What would you tell CHILDREN of Jehovah's Witnesses? (page 2)

katiekitten

Id tell them 'mummy and daddy really do love you, and they are doing to you what they honestly believe is the very best for you. But one day you will have to be big enough to forgive them lots and lots. Just make sure you dont get so bitter that you spoil the rest of your life after you realise this.'

zack

Here is what i told two children who were about to be baptized:

If you have a girl friend and have sex with her, you will be disfellowshipped and not be able to have any JW friends. Do you understand, that?

Yes, brother ______

If you DO NOT get baptized and have sex with your girl friend, you can still have your friends and family. Do you understand that?

Puzzled look..... Ah, yes, brother_________

I said the same things to all young people I interviewed as baptismal candidates. I recommended only one candidate for baptism out of the thirty or so I had the
privilege" of interviewing. In my recollection, not one could explain the ransom doctrine, but all said they sinners and needed saving.

carla

My kids are not jw's, will never be. Their dad became one a number of years ago. When I found out he was trying to preach to them on the sly and make them read to him while he was driving, that was it for me. Any agreements we had to keep the kids out of it were null and void. My kids know all about the jw's and wt now. They are aware of the pedophile problem, the hypocricies, scandals, deaths, suicides, unbiblical doctrines,etc... etc... They know many of your stories from the horrendous to the silly, they know who Richie is and others here and elsewhere. They did not need to believe ME, they were free to research on their own if they chose to do so. They did a bit but it was the profound changes and sheer abandonment of their dad that did it for them. Children, college age kids, and the public at large should be warned about this cult that people perceive to be some off beat religion. It is not just some harmless religious zealots, it is dangerous to mind, body and spirit and can be deadly.

OUTLAW

JW children?..I would say nothing....JW`s continually interfere,with how other people raise their children..It`s not right,no matter who does it...OUTLAW

Dagney

If you could time travel and talk to yourself as a JW child, what would you say?

Follow your heart and dreams and love. Do not follow men.

It will all be just fine if you have courage.

TheSilence

My nephew is three, so right now it's not really anything I tell him. I try to encourage things that will, hopefully, in the future, promote learning and thinking. Right now he is big into dinosaurs and bugs. I buy him all kinds of dinosaur toys and *books* with *facts* that will, maybe, one day make him question silly doctrine that doesn't fit with it. I also just bought him a really cool ant farm that he loves to watch with gel that they burrow through so you can see all the tunnels and such.

When he's older it become harder. What do I say when he's 8 or 9 and he asks why I don't believe in Jehovah, or go to the meetings, or why I celebrate the holidays, or whatever it is he asks? He is still his parents son at that age and I wouldn't want his parents to feel like I was trying to pry him away from their beliefs because then I lose contact with him and if he ever wants out later in his life he has no lifeline. But I also don't want to hide or lie. It's going to be a difficult tightrope to walk.

I think a lot depends upon the age, the maturity, the relationship, the timing, how rigid his parents are... there are just so many factors. I don't think there's any one specific answer.

Jackie

TheSilence

Mostly I just need him to know that I love him and will *always* be there for him, whatever he believes or doesn't believe.

Jackie

4digitcode

sorry i have not read the replies but i will say this. having become a JW as a child and without my parents i feel it is important to warn children and would like to get involved doing a cult awareness program in schools. i know it is happening in france but more in universities i believe ( not quite sure) and it is probably happening other places.

i think it would be unfair to name the 'religions' as this could make those young children targets for ridicule or as different to the other kids. but for example a list of what to look for in a cult and feelings you may feel in one and to train the school counselor in dealing with those things.

it's an issue i feel passionately about. i hope i can do it one day and not lose sight of this goal.

Bonnie_Clyde

I would tell them to GET AN EDUCATION!

When I was a teenaged witness, I remember hearing that we should not was the first 20 years of our life messing up the rest of our life. I interpreted that to mean that I should be a good witness, and that would insure my everlasting life--after all, Armageddon was just around the corner.. Now I know that I actually did mess up my first 20 years. I had the opportunity to get a four-year degree. I was told that was wrong, so I thought I would compromise and get a two-year business school degree. That was also wrong. So I obeyed the organization and got no education at all beyond high school. I had no idea how difficult that would make my life as Clyde and I were raising our three children and years later when Clyde got cancer and had to retire early with not enough saved up for retirement.

The problem with the WT is that if a child gets an education, they are taught how to think. And they find that dangerous.

4digitcode

i think it's easier to reach anyone child or adult by exposing to them mind control techniques
ex in cults they try to cut off association to people you knew before so you can only rely on them afterwards

then say ' you can't have non jW friends. that's bad'

they will put up a wall right away
if they are made to arrive to the conclusion on their own, they may struggle with the feelings it creates and it may be harder to contain than a wall of indignation at the other person's statement , but it may be a step closer to them getting ut of it eventually

it is no longer 'them against me' but rather 'why does this provoke a reaction in me and feel familiar.
even though we all know that cognitive dissonance is a b*tch, i feel it is more effective to take this approach.

What would you tell CHILDREN of Jehovah's Witnesses?

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