offended by the suggestion.

Original poster
blobtobetter · 10/04/2012 20:18

I can stand up for myself it just takes a bit to get me there! I have done a few leadership courses and speeches already through work.

I tend to think about consequences a lot and about how my actions could hurt / impact others.

Not offended! :) Telling my family that I believed in God was pretty hard but I am sticking to it because I know it is true. It would give me a much quieter life if I just gave it and my church hunt up.

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hiddenhome · 10/04/2012 20:24

Aha, "church hunt", I'm liking those words Grin

There must be some other churches in your town. You don't have to return to the unfriendly ones.

MmeBucket · 10/04/2012 20:59

Some examples off the top of my head of things that changed are:

When he first started the religion, CT Russel said Jesus had already "invisibly" returned to Earth in 1799 and the world would end in 1914. After it didn't 1914 got switched to "the beginning of the last days" instead of the end of the world and 1925 was the new date. Then they didn't really have a date. Then it was 1975. Now it is back to not having a date. For a long time, they used 1914 as the beginning of the end of this system of things. As I stated earlier, CT Russell used the measurements of pyramids as the calculation, but then they calculated it by changing the date that historians consider Jerusalem falling, and calculating from there. They once predicted that those alive in 1914 would still be alive before the end of this system of things, and have changed that teaching about 6 times since then, most recently in 1995, 2008, and 2010 where they redefined the meaning of the word "generation" to mean people who were alive at the same time whose lives overlapped (i.e. my 85 year old grandfather and a newborn baby are the same generation, because their lives overlap)

CT Russell didn't believe in disfellowshipping. In the 1920 Watchtower, he said to never refuse to treat anyone as a brother if they didn't believe the society was the lord's channel. That changed in 1952. JW's Celebrated Christmas up until the 1920's and birthdays up until the early 1950's. They taught that in Revelation the "harlot" that rode on the Wild Beast was false religion and the Wild Beast was the United Nations and these were evil, but in 1992 they joined the UN as an NGO and were members up until 2001 when a newspaper article was written that showed they were an NGO.

They didn't ban blood transfusions until 1945, and have changed some of what is and isn't banned until then. They refused to accept vaccines until the early 1950's and then changed that. They allowed organ donation/transfusion until 1967, and then called it cannibalism. And then changed it back to being okay in 1980 without so much as an oops, sorry for anyone who had died in that time. Smoking was okay until 1974, when it was declared a disfellowshipping offense because of spiritism.

I can actually think of more, but this post is long enough.

SparklyGothKat · 10/04/2012 21:06

My grandfather thinks he is one of the 144000, he was disfellowshipped in the 70s as he wouldn't quit smoking then he had a stroke and heart attack about 8 years ago. Quit smoking, went back and now he thinks he is 'one of the anointed' I wet myself laughing at that, as he isn't old enough according to the teachings I was told when I was younger, but seeing that they have changed it again I can see why he would say it now Hmm

Original poster
blobtobetter · 10/04/2012 21:10

Wow! That is a lot of changes! Wonder how they change them - new magazine with new faith facts.

I don't really understand the anointed thing - how do you know you are? And if you say you are how can anyone prove you wrong?

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MmeBucket · 10/04/2012 21:12

Oh yeah, SGK, that's another one. For a long time, they taught that the 144,000 going to heaven were filled in 1935, and only a few would be added in the years to come to replace those like your grandfather who fell away. And then as time went on, the number who consider themselves to be one of them has gone way up, (they count everything and report that number yearly) to over 11,000 a year and that doctrine has been quietly abandoned.

MmeBucket · 10/04/2012 21:13

Blob, you just know. And if you are an active JW, nobody questions that, because the Holy Spirit has directed that choice, and you don't question the Holy Spirit.

SparklyGothKat · 10/04/2012 21:15

But he wasn't one before he fell away, just now! He is a test tho lol

SparklyGothKat · 10/04/2012 21:16

Twat lol

Original poster
blobtobetter · 10/04/2012 21:16

You would think there would be a few that might pretend that they were anointed - surely there are attention seekers in the JWs!

Maybe I am being too cynical!

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