Catholic guy dating a JW girl.. Please help..

[St_Donatus]

I really think that is wishful thinking re. her or any JW studying any other religion much less Catholicism. This is a cult. Their thinking on Christ is wacky. Anything you say as a Catholic is seen as coming from Satan so there is no conversation. Either she’ll have it her way or he’ll get the silent treatment and whatever else can be used to make him heel.

Thanks. You are correct. Jehovah’s Witnesses are not allowed to even read any religious material other than that of JWs. (My thinking is that if it is the true religion, its beliefs should stand up under scrutiny.) And yes, they view them as coming from Satan. She would not allow any kind of religious service by Catholics. There might be a way to do it without a religious service on her part but she would still have to agree in writing which also might cause a problem.

Your point about using whatever will make me ‘heel’ is very true. As I mentioned in a previous post, I know at least three Catholics who considered themselves strong Catholics that after many years of constant pressure from their wives, gave in. They use your deep love for your wife as a tool to bring you in. The fact that she can’t spend time with your friends, but you can spend time with hers (JWs), makes it so the only social contact you have as a family is JWs. The big vacation every year is to the ‘Convention’ which bombards you with JW propaganda. After years of this, they finally give in.

Part of the problem is also that many priests and bishops have taken up modernism and a ‘worldly’ attitude in which they find it a good thing to be immersed in the media saturated world, where everything is okay as long as it feels good. Catholics get a fifteen minute sermon about what is right and wrong and 20 hours of the media telling you that immorality is not only okay but benefitial. Other times the message is mixed, one priest says that every one who is nice goes to heaven while the Bible tells them that God has specific standards of what is required, and just being nice is not enough. They go to the Kingdom Hall and they are given definite answers. People like certainty. It is a very strong draw. The Catholic Church has the truth but so many take it for granted and live the faith for one hour on Sunday but forget about God the rest of the week. Jehovahs Witnesses are forced to make their ‘Jehovah’ god their life.

I go to a Latin Mass church that has very strong messages of what is right and wrong. They also have many social functions to help crowd out the immoral media. When I go to mass, I can feel God there. I am not saying that the Latin mass is for everyone but the very reverent style of the mass, the very strong moral messages, and the social functions help clear my mind of the poison that this the devil produces. It is this that has drawn me back to the Catholic Church despite the many difficulties it is causing.

 

[CatholicSparty]

I used to work for a JW. There were two other JWs that I worked with. They are crazy. Their “religon” makes no sense. They have a very poor translation of the Bible. If you can call Catholic Answers Live on Thursday. Colin Donavon and jimmy Akin will be on. They can and will answer any question you have. I will be listening and hope to hear you call in.

God bless you and keep you in the Catholic faith all the days of your life.

 

[NonServiam]

Hi! I’m a devout Catholic. I’ve recently dated a girl who is a Jehovah’s Witness. We love each other very much but religion is really a barrier. Just yesterday,she decided to broke up until I can fully understand her faith more - an allusion the she wishes me to study and eventually convert to her faith. We love each other so much but she’s afraid that we can’t make it in married life if we are from different religion. I don’t want to lose her and it seems the only hope is that I know is to attend their bible studies but I don’t think I’ll convert to them. Please help… I need your advices. Thanks alot…

People often say “What’s the harm?” of religion.

Here’s an example: two people who love each other and care for each other, and a real obstacle – that will probably keep them from being together – is religion.

 

[aicirt]

People often say “What’s the harm?” of religion.

Here’s an example: two people who love each other and care for each other, and a real obstacle – that will probably keep them from being together – is religion.

If you believe something is the Truth, it is hard to deny that what you know in your heart.

The same can be said for many other things when deciding if you can spend your life with someone. For example, you are in love with a person but his/her political beliefs are totally different than yours. You are a woman and can’t live in his country where women do not have rights. He has an invalid mother whom he must support and you aren’t willing to make that committment.

 

[Incomplete]

People often say “What’s the harm?” of religion.

Here’s an example: two people who love each other and care for each other, and a real obstacle – that will probably keep them from being together – is religion.

This is not necessarily harm. A lot of people who love each other don’t belong together for secular reasons as well. People can love and care for each other very deeply without being in a marriage (which is what I assume you mean by “being together.”) Salvation … of both people in the relationship … is the most important thing.

 

[NonServiam]

A lot of people who love each other don’t belong together for secular reasons as well.

Certainly, but I’m talking about one particular reason, a reason that strikes me as exceedingly silly.

And I’m not just singling out religion here. People who take their politics so seriously that they could never be in a serious relationship with someone of a different political view are taking their politics far too seriously.

I guess I’m lamenting (figuratively speaking) the fact that two people – who sound like they go well together – are going to be thwarted from being together because of faith-based positions that (to my mind) neither one of them is rationally justified in holding.

It doesn’t have to be.

 

[aicirt]

Certainly, but I’m talking about one particular reason, a reason that strikes me as exceedingly silly.

And I’m not just singling out religion here. People who take their politics so seriously that they could never be in a serious relationship with someone of a different political view are taking their politics far too seriously.

I guess I’m lamenting (figuratively speaking) the fact that two people – who sound like they go well together – are going to be thwarted from being together because of faith-based positions that (to my mind) neither one of them is rationally justified in holding.

It doesn’t have to be.

Know what they say: Should never discuss politics nor religion. Reason being people have very strong beliefs and, if they’re that different, the subject or subjects will destroy the relationship.
Unfortunately, some people don’t know how strong they feel about something until they are challenged then what they didn’t think was important, or judged silly, becomes surprisingly core shattering.

 

[Incomplete]

Certainly, but I’m talking about one particular reason, a reason that strikes me as exceedingly silly.

And I’m not just singling out religion here. People who take their politics so seriously that they could never be in a serious relationship with someone of a different political view are taking their politics far too seriously.

I guess I’m lamenting (figuratively speaking) the fact that two people – who sound like they go well together – are going to be thwarted from being together because of faith-based positions that (to my mind) neither one of them is rationally justified in holding.

It doesn’t have to be.

There may well be reasons that you would not be with someone that others would see as exceedingly silly. Religious beliefs are a lifestyle, not just a statement that we think God does or does not exist. They impact who we are deep inside.

If we are right and you are wrong, in other words, if God does exist, there is nothing silly about putting God first. I do understand that you think belief in God is not rational, but that is your own personal belief. Many highly intelligent people have found belief in God to be very rational.

 

[peace2u2]

I’m willing to study but I will never convert…

You are treading on dangerous water. If I were you, I would tell this girl, whom you seem to love with all your heart, that you are willing to learn about her faith, but she too must be willing to enter into RCIA classes JUST to learn about the Catholic Faith as well if she truly loves you as well. Once RCIA classes end since you will be in study for 3 years at her church, she has to be willing to come with you to Mass once a week and hopefully she would be willing to do a Catholic Bible study. There are many on dvd you two could do together at home.

Also try and read the book by Patrick Madrid, Search and Rescue: How to Bring Your Family and Friends Into or Back Into the Catholic Church

Perhaps God placed this girl and her family in your life to lead them to the Truth and to help save their souls.

Good luck, you are in my prayers

Peace 2U2

 

[Porknpie]

You are treading on dangerous water. If I were you, I would tell this girl, whom you seem to love with all your heart, that you are willing to learn about her faith, **but she too must be willing to enter into RCIA classes **JUST to learn about the Catholic Faith as well if she truly loves you as well. Once RCIA classes end since you will be in study for 3 years at her church, she has to be willing to come with you to Mass once a week and hopefully she would be willing to do a Catholic Bible study. There are many on dvd you two could do together at home.

Also try and read the book by Patrick Madrid, Search and Rescue: How to Bring Your Family and Friends Into or Back Into the Catholic Church

Perhaps God placed this girl and her family in your life to lead them to the Truth and to help save their souls.

Good luck, you are in my prayers

Peace 2U2

Agree 100% (per post #274). If she says “no” to RCIA then say “no” to her, keep looking and keep the faith.

 

[Khalid]

I guess I’m lamenting (figuratively speaking) the fact that two people – who sound like they go well together – are going to be thwarted from being together because of faith-based positions that (to my mind) neither one of them is rationally justified in holding.

Sidestepping the whole “rational justification” issue (although many philosophers of greater stature than either of us have indeed concluded that belief in God is or can be justified by reason, even if a given individual’s belief in God or a specific religion is not), they do have at least warrant for believing in them (i.e. for having religious faith, in the sense of faith being supra-rational, but not anti-rational, but, indeed, not having “rational justification” in the sense that we normally speak of it, but as having justification in the same sense that acceptance of first principles does).

However, the fact that belief can be warranted does not speak to the correctness of one religion or another (as both of the above propositions were well-demonstrated by Alvin Plantinga across his three works, God and Other Minds, Warrant and Proper Function, and Warranted Christian Belief); other factors, such as internal consistency, theological perspective, (in) consistency with the expectations of natural theology, etc. etc. come in to play when attempting to determine the truth-value of any specific religion, and not “religion” or “belief in God” (even if it be Deism) as a universal.

 

[MaryLouItalia]

Saturday I’ve had the chance to see in a Italian catholic tv, the testimony of a married couple formers JW. They were excluded from all family members who are still in that organization. They treat them like plague victims. They thanked the priest that welcomed them in the Church and the great help he’s giving them.
The husband also said about a disassociation made by judicial Committee (to which he belonged) because the man (married) suffered from premature ejaculation, also with
(many) tears of the accused, because of the embarrassing questions to which it was subjected.

Sometimes love is not enough…

 

[St_Donatus]

Hi! I’m a devout Catholic. I’ve recently dated a girl who is a Jehovah’s Witness. We love each other very much but religion is really a barrier. Just yesterday,she decided to broke up until I can fully understand her faith more - an allusion the she wishes me to study and eventually convert to her faith. We love each other so much but she’s afraid that we can’t make it in married life if we are from different religion. I don’t want to lose her and it seems the only hope is that I know is to attend their bible studies but I don’t think I’ll convert to them. Please help… I need your advices. Thanks alot…

I guess, I wanted to make what I think is the major point to jnoelbalana. Jehovah’s Witnesses claim to be guided by Holy Spirit yet their teachings and beliefs have changed completely in the last 100 years. The Catholic Church claims to be guided by Holy Spirit and their major teachings have not changed at all in 2000 years. Does Holy Spirit lie? Then why did Holy Spirit tell JWs one thing 100 years ago yet a completely different thing today? Obviously it wasn’t Holy Spirit guiding them, it was a power hungry man named Charles Taze Russel.

A second point is, the Bible promised that Holy Spirit would guide Gods church and people and that Satan would never overthrow it. The apostles were given that Holy Spirit and guidance, those apostles formed the early Catholic Church. If we are to believe the Bible and God, the Catholic Church has the truth.

The Bible warns that true Christians (Catholics) should never become unevenly yoked to unbelievers. Otherwise, never become romantically involved with unbelievers. God knows what works and what doesn’t. Listen to him; or do you think you know better than God himself? Hopefully not.

 

[ForeverGrace]

This is a hard decision. But Jesus provided a way. Be ye not yoked with unbelievers. JW’s do not believe in the same God as Catholics do, any more than Mormons do. Best to part and allow God to choose your lifelong mate.

 

[St_Donatus]

This is a hard decision. But Jesus provided a way. Be ye not yoked with unbelievers. JW’s do not believe in the same God as Catholics do, any more than Mormons do. Best to part and allow God to choose your lifelong mate.

Good point ForeverGrace,

Let GOD do the choosing. Don’t rely on your own with unreliable emotions guiding you. God will supply you with a lifelong mate that will make you happy.

 

[anjoh66]

I guess, I wanted to make what I think is the major point to jnoelbalana. Jehovah’s Witnesses claim to be guided by Holy Spirit yet their teachings and beliefs have changed completely in the last 100 years. The Catholic Church claims to be guided by Holy Spirit and their major teachings have not changed at all in 2000 years. Does Holy Spirit lie? Then why did Holy Spirit tell JWs one thing 100 years ago yet a completely different thing today? Obviously it wasn’t Holy Spirit guiding them, it was a power hungry man named Charles Taze Russel.

They are very smart and always find an excuse for the changing in their teachings, they call it “new light” and they use this verse to support it.

But the path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established." Proverbs 4:18