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MissGuided

Hello everyone. I have been reading all of your postings for a couple of days now. I find this site to be very interesting and helpful (not to mention all of the people seem to be very intelligent, nice, and innately good). Therefore, I decided to join in. I am not a JW, never have been, have no desire to be. However, my best friend is a JW and, naturally, I have MANY questions that I am hoping that all of you can answer for me. About 2 months ago my friends father died (a non jw) and she would not even step foot into the church where the funeral was being held. This bothered me. If jw's truly believe that their religion is the "true" religion, then why is it that she would not go into the church? I mean if jw's are so sound in their faith then I don't believe this should have been difficult for her to do. Besides isn't one of the commandments to "honor thy mother and father"? Or does that only apply if your mother and father are also jw's? Please Help!!

Thankyou for your time,
MissGuided

neyank

Hi MissGuided,
The WTS teaches that all other religions except for the WTS are false religions. That they do not worship God.
All false religions acording to the WTS are controlled by Satan.
Therefore, It would not be proper for a JW to enter a church building.
The JWs are taught to view other religions with disgust.
As far as honoring your father and mother,the WTS teaches that if your parents are not JWs they will be destroyed at Armageddon.
Hope that helps.
neyank

Martini

Hello Misguided,

Good question. You will be shocked at the honest answer. We,that is Jehovahs Witnesses believe that ours is the ONLY true religion.ALL other religions (with NO exception) are False religion.All so-called Christian religions (aside from ours) are an apostacy from the Christianty as believed and practiced by the first century disciples of Jesus Christ. We believe to alone have God's exclusive approval. We alone are God's Organization. We alone are God's people. We alone shall inherit God's promises. All others religions are part of Satan's visible organization. All other religions are part of Babylon the Great, the empire of flase religion. Soon Jehovah will destroy ALL false religion by means of the United Nations. Here is the main point in answer to your question: God is now issuing a warning to all peoples of the earth by means of JW's that they should Flee,or get out of Babylon the Great the empire of false religion. Those found supporting false religion even if indirectly shall be destroyed.We feel that anyone willingly having any contact will false religion is touching an unclean thing, something detestable to Jehovah. So although some witnesses could choose to simply walk into a church (as in a funeral for family )many prefer to stay clear of anything to do with the churches of the world. Our loyalty is to God first and NOT to parents.
Please read Revelations chapter 18 and any related Watchtower publication for 'OUR' interpretaion of those scriptures.

To put it briefly,
Martini,
P.S. Many of us are only now realising that we have been brainwashed OR 'misguided' into beleiving these things and are slowly breaking free from the mind control of the WatchTower Bible and Tract Society. So please have mercy on us, thanks.

Edited by - Martini on 21 January 2001 17:51:13

larc

Dear Miss,

This past spring, my wife's sister died. She had not been a witness in over 30 years and did not have q withness funeral even though my wife's father tryed to influence his son-inlaw to have one for this departed wife. The witnesses came to the funeral home for the viewing, but none of them except immediate family came to the funeral service that was conducted by a Protestant minister. As I say, immediate JW members were there. Perhaps the shunning rules are implimented more harshly in some places than others. Some people posting here have written about some very devastating funeral experiences.

If you haven't yet, you may want to read the topic of shunning at this forum. Also, after you get further imput on this page, you might want to ask your friend why she chose her course of action. I would be very interested in what she would have to say.

larc

Miss,

My last statements related to former witnesses. If her parents had never been witnesses, she would have gone if she could have convinced the rest of the family to have the funeral service conducted by a Witness, because this would be a "Witness to Jehovah". However, if it was conducted by a minister of any other religiion she probably could have gone but most wouldn't. I am am not sure if she is forbidden to do so or not. Again, why don't you ask her, her rationale, and if she is forbidden by the religion to attend such a funeral.

MissGuided

Thankyou for your answers. I did ask her and she told me that she absolutely could not step foot in the church because there was a lot of "hocus pocus" going on inside. She also said that she hates catholicism and everything associated with it, but I was just still confused because she never gave me a direct answer or a reference to the bible to back up why she would not go in.
Thanks Again,
MissGuided

Frenchy

MissGuided
Jehovah's Witnesses are not prohibited from going into a church in the case of a funeral or even a wedding. I have many times been inside a church for both occassions with other witnesses present there also. While inside the church the witness may not participate in any worship services or procedures because that would be viewed as apostasy.

-Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it-

Kismet

Just futher to Frenchy's comment, it is left to the individual JW's conscience as to whether or not they can go into another building of worship other than their own. The JW's are very strict in their belief that they should have no share in interfaith services or otherwise participate at such gatherings.

They base this one the scripture in Revelations about "getting out of her (babylon the Great - JW's believes this represents false religion) if you do not want to share in her sins and if you do not want to recieve part of her plagues." Rev 18:4) They also refer to Old Testament examples wherein the Nation of Isreal fell out of God's graces when they mixed with people of other faiths. Specious reasoning true, but it is the reasoning they use.

Some Witnesses have felt that it is okay to enter a church for events such as weddings and/or funerals as observors only. The Watchtower (the official magazine of the JW's) however cautioned that JW's should seriously consider the risk of stumbling others who might see them even entering a church of another religion. (Subtle way of saying don't do it).

But a JW will not face discipliary action if they go to observe such a service. Most JW's would not do so however, prefering a black & white (right/wrong) approach to matters.

Hope that helps.

Kismet

Edited by - Kismet on 21 January 2001 17:44:29

Edited by - Kismet on 21 January 2001 17:49:16

NickL

Well said Kismet and Frenchy
So much debate and confusion could be avoided by concerning ourselves with the "printed" comments of the WBTS and not judging the organization by the actions and words of some associated with it.

Xandit

Just to weigh in with Frenchy and Kismet. I have personally attended both funerals and wedding in churches, including Catholic churches, and no one said a thing. Some Witnesses have a particularly weak conscious and they limit themselves unnecessarily.

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