References to Jehovah's Witnesses in Fiction

by TD 9 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  TD

  References to Jehovah's Witnesses in fictional works are often amusing and sometimes dead on. I thought it might be fun to share any you may have come across.

  Most of my topics die a quick and mericful death and this will probably be no exception, so I'm only going to put up one for now:

  "In walking back to the mission one night I saw a sign that could be construed as a direct answer to my prayers. MILLIONS NOW LIVING WILL NEVER DIE. The sign was carried by a man and with him was a small child handing out leaflets. I contrived not to accept one. I had seen that sign many times throughout my life, but I had long tended to avoid Jehovah's Witnesses. They are so stiff-necked and stubborn that it is impossible to work with them..." -Robert A. Heinlein, Job: A Comedy of Justice
• 

  brotherdan

  I haven't read this book yet, but here is a book called "Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk" by Tony Dushane. Here's the review and link:

  DuShane's debut novel unfolds within the insular world of Jehovah's Witnesses, following a teenager's coming of age within the strict rules of a widely known but little explored sect. Gabe is in many ways a typical California teenager: attending public high school, lusting after female classmates, and enjoying hacky sack with his best friend, Peter. At the same time, he is preoccupied with thoughts of Armageddon, and whether or not masturbating will keep him from being resurrected at the end of the world. Gabe wrestles genuinely with his faith-both embarrassed and deeply committed. As pre-pubescence gives way to young adulthood, Gabe, his troubled (non-Jehovah) cousin Karen, his high school crush Jasmine, and Peter find their moral dilemmas taking on serious dimensions, eventually leading to a tragedy that profoundly alters Gabe's understanding of faith. As a former practitioner, DuShane writes with an insider's perspective about this unique world, balancing criticism with understanding and a convincing portrait of the struggle to integrate religion into a modern world, producing an ultimately touching story that will speak to atheists and believers alike.

  http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Teenage-Jesus-Jerk-DuShane/dp/1593762631
• 

  keyser soze

  From The Stand, by Stephen King:

  His pockets were stuffed with fifty different kind of conflicting literature. When this man handed you a tract you took it no matter what the subject: the dangers of atomic power plants, the role played by the International Jewish Cartel in the overthrow of friendly governments, the CIA, the farm workers' union, the Jehovah's Witnesses (If You Can Answer These Ten Questions "Yes," You Have Been Saved!)...
• 

  brotherdan

  I remember reading that in "The Stand" Kyser. I wish he would've referred to something that a JW would REALLY have on a tract!
• 

  Ding

  Not to mention all the accounts of "Jehovah's happy organization" published in the Watcthower...
• 

  brotherdan

  True, Ding. That's ALL fiction!
• 

  snowbird

  I read a book once wherein a protagonist sold his catamaran and became a full-time, proselytizing JW and no one laughed about his decision.

  Another one, a young girl didn't want to be placed in foster care with a JW woman. The child's reasoning: "I don't like the way she looks at me."

  Tee hee hee.

  I can't remember the title of either.

  Syl
• 

  ReallyTrulyAthena

  Ding - oh, ain't that true!

  I'll have to go dig these books out of storage as it's been a very long time since I've read them, but I think sci fi/fantasy writer Piers Anthony had a minor character that was a JW in his "Tarot" trilogy.

  RTA

  PS - TD, one of my favorite quotes is by Heinlein: "Freedom begins when you tell Mrs. Grundy to go fly a kite."
• 

  TD

  "His pockets were stuffed with fifty different kind of conflicting literature."

  The quote from The Stand was even more amusing because the character being described was "Randall Flagg" (i.e. A minion of Satan himself)
• 

  brotherdan

  What else would you expect to be in Satan's pocket? It's probably full of JW tracts and meeting invites.