a couple more questions

North Girl

How long can you be a practicing witness before you are expected to be baptised? What changes once you are baptised? What do you have to do to become baptised? Thanks again for your time

When you get baptized, you dedicate yourself to being shunned if you screw up. You have to be regular at meetings to be baptized, you have to be regular in field service (or at least show that you are on your monthly report).

As for how long before your baptized, you need to complete all the required study books and become an unbaptized publisher. I was an unbaptized publisher for 3 years, and then I dumped out. I didn't want to risk being shunned if I made a mistake. I thought that element of being a JW was bullshit, so I never got baptized. I'm glad I didn't.

North Girl

So as long as you are not baptised it is okay to make mistakes?.. as long as you ask forgiveness, or show remorse???

Sassy

as long as you are not baptised their hands are tied when you make mistakes. They can't do too much to you. They can stop calling on you for answering at meetings, or tell you that you can't go in field service but that is about it..

Nosferatu

The only thing they can do is give you reproof. You can't be disfellowshipped if you're not baptized. However, if you put off getting baptized, you might end up with the title "bad association". People will assume that you haven't "dedicated your life to Jehovah" because you still have some bad habits that you're not willing to change (for Jehovah).

Since I never got baptized, I can have pre-marital sex, smoke, drink, masturbate, and I can still talk to JWs. If I would have been baptized, and asked the elders for help, I would have been disfellowshipped. Then, nobody would be allowed to talk to me. This is called a "loving arrangement".

No Apologies

North Girl

Becoming a witness is a process that involves several steps. First, somehow you come in contact with them and display an interest in their religion. After being called on for a while, you will be offered a "Bible study" which consists of going through one or more publications with the witnesses Then you will be encouraged to begin attending meetings. Assuming you have gotten to this stage, the next step will be the field service, although you must receive "approval" to be permitted to do this (if you have a basic understanding of JW beliefs, and if you are not living a lifestyle they disapprove of- i.e. smoking, living with someone, etc, you will be approved).

Its a steady progression, and if any point you balk, they will try very hard to get you to continue. Once you have started attending all the meetings and are participating in field service, the next logical step is baptism. And it will be stressed to you how vital this step is if you are to truly be part of God's organizaition and have the wunnerful hope of living on paradise erf with the rest of the JWs.

As long as you are not baptised, you can make mistakes, and as long as you act repentant and make it clear that you really really want to be a JW someday, you will be "forgiven." Its all about getting you in, and getting baptised is what will seal your fate.

No Apologies of the long-winded but hopefully useful answer class)

blondie

How long can you be a practicing witness before you are expected to be baptised? Actually there is an unofficial minimum that you must be studying the Bible with JWs before you can get baptized: 6 months. This is assuming you meet the basic moral requirements and have gone through the over 200 questions with 2 to 3 elders in the congregation. They must agree that you qualify for baptism and will inform the body of elders. Otherwise, As long as you behave yourself at the meetings and live a life within the minimum moral requirements, you can attend the meetings at the kingdom hall as long as you want without getting baptized. You are not required to study with anyone but people will "encourage" you to do so. I have seen unbaptized spouses attending meetings for over 40 years without getting baptized. Without being baptized, though, the WTS doctrine is that they will not live through the destruction of the "wicked" at Armageddon. What changes once you are baptised? As others have pointed out, once you go outside the minimum moral requirements, and the elders know either seeing you directly, others reporting what they see you do, or you confess, they will officially meet with you and determine if 1) you actually did it and 2) if in their opinion you are sincerely sorry. If they don't think you are properly repentant, they will announce to the congregation that you are "disfellowshipped" and no witness will be allowed to have any contact with you. If a JW does, they will be disfellowshipped as well. (This is not equally applied in the congregation; favoritism abounds.) What do you have to do to become baptised? Actually there is an unofficial minimum that you must be studying the Bible with JWs before you can get baptized: 6 months. This is assuming you meet the basic moral requirements and have gone through the over 200 questions with 2 to 3 elders in the congregation. They must agree that you qualify for baptism and will inform the body of elders. Baptism will take place at the next assembly/convention and on rare occasions at other times.

Sassy

North Girl is asking questions because of the two step sons she has being raised as JWs... so it might help for her to know the difference when you are raised as JWs... since they could have already been studying with mom and stepdad...

blondie

Based on Sassy's comments, you have 2 stepsons, not living with you, being raised by their JW mother and JW stepfather.

All I can see to add is that they are minors living at home, dependent on their JW mother and JW stepfather for the daily necessities of life as well as legally their parent and step-parent can require them to go to the meetings and dress appropriately. They can try to force them to study or emotionally blackmail them to do so. Many children of JW parents go along with it for the sake of peace waiting for the day when they can move out of the house.

Some parents do pressure their children to get baptized or the parents may be pressured by the elders to have their children get baptized. I don't know what legal position your husband has (their father), but he should use every opportunity to present them with an alternate view without attacking the other set of parents. The important thing is to make sure they have accurate information. I have seen children as young as 8 get baptized (not ready in my opinion) and heard of some as young as 6. 16 is average in my experience. The longer they go beyond their 16th birthday, the more pressure will be put on them to be baptized, since JWs believe unbaptized people will die at Armageddon including children.

PM me any time. I was raised in a family with a JW mother and a non-JW father. I know what it can be like to be pulled both ways. I chose the WTS because my father was molesting me so he wasn't a safe choice. If that had not been the case....

Blondie

Steve Lowry

As long as you aren't a baptised JW, you aren't a JW, in THEIR eyes. Once you get baptised then they hold you accountable and in line. It's kinda like a legal thing to them. Sadly there's a lot of pressure to get baptised and little ones who have no idea of what they're getting themselves into jump in with both feet.

Once you're a baptised JW, they hold it over as a threat to make you conform or suffer the shame and pain of being punished. Typical cultic practice and very effective.

a couple more questions

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