Baptism at age 11 next Saturday (page 2)

Namaste

I have 2 nieces that were baptized young. One just recently at age 11 and her sister was probably 12 when she was dunked. I'm sure the 9 yr old isn't far behind. For my sister-in-law (she is divorced from my never baptized brother) having her daughters baptized is definitely a badge of honor. It's kind of an "look and see how wonderfully I am doing raising my girls by myself." Admittedly my brother is a jerk and not a great father by any means, so I think she sees this as opportunity to "prove everyone wrong" (including my JW parents) that a single mom can't raise children "in the truth."

She has the girls parrot back all the lines about looking forward to pioneering and maybe even going to Bethel. The Bethel part is ridiculous, in all my years I never knew one single female that went to the big house. Whenever I have the opportunity I ask about other things they want to do and encourage that whenever possible. I emphasize career opportunities and try to help them see a life beyond being a JW. I'm definitely here for them if they ever decide to get out. I want them to know they have a safe and non-judgemental place to go. Their Auntie Namaste will understand and give them refuge if ever it is needed.

seawolf

A girl I know was baptized at age 9.

WTWizard

This is actually what they want to see. Getting baptized at age 6. Then the child is locked in for life. They have no way of realizing the long-range consequences of this decision, which is usually made with the extreme pressure from parents and the hounders. As I see it, there is no way anyone younger than 18 can make this serious a decision, no matter how mature or intelligent they may seem at the time. Children and teens are going to make bad judgment errors, and should not get locked into a religion at those ages.

And they are required to obey the rules for life. I wonder how many children would find the no-fornication rule easy to agree to at ages 10 or 11, only to find it not so easy once they reach 14 or 15. They also need to continue learning about other religions, so they can make a valid choice later in life when they can make a mature decision. If people can make bad decisions (based on bad information) at ages 25 and up, then how can a child make a good decision at ages 11 and under with no alternate information?

OUTLAW

FatFreak..You have to remember,this is an organization that:"Protects Child Abuse".....I understand the Anger..But..Not the Suprise...OUTLAW

choosing life

I had a relative who was baptized at the age of 9. Then he became a regular aux. pioneer. I was against it, and said so at the time. I was told to stay out of it.

There is no way under the sun that a 9 year old knows what it means to dedicate their life to anything. They are going to make the same mistakes that everyone else does while growing up and going through all the changes that being a teenager involves. And this 9 year old did just that. But the Witnesses magnify their youthful indiscretions and make private matters public.

If I had to choose an age, I would say follow Jesus' example and wait until you're 30. God didn't mind him waiting until then and he was perfect. I was still not ready to make that decision in my early twenties, in my opinion.

choosing life

Fatfreak,

By the way, I am sorry you havn't met your grandson. Truly sad that this cult demands such extreme behavior of their adherents. They care nothing for the family arrangement. Your grandchildren are missing out on so much.

steve2

Contrary to what some of these desperate parents may think, getting their kid into the baptism pool earlier rather than later won't make one scrap of difference on whether the poor kid will stay in the organization. It will only cause greater pain should the kid later choose as adults to leave. I see desperation written all over this. Gone are the days when a concerted effort was made to ensure that baptismal candidates were at least young adults (minimum age 16).

blondie

The youngest I have ever known of is six years of age (6).

**

w992/15p.10LargeFamiliesUnitedinGod’sService***

All our children are proclaimers of the Kingdom good news, and only the youngest, who is six years old, is not yet baptized."

***

w992/15p.11LargeFamiliesUnitedinGod’sService***

a Christian elder with 11 children, wakes up early in the morning and conducts studies with several of them before he leaves for work. The older ones, after their baptism, take turns helping their younger brothers and sisters, which includes sharing in teaching them the Bible. The father supervises, commending their efforts. Six of the children are baptized, and the others continue to work toward that goal.

***

w968/1p.21KeepingEyesandHeartFixedonthePrize***

In 1934, Mom and Dad were baptized. I too wanted to get baptized, and I kept insisting until Mother asked an older Witness to talk with me about it. He asked many questions in a manner that I could understand. Then he told my parents that I should not be prevented from being baptized; it might harm my spiritual growth. So I was baptized the following summer, when I was still six.

AS TOLD BY EDITH MICHAEL

***w9610/15p.32"JehovahAnsweredMyPrayers!"***

WORLDWIDE, Jehovah’s Witnesses are conducting nearly five million home Bible studies with people who are interested in gaining accurate knowledge about God and his wonderful purpose for mankind. Even children among Jehovah’s Witnesses are having a share in this work. Consider, for example, a boy named Joel. He symbolized his dedication to Jehovah and was baptized at nine years of age.

***g9511/8p.19TheMormonChurch—ARestorationofAllThings?***

Several ordinances affect the lives of devout Mormons. Baptism, signifying repentance and obedience, may take place upon reaching eight years of age.

***w951/1p.7par.12TriumphingOverSatanandHisWorks***

Jesus indicated that those who are cut off by family members for the sake of the truth will be rewarded "a hundredfold." (Mark 10:29, 30) This was true of Entellia, a ten-year-old girl in northern Africa, who loved God’s name—Jehovah—as soon as she heard it. She studied with Jehovah’s Witnesses and walked 90 minutes each way to meetings, even though her opposed family often shut her out of the home on her return.

***w8311/1p.31AFaithful"Warrior"PassesOninGermany***

KONRAD FRANKE first came in touch with the Kingdom message in 1920, when just ten years of age, and was baptized in 1924.

***w6711/1p.644SomethingOthersDoNotHave***

Illustrative of their experiences is that of one young man from El Salvador who, at the age of ten, submitted to baptism in symbol of his dedication to God. At twelve years of age he was assigned an isolated area in which to preach, where he made excellent progress and aided others to become servants of God.

***km8/74p.2YourServiceMeetings***

Before the song, distribute to all unbaptized persons present who are at least ten years of age a copy of the special letter dated September 1. If you do not have enough, be sure that at least one copy is provided for each household. (After the meeting, any extra copies may be distributed, on the basis of one per household, to baptized publishers in the audience; if very few are available, be sure to put one on the information board.) Encourage new ones to take letter home, to read it carefully and to look up the scriptures. Help them to realize that, if they are really interested in being among those who will live in God’s new order, now is the time to take action. Assure them of loving concern of congregation.

Marcel

There is no way under the sun that a 9 year old knows what it means to dedicate their life to anything. They are going to make the same mistakes that everyone else does while growing up and going through all the changes that being a teenager involves. And this 9 year old did just that. But the Witnesses magnify their youthful indiscretions and make private matters public.
If I had to choose an age, I would say follow Jesus' example and wait until you're 30. God didn't mind him waiting until then and he was perfect. I was still not ready to make that decision in my early twenties, in my opinion.

so true, my friend. my parents did not protect me from that abuse also. i was baptized with 14. still waaaay too young. even TODAY i would be too young! 30 is just perfect.

the main problem is that children are baptized in a religion in a beliefsystem that they CAN NOT examine. no alternate information and no chance to aquire info at that age.

the only chance for the WTS to survive is to lock up the kids before they can access the internet with a open mind.

wasnt that the one true religion because they dont do pagan practices like baby baptism? HA HA HA!

ps.: that isnt funny...

dedpoet

I was told when I was a jw that being baptised was an adult decision, and
I don't recall meeting too many 11 year old adults. I've heard of kids younger
than 11 being baptised, as young as 8 in a couple of cases.

The watchtower are playing the numbers game here - they love to boast about
an overall increase in membership in their annual report, and if the only way they
can sustain this is by blackmailing kids into baptism, then I guess that's fair
game as far as they are concerned.

Baptism at age 11 next Saturday

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