Posts by Texasbred

114

I cryed today...

by silentlambs in

i recieved this note from a young person i know personally.

it brought tears to my eyes for someone so young to see things so clearly.

why can't six million others see this simple reality and the need for change?.

Texasbred

I wonder .... are the incidents of child molestation higher within the JW church?

I think the idea of keeping these allegations within the church is completely insane... if someone feels a need to abuse a child, they need professional, trained help. God made therapists too, you know.

and one of the biggest problem I have with the WTS, is the kicking out of members for "sinning". EVERYONE sins .... and just because we may be repentant for one sin, we WILL sin again (probably very soon), and Jesus seemed to make a clear message that sinners should NOT be cast aside, but embraced. Remember Zachius or his disciple Matthew.

how did this idea get lost within the WTS? and how do they justify kicking out sinners ....when (if you go by their philosophy) EVERYONE should be disfellowshipped?

25

it just got more interesting.

by Texasbred in

jw
friends

the woman i am dating has a 4 year old child.

he's a cute kid, and we get along very well.. the father was once a jw and he went to the same kingdom hall as my girlfriend.

but now he's out and celebrates holidays, birthdays, etc.

Texasbred

now, I'm posting this just to see how many posts it takes before I stop being a "newbie" :)

25

it just got more interesting.

by Texasbred in

jw
friends

the woman i am dating has a 4 year old child.

he's a cute kid, and we get along very well.. the father was once a jw and he went to the same kingdom hall as my girlfriend.

but now he's out and celebrates holidays, birthdays, etc.

Texasbred

wendy: It's interesting because she has female friends who are active JW's , yet have pre-marital sex, smoke, drink to excess, etc. Maybe it's a generational thing, or maybe it's been going on all along,just no one knew about it.... and as far as "settling" is concerned, one of MY biggest conflicts is the fact that this girl fulfills everything I look for in an individual. I never thought I'd date a single mom, but that has become irrelevant now, as I think her child is awesome. And now the ONLY problem I have is her religious beliefs.... and I can't justify throwing it all away, when she's perfect in every other sense.

And to be honest, she's NEVER thrown her religion in my face.... and has never been critical of my beliefs. In fact, I probably wouldn't even be aware of her JW-ness if it weren't for all the Watchtower and Awake magazines in her house.

25

it just got more interesting.

by Texasbred in

jw
friends

the woman i am dating has a 4 year old child.

he's a cute kid, and we get along very well.. the father was once a jw and he went to the same kingdom hall as my girlfriend.

but now he's out and celebrates holidays, birthdays, etc.

Texasbred

I don't think she's afraid of what the rest of the cong. will think of her dating a non-JW. But from the research I've done, it seems like she should be trying to get me to see "the light" .... yet she's almost uncomfortable discussing it with me. Last night, she went to the memorial thing and told me she had some things to do, and she didn't mention church until I asked her.

Saturday morning, I found one of her books "The Bible: God's word or man's?" and started reading it ..... she put it away and was apologetic for leaving it out. She's obviously conflicted, but I can't quite figure out how to ask her tactfully, without saying, "Why the hell do you belong to this church, if you're not convinced that they're beliefs are right?"

hmm.... I really enjoy reading this board. It's helped me realize what she might have to go through if she leaves the church.

25

it just got more interesting.

by Texasbred in

jw
friends

the woman i am dating has a 4 year old child.

he's a cute kid, and we get along very well.. the father was once a jw and he went to the same kingdom hall as my girlfriend.

but now he's out and celebrates holidays, birthdays, etc.

Texasbred

.... another problem: The father is a complete ASS and he was abusive to *Melissa*. So the model of what an ex-JW is , has become HIM.

*and the names have been changed to protect the innocent*

25

it just got more interesting.

by Texasbred in

jw
friends

the woman i am dating has a 4 year old child.

he's a cute kid, and we get along very well.. the father was once a jw and he went to the same kingdom hall as my girlfriend.

but now he's out and celebrates holidays, birthdays, etc.

Texasbred

The woman I am dating has a 4 year old child. He's a cute kid, and we get along very well.

The father was once a JW and he went to the same Kingdom Hall as my girlfriend. But now he's out and celebrates holidays, birthdays, etc. with his son.

This weekend, *Melissa* and I discussed the problems that could arise from our religious backgrounds, and I told her I would be upset if she didn't attend my families Christmas get-together. As it's one of my favorite times of the year and I'd like her to be a part of it. I tried to explain that even though it's based on a pagan ritual, the meaning has transcended and celebrating such a wonderous event as Christ's birth overshadows ANY remnants of the original pagan celebration..... she said she would go for dinner, but wouldn't participate in opening the gifts. oh well.....

then she said, that since *Adam's* father has abandoned all JW beliefs, she's going to give him a strict Jw upbringing .... so he doesn't get any more crossed messages than he needs.

I sometimes wish she would invite me to a meeting with her. But she doesn't seem interested in exposing me to her religion at all... I'm confused

16

Just looking for answers.

by Texasbred in

jw
friends

unfortunately, i'm not quite sure what my questions are.

my first post was in the "dating..." forum, if anyone's interested.. the biggest problem i have is my complete ignorance concerning jw's and their beliefs/ practices.

the research i've done has provided only polar opposite views, either jw is the way or it's a cult and it's wrong.

Texasbred

wow...some great advice... thanks again.

and to answer mr.magoo's questions:
1) her meeting don't bother me. she goes sunday, monday and wednesday ... although she's been missing a lot of the wednesday meetings.

2)I talked to her briefly last night about her meetings .... and I honestly don't think she's aware of what would happen if she left. Maybe she is, but she just doesn't think about it.

3)I love Christmas .... and I've told her so. Pagan origins aside, I think Christmas has become something very important and spiritual in my life. And she didn't make an issue out of it.

The more I think about it, she seems to be attending the church simply because that's where she grew up. She has never invited me to a Bible study , or tried to show me the "perfect" Watchtower ways. So it's possible I'm just making an issue out nothing.

16

Just looking for answers.

by Texasbred in

jw
friends

unfortunately, i'm not quite sure what my questions are.

my first post was in the "dating..." forum, if anyone's interested.. the biggest problem i have is my complete ignorance concerning jw's and their beliefs/ practices.

the research i've done has provided only polar opposite views, either jw is the way or it's a cult and it's wrong.

Texasbred

thanks for all the kind responses.

Does anyone have any websites they can recommend so I can better understand the Jehovah's Witness philosophy?

I've found "watchtower.org" and "watchtower.observer.org" , but they are diametricly opposed in viewpoints. I'd like something a little more objective.

and thanks again for the replies ....

16

Just looking for answers.

by Texasbred in

jw
friends

unfortunately, i'm not quite sure what my questions are.

my first post was in the "dating..." forum, if anyone's interested.. the biggest problem i have is my complete ignorance concerning jw's and their beliefs/ practices.

the research i've done has provided only polar opposite views, either jw is the way or it's a cult and it's wrong.

Texasbred

Unfortunately, I'm not quite sure what my questions are. :)

My first post was in the "Dating..." forum, if anyone's interested.

The biggest problem I have is my complete ignorance concerning JW's and their beliefs/ practices. The research I've done has provided only polar opposite views, either JW is THE way or it's a cult and it's wrong. Without a balanced, objective view it's tough for me to make conclusions.

A bit of background:
Up until a few years ago, the only thing I knew about Jehovah's Witness were the early morning knocks on the door and Micheal Jackson. And the whole thing seemed a little humourous to me.
2 years ago, I lived literally a block away from a Kingdom Hall... and even then, I had NO knowledge of anything concerning the JW's. I was raised Lutheran, and have since modified my beliefs based on my upbringing, study, and conversations with religious scholars.

Then I meet a beautiful, funny, and intelligent young woman and I find out she's a Witness. In fact, it we were having coffee on Christmas eve, and when she told me her family doesn't celebrate Christmas, I jokingly asked, "what...are you Jehovah's Witness?" To which she replied, "Yes." My joke didn't seem so funny anymore.

Now, we have a great relationship, and for the first time I've met someone who I truly enjoy spending time with... and conversing with ... and other activites ;)

My main issue with her being a JW is that if anyone found out about her relationship with me, she would be disfellowshipped immediately. So out of fear of rejection, she lies to her parents and her church... and I don't see ANYTHING about our relationship that she should be ashamed of or lie about. Having been raised in a church whose main philosophy preached "grace" and "forgiveness" , it seems foreign to me that 'scare' tactics would be used to make her feel bad about the loving relationship we have.

My conflict is this: Do I try and change her? Can I expect her to risk family alienation, because I don't believe what she is being taught? Wouldn't that be a bit self-serving and egotistical of me? ..... but at the same time, how do I show her that God will always love her and accept her, and she SHOULDN'T be ashamed for dating someone who cares about her also?

This is all a little new to me ... so please forgive me if I've mis-stated anything. and thanks.

2

Advise.

by Texasbred in

i'm not really sure where to go with this, but i stumbled across this site.... and it seems like as good a place as any..... anyway, i've recently begun dating a jehovah's witness woman, and after educating myself on the religion, i'm a bit disturbed.

i've searched information provided by the watchtower and by anti-jw's, and i realize that problems will arise in the future.. i've read the "official" stance on interfaith marriages and relationships is one of "tolerance and respect" .... but what are the "actual" views within the church?.

the bottom line is: i really like this woman and she doesn't seem "fanatical" about being a jw (ie.

Texasbred

I'm not really sure where to go with this, but I stumbled across this site.... and it seems like as good a place as any....

anyway, I've recently begun dating a Jehovah's Witness woman, and after educating myself on the religion, I'm a bit disturbed. I've searched information provided by the Watchtower AND by anti-JW's, and I realize that problems will arise in the future.

I've read the "official" stance on interfaith marriages and relationships is one of "tolerance and respect" .... but what are the "actual" views within the church?

the bottom line is: I really like this woman and she doesn't seem "fanatical" about being a JW (ie. we've had sex, she smokes, she's been drunk before) .... but I don't want OTHER people's views to get in the way of our relationship. any advice?