Question regarding Jehovah Witnesses beliefs?

Hi,

I would advise against coming over as anti-JW when talking with your son. As he is newly committed to the group, he will be far more likely to shun you if you are too outspoken against the Watchtower Society's ideology. Early on in their indoctrination, members are instructed about how to deal with dissenting family and friends. Hostility will only be taken as further proof that he has found 'The Truth'. The softly-softly approach works far better to avoid any risk of family breakdown.

Below are a couple of great books that will help you to better understand the Watchtower Society and its JW membership. I wouldn't recommend that you tackle your son on his Watchtower beliefs until you've read these books:

'Combatting Cult Mind Control' by Steven Hassan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combatting_Cult_Mind_...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Combatting-Cult-Mind-Contr...

'Crisis of Conscience' by Raymond Franz

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crisis_of_Conscience

http://www.commentarypress.com/Publication/English...

Good luck.

My encouragement would be to study and learn what he has learned. Someone has already provided the link to our site, but I'd ask your son for a copy of What does the Bible Teach book and read it yourself. That way you understand his view point. Stephen Covey (7 Habits of Highly Effective People) says "Seek first to understand, then be understood". That's what I do with my children's secular education. I don't always (no...I rarely) agree w/their teachers or their style but I've found that allowing myself to have an open mind and try to understand the "new math, new science etc." they are being taught gets me a lot further than trying to tell them what and how I was taught. It's a little different with religion because it's our personal relationship with God that's being put in question. If I may suggest, when you feel strongly about a particular issue or conviction, pause and ask yourself why?. Is it a biblical supported objection or is it emotional/traditional? If it's the later then allow yourself and ask that he allow you a little time to embrace the new concept or new understanding, pray about it and then realize that your son has chosen to make some difficult life changes and wouldn't have if he didn't feel strongly about what he's learned/learning. Also, be very proud that you raised a man that is aware that he needs God (Matthew 5:3) so much so that he'd risk the belief system he was raised with- no doubt you prayed to God that he would be.

My in-laws are non-denominational as well, and we've found that they've been very open to the changes we've made in our lives as long as we explain according to what we've learned from the bible and give them the opportunity to absorb and respond. In fact, my mil although not accepting of a study (yet) uses several of the topics and scrips from our Young People Ask book to help her youth group.

Hi. I started studying to be a Jehovah's Witness when I was 15 years old. My family is not Jehovah's Witnesses. We are encouraged to love and respect our family members. My battle was that my mother was not happy with my choice and constantly tried to persuade me against it. She did not support me and it hurt my heart very badly. I still talk to my family and I have dinner with them regularly. (I am married and am 28 years old now.) I love my mom and my dad and I see them as often as I can. My mom has grown to accept what I have chosen. I just encourage you if you can not to be resentful and say hurtful things to them. I was never told not to talk to my parents. Though I felt my mother was pushing me away ... eventually after a few years she became more kind to me. Your son should not push you away if you do not push him away. In the end my mother said she was happy I chose to live a high moral life style even though she is not a witness she sees how much I have avoided in life. If you love your son, as I know you do, you may see the positive in what he is doing rather than the negative. We want our family to love us and support us and we will never turn our parents away. We just do not attend holiday gatherings or things that do not support our beliefs, but you can have dinner together or get togethers, picnics.. whatever you like. Jesus provides what has become a famous rule of conduct, commonly called the Golden Rule. He says: “All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must likewise do to them.” Living by this rule involves positive action in doing good to others, treating them as you want to be treated.

Completely cutting off your family is not a bible doctrine, and we are not influenced to do that. The bible tells us to honor your father and mother. That is not with stipulations as to faith.

The term worldly is not unique to jehovahs witnesses. It simply employs the idea that thoughts, traditions and beliefs and philosophies that don't stem from or are in opposition to God and his word have a different source than god. We are all sinners and need jehovahs forgiveness. We don't think were perfect:-).

Some are under the notion that our lives and minds are controlled. To the contrary we are simply taught to look for ways and opportunities to apply Gods principles from the bible, to develop godly qualities, and to show love for others, especially through our ministry.

I don't know what you've taught your son so I can't say what beliefs he has or once had that may change. However his doing what John 17:3 tells us to do is bound to change him for the better because following Gods instructions is the best thing for him to do to be successful.

For more information go to www.jw.org our official website, go to about us and frequently asked questions. This should prove informative, and give you a better idea of what we believe. Discuss your concerns with your son. This may help to allay some of your fears. Rest assured, its not that he doesn't love you its just that he's growing in love for Jehovah and his ways.

No, my adoptive grandfather's children as JW and they visit every week. They are friendly to my Christian family aswell, they even know I'm an atheist and they always greet with a warm smile. lol

I disagree with JW completly though.

Freddie, your son just as with any other life decisions he has made, will most likely be respectful and unyielding. Teachings at the Kingdom Hall follow what is taught in the bible and not traditions or customs taught by friends and family. We are taught to refer to scriptural facts and to verify things by using the bible. 2 Tim 3:16,17 states that "all scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, reproving, for setting things strait, for disciplining in righteousness, so the man of God may be fully competent and equipped for every good work". It also states in 2Pe 1:20 that "no prophecy of scripture springs from any private interpretation" so should not all who believe in the bible and are directed by its words be in accordance? So, your son may very well exclude himself from certain family functions, as well as functions among friends/ coworkers, but know that this is actually out of respect for all parties and more importantly out of his love for Jehovah God.

And also, we are all born sinners, its with accurate knowledge that we learn how to minimize behaviors which are unacceptable by God and gain everlasting life (1Tim 2:4).

JW.org

I think it all depends on ALL the people concerned. I think if you make a HUGE issue out of it he is more likely to talk himself deeper and deeper in to it in order to defend his choice.

I believe as with ALL religions there are deeper aspects to them and lighter ones.

I'd play it cool and see how it goes. It could be that he is trying it on to see how it fits. He might not get on with it if you leave him alone to find out. I don't think they would be telling him to ditch his family. They might actually see you as a test.

First of all, Watchtower is a cult and depending on how educated your son is this will play a role to what degree he allow himself to be manipulated by them.

To JWs you will be destroyed at ever nearing Armageddon unless you become a JW which you may often find your son try to encourage you to come to his meetings. JWs will never tell you that unless pressed and then they will try to use scriptures to support their idea without telling you this outright.

Also depending if your some got baptized or if he's just studying with JWs - two different things. For information on JWs see www.jwfacts.com. The site is dedicated to Watchtower history and changes and scandals over the last 130 years. You will find the information very useful. It does sound that he is only studying so you still may have a chance of helping him see what he's getting involved with. Also, one of the early fear tactics used by JWs on your son would be that they told him that Satan will test him and will try to stop him from studying with them or pursuing Jehovah (God's name in Old Testament). So you have to be careful how you present information to him so the cult mentality doesn't overtake him which will stop him from listening to what you have to say. Often deep questions requiring research may be a good idea to get him thinking outside of cult persona.

I would encourage you to also visit anti-cult web sites such as

http://freedomofmind.com/

http://www.icsahome.com/

who specialize in helping exposing cults and helping free members from cults. No all cults are like Charles Manson of Jones Town but there are many like Watchtower that control people's behavior, emotions and information and use guilt and fear to keep members in. As you learn more about cult practices you'll see similarities to changes in your son's life. Obviously cult members NEVER think they are in a cult and will argue that they know better because they are living JW so you should be asking them and not take advise from me.

Other good sites where you may find more info on Watchower are:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/ (forum, you can ask anything you want and people will try to help)

http://www.freeminds.org/ - many articles you might benefit from

The answer is tricky.

The Jehovah Witness leaders only command their followers to shun those that leave the cult. For other non-Witness members they don't outright say to avoid contact, but they give leading expressions that label all non-Witness members as being blinded by Satan and that they will only find contact with fellow Witnesses as upbuilding.

The scripture "bad associations spoil useful habits" is used against ALL non-Witnesses. They don't come right out and say to shun family, but the further a member gets into the Witness cult, the more he will pull away from his biological family.

If he is a recent convert, I'd suggest reading the book "Combatting Cult Mind Control" for tips on how talk to him and avoid cult personality triggers that will drive a wedge between you two.

NO, please do not think that, you see, that is what happens when you listen to people that not informed about us!

I was bought up catholic, and my parents still are, I became one of JW's 25 years ago and see my parents all the time, in fact I have a better relationship now than before.............it is so untrue, in fact we are encouraged to show respect and honour to our parents!

Please email if you need to chat about anything else!

Please ignore the ones that say "maybe" and the 2 others that just insult us, they are haters of us and are trying to deceive you!