Is it possible to be friends with a devout Jehovah's Witness? (page 3)

diamondiiz

Generally no, but it depends on individual and to what extend one follows the party line. I had few non-jw friends but it wasn't to the same extend as pre-jw years and that's probably because I wasted more of my life of the cult meetings and more time with false wts drones than I should had.

GLTirebiter

The friendship tends to be one-sided. You see them as a friend, a person whose good qualities you appreciate, one whom you enjoy associating with. They see you as a person with potential--if only you'd go to their meetings and KNOW THE "TRUTH". Until you do, they're advised to not get too attached, because Armageddon is coming Really Soon Now, and unless you're IN THE ARK when that happens, you're going to be BIRD FOOD.

A romantic friendship is probably trouble as in TROUBLE.

Yes, sometimes very expensive trouble (as in divorce lawyers, alimony, etc.).

blondie

*** w08 12/15 p. 29 Highlights From the Letters of John and of Jude ***

14—Who are referred to as “friends”? The term “friends” here includes more than those enjoying close relationships with one another. John uses it to refer to fellow believers in general

(3 John 14) 14 But I am hoping to see you directly, and we shall speak face to face. May you have peace. The friends send you their greetings. Give my greetings to the friends by name.

Growing up a jw I was told over and over that non-jws were not my "friends" just "acquaintances" even to the point of being corrected in my speech if I said a schoolmate of non-jw relative was a "friend."

designs

Putting that on our kids was cruel.

ABibleStudent

losthobbit - I like what you wrote, Ding... "showing them unconditional love and acceptance." Worth giving a try :)

Hi losthobbit, don't be disappointed if your JW friend drops you like a rock if you do not progress with a WTBTS bible study. It would be better to give your JW friend a copy of "Crisis of Conscience" by Ray Franz anonymously than just unconditional love and acceptance. I joined JWN because I was interested in a former JW friend. I wish that I knew what I know now about JWs when I first met my former friend.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

Sayswho

You could be a friend for them but they could not be a TRUE FRIEND to you...

SW

NVR2L8

Even if you were to become a JW you would find that friendship in the organization is like friendship in High School...when you move away you lose all contacts. Your former friends no longer have time to spend with you...they are too busy with their congregation's activities...then so are you...so you make new "friends" by participating in field service and meetings...and the occasional social event. When JWs say they have friends all over, these friends are acquaintances who share the same ideals.

My brother lives across the street from my old mother and he only sees her at congregational activities...he has no time for her or me because he is kept busy by his duties as an elder.

Having no "friends" and relatives outside of the JWs makes it hard to leave knowing that all of them will shun you and you will be all alone...

Black Sheep

I occasionally hang out with JWs. Some I have known for years. It's a bit of a superficial friendship and it's only allowed because I forgot to get baptised.

If they bring up religion or ask why I haven't joined yet, I make it a rule never to say anything to them that they don't already know, or should know because it's in been in recent literature or the subject of a talk at an arsembly.

therevealer

@Phizzy - So true . . . "and even those guys will stab you in the back" I was "friends" with more than one witness who was viewed as a lesser one because of the level they achieved in activity etc. In the case of some it was simply the level of smarts that they had which made them be looked down on by the higher ups in the congo. And we must remember that one reason men become elders is because they have more ability, not more spirituality. It means that elders and thier wives and families will normally be in the higher echelons of a congo. Anyway to the point I want to make is that there were times that the fact that I befriended some of these ones they would talk to me about feeling belittled and minimized to which I would listen and try to be understanding. But then when I found myself in this situation and talked to them I was basically shunned.

Sad to say that MOST, not all are basically messed up excuses for humans by this cult.

outsmartthesystem

Back when I was a a devout witness.....I would befriend those that were inactive. Of course....my goal was to help them see that I had "the truth". Even if I thought there was little hope of converting the person....I would still make sure to include them in some of my recreational activities. Believe it or not.....there are SOME witnesses that really are nice people and may enjoy your company. That was the case for me. I didn't care whether or not such association was "approved". I felt like I could make my own decision so long as such associates were not "bad" people. I suppose it is "independent" thinking like that....that led me to investigate the truth about this religion and caused me to fade away.

The GB is right! Critical thinking and independent thinking are BAD! (for them)

Is it possible to be friends with a devout Jehovah's Witness?

Share this