To just go to a jehovahs witness meeting?

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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.

Just my two cents, as someone who has lived their lifetime in the religion, and 95% of whose family/associates are all JW (even though I no longer believe and am effectively trapped - as thoroughly laid out in this thread).

The vast majority of the people are utterly sincere, kind, well-meaning, and believe their faith entirely. They preach because they want to save your eternal life.

A lot of the negativity and criticism of JWs on this thread comes from real people's experiences of what happens when you want to leave, and JWs who are perfectly happy being JW will never experience this pain.

In my view, the organisation (not the individuals) does deserve a hearty criticism for promoting (and enforcing, where aware) the practice of shunning family members and friends. This forces many of us who want to leave, to either stay unwillingly, or lose a huge percentage of everyone we love.

Again, this is not something I am just saying, and can be read on the JW's official site www.watchtower.org . Just type 'disfellowshipping' into their search box.

What a great shame that some JWs are hiding the thread. The fact that it is obviously so difficult to read speaks volumes really.

I would agree too that the problem that most people have with JWs are not with the individuals (except obvious irritation with the door bangers), it's with the organisation and the way it treats people. I suppose a parallel is a bit like the citizens of a country under a totalitarian regime, the problem is the regime and its leaders, not the children born blamelessly into it.

Collision (if you ever do read this) - it is interesting that you bring up the example of the skeletons in the cupboard of the Catholic church. Do you think it would be a good thing if those horrors had remained hidden, and never talked about, as the church leaders tried to enforce (and probably still are, in places)?

rhondajean when I say they are allowed to be homosexual but not practice it, I mean a gay/lesbian person would not be disciplined/disfellowshipped for feeling the way they do, but they would absolutely be expected to not act on their feelings in any way (ie. they would have to be celibate, without any same-sex relationships).

As you stated, they would be expected to see being gay as sinful and to try and 'correct' their condition by diligent prayer and bible study.

Yes, the feelings would be regarded as sinful and weakness and a sign that they are not strong in the truth. I'm sure I remember articles about people being cured by their faith!

jjkm - yes that is a good point, it's not just JWs who exclude people from the organisation for behaving in 'improper ways'.

Just as another point to ponder, some Christians exclude children from their local (state) school community because their parents don't attend church often enough.

Blood transfusions are forbidden because of various scriptures in the bible counselling against the eating of blood in the Old Testament, and more generic advise to 'abstain from blood' in the New Testament.

When it comes to trickier issues like you are asking jjkm, about future technology and growing blood cells etc., the guidance will be distributed in the literature as the issues come up.

There are usually a combination of definite rules (eg. things you can be disfellowshipped for if you disobey), and things that are left up to the individual but with 'advice' from the Governing Body.

I had blood chats with the JW lady, I don't think they self donate. The cell saver machines sound not too bad for bloodless surgery. Donated blood is not checked for everything. I would find it hard to refuse blood though, if I had a choice I would try to not have it and go for bloodless if planned, then take blood if needed.

Is the watchtower and people that work there a secretive thing or, if they wrote an article for the magazine, would their name be on it?

In my mind I am picturing a big, dark, haunted-looking tower with fog and crows - it is probably a boring office building though!

or like in Lord of the rings!

Yes, no names, all hush hush.

They own a massive amount of land and buildings in Brooklyn, I can only imagine its worth a lot of money (though that's besides the point) and I'm sure the buildings are all connected by underground passages, but they are just normal buildings.

Wow actually just had a quick look at google about the land and according to news sites it's worth over a billion dollars and they're thinking about selling it off over the next few years and moving upstate!

Glad it isn't just me with the over active imagination!

I wondered if those up at the top had a certain celebrity status among JWs like some Christian authors / speakers.

Are JWs restricted in the sort of books they can read? I remember reading about some Christian group that banned romance novels.

Tbh, any books which aren't the bible or jw literature aren't encouraged as they take time that could and should be spent studying gods will.

Any mention of the supernatural is demonic and mustnt be read. Swearing, violence, sex, drug taking, etc shouldn't be I books. Romance novels were dangerous as they could encourage unrealistic expectations of marraige and love, sp discouraged, but not an outright ban.

Anything which is not from the organisation itself is from satans world therefore has no value, there are levels of risk attached but in general contact with any of it is discouraged, and I must say that as well as books tht includes music, films, tv, etc and also websites - eg JWs would be encouraged to speak to their elders and the sisters in the congregation if they have a problem and not bemusing a site such as mumsnet for suupport, as it's full of worldly people who have been deceived by Satan and might lead them astray.

well if the land and buildings will not be sold off for a few years, we should all be ok for a while yet!

It's started Sophie - one buildings sold for 7.1 million and one for 4.1 they are being turned into rentals at 3000 dollars a month for a one bedroom flat!

It's in all the American economics news sites.

where are they moving to?

Upstate apparently , I'm not too good at US geography sorry, apparently the city of Brooklyn is delighted because as a nonprofit they don't pay any taxes.

I wonder why they want adults to join - surely they have seen too much and are too worldly. With those who are brought up in it the awkward questioning phase would be out of the way.

I read a lot of books! I hadn't thought of "unrealistic expectations of marriage" but I suppose they have a point. Mr Darcy has a lot to answer for!

That is a lot of money!

Tbh, when I was a teenager there was a little black market in cycling "banned" videos and books round each other - I distinctly remember transporting doing the rounds.

You are allowed a history blob - but you need to renounce the world and it's ways from then on.

Train spotting!! Effing iPad

I can honestly say that there is absolutely nothing that anybody can possibly say about the Catholic Church that I haven't thought myself in the past I am under no illusions about the wrongdoing, abuse, murder, violence, hypocrisy, nothing.

But at least I'm there of my own accord and can leave any time that I choose, without any fear of reprisals. They don't lecture me, seperate me from friends or family, drag me in for questioning, stalk me, pester me, spy on me, threaten me or manipulate me

Ah I wondered how it worked. Would the newcomer be seen as a bad influence on the existing JWs or would renouncing all the bad things mean that you would be classed as safe?

I mean you can't un-see what you have seen so if you have watched some violent / dirty / magical film it would still be in your head.

blob they would expect you to renounce all of that and behave yourself from then on. God takes us as we are, man is somewhat different

When are you meant to be going to this place then?