My JW friend has a son who is living with a very nice young woman, who has two little girls 3 and 5. My friend has no problem with this, because she is like all of us, but is playing the JW game to keep her family. (large extended one) She has become very close to the young woman and her children.
The girlfriend wants to celebrate Christmas. naturally, (this is their first Christmas togther) and the young man has told her he doesn't believe in it and won't allow a tree in their home, etc. So she came to talk to his father, without him present, to find out why he feels that way. The father gladly sat down to discuss it with her and gave an explanation. She seemed to understand. Then she asked about the blood issue, because she works in the medical field and didn't understand that either. So, he gave a long explanation that did not satisfy her but she understood their reasoning, and thought the Biblical references were not clear.
This is the kicker. She said, "Okay I understand why you don't celebrate Christmas and don't take blood, but John lives with me, and there is a clear prohibition about that in the Bible, and it doesn't seem to bother him. How do you explain that?"
He left the room. My friend told me that, through her laughter yesterday. I imagine there are lots of situations like this one out there. Why is Christmas the unforgiveable sin, but sex is okay? (to them I mean)
They have another son, the best friend of one of our sons, who has a "worldly" girlfriend with two sons. They all celebrate Christmas, but he won't let his Dad know it. They don't live together either.
They have another son, who is a "Nazi JW". He is the PO in his congregation, and a real hard liner too.
All three sons are really good people (the eldest is less so), and I've known them all their entire lives. They are all men to be proud of but their father is tormented over the way two of them are living. These men are in their 30's. These kinds of things make me crazy and make that religion seem all the more horrible.
