Jehovah Witness

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"

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.

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.

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.

as in most religious sects, and often mainstream too.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

As she hasn't picked up on your tactful approach, perhaps you need to be direct. Try telling her that her religion doesn't interest you, you don't want to know anything about it, and that you're happy with your own beliefs.

If that doesn't work, avoid seeing or speaking to her.

We have a very good life long friend who is a JW and we respect each others religion. Occasionally we have interesting religious debates. When her husband died, who was not JW, we were impressed how the local JWs supported his wife. But it was myself and husband, who the family turned to regarding the funeral arrangements and asked to attend the funeral as close family because of our friendship. The local JWs provided the venue and food and many introduced themselves to me, but not one of them tried to convert me to JW. I don't know if it's a result of being friends of a JW but we don't get them knocking at the door.

I used to say I was saved thankyou but they can be persistent. I once opened the door when I had flu, hoping to see a doctor or friend but was met with a different kind of healing
In the end I shut the door as it was the only way to get rid of them.

I know two people who are JW, i worked with them both. One was a brilliant co worker, hard working, helpful and totally into her JW work, it was her life. She had a not so good marriage and sadly no children, they couldn't have any. She had been bought up in a childrens home and the JW converted her when about 16 years old so it has become her family. She did try to convert me but i gently told her it wasnt for me and we have remained 'friends', even after retirement she still occasionally rings me. The other was very weak in character and i felt she hid behind the JW, never making a decision in her adult life and always referring back to JW rules. Her husband non JW used this trait in her to control her and manipulate her to the point she wasnt allowed to see her only grand child for a long time as her son had upset his father and one of the JW rules is that a wife should obey her husband. I felt sorry for both of them really, because if they had not converted their lives may have been so different.

My brother in law married a lady who is a JW. She seemed very nice, but gradually cut him off from his family and, worse, from his adult daughter which has caused her untold hurt over the years. DH and I are disgusted with him.

JWs believe that only JWs will be saved. The OP’s friend cares enough for the OP that she wants to remain friends for all eternity. I’d consider that a very powerful gesture of affection. I’d counsel the OP to acknowledge that as well as saying she prefers to take her own path through life.

It’s easy to knock the beliefs and practices of someone whose views are different from our own. At a time when many people find the support to keep going from religious or philosophical frameworks, I think we should be careful how we speak about views we disagree with.

Urmstongran

Nothing more zealous than a new convert who has ‘seen the Light’ and wants to share it!
?

That is so true Urmstongran and can be very wearing. I had to work with a family who were Jehovah's Witnesses some years ago. Despite great difficulties with one of their children they would not adapt in any way to try and help him. It was frustrating to see someone with learning and behaviour problems being denied the help he needed.
We have a group of JW who call on us occasionally here in France.