Pls inform me about Jehovah Witness

[smilie]

I was born Jehovah's Witness 1957 3rd generation.Yup,we didn't celebrate Christmas and were miserable the rest of the year too.
The reason JW's don't do Christmas is because their Watchtower leaders say so,the holiday has pagan aspects to it and by rejecting it the Watchtower appears "pure".

This "demand for purity" is one of the 8 marks of a cult.NOW the Watchtower can use this purity diversion to distract from their own practice of wicked deeds

Danny Haszard -expert witness on the Jehovah's Witness

You were miserable for an ENTIRE year because you didn't celebrate a holiday? And I thought that Jehovah's Witnesses didn't celebrate Christmas because they don't believe Christ was born on December 25th? How much of an expert are you really? And what wicked deeds are they committing-just out of curiousity. It sounds to me like you have some sort of grudge against their organization and just want to spread your disgust for them now. But that's just MHO.

 

[crazee4mickey]

Can I ask a quick question to anyone who is JW?
Why do people of Jehovah Witness faith not participate in Remembrance Day services where we honor those who fought for our country's freedom? Yes, I understand about Christmas and Birthdays but am curious about this----we have been told by one family in our community that it is because of government and war----but my reasoning is, these people fought and died for the freedoms you now enjoy, so why not honor them?

 

[smilie]

I believe I disagree, however, with the statement that "just b/c you don't agree on what they stand for doesn't make it 'false' or a 'cult.'" It's not the fact that I disagree with it that makes it a cult (to a Christian), but the fact that the JW religion doesn't hold to the teachings of the Biblical in all facets that makes it a cult. They say they use the Bible, but it is the New World translation, a version that has in fact been changed as necessary by its leadership to fit what they want the Bible to say. Additionally, a lot of people (some Christians included) say that we should always "respect" other people's opinions and faith, that it's the "loving Godly way of thinking." I don't see where we are told in the Bible to respect faiths that run contrary to that taught in the Bible, but if you have some Scripture to back it up I'd be curious to see it.

As far as it being a cult, I say it's not because of the meaning of the word and how I see the religion. http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=cult But again, that's my opinion. When I think of the word cult, I think of the people who follow one direct leader and participate in things like mass suicides. I also think of it as something you can't leave. As I've been told, JW's aren't held to the religion against their will. It's their decision to be a member. As far as the "repect" and the "loving Godly way of thinking" I just thought of the scripture to "Love thy neighbor". So are we not supposed to have love for our neighbor if they're a Jehovah's Witness because society classifies them as false and a cult? I don't want to offend anyone's religion or faith but this is just how I see things. Whether that's right or wrong shouldn't matter because they're personal opinons. I don't think the world will ever get one answer as to what's the only true religion. There's just too much debate on subjects like this. I just think it's wrong to out right tell people they are false.

 

[bgirldeb]

Before you take everything on this thread as legitimate about Jehovah's Witnesses,
I suggest that if you are sincerely interested in what they believe, and why they go door to door, don't celebrate holidays, birthdays,etc. you go to their official site,

http://www.watchtower.org which is the ONLY official site of Jehovah's Witnesses.

The thread started out as a legitimate question, but got a little sidetracked by incorrect info, personal agendas and opinions

 

[2funny2c]

It is Biblical to point out false teachers and religions.

JW IS a false religion and a cult.

 

[DannyHaszard]

Do a google keyword search of [ Jehovah's Witnesses ] and see what you find for yourself,google don't lie

 

[smilie]

Do a google keyword search of [ Jehovah's Witnesses ] and see what you find for yourself,google don't lie

No, but people who create websites do. Thank you bgirldeb for the website. I'll be looking at it further this evening. I'm sorry if any of my posts took away from the OP. It was not my intent.

 

[DannyHaszard]

No, but people who create websites do

Yes,people can lie on their websites and this would include the "official" Watchtower Jehovah's Witnesses home page.

 

[bgirldeb]

No, but people who create websites do. Thank you bgirldeb for the website. I'll be looking at it further this evening. I'm sorry if any of my posts took away from the OP. It was not my intent.

You're Welcome

 

[POB14]

Door to door is an ineffective recruitment tactic,they should modernize and appeal to the information superhighway,problem there is the Watchtower has demonized the internet as the 'tool of satan'.

Yes,people can lie on their websites and this would include the "official" Watchtower Jehovah's Witnesses home page.

So, they think it's the tool of Satan, but they have an official homepage?

Who is it, exactly, that has a problem with the truth here?

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

The internet isn't considered a "tool of Satan" at all. JWs are just discouraged from spending too much time on the internet and they're especially encouraged to stay away from message boards and chatrooms.

 

[JenDaveBrendan]

When I think of the word cult, I think of the people who follow one direct leader and participate in things like mass suicides. I also think of it as something you can't leave. As I've been told, JW's aren't held to the religion against their will. It's their decision to be a member.

look at this link as to why JW's are a cult:
http://www.freeminds.org/psych/lifton.htm
it makes perfect sense......... Just because they don't have mass suicides doesn't mean they are not a cult. They have a strong psychological hold on these people, and meet the criteria of what a cult is.
Also, easier said than done to leave (psychologically speaking anyway), see above link regarding that.

JWs are just discouraged from spending too much time on the internet and they're especially encouraged to stay away from message boards and chatrooms.

Of course they are "encouraged" to stay away from the internet/messageboards/chatrooms!! That would promote critical thinking, and make the JW's question the cult that they are in!!!

I have researched JW's only because SIL is one and I was interested in what it was all about.... but the more I read about it the more I am convinced the JW's are completly brainwashed.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

look at this link as to why JW's are a cult:
http://www.freeminds.org/psych/lifton.htm
it makes perfect sense......... Just because they don't have mass suicides doesn't mean they are not a cult. They have a strong psychological hold on these people, and meet the criteria of what a cult is.
Also, easier said than done to leave (psychologically speaking anyway), see above link regarding that.



Of course they are "discouraged" to stay away from the internet/messageboards/chatrooms!! That would promote critical thinking, and make the JW's question the cult that they are in!!!

I have researched JW's only because SIL is one and I was interested in what it was all about.... but the more I read about it the more I am convinced the JW's are completly brainwashed.

Ummm......that would be "encouraged" to stay away. Just call me the Grammar Police.

While I may not believe it's a "cult" exactly, I somewhat agree with you on the brainwashing. That's one reason I left. In fact, my exh's wife and I were just emailing each other about this very subject. My exh (her husband) was ex-communicated and now his family won't speak to or see him. And they won't even see their baby (who happens to be their granddaughter). They'll only see the baby when they're picking up my dd. Don't know why their older granddaughter is more important than the second...oh, wait, I do know. It's because they don't know that I left the religion.

There are still things I agree with regarding the religion, but not speaking to your own CHILD or GRANDCHILD is just wrong. The baby had nothing to do with it. Also, I could never shun my child.

 

[JenDaveBrendan]

Ummm......that would be "encouraged" to stay away. Just call me the Grammar Police.

Wow! I am embarrased now I should have read over what I wrote before I posted it!

ETA: fixed it! thanks!

 

[jenm2878]

Additionally, a lot of people (some Christians included) say that we should always "respect" other people's opinions and faith, that it's the "loving Godly way of thinking." I don't see where we are told in the Bible to respect faiths that run contrary to that taught in the Bible, but if you have some Scripture to back it up I'd be curious to see it.

How about just respecting the person then? Just because the bible doesn't SPECIFICALLY tell you to be respectful doesn't mean you shouldn't be. Come to think of it, the bible doesn't SPECIFICALLY tell me not to bang my head in a door but I'm not going to do that either. Being respectful of another person is just implied IMO.

 

[JoBird]

This is such an interesting thread! I have finally gotten through the whole thing and now would like to present this question to any ex-JW or current JW.
A long time ago I worked with a young girl who was a JW and she and I used to have very in depth talks about her religion. I was interested in knowing what she believed, not because I wanted to become a JW, but just curious about all religions in general that differed in any way from mine.(Non-denominational Christian).
Our boss had just become a Christian and had been struggling with losing her infant child some years ago to a horrible disease. She was finally at peace with her child's death and moving forward. She joined in on the talk one day about what JW's believe and the girl(JW) told my boss that her child was *NOT* in Heaven. I thought my boss was going to lose it, emotionally. I don't remember the specifics of what happened or what was said, but I do remember the girl saying that Heaven to JW is here on Earth, and only 144,000 will reign here with Jesus. Thus eliminating said boss's child from the equation.
My question is, was that girl right? Is that a correct interpretation of your beliefs or was she confused in some way?
Because I believe that if you have asked Jesus into your heart, then you will go to Heaven. And as a child is unable to do that until a time of accountability (different for everyone), then they will automatically be with Jesus when they die. And the 144,000 number that was mentioned IS in the Bible, in Revelation,(chapter 7, vs.1-8) but is only in reference to the twelve tribes of Israel in the end times, thus making them... Jews.
Sorry this is long. I've just been curious for a while about the beliefs held by JW also. Thanks to the OP for this thread! And thanks for the info to all contributing!

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I have not read the whole thread, but I can see that it is 10 pages long, so I am going to post my experience and then go back and read.
When my oldest son was in Kindergarten I just loved his teacher to death. He was the kindest man I had ever met and I he was so good with my son. So, naturally when Christmas came around, I wanted to do something nice for him. So, I asked another teacher what he liked and she said that he was a JW. Well, I knew he didn't celebrate holidays but I still wanted to do something for him, so I called up the local JW church and asked their advice. They were surprised I would call about such a thing and were very flattered that I would consider his religion in gift giving. It turns out, that I explained to my son that he doesn't celebrate Christmas, but we could still give him a gift. Instead, it was a "thank you" gift. I wrapped up a gift in plain gold paper with a gold bow, and gave him a thank you card. He was very appreciative, moreso of me thinking of his feelings than the actual gift itself.

 

[JennyMominRI]

This is such an interesting thread! I have finally gotten through the whole thing and now would like to present this question to any ex-JW or current JW.
A long time ago I worked with a young girl who was a JW and she and I used to have very in depth talks about her religion. I was interested in knowing what she believed, not because I wanted to become a JW, but just curious about all religions in general that differed in any way from mine.(Non-denominational Christian).
Our boss had just become a Christian and had been struggling with losing her infant child some years ago to a horrible disease. She was finally at peace with her child's death and moving forward. She joined in on the talk one day about what JW's believe and the girl(JW) told my boss that her child was *NOT* in Heaven. I thought my boss was going to lose it, emotionally. I don't remember the specifics of what happened or what was said, but I do remember the girl saying that Heaven to JW is here on Earth, and only 144,000 will reign here with Jesus. Thus eliminating said boss's child from the equation.
My question is, was that girl right? Is that a correct interpretation of your beliefs or was she confused in some way?
Because I believe that if you have asked Jesus into your heart, then you will go to Heaven. And as a child is unable to do that until a time of accountability (different for everyone), then they will automatically be with Jesus when they die. And the 144,000 number that was mentioned IS in the Bible, in Revelation,(chapter 7, vs.1-8) but is only in reference to the twelve tribes of Israel in the end times, thus making them... Jews.
Sorry this is long. I've just been curious for a while about the beliefs held by JW also. Thanks to the OP for this thread! And thanks for the info to all contributing!

The belief is that there will be 144,000 who will be rulers over the people here on the new earth..The new earth will be composed of Christians..Your bosses child would not be eliminated from that occasion,nor would any other innocent child..She just wouldn't be among the 144,000 ruling the new earth

 

[wantanewjob]

Many people misconstue disagreeing with ones viewpoint with not having respect. I respect JW's right to believe what they believe but that doesn't mean I have to agree with it or sit here with my finger over my mouth.

 

[ellyn2000]

As you can see in my previous post---family was JW. I have been a pentecostal christian for 20+ years after leaving JW as an early teenager. They believe that when one dies they are "asleep" in the "grave". They define hell as "the grave"---not a place of burning torment. At the end of time, or Armageddon (sp?) 144,000 of the most righteous believers will ascend to heaven to live with God. The dead believers of "the truth" will be resurrected and live with the remaining believers on a "paradise earth". Anyone who is not a believer of "the truth" will either die or remain dead in "the grave". So if someone you love has died and you believe as JW's do, they are "asleep" in the "grave" and know nothing of heaven.