IRISH TIMES: What is it like to be a Jehovah’s Witness family living in Ireland?

by AndersonsInfo 7 Replies latest jw friends

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  AndersonsInfo

  https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/what-is-it-like-to-be-a-jehovah-s-witness-family-living-in-ireland-1.3573827

  What is it like to be a Jehovah’s Witness family living in Ireland?

  Adherence to biblical strictures provides a solid base in an increasingly secular society

  
  Sheila Wayman
  

  Katy Mullins (Carrick-on-Suir) and Becky Mullins (Dungarvan) attending the annual Jehovah’s Witnesses convention in the Citywest Hotel, Dublin. Photo: Nick Bradshaw

  
  

  A childhood without celebrating birthdays – your own or anybody else’s – is hard to imagine in 21st century Ireland. When your child is at primary school, there are times when it seems there is a party nearly every weekend.

  But not for those growing up with Jehovah’s Witnesses as parents.

  
  

  They don’t “do” birthdays.
  

  “I don’t mind,” says 10-year-old Ethan Wall from Co Cork. Does he tell his classmates why he can’t accept their invitations? “I use the Bible to explain that God doesn’t like false celebrations,” he replies solemnly.

  That is not to say they don’t enjoy celebrations per se. And Ethan’s parents, Reece and Kelly, stress that they have other events to look forward to.

  READ MORE: https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/what-is-it-like-to-be-a-jehovah-s-witness-family-living-in-ireland-1.3573827
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  lastmanstanding

  Sorry Barb. I can’t read it. Somehow my eyes can’t focus on propaganda paid for by Watchtower Fable & Crap Corp

  We will see an increase in the amount of propaganda paid for by Watchtower.

  That’s what this is.
• 

  Beth Sarim

  The Dubs paint themselves as ''smiley'', ''loving'', ''happy'' and ''God-fearing'' group. Outsiders see them as somewhat as a 'benign' group for lack of better word.

  Nothing is further from the truth. Harmful and controversial policies such as;

  1) Shunning- a severe form of consequence from being outed or having left the group. You might as well be 'dead' to your family or friends. You are 'alive' but you might as well be dead to your family, because that's how you will be treated. It has been known that this policy and practice leads those who are disfellowsipped or disassociated to commit suicide. A truly unbiblical policy and unchristian way altogether.

  2) Blood policy- an erroneous practice by the JW's. Policies that have existed and are changed every now and then as they see fit. For example, policies which were updated in 2006 to include allowance of blood-fractions. IF someone adhered to the 1960's blood policies they would have perished if they did not take in the updated blood-fractions policies. If someone took blood-fractions(the 2006 revision) in the years before 2006, they likely would have been disassociated. The blood-policy, a truly erroneous doctrine & one which can be changed at anytime to fit their own agenda.

  3) Two Witness rule - a highly controversial rule when it comes to covering pedophilia or other types of gross sin or terrible violations. A victim who comes to the elders with a claim of being molested for example. Their elders will ask if a there is a second witness to the violation. If a 'no' answer is in response the elders cannot pursue the matter and the victim's hands are tied with the issue left in ''Jehovah's hands''.

  Now, these are only 3 of the most controversial and damaging policies there are. Obviously the list is too long to even know where else to start.
  
• 

  The Fall Guy

  The Amish community are hell-raisers compared to JW's!
• 

  Searril

  “I use the Bible to explain that God doesn’t like false celebrations,” he replies solemnly.

  No, Ethan, you don't.
  
• 

  AndersonsInfo

  • Presently 14 Comments in the Irish Times regarding the article
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  • Kevin

  Religious belief has got to be one of the most fascinating and diverse by-products of human evolution. Thank you, fascinating insight into a fringe cult.

  • 18 hours ago

  • mediaocrity

  @Kevin Fascinating, perhaps, a good thing, decidedly no.

  • 5 hours ago
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  • JamesAlan

  The article is somewhat 'soft.', but maybe that's what was asked for. In particular, the Jehovah's Witness practice of shunning family members who leave the church needs to be discussed in any thorough piece on this religion.

  • 13 hours ago
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  • frankwhelan

  @JamesAlan Or even people who they have been visiting,if those people then decide they don't agree with them,they are shunned if met in public.

  • 11 hours ago

  • mediaocrity

  @JamesAlan Just another puff piece for a religion in the IT. A religion, like all of them, with a very nasty side.
  
  By the way, minority faiths in Ireland should welcome secularism, i.e. that the State is less inclined to treat a particular religion more favourably, and work towards a separation of churches and state.
  
  Increasing irreligion is not secularism, disbelief is not secularism, however it is the RCC's preferred term to slag off non-believers now that atheist is no longer regarded as an... » more

  • 5 hours ago

  • FlorianMozart

  such a terrible article. completely one-sided. what about: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/jehovahs-witnesses-religion-christianity-religious-group-what-is-it-like-a7214966.html
  
  ? JW is a dangerous sect. Much like scientology. There is no romanticizing.

  • 11 hours ago

  • ClaudiaK

  @FlorianMozart Thank you for the link, just read the article and it confirms what I think of them. It is rather a cult than a religion.

  • 10 hours ago

  • mediaocrity

  @ClaudiaK Difference between a cult and a religion? Scale and time.
  
  Or as someone once said, if the guy who made it all up is still alive it's a cult, if he's dead then it's a religion...

  • 5 hours ago

  • ClaudiaK

  That article had a whiff of the author being brainwashed by the Jehovas. If they are happy to live as they live, cudos to them. But I don't want them at my door, telling me that I am doomed if I don't convert! The bible tells us lots of things, for them it was written by God. For me, it is a compendium of very very old stories, written by humans. To not celebrate your children's birthday because of two incidents which happened over 2000 years ago I find simply ridiculous. Another aspect which I... » more

  • 10 hours ago

  • Eddie

  After a Catholic brainwashing many Irish will be fodder for other religious cults such as the Jehova's Witnesses. It all seems harmless but again a religion dominated by men with ways to divide families through shunning. Homophobia is also rife in this cult despite the claims. All these cults are based on man's quest for meaning and superiority over others. Leave religion alone and respect others.

  • 7 hours ago

  • mediaocrity

  @Eddie There's also money of course. That hall in Citywest didn't hire itself. Wonder how much JWs are expected / forced to tithe?

  • 5 hours ago

  • AnChiarogEile

  @Eddie "After a Catholic brainwashing many Irish will be fodder for other religious cults such as the Jehova's Witnesses."
  Indeed so: their recruits have always tended to come from other Christian denominations rather than being scooped up from off the street. The usual pattern in my experience is people who grow discontented with their present church congregation because it isn't extreme or demanding enough, so are on the look-out for something which straps their lives into a far more rigid... » more

  • 52 minutes ago

  • mediaocrity

  You'd have to be a right gobdaw to change your double glazing on the say-so of a door-to-door salesman, never mind change your entire outlook on the world.

  • 5 hours ago

  • AnChiarogEile

  Let's face it, there are some people in this world - a good many in fact - who hanker instinctively for a totalitarian organisation which manages every aspect of their lives, explains everything for them, lays all manner of onerous obligations upon them and occupies their every waking moment, often treating them abominably for no reason at all and robbing them of their time, energies and money in trying to extend the organisation's domination to the entire human race in a kind of vast... » more

  • 2 hours ago
• 

  Searril

  • AnChiarogEile

  Let's face it, there are some people in this world - a good many in fact - who hanker instinctively for a totalitarian organisation which manages every aspect of their lives, explains everything for them, lays all manner of onerous obligations upon them and occupies their every waking moment, often treating them abominably for no reason at all and robbing them of their time, energies and money in trying to extend the organisation's domination to the entire human race in a kind of vast... » more

  Correct. It's why the Democrat and Republican parties are so powerful in the US, for example.
  
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  carla

  "...the author being brainwashed by the Jehovas"-snicker