Jehovah Witness

I have enjoyed talks with JWs as they are knowledgeable about scripture, and I found it interesting how they come to believe what they believe. As has been said they are thick skinned so one can feel free to discuss religion with them without hurting their feelings.

JW’s have a hope that they will be saved....but they’re not sure. The only people who will definitely go to heaven are the 144,000. The rest just have to wait and see. It’s quite complex. We studied with them before we became Christians. There’s an organisation that could help you deal with your friend. They are’ The Reachout Trust, and are easy to google. I wish you all the best.

Two of my children needed life saving blood transfusions when they were born. I have no respect for a religion which would have denied life saving treatment to my babies.

Yes, I agree about the blood transfusions, maddyone. Also, I could not cope with a religion which would deny women the chance to be equal with men in their church (including Roman Catholicism).

Having said that, I have had friendly chats about religion with a work colleague who is a Jehovah's Witness. We agreed to disagree and remain friends.

Well look on the bright side.... she cannot accept birthday or Christmas presents as a JW!!
Saved yourself a few bob?

From personal experience I think a lot of JWs are recruited when they are at a low point in their lives or are people who are quite needy. I have experience of converts who treated their families badly especially in relation to getting money for their church. Unfortunately I don't seem to have any positive views of the group.

I had a very interesting conversation with a Jehovah's Witness who knocked on my door just before Christmas last year. He was very charming and we talked about our different faiths. He was not pushy but accepted that my Christian beliefs were different to his JW ones. He went happily on his way after our chat.

My book group discussed The Children Act by Ian MacEwan last year. I came home from the meeting to find two JW’s on my doorstep, for the first time for many a long year. ?

I have no time for them. When I was at school my friend’s father died of TB because he refused treatment as Jehovah would save him, apparently. I can see her haunted face now, fifty years on.

They believe a finite number of people will be saved and live with God after Armageddon. Same number as was at the beginning of their religion, despite population having increased so much- so their obsession with converting more seems a bit silly.

You could, if you have the courage, ask her for her opinion about why The US Jehovah's Witnesses were ordered by a jury to pay $35M to an abuse survivor.

The defendant said the church covered up her sexual abuse as a child at the hands of a congregation member.
Two women who were sexually abused as children say the Jehovah's Witnesses failed to report their abuser to authorities in Montana, and instead expelled him from the congregation as punishment until he repented.

Chances are she will never have heard of it but it's not just Catholics that like a bit of paedophilia.
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jehovah-s-witnesses-ordered-jury-pay-34m-abuse-survivor-n914146

And at one time the 1500 all had to be white...

When she quotes something obscure from Daniel or some other OT book ask her to show you the verses. I do this when they come to the door. They can never find it. Then change the subject to chocolate bars or the way carrots seem to have no flavour.

If you value the friendship, ask your friend if you can agree not to discuss religion. It's a missionary religion, converts are expected to convert others.

My experience is similar to that of soda pop, in her post at 17.30 today. People are often recruited when they're in a difficult place. I haven't seen positives.

as in most religious sects, and often mainstream too.

Sad to say but your friend has been manipulated and wont be the same. Not her fault she wants to save you with the best intentions.
I have recently left the JW Cult after many years and as a result have lost my adult children and in laws by leaving, as they are told to shun us and our young daughter (so heart breaking).
On reddit ex JW there are over 50k damaged individuals most have very broken families because of the JW religion.
No point trying to reach her with things you can read on the internet as she will be instructed not to listen. Anyone interested look up the Australian Royal Commission on Jehovah Witnesses also in the UK IICSA enquiry. As a witness she would know nothing about these court enquiries. Anyone thinking of joining do your own independent internet research, save yourself much heart ache down the line.

JW's are under a lot of pressure to convert all their friends. Unfortunately it means that if you have a friend who converts, they will have an ulterior motive everytime they see you and the conversation will keep cropping up. One of my friends kept saying bad things about the CofE church and I found out that it's because JW's are taught to dislike "organised religion".

The thing is, I'd call JW an "organised religion". I know many damaged ex JW's.

biba70, it's inaccurate to make simple comparisons between JW and "most religious sects, and often mainstream too"

JW is as Jan02 states, more of a cult. It bares scarce resemblance to C of E, Methodist, RC. My experience is that extremely vulnerable members of society are deliberately targeted. Marriage must be maintained, even in the most appalling abuse situations.

Yes I think the reason they intensely dislike C of E and other faiths that them deem "organised" is that it's got clear guidelines and a clear set of beliefs. Obviously those clear beliefs and guidelines are a direct threat to them because anyone with a clear faith is not going to be vulnerable to their teachings.

As the saying goes: " If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything"

they not them.

Whenever the JW come to their door, I smile pleasantly and say 'we are a catholic family', which is not entirely true, DH is agnostic, although I am a catholic. However I have heard DH say exactly the same thing if he has opened the door to them.

However saying, 'we are a catholic family' has the same effect as I understand holding up garlic to vampire does and they just melt away. So I recommend it to others, regardless of their religious persuasion and, indeed, also to those of no religious beliefs at all.

that used to work, but i'm not sure it doe now.
they have a big following in ireland and eastern european countries.
i wonder if the people who join feel that the catholic religion has become too easy, compared with the strict discipline of old, eg fasting etc.
i think a lot of these groups appeal to people with a particular personality. they like to be clearly told what to do, in every detail of life. it seems like a form of arrested development to me, or moral delegation.

What I don't get is that if JW believe only 150,000 will enter heaven....well haven't that reached number time and time again?

The date of Armageddon has come and gone many times. There's always a reason found to explain this to the cult followers.

I think disfellowshipping is most savage, even though it can bring heartache to both sides of a family. It must be terrible to be the subject of so much brainwashing that they are scared to do anything that would bring the wrath of the elders and other members down on them.

Those in the JW's or any other zealous group are incapable of seeing what those outside do. Those that find the courage leave have much to process because of the indoctrination.

M0nica, I have two stock responses for unwanted callers at the door.
For JWs, I make no effort to answer the open question (that they always ask as soon as the door opens) but say I’m not interested and don’t wish to discuss it thank you ‘ . If they persist with another question, I say ‘I don’t wish to discuss that either ‘.
For all other callers ‘I only rent this house ‘ does the trick.

I think the heinous part of all these sects is the way they use ostracisation to stop defections.

'If you leave your parents/children/all your friends will never speak to you again'

In fact people are cut off from their whole lives because when joining any sect, one of the first things you have to do is cut yourself off from all non-believers in your life, whether family,or friends. Work socialising will be out and often members work within the sect or in businesses run by sect members.