Jehovah's Witnesses

[Harveysmum369]

I used to work with a lady who was a JW....I was not impressed when she told me that I had suffered a previous miscarriage because I wasn't married at the time...what a nasty thing to say!She also had a case of double standards...JW don't celebrate Christmas,right?but she was more than happy to take the Xmas present our bosses brought us all every year,and also the double time pay to work on Xmas day....

When I was heavily pregnant,we had one come into the garden and start talking to dean who was putting the washing out,I asked him to leave,he ignored me,and it wasn't until I threatened to call to police to remove him from my property he went!

If I want to be religious,I'll do it myself...
xx

 

[ShanandBoc]

^ wow.Unfortunately that is a reflection on the individual, not on the religion.Thats not nice at all. I cannot believe she said that!! The statement about your miscarrige is ridiculous and completely untrue....and the double standards,well says alot about her as a person x

JW's are not taught to push anything onto anyone, quite the opposite as people should want to come to an accurate knowledge of the bible of their own accord,otherwise its not true worship...and of course respect peoples rights and wishes. Anyone doing anything but is acting out of line on what they are taught and is a reflection on them as an individual,not on the religion and its teachings.

 

[ShanandBoc]

i haven't read the whole thread but i was at OH takeaway one night talking to his nephew outside (asian) and the JW had been walking up and down the street handing out leaflets talking about God etc.. but when they got to us they started talking about curries!? i thought that was quite rude as they probably assumed cus he was asian he wasn't a christian (he's not, but that's not always the case!) xx

They would have been just making small talk hun, JW's are made up of all races themselves and have presence and preach in every country in the world

 

[TattiesMum]

Like all non-Christian cults, the Jehovah's Witness organization distorts the essential doctrines of Christianity. It denies the deity of Christ, His physical resurrection, and salvation by grace. This alone makes it non-Christian. To support its erring doctrines, the Watchtower organization (which is the author and teacher of all official Jehovah's Witness theology), has even altered the Bible to make it agree with its changing and non-Christian teachings

Typical with cults that use the Bible to support its position is a host of interpretive errors:

Taking verses out of their immediate context.
Refusing to read verses in the entire biblical context.
Inserting their theological presuppositions into the text.
Altering the Biblical text to suit their needs.
Latching onto one verse to interpret a host of others.
Changing the meanings of words.
Proclaiming some passages to be figurative when they contradict their doctrines.
Adding to the Word of God.

Additionally, the Jehovah's Witness organization requires of its members regular weekly attendance at their "Bible Study" meetings where they are repeatedly indoctrinated with anti-Christian teachings. This is done by reading the Watchtower magazine, following along with what it says, reading the questions it asks, and reciting the answers it gives. In other words, the Watchtower Organization carefully trains its members to let the Organization do their thinking for them. For confirmation of this, please read Does the Watchtower organization control the JW's thinking?

Thank you Jaye ... I was about to post something similar myself and you saved me the Googling time.

In actual fact if anyone wants to research it further the JW Organisation changes it's interpretations to suit - often leading to obvious contradictions between what they have preached in the past and what they preach now

I'm not a heavily religious person myself ... I have a faith but it's my belief system and I don't push it or even discuss it with others - spreading the word or not, it's just not my style

The above quote notwithstanding, my issue with JW is not based on any biblical or theological arguments - ALL religions and sects within those religions will use the bible to 'make their point' to some extent. My issues are with the way that JW members are exploited by their Leadership financially and, more importantly, in terms of support and threats of expulsion....

If you have been raised within the JW community and your whole family, approved friends and support system is within that organisation, then you are effectively very reliant upon their acceptance. If you are then threatened with expulsion if you don't toe the line in respect of, say a relationship or saving your child through a blood transfusion, then that amounts to mind control - none of the main religions - Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddism attempt to control the actions of their followers in the same way. For me it is this that marks the JW Organisation as a cult.

That isn't a view gleaned from my own religion, Google or the bible - it's a personal observation made from speaking to JW's and those who have literally suffered at the hands of their erstwhile JW 'brothers and sisters' in the course of my everyday life

 

[ShanandBoc]

Like all non-Christian cults, the Jehovah's Witness organization distorts the essential doctrines of Christianity. It denies the deity of Christ, His physical resurrection, and salvation by grace. This alone makes it non-Christian. To support its erring doctrines, the Watchtower organization (which is the author and teacher of all official Jehovah's Witness theology), has even altered the Bible to make it agree with its changing and non-Christian teachings

Typical with cults that use the Bible to support its position is a host of interpretive errors:

Taking verses out of their immediate context.
Refusing to read verses in the entire biblical context.
Inserting their theological presuppositions into the text.
Altering the Biblical text to suit their needs.
Latching onto one verse to interpret a host of others.
Changing the meanings of words.
Proclaiming some passages to be figurative when they contradict their doctrines.
Adding to the Word of God.

Additionally, the Jehovah's Witness organization requires of its members regular weekly attendance at their "Bible Study" meetings where they are repeatedly indoctrinated with anti-Christian teachings. This is done by reading the Watchtower magazine, following along with what it says, reading the questions it asks, and reciting the answers it gives. In other words, the Watchtower Organization carefully trains its members to let the Organization do their thinking for them. For confirmation of this, please read Does the Watchtower organization control the JW's thinking?

Thank you Jaye ... I was about to post something similar myself and you saved me the Googling time.

In actual fact if anyone wants to research it further the JW Organisation changes it's interpretations to suit - often leading to obvious contradictions between what they have preached in the past and what they preach now

I'm not a heavily religious person myself ... I have a faith but it's my belief system and I don't push it or even discuss it with others - spreading the word or not, it's just not my style

The above quote notwithstanding, my issue with JW is not based on any biblical or theological arguments - ALL religions and sects within those religions will use the bible to 'make their point' to some extent. My issues are with the way that JW members are exploited by their Leadership financially and, more importantly, in terms of support and threats of expulsion....

If you have been raised within the JW community and your whole family, approved friends and support system is within that organisation, then you are effectively very reliant upon their acceptance. If you are then threatened with expulsion if you don't toe the line in respect of, say a relationship or saving your child through a blood transfusion, then that amounts to mind control - none of the main religions - Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddism attempt to control the actions of their followers in the same way. For me it is this that marks the JW Organisation as a cult.

That isn't a view gleaned from my own religion, Google or the bible - it's a personal observation made from speaking to JW's and those who have literally suffered at the hands of their erstwhile JW 'brothers and sisters' in the course of my everyday life

Instead of believing all you read on the internet, it pays to actually look into their teachings yourself using the bible and look into their publications. There is alot of hearsay and incorrect information found by 'googling' as anyone would know. There is actually a site that has a list of 75 Q's that JW's dont like to answer. I happily answered all of these for a friend who was very pleasently surprised at the biblical accuracy and logic of it all, and soon realised that the group responsible for writing it had very limited knowledge of the bible. I was able to show him an answer direct from the bible, and numerous scriptures to back that up.

I am happy to answer any so called contradictions or questions you may have.

As far as being exploited financially, not sure where on earth this comes from? We can give contributions as we wish ( just like in any church really) but are not forced to do so at all. If you put in $20 in 2 years then so be it, and no one knows what each individual 'contributes'. Their publications, bibles and magazines are all now available free of charge to everyone.

The only reason any baptized witness is defellowshipped is if they blatantly go against bible laws (ie blood transfusions, sex before marriage, drugs etc) but you are always encouraged to repent and get things back on track. Its nothing to do with mind control, and is all based on the bible and love, each individual is encouraged to search and make sure what they are being taught is correct. Its not going to be true worship if anyone is forced, so would be pointless.

Its done to also protect others in the congregation as the bible tells us ' bad associations spoil useful habits' and how true is this? If you found out your child was hanging around with drug addicts at school, for example, would you not want and encourage them to stop doing so for their own protection?

When i wasnt associationg with them as a teenager, i was never ignored or treated poorly by witnesses i had grew up with or members of my own family that were still JW's.
They arent abiding by bible principles if they do.

As far as people you know and their experiences, just like with any religion if someone doesnt associate with them anymore they will usually have a negetive opinion on it. And if they have been disfellowshipped then they are likely to have a bee in their bonnet about it too. If they have experienced what they believe to be mistreatment at the hands of witnesses, you have to realise that just like with any organisation, the behaviour of its members may not always be in harmony with what they are taught or the rules so to speak of that organisation. As in prefect humans and individuals they may, at times act on what they personally think is appropriate even tho it may not be.

You mentioned you have a faith system yourself, but do you understand why witnesses go from door to door? Its because the bible and Jesus himself instructed his followers to do so, to teach people about Gods coming kingdom, out of love for others. We are never told to be forceful with this, quite the opposite but once again ones you meet on the doors that are its usually their individual personality thats like this, not how we are taught to 'preach' at all.

And as far as not reading entire bible texts, this is simply not true. They study it very thoroughly from front to back. The only way you can truly understand the bible is not only to read surrounding verses, but to look up the same subject in other areas of the bible to also back it up ( something that the group responsible for the online 75 Q's clearly did not do)

The bible, well Jesus specifically, did also predict that before the end, that this 'good news would be preached in all the earth for a witness to all the nations'. Witnesses are the only ones doing this on such a scale, hence that is why we are known for it.

If you actually look into what a 'cult' is and no the meaning of the word, then you would soon realise they are not a cult. A cult is a religion that is said to be unorthadox, or emphasises devotion according to prescribed ritual. Many cults follow a human leader and not the bible at all, and often their adherents live in groups away from the rest of society. The standard for what is orthadox however, should be Gods word, and JW's strictly adhere to the bible.

They neither follow a human or isolate themselves away from the rest of society. They live and work in the midst of other people.

 

[faun]

I must admit i like talking to JW's and mormons as it is very interesting to speak to people who are passionate about their beliefs. I have always wondered though why can't JW's have blood transfusions? Is it because god will save you if you are worth saving or to do with disease or just not being allowed to have a part of someone else inside you?

 

[aob1013]

Isn't this thread like 3 months old?!

 

[lesleyann]

Isn't this thread like 3 months old?!

yeah lol alot of threads keep popping back up like the dog walking one ect

 

[aob1013]

Walking the dog x

 

[lesleyann]

the one in toddler section about her kids not liking being near dogs kind of turned into a mini debate lol but by the looks of it the started just posted again to boost post count

 

[mum 2 three]

I must admit i like talking to JW's and mormons as it is very interesting to speak to people who are passionate about their beliefs. I have always wondered though why can't JW's have blood transfusions? Is it because god will save you if you are worth saving or to do with disease or just not being allowed to have a part of someone else inside you?

I can't answer why they won't accept them as I can't remember but I do know there is a machine in meny hospitals that can save you with out having the transfusion but is very expensive which is why hospitals choose to transfuse instead take for example last year I think it was the lady who had twins and died because she refused a transfusion could of been saved if the hospital and used said equipment

I think a lot of people have jw wrong mainly from the way they are potrayed in the papers I for one had been inflounced by what the papers had said and from my parents when younger until I married in to a jw family my oh use to be jw but no longer attends although all his family are still in the truth and from them I have learnt a lot x x

 

[TattiesMum]

Instead of believing all you read on the internet, it pays to actually look into their teachings yourself using the bible and look into their publications. There is alot of hearsay and incorrect information found by 'googling' as anyone would know. There is actually a site that has a list of 75 Q's that JW's dont like to answer. I happily answered all of these for a friend who was very pleasently surprised at the biblical accuracy and logic of it all, and soon realised that the group responsible for writing it had very limited knowledge of the bible. I was able to show him an answer direct from the bible, and numerous scriptures to back that up.

I believe that I did state that my view was not gleaned from the internet. I have read the watchtower and I have read and studied the Bible in my time. I am sure that you can answer any questions by quoting scripture at me Most people can find something in the bible that can be interpreted to suit their preferred view - it is a large and wide ranging work which contains plenty of material which can be considered to be metaphorical or literal depending on one's preferred viewpoint

I am happy to answer any so called contradictions or questions you may have.

As far as being exploited financially, not sure where on earth this comes from? We can give contributions as we wish ( just like in any church really) but are not forced to do so at all. If you put in $20 in 2 years then so be it, and no one knows what each individual 'contributes'. Their publications, bibles and magazines are all now available free of charge to everyone.

That may be true of your particular Kingdom Hall, but I can assure you that I personally know Witness Elders who insist that their members tythe 10% of their income regardless of any personal hardship this may incur. This is policed by an insidious 'spying' by other fellowship members. I have also experienced being handed a copy of the watchtower on my own doorstep and then being asked to pay for it!

The only reason any baptized witness is defellowshipped is if they blatantly go against bible laws (ie blood transfusions, sex before marriage, drugs etc) but you are always encouraged to repent and get things back on track. Its nothing to do with mind control, and is all based on the bible and love, each individual is encouraged to search and make sure what they are being taught is correct. Its not going to be true worship if anyone is forced, so would be pointless.

Its done to also protect others in the congregation as the bible tells us ' bad associations spoil useful habits' and how true is this? If you found out your child was hanging around with drug addicts at school, for example, would you not want and encourage them to stop doing so for their own protection?

I'm afraid that this is emotional (and therefore mind) control in my eyes. I am not going to get into a discussion about scripture but suffice it to say that my basic humanity tells me that it is wrong to ostracise anyone simply because they do not hold the same belief system as I do If you were in need then I would offer you my unconditional support and help... I find the concept of only doing so if you 'repented' and followed my beliefs utterly repugnant.

When i wasnt associationg with them as a teenager, i was never ignored or treated poorly by witnesses i had grew up with or members of my own family that were still JW's.
They arent abiding by bible principles if they do.

As far as people you know and their experiences, just like with any religion if someone doesnt associate with them anymore they will usually have a negetive opinion on it. And if they have been disfellowshipped then they are likely to have a bee in their bonnet about it too. If they have experienced what they believe to be mistreatment at the hands of witnesses, you have to realise that just like with any organisation, the behaviour of its members may not always be in harmony with what they are taught or the rules so to speak of that organisation. As in prefect humans and individuals they may, at times act on what they personally think is appropriate even tho it may not be.

Yes, I take your point that people who have been disenfranchised by any organisation are not going to be it's biggest fans - but I also know (both personally and via my work) many Witnesses who are active in their faith and their views, attitudes and, in many cases, sheer hypocrisy have done as much to colour my feelings about JW as any who have been disfellowshipped

You mentioned you have a faith system yourself, but do you understand why witnesses go from door to door? Its because the bible and Jesus himself instructed his followers to do so, to teach people about Gods coming kingdom, out of love for others. We are never told to be forceful with this, quite the opposite but once again ones you meet on the doors that are its usually their individual personality thats like this, not how we are taught to 'preach' at all.

Yes I completely understand about spreading the word - it's not a concept confined to JWs. It is however not something that I believe should be done by actively knocking on people's doors (whatever your chosen religion or belief system) Personally I prefer to show my love for others with tolerance and unconditionally helping those in need whatever their creed as opposed to quoting scripture and knocking on people's doors

And as far as not reading entire bible texts, this is simply not true. They study it very thoroughly from front to back. The only way you can truly understand the bible is not only to read surrounding verses, but to look up the same subject in other areas of the bible to also back it up ( something that the group responsible for the online 75 Q's clearly did not do)

See my first response

The bible, well Jesus specifically, did also predict that before the end, that this 'good news would be preached in all the earth for a witness to all the nations'. Witnesses are the only ones doing this on such a scale, hence that is why we are known for it.

If you actually look into what a 'cult' is and no the meaning of the word, then you would soon realise they are not a cult. A cult is a religion that is said to be unorthadox, or emphasises devotion according to prescribed ritual. Many cults follow a human leader and not the bible at all, and often their adherents live in groups away from the rest of society. The standard for what is orthadox however, should be Gods word, and JW's strictly adhere to the bible.

They neither follow a human or isolate themselves away from the rest of society. They live and work in the midst of other people.

They follow the line of the Organisation through their Elders and without question - those who do question or choose to differ dramatically on any given view are "defellowshipped" (when have you ever heard of any orthodox religion doing such a thing?) and, by your own admission, they reject close contact with those outside their belief system ... I believe the phrase was 'bad associations spoil useful habits' ?

 

[smokey]

We have lazy JW around our way
The ones that came round my mums the other week knocked on the door and I had a good old natter with them but the ones that came to my place the next day just shoved a leaflet through the door and was off

 

[ShanandBoc]

Isn't this thread like 3 months old?!

haha yeh thats what i thought, and out it popped from nowhere.

Instead of believing all you read on the internet, it pays to actually look into their teachings yourself using the bible and look into their publications. There is alot of hearsay and incorrect information found by 'googling' as anyone would know. There is actually a site that has a list of 75 Q's that JW's dont like to answer. I happily answered all of these for a friend who was very pleasently surprised at the biblical accuracy and logic of it all, and soon realised that the group responsible for writing it had very limited knowledge of the bible. I was able to show him an answer direct from the bible, and numerous scriptures to back that up.

I believe that I did state that my view was not gleaned from the internet. I have read the watchtower and I have read and studied the Bible in my time. I am sure that you can answer any questions by quoting scripture at me Most people can find something in the bible that can be interpreted to suit their preferred view - it is a large and wide ranging work which contains plenty of material which can be considered to be metaphorical or literal depending on one's preferred viewpoint

When you quoted Jay, what he stated was taken straight from the internet, you said it saved you 'googling it'. Its not about quoting a scipture as i said and going yep here it is, this is what it means, like i said you have to study surrounding text and look at it everywhere else the same subject appears in the bible to understand the truth.

I am happy to answer any so called contradictions or questions you may have.

As far as being exploited financially, not sure where on earth this comes from? We can give contributions as we wish ( just like in any church really) but are not forced to do so at all. If you put in $20 in 2 years then so be it, and no one knows what each individual 'contributes'. Their publications, bibles and magazines are all now available free of charge to everyone.

That may be true of your particular Kingdom Hall, but I can assure you that I personally know Witness Elders who insist that their members tythe 10% of their income regardless of any personal hardship this may incur. This is policed by an insidious 'spying' by other fellowship members. I have also experienced being handed a copy of the watchtower on my own doorstep and then being asked to pay for it!

Well that is something i have certainly never heard of before, and i havent belonged to just one congregation, and if that is the case, which i couldnt possibly imagine, then thats against the teachings of the religion and the bible, anmd i have been to many congregations. and intrestingly if they were so concerned about making money, they would not have made all publications free of charge. We did at one time ask a small donation of 40c(AUD) for magazines at the door to help cover printing costs but no longer do so to encourage more people to take them

The only reason any baptized witness is defellowshipped is if they blatantly go against bible laws (ie blood transfusions, sex before marriage, drugs etc) but you are always encouraged to repent and get things back on track. Its nothing to do with mind control, and is all based on the bible and love, each individual is encouraged to search and make sure what they are being taught is correct. Its not going to be true worship if anyone is forced, so would be pointless.

Its done to also protect others in the congregation as the bible tells us ' bad associations spoil useful habits' and how true is this? If you found out your child was hanging around with drug addicts at school, for example, would you not want and encourage them to stop doing so for their own protection?

I'm afraid that this is emotional (and therefore mind) control in my eyes. I am not going to get into a discussion about scripture but suffice it to say that my basic humanity tells me that it is wrong to ostracise anyone simply because they do not hold the same belief system as I do If you were in need then I would offer you my unconditional support and help... I find the concept of only doing so if you 'repented' and followed my beliefs utterly repugnant.

So anything emotional is mind control? Mind control is not been able to or not encouraged to think for yourslef, and thats certainly not the case. I was raised a witness so i would know if that was so, and i assure im about as individual and headstrong as u can get lol. It not about holding the same belief system as another person, its about adhering to Gods standards. You should love your neighbour as yourself you are correct but that doesnt mean that if they practice things contrary to the bible or that you dont think is right, that you have to go out of your way to spend alot of time with them

When i wasnt associationg with them as a teenager, i was never ignored or treated poorly by witnesses i had grew up with or members of my own family that were still JW's.
They arent abiding by bible principles if they do.

As far as people you know and their experiences, just like with any religion if someone doesnt associate with them anymore they will usually have a negetive opinion on it. And if they have been disfellowshipped then they are likely to have a bee in their bonnet about it too. If they have experienced what they believe to be mistreatment at the hands of witnesses, you have to realise that just like with any organisation, the behaviour of its members may not always be in harmony with what they are taught or the rules so to speak of that organisation. As in prefect humans and individuals they may, at times act on what they personally think is appropriate even tho it may not be.

Yes, I take your point that people who have been disenfranchised by any organisation are not going to be it's biggest fans - but I also know (both personally and via my work) many Witnesses who are active in their faith and their views, attitudes and, in many cases, sheer hypocrisy have done as much to colour my feelings about JW as any who have been disfellowshipped

You mentioned you have a faith system yourself, but do you understand why witnesses go from door to door? Its because the bible and Jesus himself instructed his followers to do so, to teach people about Gods coming kingdom, out of love for others. We are never told to be forceful with this, quite the opposite but once again ones you meet on the doors that are its usually their individual personality thats like this, not how we are taught to 'preach' at all.

Yes I completely understand about spreading the word - it's not a concept confined to JWs. It is however not something that I believe should be done by actively knocking on people's doors (whatever your chosen religion or belief system) Personally I prefer to show my love for others with tolerance and unconditionally helping those in need whatever their creed as opposed to quoting scripture and knocking on people's doors

Well to be honest if you looked into the bible jesus himself and his diciples went from door to door to peoples houses, as sometimes this may be the only way of reaching them, but its not the only way we are encouraged to preach. The reason they preach is to help others whatever their creed as the bible has answers to practical living right now as well as give people a hope for the future, otherwise if they didnt care, why would they even bother?

And as far as not reading entire bible texts, this is simply not true. They study it very thoroughly from front to back. The only way you can truly understand the bible is not only to read surrounding verses, but to look up the same subject in other areas of the bible to also back it up ( something that the group responsible for the online 75 Q's clearly did not do)

See my first response

The bible, well Jesus specifically, did also predict that before the end, that this 'good news would be preached in all the earth for a witness to all the nations'. Witnesses are the only ones doing this on such a scale, hence that is why we are known for it.

If you actually look into what a 'cult' is and no the meaning of the word, then you would soon realise they are not a cult. A cult is a religion that is said to be unorthadox, or emphasises devotion according to prescribed ritual. Many cults follow a human leader and not the bible at all, and often their adherents live in groups away from the rest of society. The standard for what is orthadox however, should be Gods word, and JW's strictly adhere to the bible.

They neither follow a human or isolate themselves away from the rest of society. They live and work in the midst of other people.

They follow the line of the Organisation through their Elders and without question - those who do question or choose to differ dramatically on any given view are "defellowshipped" (when have you ever heard of any orthodox religion doing such a thing?) and, by your own admission, they reject close contact with those outside their belief system ... I believe the phrase was 'bad associations spoil useful habits' ?

Who are only guiding through the bible itself and only the bibles standards and teaching. the phrase 'bad associations spoil useful habits' is a direct quote from the bible 1 Cor 15:33, so once again its Gods standards, not mans.

Im leaving this one be as i can see it going round and round in circles. No matter what i say someone will say the opposite, whether its true or not. I have answers for all of the above thats been pointed out, as i have done so through out this thread, but people will choose to believe what they want, which of course everyone has the right to, however I knopw what the truth is and what isnt, and in some cases people just like to point 'facts' without having the proper knowledge of what they are even talking about.

Good discussion tho

 

[ShanandBoc]

I must admit i like talking to JW's and mormons as it is very interesting to speak to people who are passionate about their beliefs. I have always wondered though why can't JW's have blood transfusions? Is it because god will save you if you are worth saving or to do with disease or just not being allowed to have a part of someone else inside you?

I can't answer why they won't accept them as I can't remember but I do know there is a machine in meny hospitals that can save you with out having the transfusion but is very expensive which is why hospitals choose to transfuse instead take for example last year I think it was the lady who had twins and died because she refused a transfusion could of been saved if the hospital and used said equipment

I think a lot of people have jw wrong mainly from the way they are potrayed in the papers I for one had been inflounced by what the papers had said and from my parents when younger until I married in to a jw family my oh use to be jw but no longer attends although all his family are still in the truth and from them I have learnt a lot x x

The reason they abstain from blood, is of course because the bible says to do so (Acts 15:28,29 - where it is grouped in with fornication and idolatary to emphesise its importance)blood is our life force and is precious and shouldnt been shared or taken into the body. Because of JW's there has been much medical advancement in non blood products which can be very effective.....and alot less risky as they dont pose threat of disease etc

 

[Lara310809]

Here we get JW and mormons door-knocking. I don't have anything against religion, or those that follow it, as long as it's not thrust in my face. I'm ashamed to admit that I lose my patience with those that preach at people outside if their own faith, because they don't listen to you when you tell them you don't want religion in your life. It was their decision to worship God, surely it's my decision not to. I don't go to their church/synagogue/mosque etc and yell about how they should abandon their faith. IMO a religious group shouldn't have to recruit members by door-knocking; people should be allowed to seek it for themselves if and when they want it, and which religion they choose should be their choice, 100%.

I don't mind those that come to my door, as long as they respect me when I say I'm not interested. If they want to leave their newsletter with me then fine, but I don't promise to read it, and I won't. Those who keep talking at me, I get annoyed with. They're asking me to join their religion, and they don't care enough to listen to me? They're neither caring, respectful or professional, and they're actually very rude.

I have no time for the ones that can see the sign on my door, basically saying no reps (which includes church reps in my mind) or salesmen, yet they still knock, annd proceed to harass me; because that's basically what it is when they come to your door and make you feel uncomfortable by preaching to you. And the ones that continue to talk to me whilst my baby screams in my face, and the ones that talk to me in Spanish when I tell them I don't speak Spanish, then thrust their newsletter in my face, and oh, it's also written in Spanish!

Now I have my LO it's actually worse, because they're all saying "but what about your daughter? Don't you think it's important that she has a religion to support her?" - uhh, no actually. If I'm living without it quite happily, why would I think my daughter needed it? If she does, it will be her choice, but while she's a child, I'm responsible for her, and I will not have people forcing their religion on her.

 

[Lara310809]

I am not a JW. I am not a Christian either. I do not take the teachings of the Bible and apply them to my own life. I don't AGREE with much of what is said in the Bible, and if that makes me a bad person or if it means that I'm going to be denied eternal life in paradise some day, so be it.

TBH I don't like any religion that banishes people to their version of hell, just because they don't believe in their version of God etc. My mum once worked with a JW (can't remember the word, but the type that is really eccentric in their beliefs) and she said that because my mum was getting divorced, she would go to hell on judgement day. My mum replied by saying, "I'm a good person, and I work hard. I'm a good mother, and I try not to hurt people. If that sends me to hell, then so be it", and hten she asked her boss how she expected to get into heaven if all she did was go around and make people feel terrible for their mistakes. She had no explanation Pretty soon after that my mum quit.

When I was younger, if religious reps came to our door I used to say whatever I could to get rid of them. My brother had already played the satan card, so I couldn't do that, but I would just point out everything "bad" about my life, but the more I said the more they wanted me to repent; and thye were sure it was their religion that would help me straighten my life out. The bit they hated most was that I was 16, unmarried and sleeping with my 20-y-o boyfriend

 

[ShanandBoc]

^ Interesting seeing as witnesses dont believe in hell fire or that the majority of people go to heaven, it earth that was designed for humans to live on forever, the original purpose back in the garden of Eden.

From what u said it may not have been a JW who spoke to your mum

Besides divorce is acceptable according to the bible if adultery is involved.

We cannot say who will be saved or who will not, thats up to God to judge, but those who havent come to an accurate knowledge, either living or dead will be given the chance to do so, before they are judged.

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

I hate it when they come to my house and I hate it when anyone preaches religion at me. Respect my views and I will respect yours.

 

[porkypig]

Do jws believe in the old testament (adam and eve) and not the new (jesus)-why is that? x