When Your Adolescent Questions Your Faith

by wha happened? 23 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • WTWizard
    WTWizard

    The opening article is another piece of rubbish. Children not forced to practice the religion?

    How's this for an example. When I first joined the cancer, one week in April when school had let out for that week, I was out in field circus every afternoon as an unbaptized publisher. And, every day, there was one mother who had a 8 year old child out in field circus. This child had been out all morning by the time I showed up, and was often out until 4 or 5 in the evening that week. This child would "act up" often--playing with twigs and pebbles, skipping and running ahead of the group, and making noise. And, get spankings and threatened with worse when they got home. Is this not force?

    I have also seen children that are in their teens getting coerced into baptism by parents. Usually, they are around 12 or so when this starts. It is rigged to make it look voluntary, but usually getting baptized is a condition before getting any privileges usually granted to children when they turn around 12. They don't have the option to miss the boasting sessions, either. And, if they get disfellowshipped before they turn 18, they get pushed right out of the home unprepared--and cut off from any further assistance once they do leave.

    Anyone that believes that the witlesses are not forced in as children ought to have a word with Ja Rule--who I understand was disfellowshipped before age 18. They ought to discuss with that rapper how witlesses treat their children when they do not wish to continue in the cancer because it is wasting too much of their time, they are abused in it, or they see doctrinal issues (the "a generation") that are simply ignored and they still have to believe in and teach the bad doctrines.

  • wha happened?
    wha happened?

    since it's been about 7-8 years since I've been out in service, it takes a bit to remember some of this stuff. Along with the fact that I'm semi burying this into my subconcience. But of course any under 18 was forced to come along in service. Wow an 8 yr old is acting up because they don't appreciatte the importnace of the work. (barf). I really do feel bad for the kids. Especially those with pioneer parents

  • sd-7
    sd-7

    Well, I never really questioned it as an adolescent. There were flashes of reality, very brief, and gone so soon that I never had a chance to add them up until I was much older. I just figured it pleased Mom if I did the right thing, so I did it, even if it made me depressed that I wasn't good enough or spiritual enough because I liked girls. (Liked, not dated or anything, just liked...) I know Mom had the best of intentions and felt that this religion was just trying to help. I believed the same thing. I was a loyalist all the way through high school. A loyalist has no concept of questioning anything.

    Perhaps they have the uh, Darth Vader approach to 'not forcing' children to share their faith. "Perhaps you feel you are being treated unfairly?"

    --sd-7

  • d
    d

    I questioned the beliefs as a child. I think it is important for a child to question the elements of a parent's belief syestem.

Share this

Google+
Pinterest
Reddit