Do JW Parents intentionally extort their children with baptizm? (page 2)

orangefatcat

I think some parents make their kids feel really bad if they don't get baptized and become pioneers. I mean this was the consenses when I got baptized. My father told us each he wanted us all out of the house by age 18 and to be pioneering and if we didn't he was going to be so pissed at us. He said he would kick us out as he didn't want any slackers in the family bringing shame on our family.

But hey it was okay for him to have been a rotten stinken alcoholic who was violent and cruel and destroyed our family was bringing shame already upon our family. Little did he remember anyway as he was always in a stupper throughout those years, prior to his miracleous transformation as a JW. Gee whiz why didn't some other religion show up at our door. They made us feel we would recieve God's wrath if we didn't choose to be immersed.

Like to know it was the truth and not to be baptized was like a sin or something. He would often show us the picture in "Paradise Lost Book" of Jehovah opening the earth and swallowing the wicked at armegaddon. I guess they don't realize that they are telling you that your wicked if you don't get baptized. Hmmmmmmmm,, brainwashing. Scrub a dub dub!!!

I was dipped in 1967, and sure I pioneered, but deep down that is not what I wanted in life, but for fear of displeaseing my parents I did exactly what they wanted me to do. I was a real robot and yes bot.

I feel every parent to some extent co erce their kids into baptism. And I don't think they always think that someday they may have to shun their child. There in lays the travesty of all this.

Can't parents think for themselves. Christ was a full grown man age 30 before being baptized. He worked as a carpenter like his father Joseph. Sure he studied in the temple and all, but he was a full grown mature man at his baptism and I can't for the life of me understand why the heck the WTS pushes and pushes children to be immersed.

Oh well just my thoughts here

Orangefatcat

the_classicist

My parents didn't really. And most of the elder's kids didn't get baptised until later, but this was only in my cong. In all the other ones they really 'encourage' people to get baptised extremely young.

undercover

Intentionally? No, it's a trickle down effect from the WTS.

If a rational person looks at the baptism practice by JWs they would come up with a lot of inconsistancies.

The JWs criticize the Catholic church, among others, for baptizing children. They claim that infants can not be aware of what is happening or understand the implications of the baptism. They cannot make a conscience decision to dedicate their life to God.

But JWs expect children to get baptized. This get's tricky because it's not plainly stated in the publications but anyone who has spent time with the JWs knows that the pressure to get baptized while in your early teens is very common. JW children are expected to be able to make a dedication to God, "the most important decision one will make in their life" as is stated at every baptism talk. Now these children are expected to make this "most important decision in their life" at the age of 13 or 14 but when they decide to want to get married at the age of 18 or 19 all of a sudden they aren't mature enough to make that kind of life decision. Well, if they could handle the "most important" decision at 13 then they should be able to handle a lessor decision at 18, according to the logic applied to the baptism decision making process.

All that aside, to expect a 13, 14 or 15 year old to get baptized is not even remotely practical. This child has not had any life experience. This child has not had to make important decisions before. How can you expect a child to make a good decision if he has no experience at any kind of decision making at all?

But as we know, it's not about dedicating your life to God, it's about gaining publishers, or more correctly, workers. Workers to knock on doors and sell magazines. As third world countries have learned, child labor is the cheapest labor.

talesin

I don't think it was deliberate coercion, but they expected it. I hear "Isn't it time you should think about getting baptized?" After all, 1975 is only xx years away, and we must press forth in J's service. How is a 14 YO supposed to choose, when it's all they have known? When their parents expect it, and the whole congo is pushing them? [[[[Scully]]]]

rebel8

It was true for me, I believe. I was given a directive to get baptized; when I expressed reluctance, I was told I must obey my mother, J is watching, he knows your thoughts, and you won't make it past Armageddon if you disobey. (=death threat) Then after the dunk I was given staunch lectures about keeping myself and my thoughts "clean" because I had made a promise to J and could be DFd if I didn't keep the promise. Baptism was a way to attach me to the cult, IMO.

jeanniebeanz

My parents came under pressure from the body of elders to get my brother to wise up if Dad wanted to hang onto his position. The parents have their children used against them in this way all the time, just as men who want more congregational responsibilities are pressured to have their wives 'under control'.

J

Do JW Parents intentionally extort their children with baptizm?