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.

I believe in God so it isn't that much of a leap for me. Not like how a non-believer would find the whole thing crazy.

Been looking on the internet and there is a lot of negative stuff out there - just can't tell if it is true or just malicious.

I might go to a meeting - what's the worst that could happen after all!

You don't have to be a non-god-believer to have a negative view of a belief system. There are other criteria to whether something is acceptable than whether there is a mention of god or not.

You don't have to look at the casual sites on the religion - all rumour and gossip. Why not just look at their own official websites which should give you the fundamentals and see if the basis of the whole thing is for you.

Or just go. You obviously want to!

I am a technically current JW (was raised in the faith), and would like to leave but cannot due to the prospect of losing my entire JW family via shunning.

Here is the information about it from the official JW website:
www.watchtower.org/e/19880415/article_01.htm

Really, the only risk to you is if you ever fully convert (get baptized), at which point the rules on shunning apply if you become disfellowshipped (expelled), or disassociated (voluntarily leave yourself).

As someone else mentioned, you can become inactive over a period of time, but you must still follow all the rules (ie. not celebrating holidays, not accepting blood transfusions, not smoking, etc), and essentially live as a JW. If you are caught breaking the rules (or someone reports you), you will be disfellowshipped and shunning kicks in.

If you never get baptized and only study with them, or attend some meetings, the most that will happen is that they will take a keen interest in you (but it won't be stalking-type behaviour or anything sinister). They will be very friendly and welcoming, and will encourage you to become more involved.

The positives are that the vast majority really do genuinely believe their faith, live very clean lives, and will teach you a huge amount about the bible.

I would say go if you are interested. Just be very, very knowledgeable about the consequences if you ever want to get baptized (my advice would be just don't!). You can study with them as an unbaptized person indefinitely with no risk of adverse consequences.

I mean seriously

Sorry for OP

White shores are you baptised? It's very sad that you stay in a faith you have no belief in. My sisters and brother all left as teenagers, me too. I went back, they didn't. They certainly aren't shunned.

I might go to see what it is like - religions and faiths are so interesting to me! I went through a few phases before (like a pagan phase) so I am wary of committing myself to anything.

I didn't realise that you could study with them without joining.

It does sound quite strict but I suppose you must get used to the rules. The lady I work with joined in her late 20s and doesn't see much of her family - that would bother me as I am close to my family.

Mama, why a for the OP? Surely anyone has the right to explore their spiritual side whether that's in a religious way or not?

The OP doesn't deserve a for pondering it and asking.

Why not just say "I think you are being unreasonable for x, y or z reason" or just not post at all .?

lisad123 yes I am baptized. The shunning rules don't apply if you are never baptized (I also have one unbaptized sister who left without any problems).

It really is my only gripe against the religion (95% of my entire extended family are still JWs, and they are all good clean-living people whom I love dearly).

I would never advise anyone to avoid the religion if they are interested, but I absolutely would advise against ever, ever getting baptized (because of the disfellowshipping/disassociating rules).

As an individual interested in the religion, even these sanctions cannot effect you that much, but it all starts to become very tricky indeed when your family (or children) start getting baptized.

I have family that are JW. The only time that me not being married was a problem was when I stayed attheir house, me & DP had to sleep in different rooms. They still welcomed our our out-of-wedlock children and had a very normal relationship with them! My female JW family member also wears trousers. There are an awful lot of stupid misconceptions on this thread!

What's your relationship to the JW at work OP? I'd be tempted to tell her to leave me alone and/or complain to her boss (earth one, not other one).

If you're sufficiently strong, I don't see the harm in going along once though, leaving and not making any further contact.

My mum had seven of them living next door (in a 3 bed house)- no house visits, no evangelising, no "come and join us senior mrs Ferret", nothing. Lovely people.

I've been to church for teaching experience and walked away after a period of time. And I'm an atheist. I've quite happily told other chaps in suits to Go Away but Have a Good Day as well, all have realised they're on a loser and gone.

cambridgeferret - I would say that we are work friends. I think her actual friends are all JWs but we go for lunch every now and then and chat at work.

I wouldn't complain about her as I am sure she is just doing what she thinks is right - she truly believes it all and it makes her happy.

Cambridge 'earth one, not other one' [bugrin]

Why don't you turn it round. Start going to another church - any Christian church. Then talk about it at work - a lot. Then try to pursuade your JW to come along to one of your services. See what she says.

Cecily what for?
OP doesn't seem to mind her inviting her to meetings, don't think she is trying to get her to back off, just considering whether to get involved...

Sorry, that's the impression I got from, 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!?

Cecily ahhh- yes I can see that, I'd forgotten the original text - sorry. I was being led by later posts. Maybe the work colleague is also getting mixed messages?! [buwink]

Cecily, a JW would not go to another place of worship, they have choosen not to as part of their own beliefs.

CecilyP - I am pretty sure she wouldn't be allowed to go to a different sort of church!

I don't mind discussing all sorts of different religions but I don't want to be under pressure to jump into one. I am looking for a church but slowly!

Op - would it bother you to belong to a religion that couldn't stomach its members looking at another religion / view, even though often the best way to confirm your view is to hear the opposing one and see if you still prefer your own?

Asked nicely btw - curious, not digging at you. [busmile]

You can look at plenty while you study JW, but part of being baptized is agreeing not to worship false gods - surely by then you would have made up your mind anyway?

Do catholics etc go to other types of religious places (kingdom halls, synagougs, mosques etc) for worship?

You can go to a service at any of those places as a catholic. My (very catholic) parents have been to weddings of all flavours, bar mitzvahs etc.

Probably not for worship, but through choice?

I would be more concerned if there was a veto against curiosity (as in 'not allowed') than if they (obviously) worshipped in their own church from preference.

When I was an active CofE member I occasionally got involved with other religions activities in a peripheral way through friends but it 'was allowed'

I think that is the difference in my eyes. :)

GinPalace - its easily done; threads take so many twists and turns, it is easy to forget the original question.

My post wasn't entirely serious, but, yes, Catholics are allowed to attend other services.