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Philosophy/religion

Join our Philosophy forum to discuss religion and spirituality.

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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:

GinPalace · 08/04/2012 18:09

cat - so true. Think this is why I am not attracted to religions. :)

Original poster

blobtobetter · 08/04/2012 18:14

Ginpalace - I find it interesting in a scary sort of way! Sort of like having an interest in the Amish and their way of life.

OP posts:

WhiteShores · 08/04/2012 18:19

Catpuss and Gin I completely agree. If I ever become strong enough to face the consequences of leaving, I will leave a wide berth between me and religion in general.

I have a conscience. I have empathy. I have the ability to love. These are moral compasses enough.

MmeBucket · 08/04/2012 18:21

You're right cat, but they've also:

Split many families up in the name of Jehovah due to their shunning practices

Had people commit suicide after their families shunned them as directed by the Governing body

Disfellowship those from the congregation if they marry an unbeliever and aren't "repentant" about it.

Let people die from not getting proper medical treatment due to their beliefs (which flip flop, they allowed blood transfusions until the 1940's, and they allowed organ transfusion, and then disallowed it, and then allowed it again in the 1980's) I don't remember exactly when, but the Journal of the American Medical Association estimated the numbers of JW's that died due to the blood issue at more than 250,000 worldwide somewhere around 10-15 years ago.
Highly discourage anyone from their ranks to better themselves with higher education.

Have their members live their lives in fear of what their "loving" god Jehovah will do to them if they dare to break even one rule

GinPalace · 08/04/2012 18:23

Maybe you should just study an anthropology (or similar) degree instead of trying on religions for size - that way you can satisfy all your (obviously wide-ranging) interest without having to commit your heart and soul to the whole kit and kaboodle.

GinPalace · 08/04/2012 18:24

whiteshores you are an example of how not black and white this world is. The position you are in is known as rock and hard place I think - total sympathy. [busmile]

Hownoobrooncoo · 08/04/2012 18:25

I just in general have a problem with people who blindly follow rules made by others (especially when they seem quite severe ) without question as seems to be the case with JWs. Any Catholics I know take the parts of their religion that they agree with and follow their conscious with the rest. This might be considered hypocritical but I don't think you have to follow every rule or agree with every aspect of something to be a part of it but then I don't have faith myself.

WhiteShores · 08/04/2012 18:27

Thank you GinPalace, you just brought tears to my eyes. Not black and white at all.

Hownoobrooncoo · 08/04/2012 18:27

Or conscience even!

Hownoobrooncoo · 08/04/2012 18:35

Whiteshores - You should never have to find yourself in this position. I was ambivalent before about JWs but your situation and that of others who have been shunned has really given me a different viewpoint on them.

GinPalace · 08/04/2012 18:38

ahhh Whiteshores my heart went out to you early in this post - should have said so sooner.

MmeBucket · 08/04/2012 18:40

The fear that Whiteshores is living in is also one of the awful things of this religion. I lived that for several years. You can't just up and leave unscathed. Nobody I know that left was able to. They all spent various lengths of time living in this prison of fear knowing if anyone discovered their true feelings, their friends and family would all disappear. I suffered panic attacks, ulcers and horrible insomnia even after I left until I realized that the JW's no longer had a hold on me. And there are people that are never able to leave even though they no longer believe out of the very real fear of losing all they have.

That's one of the things about the religion. Say (not true but for example's sake) there's 1000 things JW's believe. If you agree with 999, but disagree with just 1 of them, and anyone finds out and it is brought to the elders and you persist in your belief that that one thing is untrue, even though you believe the rest, they will throw you out.

Original poster

blobtobetter · 08/04/2012 18:59

It is still odd to me that people would join knowing this although I suppose it is like marriage - you don't go into it expecting things to go badly.

OP posts:

edam · 08/04/2012 19:04

My MIL still suffers the pain of her parents converting to JW all these years later. It badly affected her childhood and she blames the JW church for her parents being made to leave their home and their jobs and go and start a new Kingdom Hall at the other end of the country. According to MIL it had a very serious affect on their health, at an age when they really should have been taking it rather easier. She has a rather strained relationship with her brother, who joined the JW church when he grew up. My MIL is well into her 70s and these experiences still haunt her.

Dh's JW cousins also live up to the 'women are second class citizens' image.

They did send us a present when they refused to attend our wedding though. We were quite pleased, had to invite them to be polite but their refusal to attend meant we could ask some actual friends instead.

GinPalace · 08/04/2012 19:04

Think it is like most things that end a long way from where they started - you accept a little bit, a bit more, you get involved in the people and before you know it you're in deep and the return route is less simple.

Original poster

blobtobetter · 08/04/2012 19:06

Would be more honest to be open about all the rules at the start!

Might have to read their little magazine things to see how they present themselves.

OP posts:

GinPalace · 08/04/2012 19:11

Out of interest Blob why did you leave the paganism you were into previously?

MmeBucket · 08/04/2012 19:14

Blob-most people don't know that much about the JW's in general other than they're those people that knock on your door. I live in a fairly major city in the U. S. and I know several people that haven't heard of them at all, so a lot of people don't know what to expect, and they don't exactly advertise the more controlling aspects of the religion when they start studying, and then it progresses exactly as GinPalace says.

MmeBucket · 08/04/2012 19:17

Oh, and I forgot to add, Blob (wish there was an edit post feature), they actually have 2 versions of their magazine, The Watchtower. One is for the general public and one is a "members-only" version, so some of the harder-to-accept doctrine doesn't present itself as readily as you would think.

xeno · 08/04/2012 19:27

I haven't read the whole thread but please DON'T get involved! JWs are not Christian. There is no grace or mercy or compassion unlike mainstream Christianity. I am a Christian and i would say the key thing is having a relationship with Jesus, it is not about rules and people telling you what to think. (although you do get idiots in Christian churches who think that!) I have free will to do what I like, I sometimes sin, (don't we all) but I know that I can turn to God and be forgiven. And I don't have to do anything to earn this, just put my faith in Jesus/God. JWs never know for sure if they are going to be ok when they die and the reason that lady is so keen to convert you is so that SHE gets higher up the pecking order. She IS trying to convert you, however nicely, but not because she cares about you. please don't let her persuade you into anything! A friend of mine has done lots of studying with the JWs and looked into the history of the movement. Apparently the bible they first used is significantly different to the one they have today because anytime they found something they didn't agree with, they just changed it!

Best thing to do - get a decent bible (I really like reading the NLT but if you are more traditional you might prefer NIV or NKJ) and just read it and ask God to speak to you. Try some different churches and ask questions. I would recommend going to a church that has some form of home groups, but beware of any church that tries to get you to conform to any kind of social norm. Even some mainstream Christian churches get it wrong or have strange theology (I speak from experience!)
Most of all, enjoy you quest. Enjoy finding out about God and how much he loves you! God bless xx

GinPalace · 08/04/2012 19:36

Xeno JW - the pyramid selling scheme of the religious world? It is true they believe the more people they convert the more likely it is to be in the 144,000 (or however many it is) I have had more than one conversation with various JW believers about that - in fact it is what irks me the most as it seems like buying your way into heaven almost.

MmeBucket · 08/04/2012 19:39

It has absolutely nothing to do with getting into the 144,000. The vast majority of JW's don't believe they're going to heaven, they think they'll stay here on the Earth after Jehovah destroys the wicked people. As I said before, they are all-concerned about numbers, and the better numbers you have, the more spiritual you seem, and the more respect you get from your fellow JW's.

MNHQ

OliviaLMumsnet · 08/04/2012 19:50

hello all
I wonder whether this thread might be better suited to our religion/philosophy topic??

GinPalace · 08/04/2012 19:52

Maybe I got wires crossed with the JW's talking to me about it. :)

Original poster

blobtobetter · 08/04/2012 19:53

Paganism was what all the cool kids were doing! Tarot cards, healing crystals, herbs ....

I was just dabbling really. I did find it interesting to read up on Druids and ancient stone circles and such.

OP posts:

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