Is this Intentional or Assumptive?

Funchback

Taken from this article in The Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/north/2016/06/29/what-makes-jehovah-witnesses-different-from-other-christians/HLwbP3fmlL6dtepkHh7LWJ/story.html

What is the meaning of baptism?
Baptism is a choice Witnesses make — as adults — to dedicate their lives to God. According to the faith, spiritual protection is granted to those who “live in harmony” with their dedication.

At the end of the article, the source is listed as JW.org. However, I couldn't find anywhere on JW.org that says Witnesses make - as adults - the choice to get baptized.

So, where did the writer get this part, "as adults", from? Why did they go out of their way to highlight "as adults"? It was written to stand out. Was he/she assumptive, concluding that since infant baptism isn't allowed, only adults are? Were they being intentionally misleading? Did someone from the Society give the writer this information?

What do you think happened?

I tried to find the writer's name or e-mail address to clarify but the article doesn't contain either.

TTWSYF

A fluff article that seems to have been written by a JW as opposed to a journalist. Paints the JWs as they paint themselves.

BluesBrother

Every R C has a dedicated Press Officer , or department , that seeks to get local coverage for the Convention. If they don't write it they give interviews feeding the journalists. If the paper witnessed the baptism they would no doubt see what a lie that was. Actually, I am surprised they said it, given the push for youths to get baptized...

BTW, I love reading local stories in foreign 'papers. I now know that Mass. is under massive attack from gy-normous hairy caterpillars!

stuckinarut2

Adults hey?

Haha....we all know that the pressure to be baptised really hits born ins in the early to mid teens at best.

Any who delay until late teens or twenties are viewed with hesitancy and suspicion, and labeled with negative titles!

Come on WT society, own it! You know it's true!

Hell, ToMo3 even went on record saying that a brother who wasn't an MS in his early 20's was not "marriageable material". So that would mean he would have to been baptised at least 4-5 years prior!

Simon

They use words that come with meaning for the general population but within the WTS will have a different definition. They intentionally mislead.

So they will say "adults" knowing that it means something to normal people but if pressed would claim it means "grown up enough to make a decision". i.e. not any legal age or definition.

They will also claim that even if you were baptized as a child, if you subsequently 'stayed' into adulthood then you have made your decision as an adult.

Again, it's misleading and of course doesn't include the consequences of "just leaving" - the loss of friends and family, often the only people members have ever known.