Jehovah's Witnesses - New Rochelle,NY

Frankly, I hope that I don't offend you with my answer. This religion really bothers me simply because of how pushy these folks tend to be. I HATE it when they stop at my house. They don't seem to be able to take a simple "No thank you...I am not interested". I totally respect anyone's right to whatever religion they choose. However, I wish these same people would respect my right NOT to practice their religion.

A high school friend of mine grew up JW. He now is adamently against it and calls it a cult. THat is about the extent of my knowledge of the religion. He feels very strongly that kids birthdays should be celebrated as their lives are worth celebrating at least once a year. He feels he missed out on important celebrations and holiday traditions. As a child he had to try and educate and convert other adults to JW. What a terrible thing to ask a child to do. WHat an awkward position to put the child in. There are many many other things he has to say about JW but I think the other mom's have pretty much covered it.

I don't know any personally, but I have met some from time to time. The ones that I have met were very nice and I respect them. I'm not religious, but have never felt threatened by one approaching me. Even when I tell them I'm not a believer they have shown respect for my decision. I even remember that a few years ago it was a really hot summer day and I offered him a drink. We sat on the front steps and talked about non-religious things while he rested and cooled down. Very nice, sweet man. :)

Fortunately, they dont really come around our area anymore. My girlfriend was a jehovah witness until she was in her early 20's. She regrets her father forcing her into it. She was not allowed to celebrate bdays, halloween, christmas, go to fairs, wear makeup, date. They were very strict. She hated her childhood for that reason. She feels that they were brainwashing people. I can only go by what she tells me. It sounds a little cult like to me :(

My ex boyfriend was JW, and I am not, he was banned from seeing me (he was 24!) but he kept seeing me anyway and was banished from the church, his parents were not allowed to speak to him, and he was thrown out of his house and made homeless.
The stuff he told me that they would make him do was mind boggling, he was a very weird person, and his family was incredibly weird, put me off them for life, totally intolerant people.
When I eventually left him he stabbed himself in the chest with a bread knife in front of me, it just seemed like his upbringing had affected him mentally.

My best friend's husband feels his childhood was ruined by the JW religion. He couldn't celebrate ANYTHING. And even to this day, he is uncomfortable with celebrations, even though he'd really like to enjoy them. He feels like when he went away to school after high school he was able to escape and thanks God every day that he was able to. He believes it is akin to a cult.

Sorry to offend, but I know several people raised as JWs and they all hated it and still hate it and it drove them away from any religion or spiritual persuasion. It's a droll and non-celebratory practice that is not what I think God finds pleasing at all.

So are you baptized? Are you a devout JW? I personally despise this 'religion'. My MIL is a JW & my 2 twin SIL's are not anymore after 20 years. One got disfellowshipped by the Elders for not repenting on having premarital sex with her husband, so as you know her mother cannot speak to her (it's been 10 yrs). The other SIL slipped away quietly but the Elders pushed her into a corner after seeing a Christmas Tree in her window & threatened to disfellowship her. She had an attorney write a letter to the Elders saying that if they disfellowshipped her she would go to the media about *things* she witnessed in the congregation. Needless to say they left her alone.

Now what upsets me a great deal is that my MIL still has a relationship with her 1 daughter because she was not disfellowshipped BUT she purposely turns a blind eye to the fact that her daughter is celebrating all holidays, living with her boyfriend (premarital sex), & has been attending a presbyterian church. She is not suppose to look the other way, just because her daughter was not disfellowshipped she is suppose to still uphold 'Jehovas' laws.

A lot of my tenants are JW's. I also read that many mentally disabled people are JW's. Not sure if that's true or not, read it on the internet. But the majority of my tenants are mentally challenged, so it seems it might be true.
They are nice people tho.
I'm a Christian, I don't argue with them about their beliefs, but some of their beliefs are blatantly not biblical.

My grandmother married a guy that was a JW. I remember he took offense that I made a sign and hung it on my door (I did this long before he came along) it says I already have a (insert your product here) and am already a member of (insert your religon/church here). He thought it was aimed at his religion, but really it was to all of them. I've had pushy people from Mormons to baptist, all sorts. I told him that and he got over it, but I am SO not his favorite. :) then he changed to my grandmas religon so the could get married, go figure.

I so appreciate your question. The Witnesses are a cult. If you are seeking the "truth", find a Bible preaching and teaching church. Specific religion is not so important as having a personal relationship with God through Christ and fellowshipping with the body of believers (ie - hanging out with like minded people). Not just for the sake of hanging out but for the sake of showing the world your faith through your personal actions at home, at your job and in the world at large.

Find a place of worship where the Bible is loved and taught and you and your family can but supported and nurtured in the faith. God Bless you.

C.:

My best friend is a Jehovah's Witness.

Like any other religion - it has it's issues. they do not celebrate birthdays.
Nor do they celebrate Christmas. But like you - I respect it.

They have values to uphold and expect their members to follow the rules. I do not like that some cannot respect the "NO SOLICITING" signs of homes. But hey - how many do?

I would do research. Attend meetings. ASK QUESTIONS!!

This is so funny. I was just going to ask something about JWS today. I have had two come to my door. I have a sign up in my window that says no solicting..I buy nothing from my door. Even religion. I opened one time and I got the brochure. I had screaming children so talking was not possible.

I am not looking to change my religion. I just like to know what i am talking about when it comes to stuff.

I will add they are always very respectable. When we lived in an apt they came every week. They always had nice words to lay on my shoulders. regardless of the time i never could give them.

C., I am not sure how the Jehovah's Witnesses worship privately, I only know a very little about the specific beliefs. I don't care what someone else believes or want to dictate that. I don't agree with the little I know of this faith's beliefs, but how someone worships in private is not my business.

That said, selling God door to door as if he were a box of girl scout cookies is very presumptuous. God is for everyone, no one else has the authority to give God to others. I also dislike their messages of negativity. They always start with something like, "You must be wondering in times like this, why God has allowed suffering in the world..." Um, no. Maybe the Jehovah's Witnesses have those kinds of doubts, but I don't. Things are the way they are, and they are the way they are meant to be even if they are not pleasant. No one should presume to know what I am thinking or what I believe.

If this faith leaves you feeling spiritually fulfilled, then that is all that should matter for you.

Amen, Tracy!! I've had them literally try to push their way into my house past me.

With that said, it's easy enough to practice a religion without being a jerk about it. I'm assuming you have respect for their beliefs, and have no intentions of being that kind of person. You might do a quick google search for groups in your area. I'm sure there are lots of people who believe what you do to fellowship with. You might find a church that you like, too

I am not a Jehovah's Witness. I feel everyone is entitled to choose their religion. That's what this country was founded on. I do my best to respect the beliefs of others. I'm okay with a Jehovah Witness or anybody else.

However, If someone comes to my door and I tell them, "no thank you. I have a religion I am happy with" then I feel my choice should be respected as well. I don't mind someone wanting to share something they love, but I would appreciate them requesting my permission to share...... and if I say I already am happy in my beliefs and un-interested..... then I find it incredibly rude and presumptuous if they try to still give me literature or convince me. I also am offended if they ask about my neighbors because they are "targeting" a certain community.

So...... no problem with religion, but sometimes I've got a problem with people trying to push their beliefs on to me.

I dislike this religion as I do other organized religions. I see this as an extreme sect and possible cult - as I do with all fundamentalists groups. I find it disrespectful and morally depraved to go door to door selling religion, hoping to meet a weak and saddened individual to clutch up and get them to join.

I also find not celebrating the day of your birth is a sad and unnatural thing, as well as not celebrating any holiday - commercialized or loosely religious based.

It is a cult.
Catholic and Lutheran are religions, etc..
Funny, I saw them walking in my neighborhood Saturday and was thinking I wish they would come back to my house.
I'd like to inform them of the grievous misunderstanding they have of what it means to be a Christian...
I don't like confrontation and just wanted them to go away. :(
One day...

Kimba summed up my feelings exactly. :)

I have talked with some JWs at length. I am not offeneded when they come by, I am happy to talk to anyone who wants to discuss the things of God. I do think I make them uncomfortable though!! I have some fundamental differences with the ideas put forth in the religion and it doesn't bother me to discuss it. I have had some friends who were also JWs but we just talked and then left it be as some things just can't be seen eye to eye at times. If you want to PM and talk more, that's great :D

I do not like the door to door stuff ... for any religious group.

I have met some nice ones, but , they are pretty pushy and I don't like that, I don't need them arguing with me on religion, I have a couple of friends that were raised in that orginization and really rebelled and despise it, but it is a free country and everyone has their right to opinions...

To many people associate JW with door-to-door selling! LOL
ALL religions are encouraged to share their faith and witness to others.

Hi C.,

The Witnesses are objectionable to me for one reason: they are pushy about their religion. There are plenty of religions out there that don't force their members to go door to door recruiting other members.
I would suggest reading Sam Harris' book, "Letter to a Christian Nation"
before joining any organized religion.

i respect their discipline, devotion and piety. i don't care for their fundamentalism and proselytization. i think walking one's talk is a far better demonstrator of one's faith than forcing one's opinions on others.
it's been years since any showed up at my door. i enjoy talking about religion, so i'd probably invite 'em in if they showed up. the last time the mormon home teachers came by, they stayed only until we got around to discussing my religious beliefs. the husband took a closer look at my bookshelves, then pulled his wife to her feet and announced that they were leaving, and haven't been back. it's a pity. i was raised mormon, most of my relatives are mormons, and i really like mormons (despite my grave reservations about the church itself.)
khairete
S.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah%27s_Witnesses

This article might help you learn about what the teachings/background/history of the religion are.

I personally feel there is less "truth" in Jehovah's Witness religion than there is in other forms of Christianity, but that is just my opinion. And it doesn't mean that I think JWs are bad people.... I just don't agree with their beliefs.

My sister became a Witness after her first child was stillborn. It brought her great comfort to learn about Christ and study the bible. She left the congregation for some time. Her husband divorced her and she got dis-fellowshipped over it. She worked with a person from her congregation in a grocery store, they were both checkers. If she needed to get a roll of coins or change out money with the other person they would go to the manager and tell them that my sister was talking to them and it was not allowed. My sister eventually quit working there and moved away to another town.

She is currently married to a very devout Baptist man and feels very much that religion comes between them. He drives the bus every Sunday morning and afterwards takes the people home, he used to go play guitar and sing at nursing homes on Sunday, he is all round a great guy but their differences in their beliefs tears at them.

So, if you do go back to the Witness congregation then don't date outside of your religion. If you are married make sure your spouse is 100% comfortable with your attendance of the meetings and the tracting.

Growing up my grandmother was a Jehovahks Witness. I to did not understand it much when I was a child. I have attended many different churches as you will. I know that is not you call it. (The Kingdom Hall) I respect anyone who choses any religion and hope they do the same for me. It can be a touchy subject. I feel if you are in a good place then that is where you should be. I choose not to continue on with this religion and returned back to being a Catholic. This is were I started as a child but living in my grandmothers home from time to time, I had to follow her rules. I am happy that I was able to experience many different religions and now I have a better respect and understanding for others. I am comfortable in my place as a catholic and hope others are too happy in there choice. If that is the way you feel, then good for you. If not, its not a bad thing to explore others. I do hope you find that place if you haven't. :)