To just go to a jehovahs witness meeting?

[blobtobetter]

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.

PMSL Aribura!

Aribura

JW isn't a cult.
Personally, JW or not, I'd get rid of Christmas like a shot, given half the chance, and Easter, Halloween and bonfire night too! it's all pointless, commercial bullshit!

My dais left. I've never seen or heard of her being shunned! We recently attended DsMs funeral at the kingdom hall. She was warmly welcomed by everyone. And it was a beautiful funeral.

Dsis!

Then they weren't following their own rules Cat

Your Dsis should have been disfellowshipped according to the faith

Catpuss it's not commercial it's pagan based but that's a whole other thread

CatPuss, but the reasons you'd do away with Christmas are not the reasons the JWs would do away with it.

Worral some are disfellowshipped, some are disassociated. So maybe that's why she wasn't shunned.

OP don't you think you should know a little bit about this before you commit to a meeting. You sound incredibly naïve and ignorant. Surely there are warning bells ringing here. Read evewrything you can and make an informed decision and don't let yourself be swayed by this woman at work. Why do you feel so persuaded by her. Are you at a vulnerable time in your life right now? Becaue ime thils is when JW pounce. Be careful

Who gets to choose the treatment lisad?

Or is it different Kingdom Halls who have different rules?

I didn't realise they could be disassociated.

Lisa I know all about the pagan part. I studied for several years as a child. I'm quite interested in the whole pagan theory, worshipping the sun and all that, if you leave out the human sacrifices and stuff. But nowadays, it's just about shopping!

Disassociated is when you just stop going or have done something wrong but show you are sorry. Disfellowshipped is if you aren't sorry or a major sin is committed such as adultery. It's decided on each individual case. We often don't know why, we aren't told, as it's not our place to know unless we are personally effected. Gossip isn't a good thing and people shouldn't be reminded of their wrong doings if they are truly sorry.
You can only be either if you are baptised. If your not baptised then you cannot be disfellowshipped or disassociated. We don't baptise children before anyone kills me!

When I was at school I had a friend who was a JW she used to constantly go on at our group of friends to convert. We were only 14 so really it wasn't something we could do on our own without our parents. One day we had a bust up because I refused to convert and give her £5 for a bible. She wouldn't speak to me after that because her mother had told her never to speak to me again if I wasn't going to convert! It feels far too controlling and cult like.

And actually, my reasons aren't far off JW ones. I'd do away with them all, because, 1/ they are actually pagan rituals,
2/ I'm not a pagan,
3/ I don't believe in God,
4/ Jesus wasn't born at Christmas anyway,
5/ I don't buy in to the whole commercial crap.

It's a pile of shite. Don't go; you'll get sucked in, be too polite to say no to them and before you know it you'll believe there's a heaven with only 144 000 places in it. FFS.

My MIL is JW and has refused to visit her only son and (9 yr old) grandson because we weren't married. Any religion that stops you seeing your family is a cult, IMO.

I wish this country could be secular; religion is what's wrong with the world.

I only found out a few years back when I went back to JW. I grew up in it as a kid but left as a teen. Didn't really do the studying as a kid but as an adult I find it very interesting. Have a lady at work who is a pagen, she's taught me loads about the history too.

blobtobetter I have pm'd you about this

Also adultery in jw can only be proved if their caught in the act or confess

I believe that's the only way you can get a divorce

Stick to orthodox Christianity.

Thanks for answering my question Lisa

Though I have to disagree that it's not your place to know how your fellow JW's are being treated and why.

So surely I was right in saying that as Cat's sister left the faith, she should have been disfellowshipped?

I mean it's not like she'd say she's sorry and want to be forgiven if she actually wants to leave?

MissGreatBritain, how exactly can you enforce that? What would happen to people who refused to stop practising their religions?

Disfellowshipping is for someone who has been baptised as a jw, has committed a serious sin, is unrepentant and is at that time regarded by the community as a jw. Disassociation is usually a voluntary choice where someone writes and says they formally wish to be no part of the religion.

Worra cats sister sounds like she did as I did, which was to quietly become inactive and after a long time you are no longer regarded as a jw, but you are not 'expelled' in any way.

To answer original question yes they will be very friendly. Tomorrow is a special talk that will be a really good introduction to someone new to it. You can leave after the public talk if you don't want to take part in the " English comprehension" part.

And honestly, you don't miss Christmas after a few years.

Plus if you stopped attending but weren't committing any sin, you wouldn't be disfellowshipped, just regarded as inactive or spiritually dead. Which is a lovely phrase.