Hey Confuzzled,
Like DGP, we are in very similiar situations. I am also protestant, my man is a non-practicing, unbaptised JW that wants to go back. First, I don't know how long you've been with this guy, but I would STRONGLY caution you to TAKE IT SLOW. You need to seriously research and seriously investigate this religion. If you find even one thing wrong with it, you should think twice before becoming part of it. It's not like being an Episcopal or Methodist, marrying a Catholic man, not really believing a core Catholic belief - like that the bread and wine turn into actual body and blood at communion - and saying, eh, I can still be Catholic for this man. Being a JW is giving up A LOT, and in my opinion unnecessarily. Through it, you'll also be hurting your family and your daughter. You need to SERIOUSLY think about this. If you go into the religion, you won't be able to celebrate Christmas with your family, or your daughter's birthday. Forget about Thanksgiving, Halloween, New Year's, Easter, Mother's Day. 4th of July, etc. etc. JWs are told not to have "worldly"friends, so any of your current JW friends would technically be out as soon as you are practicing. In a life or death situation you'd be expected to forgo a blood transfusion. You'd also be expected to deny one for your own daughter. That's right, you would be expected to LET HER DIE. Think of that. Seriously. Think of that. It's not just a religion is the thing, it's a whole CULTURE.
I know a lot of the way he/they talk about things is designed to make you feel guilty or shallow for wanting to celebrate holidays. You aren't. What they are doing isn't normal and natural, and worst of all, it's MAN engineered, not based on God/Jehovah or the bible. Also, as an Episcopal woman you should know how woman are treated in the JW religion. They are not valued (I don't care what it says in the Watchtower, they AREN'T);just today there was a thread about domestic violence being ok if it's only to a certain degree. Women also aren't allowed to pray in front of or deliver sermons to men. SERIOUSLY! In their services, women have to have a conversation on stage with each other in front of the crowd instead of just giving a sermon or a talk to the crowd. What kind of message do you think this will teach your daughter? In your personal life, you're supposed to follow the "headship" rule where whatever the man says goes. What a total load of crap! I'm not saying you will, but your man will be counseled, looked down upon, etc. for not keeping his house in order. It's so arcane!
And I learned all of this in just a few short months, so again, I'm not telling you to run away, I'm just telling you to take it slow. I'm in your position and know that's really not a viable option for those of us not born in and don't know the religion, and being with a nonpracticing JW. We don't know firsthand what it will actually look like. I know with your religious background and learning you probably feel bad when you hear all that "unevenly yoked" business because you were taught to be respectful and loving and accepting of all other religions, but unfortunately, this religion is different. One thing that helps me with this particular guilty thought is to think about how the JWs talk about MY religion. Are they respectful? No. Are they accepting? No. Just think about it.
