Tell me about Jehovah's Witnesses

mrsgreenjeens · Aug 23, 2010

Originally Posted by Trouts mom

The reason I am curious is because my DH has been corresponding with them, and I feel nervous about it. (No offence to any JW, the only thing I knew of the religion was the 'cultish' reputation they have)

DH is a Christian, and a fairly devout one. (I am still figuring all of that out for myself)

Anyway, the JW came to our door one day, and DH started talking about the bible with them. Then he started going out for coffee with them, and now they have invited him to a bible meeting this weekend.

This bible meeting with them was making me feel uneasy, so I decided to seek out info on them.

Thanks everyone for your help.

My husband studied with them for a year, just to learn, because he is interested in ALL religions. I don't think he was ever really interested in becoming a Witness, just wanted to know what it was all about.

My sister is a Witness, as is her daughter and her grandchildren (the ONLY grandchildren my folks have). This just about kills my folks, since they cannot celebrate Christmas or birthdays with their grandkids. But they have learned to accept it.

When Witnesses come to my door, I tell them my sister is a Witness, and if she can't get me to convert, no one can, then we chat for a few minutes, and they leave. Never any pressure. As a matter of fact, they asked me last time if they should put me on their "do not bother" list, and I said "yes". I think that means they won't be back around for a few years, then they may stop by in case someone else lives here by then!

ruthyb · Aug 23, 2010

I have never, ever been bothered by witnesses when they have come to my door, I have always found them respectful. My best friend is one and she has never tried to influence me ever. I ask her questions and I have learnt alot but I am not interested in becoming a witness and she knows that and respects it, she has 4 children and none of them have "missed out" she and her family are no different to me and my family, she just has different beliefs. As with everything some people take things to extremes and I am sure there are some witnesses out there that do. x

misty8723 · Aug 23, 2010

Originally Posted by Ruthyb

I have never, ever been bothered by witnesses when they have come to my door, I have always found them respectful.

Frankly, if they were respectful, they wouldn't come to my house at all. I don't go bothering people with the things I believe or trying to "convert" them, and I don't appreciate anyone of any religion trying to convert me either. And if they truly believe we are a speck of dust when we die and only so many are getting into heaven, why bother trying to convert anyone? Isn't that the whole point of conversion - that you and yours are the only ones who have the key to heaven and I better believe what you believe or I won't make it? I'm just curious why they go door to door.

goldenkitty45 · Aug 23, 2010

Blue and Glow - I really LOOOOVEEE your two stories.

violet · Aug 23, 2010

Many, many years ago (in the early 70s) we (DH and I) studied with them and went to meetings at the local Kingdom Hall. We even became friends with a couple of Witnesses and their families.

The people (Witnesses) we met at that time had a lot of good qualities, they were very, very nice people. Good people. I couldn't say one bad thing about any of them.

However, what we realized was that the pressure on members and people considering becoming members was enormous. Every aspect of a person's life was to be controlled. Especially information a person was reading.
What we learned from the Witnesses at that time motivated us to do an enormous amount of reading. About Jehovah's Witnesses from their own approved literature and Christianity in general from many other sources.

The pressure and the tight control over every aspect of the Witnesses' lives were the deciding factors for us. When it came time to make a decision, we couldn't do it. We could not join them and become Jehovah's Witnesses.

I often wonder if anything has changed since then. Whether today there is less pressure and perhaps less control compared to earlier times. Or whether everything is still the same........

Willowy · Aug 23, 2010

We go door-to-door because it's part of our worship. By doing so we praise God and help people learn about the Bible. Jesus said to "go make disciples of people of all the nations" so we do our best. If someone doesn't want to listen nobody's forcing them. If you don't want to talk to us, say so right out. If we enjoy talking to you and believe that you enjoy talking to us we'll just continue the conversations. If you don't enjoy it, tell us so we can use our time talking to those who do enjoy it.

We do not believe only 144,000 will be saved. . .that would be pointless because there are over 7 million Witnesses worldwide. The 144,000 are those going to heaven to rule as kings and priests over those who will remain on Earth. The Earth will be restored to Edenic perfection and the people will be restored to perfection as well. Those who have died will be resurrected to perfection. I don't know why anybody would think this is odd because our concept of the paradise Earth is pretty much the same concept most people have of heaven. Just in a different location.

Witness kids aren't deprived by not celebrating birthdays and holidays. It's not like we don't have parties or give gifts! I feel sorry for people who only get gifts on their birthday or on a holiday, when some people feel compelled to give gifts. To receive a gift spontaneously, because someone wants to give it to you, not because they feel they have to, is a great feeling. I know that some families are very good about giving spontaneous gifts but I've met just as many who never give gifts except when they "have to".

To respond to every misperception in this thread would take a long time, LOL. And I'm on my phone so I can't quote or link the way I'd like to, and typing takes forever. The next time I get to a computer I might address some of them.

sharky · Aug 23, 2010

I am also a JW

1. No alcohol- This is Very much not true... Just not to excess and thus most will avoid a bar or a place that centers around alcohol...

2. No birthday/christmas celebrations- Very true... For birthdays I suggest checking out what happened and who was celebrating in the Bible itself

3. No blood transfusions- Very true

[/quote]

For me heaven was never an issue as my religious upbringing was partly by another religion that does not believe in humans going to heaven...

For the reading material , no one tells me what I can and cannot read. I have been told that yes some in the 70's were doing that ( my mother studied back then)

Willowy · Aug 23, 2010

I don't think "speck of dust on the road" is the best way to describe it, since we do have the resurrection hope. It might give people the idea we have no hope of seeing our dead loved ones again.

With any holiday, and with birthdays, a simple encyclopedia search will reveal some very un-christian origins. Which is why we don't celebrate them.

About any thought of "control", I don't see it. I see Pentecostal girls at the mall wearing long skirts, long hair, and no makeup, while I stand there in shorts, sandals and a t-shirt, with short hair (and OK, no makeup, I can't stand it, but not because of being a Witness) and I think I couldn't handle that. My co-worker is old-school Baptist--no music, no dancing, no playing cards, and his wife also wears long skirts and long hair all the time, no makeup, and I KNOW I couldn't handle that. I suppose any religion applies some type of "control" to its adherents, but I don't think anything is unreasonable.

rosiemac · Aug 24, 2010

Originally Posted by Willowy

I don't think "speck of dust on the road" is the best way to describe it since we do have the resurrection hope. It might give people the idea we have no hope of seeing our dead loved ones again. .

Those words were the exact ones used by her. 17 years later and i'll still never forget them.

As i said earlier i brought her into my home thinking she was going to tell me my Mum was ok and that i would see her again, but that woman could have made me lose faith in what i was brought up to believe in, but thankfully i was stronger than that.

Originally Posted by Misty8723

Frankly, if they were respectful, they wouldn't come to my house at all. I don't go bothering people with the things I believe or trying to "convert" them, and I don't appreciate anyone of any religion trying to convert me either.

That's my thoughts on it as well

elayman · Aug 24, 2010

Frankly, if they were respectful, they wouldn't come to my house at all. I don't go bothering people with the things I believe or trying to "convert" them, and I don't appreciate anyone of any religion trying to convert me either.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe they are modeling the word of Christ as he commissioned his apostles to spread news of the Gospel principally through a public ministry that included house to house preaching. But I have to agree with the general sentiment on door to door evangelizing - how much can patterning yourself after a 1st Century Christian Congregation be out of context in the modern world ? Oral communication was the only way in which education could come about 2000 years ago which obviously isn't the case today. Another misuse of scripture quotations and verses.

Willowy · Aug 24, 2010

We do use modern avenues as well. . . Hence the website. But going to people's houses still works

.

3catsn1dog · Aug 25, 2010

I think the JW that are around my area are really nice however they dont come to my house anymore since I got my golden retriever. He is a little psycho protective of me especially while BF is at work so the last time they knocked on the door he went nuts and did his growly barky "Im gonna eat you" attitude and they havent been back. I dont mind really because it seemed they always came at the worst time but if I had chairs on the back deck I probably would have sat outside and talked to them...it gets a little boring being home alone with only dogs and cats to talk to all day.

persi & alley · Aug 25, 2010

Rosiemac;2918374 said:
And if you think your going to heaven when you die think again, were just going to be a speck of dust on the road because theres only so many going and they know who they are

/QUOTE]

That would be exactly 144,000 as I recall.

So so what are we poor left out souls to do?

whisky'sdad · Aug 25, 2010

Hope I don't offend, but if I do, too bad...

I had a JW for a roommate. He kept trying to convert me. He used my things so I had to put a lock on my kitchen cabinet. When I saw him smoking crack in the dining room, I called up my Mom and told her I was coming home.

If house to house preaching was in the bible, why do I never see Christians/Catholics going door to door?

sneakymom · Aug 25, 2010

My dh got into a "discusssion" with a JW many years ago.

The gentleman and 2 women showed up at our door. It was a Saturday. Dh started talking to them, and challenging what they were saying. They showed up for at least a month- every single Saturday. I began to dread Saturdays.

He then told me that he had been invited to one of the member's houses for dinner. I was quite annoyed that he had even let it go that far- I think we got into a fight b/c he wound up not going.

If I remember the time correctly- we were having issues with this mission church we were in. Dh was spending all of his time there. Because we had no members. (On a good day there were 30 people in worship) And there were numerous arguments over that. And the kids were miserable b/c there were a total of 5 kids in the congregation. And then the pastor left with a 2 week notice and dumped everything on DH. UGH. You'd think I'd have run away from organized religion after that

Anyhow we didn't. I don't agree with the JW's doctrine. And I'll leave it at that.

And I knew they didn't do blood transfusions. We learned about that in my Fundamentals of Nursing class

Even talked about some theraputic ways to communicate with a JW who needs a blood transfusion.

sneakymom · Aug 25, 2010

Originally Posted by Whisky'sDad

Hope I don't offend, but if I do, too bad...

I had a JW for a roommate. He kept trying to convert me. He used my things so I had to put a lock on my kitchen cabinet. When I saw him smoking crack in the dining room, I called up my Mom and told her I was coming home.

If house to house preaching was in the bible, why do I never see Christians/Catholics going door to door?

The pastor of the mission church we were in (a Lutheran one) went to almost every single subdivison in the area we live in.

They don't really do that anymore. One of the pastors at our church has decided to start up a mission church of his own, and they've got a facebook page.

Cheryl

kaleetha · Aug 26, 2010

My husband works with a couple that are JW and he went to their Passover service. We've found them to be very polite and courteous and open to debate. We're pagan, so don't really have a butting heads issue over anything as we're just very different. My husband and I are interested in all religions and how they work, so it has been interesting to talk with this couple and compare points of view. I think they know we won't be converting.

They're all people just like everyone else and there's good and bad apples in every faith.

starfish · Aug 26, 2010

Originally Posted by Skippymjp

I don't know any personally.

They must be very Green, I see lots of them on bicycles.

Those are the mormons. Or else I'd be more fit than I am now

.

Willowy · Sep 2, 2010

Sorry to disappear.....I went to Florida for a week! We did Disney, it was great. But the hotel didn't have any public-use computers and my phone wasn't working well for internet.

Originally Posted by Persi & Alley

That would be exactly 144,000 as I recall.

So so what are we poor left out souls to do?

As I said earlier, the 144,000 are those who will serve as king and priests in heaven, governing over those who live forever on the perfected Earth (the meek shall inherit the Earth, and all that). So there are no "poor left out souls" involved.

Originally Posted by Whisky'sDad

Hope I don't offend, but if I do, too bad...

I had a JW for a roommate. He kept trying to convert me. He used my things so I had to put a lock on my kitchen cabinet. When I saw him smoking crack in the dining room, I called up my Mom and told her I was coming home.

That's terrible. We aren't supposed to use drugs or steal things. He wasn't a very good Witness, if he was one at all. But I won't defend individual Witnesses. Some of us are deeply odd (

), and all of us are imperfect. And there must be some bad apples in the bunch, though I'd have to say that I haven't met any. Individual personality issues have nothing to do with doctrine.

If house to house preaching was in the bible, why do I never see Christians/Catholics going door to door?

Good question....

.

Originally Posted by elayman

Another misuse of scripture quotations and verses.

I will say that most (I hope all) Witnesses are intelligent, thinking people who have made a deep study of the Bible. We wouldn't waste our time if we thought anything in our beliefs was a misuse of scripture.

Originally Posted by Starfish

Those are the mormons. Or else I'd be more fit than I am now

.

You too? Cool!

nurseangel · Sep 2, 2010

Willowy, I think you've been very lovely and polite in answering questions about your religion.

Tell me about Jehovah's Witnesses

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