JW please help me to understand my new friend

[cantthinkofausername26]

I've got a lovely new friend, we have children the same age and they get on fabulously. My friend is a Jehovah's Witness. I understand she will not celebrate Christmas or birthdays but I'm nervous about offending her. For example, would it be weird to invite her to my house that's a Christmas grotto? How do I not leave her children out when DD gives out little gifts to her classmates at Christmas?

Before the elders can handle it at a congregational level.

If anyone abused by child, I WOULD BE THE ONE reporting it to the police immediately. I wouldn't leave it to anyone else to do. As I'd expect any sane parent to do. Once someone is convicted of child abused or on the register every parent must be made aware. Even new people with children who join the congregation must be made aware.

@Namechanging88

Now you know that's not how it works. The elders put pressure on not to bring reproach on Jehovahs name. And that always means keeping it hush hush.

I used to be in the org. My Dad an elder. I've read the elders hand book.
I've also watched a member of the govering body lie under oath at the Australian Royal Commission about how they deal with child abuse and the list of names they keep at head office of the paedophiles in the congregations
I also know that the world wide preaching fund that you contribute to goes to paying out millions of dollars on court cases to the victims of child abuse.
So don't you dare come here trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes. You are completely brainwashed.

@Horrace I can assure you I am not brainwashed. Proverbs 14:15
I apply that principle to all aspects of my life...I've done the reading and research around it all to draw my own conclusions.

I can only share with the OP I live my life. No 1 JW can speak for them all. You said before your family don't shun you. A commenter up thread said their family DID shun them. This just goes to show we're not all carbon copies of each other.

Anyway, as the OP has left the thread...I think I'll do the same at this point.

Every one of my friends shunned me. My parents don't but my dad had to step down as an elder because he chose to continue contact with me. And by the way, I was never disfellowshipped so go figure

Yeah, you do that.

I don't know how you can stay in an organisation that protects child abusers.

No one is encouraging hate? They're just pointing out how damaging this cult religion is
People are actively encouraged to convert people and believe their standing in heaven will be changed depdendent on how many people they convert, so it's not hateful to suggest that she's going to try and convert you?!

You are living in Cloud Cuckoo Land along with all believers in ANY of the religions.

@Blueskieslookingatme

I see that @Namechanging88 says her kids do R.E.
Well I don't think she is a strong JW. No string believing witness allows their kids into R.E.
Their kids either have to sit outside class or they sit in at the back of class reading the Watchtower magazine.

Then get bullied for it

Hi there,

I have many JW friends and work and have worked with a few. Really kind lovely people that do their best to imitate Jesus example. They preach because Jesus said it would be an identifying mark of his followers, also they believe the biggest two commandments are to love God and fellow man. They have high standards because those are found in the Bible. If members don’t repent of ‘grave’ sins like adultery they’re removed from being a JW.

JW is also a very well known mainstream religion not a cult and in no way dangerous, probably more annoying than anything else with the knocking on doors.

Shocking amount of lies and hate, mud slinging and very wrong information - seems unhinged!

Exactly.

It seems to me the most extremist, bullying hateful and dangerous mindset on this thread is very evident…and it’s not the JW

Three members of my family are JW and have been for decades. It is impossible to have a rational conversation with them about anything because are incapable of thinking for themselves. 'The Bible says'.. 'The branch tells us'... 'We have to check in our literature if that's allowed'. My very elderly mother is made to feel guilty if she doesn't 'pioneer' every day and stand in the cold at street corners. She is fearful of anyone who isn't a JW because she thinks anyone who is not in their faith is war mongering and lacking in morality. So she literally knows no one apart from her children outside her religion and there is no balance at all to her thinking. As a result i have virtually no relationship with her. She is incapable of making any decision without asking an elder what to do. She put her religion before her family at every single turn and as a result we had a miserable childhood without any fun , presents or joy. All I remember is meetings , and long lectures about whatever was in the Watchtower that week. I remember being warned not to masturbate at 9 years old when I had no idea what that meant. There is nothing innocuous about it. It is brain washing, pure and simple.

Nobody has told you to shun them. They have told you what you might expect from getting closer to them, to avoid you hurting your feelings if they drop you if you don't convert and to allow you to protect your children, if you want to. JW are legally considered a cult in many countries, it isn't hate speech to say so.

It's not prejudice or discrimination to mention proselytism in relation to JW. They will tell you yourself that they believe in it.
They aren't considered Christian, either.

@Willow0

What is strange is that you have so many JW friends, not being one yourself. Unless of course you are studying with them which it sounds very much like you are.
You sound like you have just stepped out of one of their convention dramas.

You could be a poster girl for them.

Yes they love their fellow man provided their fellow man is JW.
Otherwise they'll be destroyed at armageddon.

Really not sure where you're getting your information from but as someone who was a JW for 18years I can assure you they do consider themselves Christians

Yes they do.

Amazing how the Op who initially presented herself as a disinterested observer, seeking not to offend her lovely new friend, in a few pages started calling people with the personal lived experience of JW bonkers and a few obsessed nutters.

JW children attend RE lessons and are often very good at discussing their views and listening to others. They do not attend the religious elements of assemblies but attend general ones. There is communication with home about what is coming up in assemblies.

You have not needed two witnesses for abuse for many years. Whilst this is in the bible it no longer safeguards children or vulnerable adults. Brothers should undertake safeguarding training and there is a safeguarding policy.

The bible is the same as any other version except where the name of Jehovah was removed in the King James version as lowly people should not have direct knowledge or know Jehovah personally. It was replaced with Lord, the almighty etc. This has been corrected and Jehovah's name reinstated so everyone can known and use his personal name.

Christ and Jehovah and his spirit are considered as separate entities but each one is given due respect and the teachings of Christ followed.