First off, I must say I am not a Jehovah's Witness. But I am currently involved in an intimate relationship with someon who is. I just wonder if someone can tell how this works. Apparently, according to him, my religion (Catholic) is a huge issue with his dad who is an elder in the community. I'm curious because his mom used to be from the Church of Christ before she converted and his former girlfriends were also Catholic like me. And he almost married the last one. They broke up when he and I met and got together,
I love this guy very much. I am willing to convert for him. Although naturally, that's not how I intend to go about it-- in the sense that I want to truly understand the faith then make the leap. He is just sort of like a trigger.
But I guess that shows how serious I am about making this relationship work.
I have some concerns though. Like how he and I have well... already made love and I have come to realize in my studies of the JW faith that it can be reason for disfellowshipping.
that's hard misstypink, you know most of us here are exjw's or trying to get out of it. Lots of bad experiences. Anyway, I know you're in love which makes this all the more difficult but I would not convert if I were you (which I'm obviously not), instead try to find out if he has any doubts about his religion and go from there. Also there's lot's of information on this site and others about shunning, no blood transfusion policy, and other doctrine. Make sure you read that first before you convert, then you might at least know better what to expect. Good luck!
misty, the Watchtower Society (JWs) teachees that it is showing a lack of faith and it is being disobedient for a Witness to date or marry a non-JW. In a recent talk at a Witness convention, people like yourself were compared to a corpse and that dating or marrying you would be like kissing a corpose, sleeping with a corpse.
JWs who go ahead and ignore this advice are "marked" as bad association by other JWs and except for their meetrings and door to door work, other members will have nothing to do with them.
There are many issues that divide some of which are?
Blood transfusions (children especially, will they have them or not)
Misty, Go into the conversion thing with your eyes wide open. Get info about JWs from sources outside the JWs to get the "rest of the story".
One of my parents joined the JWs when I was a child and I escaped it--yes, escaped--when I was 18-19, not because I was kicked out of the religion, but because I was being mentally abused by it. It was a terrible, terrible ordeal that ruined my life for years. Took me a very long time to heal.
Here are some web sites I strongly encourage you to visit to understand other points of view. JWs strongly discourage people from listening to "ex-members" or "opposers". However, isn't the best wan to understand an issue to consider both points of view?
You have a great opportunity here. Instead of you converting, try bringing him out. It could be the best thing you ever do for him. It doesn't sound as if he's very strong in the religion, so it might not be that hard. Read up on the different threads here to see why you should help him out of this mind control organization. You will learn that this religion is all about control. They try to control every little detail of your life, what you wear, watch, listen to, and who you associate with. Give your boyfriend the greatest gift of his life. A way out of this religion.
I was raised a JW and baptised at age 23. I met a wonderful baptist girl at 26 and with her help began my exit. I haven't went to a meeting in over 8 years. We were married when I was 30. She also found allot of hypocrisy in her church and has since left. Even though niether of us go to chuch, we love each out unconditionally and are very happy. I am so much happier now and still feel I am a very spiritual person. Just because I don't belong to a certain religion, doesn't mean I can't worship God. Good Luck!!
It really does sound like he isn't strong in his faith but I guess that's partly because he isn't on good terms with his father right now. But he still talks a lot about his religion. About how he wants to be baptized.
Sigh.
I truly want to bring him out though. I have seen how much he enjoys gift-giving and hhow happy he is when his birthday comes along and people do special things for him.
