Question about Jehovah's Witnesses

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yellowbird said:
Sad but true.

You are so right - they are obligated to try to convert… perhaps I’m foolish to think the grandpa’s love for the little boy would trump that?

😦
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The grandfather’s love is the reason he would want to convert the boy all that much more.
 
My husband’s Uncle married a woman who is a JW. At first they would come to Christmas celebration for an hour or 2 in the afternoon. Now they don’t come at all. (He is not a JW, but just “supporting his wife.” They have in essence shut themselves off from the family. Is that shunning. Anyways Grandpa just passed away, and Uncle has been sort of reconnecting with family a little. The Wife asked for the other siblings to come over to their house… so she could present the JW material. Needless to say, she was declined.

My family has a similar problem with a Mormon cousin of mine, (Grandma is a devote Catholic, one of those when you walk into her house, there is the giant rosary on the wall and holy water fonts in each room, etc.). Cousin left grandma the Book of Mormon after the death of grandpa. :mad:
 
jilly4ski said:
My husband’s Uncle married a woman who is a JW. At first they would come to Christmas celebration for an hour or 2 in the afternoon. Now they don’t come at all. (He is not a JW, but just “supporting his wife.” They have in essence shut themselves off from the family. Is that shunning. Anyways Grandpa just passed away, and Uncle has been sort of reconnecting with family a little. The Wife asked for the other siblings to come over to their house… so she could present the JW material. Needless to say, she was declined.

My family has a similar problem with a Mormon cousin of mine, (Grandma is a devote Catholic, one of those when you walk into her house, there is the giant rosary on the wall and holy water fonts in each room, etc.). Cousin left grandma the Book of Mormon after the death of grandpa. :mad:
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This sounds like you are starting a good joke…

Once-apon-a-time there was a Morman, a Catholic, and a JW…:rotfl:
 
Shannon9791 said:
I have been told by my wife I am not to engage in debate with FIL unless he specifically says something to me regarding the Church, then it’s open season. My main concern is that they would begin shunning us because we’re not JW. It would crush my little guy.
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Hi Shannon.
I am a JW. I have plenty of family who are not. No problem. I appreciate they believe other things - so i am cautious on what I bring up around them for fear they think I’m trying to “Bible bash” them, (though i would love them to ask me questions.)

The “shunning” (disfellowshipped) thing is only applied to baptised JW’s who have commited some serious sin and are not repentant. (Usually fornication) So you would need to study, get baptised as a JW and then do something pretty unacceptable to get shunned by them.

There are alot of misconceptions about jehovah’s Witnesses.- so feel free to ask away. But be careful of what ex-JW’s will tell you. They often have an axe to grind and can be very anti the religion that disciplined them or that they left in a huff.

Your family would probably be happy to explain it to you, but I understand if you are not allowed to talk to them about it. Reigion can be a very touchy subject. 😉
(you could always ask for a free Bible study and find out what they are on about (here’s hoping - ha:D))

I hope that helps,
All the best,

Regardless.
 
Regardless said:
Hi Shannon.
I am a JW. I have plenty of family who are not. No problem. **I appreciate they believe other things **- so i am cautious on what I bring up around them for fear they think I’m trying to “Bible bash” them, (though i would love them to ask me questions.)
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Greetings regardless,

Can you tell me what you mean when you say **"I appreciate they believe other things” **? What do you mean by “appreciate”? :confused:

Peace!!
 
adf417 said:
Greetings regardless,

Can you tell me what you mean when you say **"I appreciate they believe other things” **? What do you mean by “appreciate”? :confused:

Peace!!
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Hi.
Appreciate = Understand. Accept. Realise.
🙂
 
adf417 said:
Thanks for clarifying.

Does that mean that you, as a JW, understand, accept, realize that I, as a Catholic, do not worship Mary?

More Peace!!
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If you say so, I believe you. Bravo. Matt 4:10.

I was replying to Shannons family concerns however, and was not accusing anyone of mary worship.

Peace to you my friend. 👍
 
Regardless said:
If you say so, I believe you. Bravo. Matt 4:10.

I was replying to Shannons family concerns however, and was not accusing anyone of mary worship.

Peace to you my friend. 👍
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Regardless I don’t, in anyway, mean to sound like I am attacking but your words sound a little confusing to me and maybe others that have/will read this thread. If I have been spreading untruths about JW’s I apologize and want to stop. But sense Shannon asked, I’m sure she and others are due the full truth.

It has been my understanding, from my JW family members and watchtower.org, that the Watchtower organization teaches that Catholics worship Mary, the flag, & other icons. “…such as processions, were integrated into Mary worship. (Acts 19:35) Another practice that crept into Christian teaching was the use of images of Mary and others in worship – watchtower.org. From a section on “Should We Invoke “Saints”?..* “Prayer,” says The World Book Encyclopedia, “refers to reverent words and thoughts directed toward God, gods, goddesses, or other objects of worship. . . . Prayer is an important form of worship in nearly all the religions in the world.” – watchtower.org*.

If this is not your personal belief, then that’s another thread altogether. But if it is, in fact, your personal belief, then I couldn’t help but be a bit shocked at your statement.

You see, this has been a very big issue in my own family, as it may become in Shannon’s at some time. Issue not being “how to get my family to believe what I believe”, but rather understanding, realizing, accepting that what I say my beliefs are is what they are. My JW family will not accept my beliefs as my beliefs and are very quick to tell me what my actual beliefs are.

So I hope you can understand my confusion by your statement.

Peace squared!!!
 
Regardless said:
But be careful of what ex-JW’s will tell you. They often have an axe to grind and can be very anti the religion that disciplined them or that they left in a huff.
.
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I think this is often true of people in general who become disallutioned by something they thought was true, but later found out was not. I can tell you that one of the saddest times in my life was when I realized the JWs were wrong. My issue was their claiming to speak for Jehovah (His mouthpiece) but yet throughout history they were wrong. The generation did not pass away, million living did indeed die etc. I have been able to read all of the actual WT documents online and based on the verse in Deut about false prophets, I had to finally accept they did not speak for Jehovah at all. They were clearly not the faithful and discreet slave … 😦

I don’t have an ax to grind at all. I loved my brothers and sisters… loved my elders. LOVED going to the assemblies and district conventions. But all of that didn’t make their teachings correct. Since clearly Jehovah was not directing their path, it became just another man-made religion. I had no choice but to walk away.

I still believed that Jehovah - a God of order and not of confusion must have a “Church” - or a group He does direct. Fast forward all these years and I’m happy to say that I no longer attend a church founded by men - (Charles T. Russel or anyone else) - I am a member of a Church founded by Jesus Christ.
 
adf417 said:
Regardless I don’t, in anyway, mean to sound like I am attacking but your words sound a little confusing to me and maybe others …

It has been my understanding, from my JW family members and watchtower.org, that the Watchtower organization teaches that Catholics worship Mary, the flag, & other icons. …

You see, this has been a very big issue in my own family, as it may become in Shannon’s at some time…
…
Peace squared!!!
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Well sure - there will be things that differ between religions that the other will not feel comfortable getting involved in. While I appreciate my familys beliefs, there are some things they do I won’t get involved in. Christmas for example.

It sounds like you don’t consider how you view Mary as worship, but your JW family do. I’m sorry if they are quick to criticize you.
I believe people have to be very tactful when someone has strong beliefs they think are incorrect. It can easily get heated. Especially if it is someone they love and they think it is an important issue. :o

However Shannon seems concerned his family will now stop talking to or visiting him because he is not a JW. That is certainly not a JW policy.

Peace fully! 😃
 
yellowbird said:
I think this is often true of people in general who become disallutioned by something they thought was true, but later found out was not. …

I still believed that Jehovah - a God of order and not of confusion must have a “Church” - or a group He does direct. … I am a member of a Church founded by Jesus Christ.
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Sure. I was careful to use the word “often” about having an axe to grind. (Not “always” or “usually”.)
I’ve had my faith tested on similar issues to you. I have researched and thought long and hard about changes the JW’s have made to their beliefs over the decades.

I certainly agree with your last statement about “Jehovah must have a group He directs.”
👍
I pray he blesses your studies brother, and remember the congregation is always there if you feel you need to return. 🙂
 
Regardless said:
Well sure - there will be things that differ between religions that the other will not feel comfortable getting involved in. While I appreciate my familys beliefs, there are some things they do I won’t get involved in. Christmas for example.

It sounds like you don’t consider how you view Mary as worship, but your JW family do. I’m sorry if they are quick to criticize you.
I believe people have to be very tactful when someone has strong beliefs they think are incorrect. It can easily get heated. Especially if it is someone they love and they think it is an important issue. :o

However Shannon seems concerned his family will now stop talking to or visiting him because he is not a JW. That is certainly not a JW policy.

Peace fully! 😃
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Shannon is also concerned about “the little guy” now and in the future. My personal experience w/ my “little girl” shows how they (my JW family) would go behind my back, in times when I needed them most, and confuse her beliefs and try to impose their doctrine on a vulnerable young person. Confusion/propaganda is the issue especially when it comes to the “little ones”.

Since I’m still confused, :confused: are you saying the Watchtower does not teach that Catholics worship Mary? It seems to be plastered all over the Watchtower website (a little more subtle these days), all publications I have read, and every JW (except you) I’ve been in contact with.

There are other topics of confusion that could be discussed to that would go directly to the OP, I just arbitrarily chose “Mary worship”.

Peace a-la-mode!!:curtsey:
 
Regardless,
I’ve got to say, I really liked your tone and respectfulness that you have displayed on these posts. It’s refreshing to see.👍
 
Regardless said:
I certainly agree with your last statement about “Jehovah must have a group He directs.”
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I would be interested to hear, Regardless, about how you are able rationalize this statement when Christ promised that the Holy Spirit would guide His Church into all truth?
 
adf417 said:
…
Since I’m still confused, :confused: are you saying the Watchtower does not teach that Catholics worship Mary? …
There are other topics of confusion that could be discussed to that would go directly to the OP, I just arbitrarily chose “Mary worship”.
…
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Well you are right. The JW’s do make a stand on the subject. Here is an example on the official website.
watchtower.org/e/20050908a/article_01.htm

I agree with what is said there.

I know the excuse is made that it is not “worship” but “veneration”. Similarly I have heard ones insist their statues are not idols but “aids in worship”, and that a flag salute is not considered worship by them.

The big issue is of course: “How does God view them?”

We can examine the scriptures on the subject, meditate and reason on the principles involved and examining our conscience – but in the end, if one believes God disapproves and another believes He is fine with it – what can we do but disagree? 🤷

Don’t forget the Peace! 🙂
 
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