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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:
rhondajean · 12/04/2012 19:01

The jacksons, as in Michael and co, were too goth.

The Williams sisters, the tennis players, though heaven knows what's made of both their outfits and the time they dedicate to tennis ( could and should be spent on god).

And hank marvin...

MmeBucket · 12/04/2012 19:03

Blob, had she been following the "rules" closely, she would not have gone to see that one. I know you guys have a different movie rating system over there, so I can't say what it was, but here in the states, it would be an "R" rating, which isn't acceptable to go to.

rhondajean · 12/04/2012 19:05

She went to see the hangover??

There's an interesting perception as well internally that not all professed JWs are actually living up to the standards required(I'm a better Christian than you) and god will weed the weak out at the end up.

stressedHEmum · 12/04/2012 19:07

SGK, one of the sisters in one of my congregations had been married three times. Her first husband was a drunken, adulterous prat, who kept repenting and being allowed back. her second husband was an alcoholic who beat and abused her in every way possible and who ended up in prison for possessing child porn and having sex with a minor. When she married the third time she was pushed to the very fringes of the congregation. he on the other hand repented numerous times and was allowed each time to go back to his position of responsibility. He just kept on doing the bad stuff but because he always said sorry in his interviews with the elders, it was fel that he was trying his best to stop his behavioursHmm

I don't know what happened in the end because I moved, but she was almost completely ostracised as being a bit of a wild one, while the men appeared to get off scot free.

Jambuttyyummy · 12/04/2012 19:08

Believe it or not but even JW's are not perfect Smile

They just try their own best

MmeBucket · 12/04/2012 19:08

Actually, Rhonda, I forgot how hard that Pew Survey is to navagate. Here is the correct page I wanted, and if you scroll down to the other survey highlights heading, you'll find the part that says "Jehovah's Witnesses have the lowest retention rate of any religious tradition. Only 37% of all those who say they were raised as Jehovah's Witnesses still identify themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses."

SparklyGothKat · 12/04/2012 19:09

Oh yea I forgot that the jacksons were witnesses too. Am I right in thinking that cliff Richard was too??

Original poster
blobtobetter · 12/04/2012 19:09

hiddenhome that book looks interesting. I had a mad dash through a bookshop today and had a quick scan of the religion section - so many of the books looked fascinating! There was Simply Jesus, Simply Christian, Why God Won't Go Away and Barefoot Disciple - I am going to look them up and read the reviews.

OP posts:
rhondajean · 12/04/2012 19:11

Thank you mme was struggling with it!

Don't think cliff was sparkly, I thinks he might have flirted with it, but hank marvin from the shadows is.

Original poster
blobtobetter · 12/04/2012 19:12

rhondajean She went to see it with a group of JWs! Might have been the second film as it wasn't that long ago.

OP posts:
SparklyGothKat · 12/04/2012 19:12

Apparently geri haliwell (spice girls) was too.

Original poster
blobtobetter · 12/04/2012 19:13

Totally misread "don't think cliff was sparkly" as some sort of glittery Cliff Richards!

OP posts:
hiddenhome · 12/04/2012 19:13

Another two of my favourite books are: Finding Sanctuary and Finding Happiness by Abbot Christopher Jamison

jjkm · 12/04/2012 19:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SparklyGothKat · 12/04/2012 19:20

I think people were very wary after that, it all came out after I left, he moved areas but not sure if the new area were aware of what happened.

rhondajean · 12/04/2012 19:24

I can think of two or three examples of that in the congregations was in sparkly. One of my best friends was abused by her step dad. Also other cases where very disturbed girls/ women made allegations that were disproved.

SophieNeveau · 12/04/2012 19:24

Peter Andre was another brought up as a JW.

You were lucky having gone out with that man alone.

That is sad about the three times married lady.

MmeBucket · 12/04/2012 19:26

His publisher record would follow him when he moved, SGK, and his past would be known to at least the Elders who had access to that, but they have no obligation to tell anyone about his past, since in their eyes the matter had been taken care of with his repentance.

jjkm · 12/04/2012 19:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MmeBucket · 12/04/2012 19:38

They've actually got a court case going in Australia right now, which charges them with failing to comply with the Working With Children act of 2005 because the JW's say that they don't have Sunday school, so the elders and ministerial servants shouldn't have to register. They're the only religious organization within the state of Victoria that refuses to comply

rhondajean · 12/04/2012 19:45

In fairness, they don't usually have separate classes for children, families are encouraged to worship together and parents are responsible for their children while at the kh. I imagine that most abusers strike up a relationship with the parents and then take the children outwith the worship part, ie not tht dis similar to how other predatory sex offenders act but using the blanket of being a caring brother to work their way in.

SparklyGothKat · 12/04/2012 19:55

Yes, he would take us out shopping without our parents. I always went out with my sisters so he didn't have the chance but other girls weren't so lucky. He was trusted in the religion.

Original poster
blobtobetter · 12/04/2012 20:16

Is there an assumption then (within JW groups / halls) that all the other JWs there are automatically trustworthy because they are JWs?

OP posts:
WhiteShores · 12/04/2012 20:23

Generally yes (allowing for individual variation). JWs view each other as family, they even call each other 'brother'/'sister', and consider each other far more trustworthy than non-JWs (in general).

rhondajean · 12/04/2012 20:25

I'm confused now mme - are you still there?

I thought it was always taught that you comply with the law of the land unless it comes into direct conflict with one of the godly/jw laws ( eg conscription to the army).

What are they objecting to about registering as ministers? And why did they produce a letter that was read to every congregation in Victoria saying that while JWs are out on the ministry it is their personal ministry and they are not representatives of the organisation
? Wtf is is going on?