Why a JW family member is traumatic to non JW?

by solosecret 16 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  solosecret

  Hello all,
  I was raised in a very religiously strict Christian home, and have been Presbyterian or Baptist my whole life. I have heard nothing but bad things about the JW's. Just recently I have gotten very interested in in learning more about JW, and possibly becoming one. I'm seeing things in my Bible in a way I've never seen them before. I only dread my husband and family finding out. They will freak, because they won't understand. They will be genuinely terrified for my eternal outcome. Why is this? We serve the same God, and live by the same Bible... What is the huge deal to them about JW?

  Thanks for reading,
  Elizabeth
• 

  Celia

  Why is this? We serve the same God, and live by the same Bible... What is the huge deal to them about JW?

  Jehovah's Witnesses have their own special version of the Bible, changed to fit their twisted doctrines and views.
  Their god Jehovah is not the god that most Christians worship,
  and above all, JWs are not Christians.
  Jesus Christ is not the mediator of rank and file JWs. He only is the mediator of a few old geezers who believe they are special, "anointed"...
  Read Crisis of Conscience by Ray Franz
• 

  BERNARD

  why would you want to become a jw now
  you missed the hype already the end
  came and went several times last century
  its now 2002 and 99.9 percent of mankind is not
  dead yet which makes a jw a false prophet but its your
  life too ruin to there doom day dates. he he
• 

  Soledad

  Elizabeth the JWs are a cult. I suggest that you spend some time researching before making the decision to join. The main teaching of the Witnesses is that 99.9% of those living on Earth now will perish in the battle of Armagedon--that is, unless you are a Witness. They believe that only they will be saved and that everyone else, including your own family, will die. They don't like their views to be challenged. They don't celebrate holidays or birthdays. They will do the best they can to isolate you from your family and friends because they are not like them. I could go on, but I think you get the gist of it.
• 

  cellomould

  If a JW can think for his/herself, they will tend to be a kind and caring friend. But the WT doesn't encourage people to think for themselves.

  That is the problem.

  cellomould

  "You're crying 'why am I the victim?' when the culprit is YOU" Stevie Wonder
• 

  patio34

  Hi Elizabeth,

  It's important to consider why your family may be alarmed at your associating with the JWs, and why JWs have a bad rep in general. Many here, including myself, have been members of the JW religion and feel that your family is justified in their concern.

  I would strongly urge you to think for yourself when considering the JWs and look at all sides of the issue. I made that mistake and did not read other points of view--but that was 28 years ago. There was not as much info available then.

  Do you know the history of the JWs and the story of their founders?

  Have you looked into NON-Watchtower writings to get a rounded view?

  Do you know that you can never disagree with the WT for fear of being excommunicated and shunned?

  Would you be allowed to ever leave the JWs without being shunned by family and friends if you change your mind in the future?

  Have you talked to former members to find out why they left?
  
  Or do you only know what the JWs say about former members?
  
  Are former members happier now that they've left?

  Do you want to let yourself or a loved one die because of not taking a blood transfusion?
  
  Do you know about how WT has changed their viewpoint over the years while many, including children, have needlessly died?
  
  Do you think it's right not to vote in elections?
  
  Are you prepared to shun friends and family that may leave in the future?

  These are just a few questions you should consider. I am reading Combatting Cult Mind Control by Steven Hassan and i wish i would have read it 28 years ago.

  All the best.
  Pat
• 

  Bang

  Solosecret,

  "I'm seeing things in my Bible in a way I've never seen them before."

  I'm not suprised about that, and it's not suprising that a "strict Christian" upbringing has not "done it" for you.

  If you can't figure out what is written in the Bible, but you don't really want to give up all that you have:
  And you are worried about the afterlife yet you can't figure out why 'other people' are bad:
  And you don't even consider such things as the plight of the native's descendants whose land was "purchased" for you to be comfortable (they also worshipped One Spirit)
  Then you are exactly who they are there for.

  God and Bible?
  I certainly do not like their god (understatement) and I do not use their bible.

  "They will freak, because they won't understand."

  They may not understand your newfound zeal for spirituality, but they'll understand that you're being taught life by hypocrits.

  Why give up what your heart first heard from the Spirit?
  Repentance and forgiveness and I want kindness

  I may not be a "strict Christian" but I'd be upset, and I don't know you.

  Bang
• 

  Farkel

  : I only dread my husband and family finding out. They will freak, because they won't understand. They will be genuinely terrified for my eternal outcome.

  Good for them.

  : Why is this?

  The JWs are a dangerous, malicious, selfish and cold-hearted Cult, that's why.

  :We serve the same God,

  I doubt that.

  : and live by the same Bible...

  No you don't. They twist the Bible, take stuff out of context and make up stuff about the Bible all over the place.

  : What is the huge deal to them about JW?

  They are concerned about your spiritual welfare and rightly so.

  Farkel
• 

  SEAKEN2001

  Hi Elizabeth,

  I see you have already done what I suggested in the other thread. Good. May I ask, why do you want to become a JW? Are you dissatisfied with your current church? Are you in search of something for your life?

  The JW's look like a squeeky clean group of good folk. To be sure, many JW's are nice folks. But it still remains that the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society is a cult organization. They have total control of what you are allowed to think and say. If you do not agree with anything they say is God's direction you have only two choices. Either keep your mouth shut and go along or be expelled as an apostate. They don't tell you this when you are "studying". If I were you I would ask your friend these questions:

  If I join the JW's now, with a little bit of "knowledge", but later learn more things and decide I want to leave, can I just leave? Can I change my mind? If I later decide to leave what will happen to my friendships and family relationships I have had while a Witness? If I ever have a disagreement with an "elder" can I use the legal system in my country to resolve the issue without santions from the Watchtower? Will the Watchtower organization protect me from any power hungry "elders" who have turned aside from teachings of christianity but have not yet been "found out"? Can you tell me that I will never be slandered by the "elders" as a wicked person if I ever have a disagreement with the body of "elders"? How responsive has Jehovah been to correct any errors the "elders" make and renew the reputations and livelyhood of innocent victims of circumstance?

  All these questions and many more like them are way more important than whether you think the JW's serve the same god or not. When you join them they take over complete control of your life. You can't ever change your mind or have a disagreement. Try to understand that the JW's are a complex mix of nice people with a very dangerous outlook on life. Most all Witnesses are ignorant of their own organization's history. And they will turn on you if you so much as suggest that the leaders of the orgnization are no directed by God. They are simple minded folks who believe their leaders are in direct contact with God yet not one of them can tell you how.

  They will die for their beliefs but they cannot explain them without help from the Watchtower leaders. Their beleifs are not their own. They are spoon fed at the table of the Faithful & Discreet Slave and will reject every other thought if it doesn't come through this channel. In short, they are a cult.

  Do your research, try to defend them. That is the best way to learn the truth about them. It's all there in their own literature and acts. If you really want to know what they are up to try your best to take their side and defend them using their own literature. Do it honestly and objectively. You will then know what we know and why you keep hearing bad things about them.

  All the best,

  Sean
• 

  ItsJustlittleoldme

  Hi solosecret,

  Why do you think your family would be upset if you joined the JW's?

  Also, would they be upset if you joined the Mormons, or other 'fringe' religions?

  I think it is most important to hear both sides before you make a decision.. Goto the hall, start a bible study, and let the JW's you study with, and even the elders know that you are looking at the 'opposing' viewpoint; I.E. from the apostates/DF'd ones; and ask questions of both sides.. This is a great place to ask questions of the 'opposing' side, as alot of people here are ex-jw's..

  NEVER BE AFRAID of asking ANY question, I would encourage you to poke around.. The bible clearly states that "... In no respect should you be freightened by your opponents..." (Phil 1:27-29 contains the entire quote) -- In fact, this comes straight out of a quote from the Witness' Reasoning book (Page 119, under the heading of Encouragement for Persons facing PERSECUTION for doing God's will)

  The bible also states that you should 'test' for yourself what is true, and hold on to truth...

  Obviously, by the above bible scripture, which is quoted in their own literature, you certainly should NOT be afraid of getting opposing views.. If you think about it, hearing only one side of any argument does not lend itself very well to making an informed decision. This is true in all aspects of life, not just religion.. So, if your relatives are really gonna be upset if you join the Witnesses, I think you owe it to them to sit down, and ask them why..

  Biblically, as well, you owe it to yourself and Jesus/God to see
  both sides... The witnesses should certainly welcome the chance to prove to you why the apostates are wrong from the bible, I'm sure.. In fact, the witnesses should welcome the chance to speak with apostates and, as the bible states, bring a lost one back into the fold...

  And hopefully the converse will also be true.. All the ex-jw's here will answer your questions as well..

  It will then be up to you to 'test' for yourself what is 'true', and make a determination based on those tests..

  Oh, one comment.. Just because your family may or may not apporve of you becoming a witness does not neccisarily prove that any religion is being "persecuted" for doing God's will, and thus is a sign that they are indeed the one true religion...

  I'm sure that you would get a similiar reaction from your family if you decided to join some other religions as well.. Thus, it isn't a sign that any religion is more correct than any other, as this can apply to many religions, nor is it a sign of persecution.. Would you call it persecution if you wanted to join a satanic cult and your family expressed their concern?
  
  Good luck on your quest....