Should I Become A Jehovah's Witness?

[David T]

This is something I have been wrestling with since I picked up a Bible and became a believer. For the last 10 years or so I have repeatedly claimed that I would never join an organized religion, and therefore never become a Jehovah's Witness. Am I wrong in thinking that way?

I've attended meetings, and I loathed them. I hated wearing those ugly suits, for what? Who am I trying to impress? Did Jesus tell his disciples to go forth to the second hand store and buy ugly out of style suits smelling slightly of, what is that? Mothballs? Body odor? A three martini lunch? Or spend a ridiculous amount of money on new tailored suits?

I didn't like the repetitious nature of the study material and the rigid schedule of the meetings. I would much rather attend a casual gathering where questions and answers, just unscheduled discussion took place.

Am I being to critical?

I love the idea of going out in service, preaching the good news. I think I would be good at it. Couldn't I do that on my own?

Before becoming a baptized witness first you have to study a book of basic teaching, which takes what, about 6 months? That I've done twice before and enjoyed it. Casual discussion. I know all of the material, but that just makes it easier.

Also, after the study and everything in your life is cleaned of unchristian influences, i.e., drugs, alcohol, spiritism, unclean practices such as homosexuality, adultery, idolatry etc. there is a casual meeting with the Presiding Overseer of the congregation to determine if you are in line with their basic teachings and clear of the aforementioned tom foolery. Could I pass that?

I'm not sure.

Sure. Why not?

It was good enough for this wierdo!!!! He became a JW because he realized yea sex is awesome but respect is important. For sexuality without respect is lame... Prince was a strange cat..... artists. BTW I love his "my guitar weeps" solo for George Harrison tribute. Off the charts incredible and the back story to that.

 

[Earthling]

@RothschildSaxeCoburgGotha -

I think you have your answer from @Deeje. You've indicated that you are in accord with the vast majority of JW beliefs and practices, but that there are some - even if few and small - areas of disagreement. Deeje, who seems to be knowledgeable about her faith community, has indicated that if one is not in 100% agreement with JW teaching, one should not be a Jehovah's Witness.

Well, that isn't entirely accurate. i don't think @Deeje has ever read the Proclaimers book. They have examples of people who were Witnesses over the years who had disagreements. One lady who thought that the vast majority weren't going to heaven when they still taught that was the case. Another colorful character who had brought many, many people into the truth but who was known for his, shall we say, colorful language. Then of course there was the Presiding Overseer I mentioned in my discussion with Deeje, who smoked. And a woman in the local congregation who took 5 years before she could stop Christmas. I asked the Presiding Overseer if it was necessary for me to believe every detail - there are a lot of details - and he said it wasn't necessary, and in fact seemed to think that it would be unusual.

Realistically, is it likely. Like I said, there are lots of details. I think sometimes JW's on forums like these tend to be a little bit more demanding than the average JW, probably because it can get pretty heated and JW's in general tend to over exaggerate their self perceived qualities. I know personally JW's who have been in good standing for decades and they don't agree with everything about the organization. Also I've seen how JW's work to get around certain expectations. Like the husband being the head of the household. C'mon. Put that to the test. It's okay if the husband decides to delegate that responsibility to the wife, and you can bet he will just like any other married couple. She will see to that.

 

[BilliardsBall]

This is something I have been wrestling with since I picked up a Bible and became a believer. For the last 10 years or so I have repeatedly claimed that I would never join an organized religion, and therefore never become a Jehovah's Witness. Am I wrong in thinking that way?

I've attended meetings, and I loathed them. I hated wearing those ugly suits, for what? Who am I trying to impress? Did Jesus tell his disciples to go forth to the second hand store and buy ugly out of style suits smelling slightly of, what is that? Mothballs? Body odor? A three martini lunch? Or spend a ridiculous amount of money on new tailored suits?

I didn't like the repetitious nature of the study material and the rigid schedule of the meetings. I would much rather attend a casual gathering where questions and answers, just unscheduled discussion took place.

Am I being to critical?

I love the idea of going out in service, preaching the good news. I think I would be good at it. Couldn't I do that on my own?

Before becoming a baptized witness first you have to study a book of basic teaching, which takes what, about 6 months? That I've done twice before and enjoyed it. Casual discussion. I know all of the material, but that just makes it easier.

Also, after the study and everything in your life is cleaned of unchristian influences, i.e., drugs, alcohol, spiritism, unclean practices such as homosexuality, adultery, idolatry etc. there is a casual meeting with the Presiding Overseer of the congregation to determine if you are in line with their basic teachings and clear of the aforementioned tom foolery. Could I pass that?

I'm not sure.

Not at all. JW meetings are stilted, boring, UNINSPIRED IMHO. Try a Bible-believing evangelical church and get some life into your life!

 

[74x12]

This is something I have been wrestling with since I picked up a Bible and became a believer. For the last 10 years or so I have repeatedly claimed that I would never join an organized religion, and therefore never become a Jehovah's Witness. Am I wrong in thinking that way?

I've attended meetings, and I loathed them. I hated wearing those ugly suits, for what? Who am I trying to impress? Did Jesus tell his disciples to go forth to the second hand store and buy ugly out of style suits smelling slightly of, what is that? Mothballs? Body odor? A three martini lunch? Or spend a ridiculous amount of money on new tailored suits?

I didn't like the repetitious nature of the study material and the rigid schedule of the meetings. I would much rather attend a casual gathering where questions and answers, just unscheduled discussion took place.

Am I being to critical?

I love the idea of going out in service, preaching the good news. I think I would be good at it. Couldn't I do that on my own?

Before becoming a baptized witness first you have to study a book of basic teaching, which takes what, about 6 months? That I've done twice before and enjoyed it. Casual discussion. I know all of the material, but that just makes it easier.

Also, after the study and everything in your life is cleaned of unchristian influences, i.e., drugs, alcohol, spiritism, unclean practices such as homosexuality, adultery, idolatry etc. there is a casual meeting with the Presiding Overseer of the congregation to determine if you are in line with their basic teachings and clear of the aforementioned tom foolery. Could I pass that?

I'm not sure.

No surprise, I'm going with no. I'm not a rabid anti-JW. I like them as individuals. I think they're mostly decent people.

But the watchtower is untrustworthy. They've made false prophecies in the past and the Jehovah's Witness organization was founded by an apparent freemason.

 

[Earthling]

It was good enough for this wierdo!!!! He became a JW because he realized yea sex is awesome but respect is important. For sexuality without respect is lame... Prince was a strange cat..... artists. BTW I love his "my guitar weeps" solo for George Harrison tribute. Off the charts incredible and the back story to that.
View attachment 23304

I was an admirer of Prince since his album 1999. Before either one of us became associated with the JW's. When he started his study with Larry Graham, I watched him. How he made changes in his life, at least he appeared to. Then I would hear him do something stupid like refusing to play a gig because they had a painting of a dragon in a mural somewhere. Have you read the book or Revelation? Seen The Watchtower's Grand Climax at hand illustrations? Then I would see photographs of him in the local Kingdom hall dressed like a pimp, and think no one else would get away with that.

 

[David T]

I was an admirer of Prince since his album 1999. Before either one of us became associated with the JW's. When he started his study with Larry Graham, I watched him. How he made changes in his life, at least he appeared to. Then I would hear him do something stupid like refusing to play a gig because they had a painting of a dragon in a mural somewhere. Have you read the book or Revelation? Seen The Watchtower's Grand Climax at hand illustrations? Then I would see photographs of him in the local Kingdom hall dressed like a pimp, and think no one else would get away with that.

He is an artist so to balance that religion worked for him. It most certainly doesnt work for all artists. Sinad oconnor is a good example. Dylan tried it but ran out with his hair on fire back in the late 70's.

 

[Earthling]

Not at all. JW meetings are stilted, boring, UNINSPIRED IMHO. Try a Bible-believing evangelical church and get some life into your life!

When I first started attending meetings I was so excited that I would get the opportunity to finally talk to someone about all of the things I was learning and was literally crushed to find out that all they were interested in was what I did for a living. I would mention something I learned and they would look at me like I had pulled a soiled diaper out of my pocket and ceremoniously dropped it on the floor. A blank, almost cautious stare. Of course, you've got to look at it from their perspective, they've been attending these silted, dry as toast meetings for years. I was new and like a crazy person.

When I attended these meetings I didn't feel the spirit of Jehovah, I felt the spirit of a corporate meeting where the big wigs are all terrified of the shareholders. The Governing Body had no spirit, they were concerned about census numbers and money.

On the other hand, I would take that over some crazy frenetic pagan induced hell and brimstone gospel hour. An unqualified life coach with a 200 dollar haircut, pimp suit and all the bling. If I wanted crazy I'd stay at home and watch the Televangelist.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

Should I Become A Jehovah's Witness?

So, this is going to seem completely off topic, but it is something I wondered about the first time I saw your chosen username/handle, and then again when you changed your avatar to the current, humanoid-robot pic you have. "Rothschild" and "SaxeCoburgGotha" are both references to very rich/affluent names/places/dynasties, am I right? Is there any sort of preoccupation with wealth behind this selection or admiration for those names? And with the humanoid robot - in the past your words have expressed what seems to be sincere disdain for science, yet the idealistic robot in your chosen profile picture would seem to be representative of one of the high goals of robotic science.

These seeming contradictions - the (seeming) preoccupation with wealth though Christianity espouses grace with the act of giving what you have and not hoarding it, and the (seeming) disdain for science and yet at the same time embracing some aspect of it, and possibly even being enamored with the idea of earthly immortality that a robotic, humanoid body is sometimes purported to someday in the future be in the offering - are interesting to me. I simply seek to know the truth behind your selections of these as representations of yourself.

 

[Earthling]

He is an artist so to balance that religion worked for him. It most certainly doesnt work for all artists. Sinad oconnor is a good example. Dylan tried it but ran out with his hair on fire back in the late 70's.

Yep. The Beatles. Jeremy Spencer. Cat Stevens had a rough time at first. Alice Cooper. Dave Mustaine. He was raised a Witness and became Christian. I can't understand that. He should have known better. Little Richard. C'mon. Look at all of the celebrities that were Witnesses and became inactive. Dwight Eisenhower, Michael Jackson, The Notorius B.I.G., Naomi Campbell, Janet Jackson. Well, the Jacksons, The Wayans Brothers, Patti Smith, Sherri Shepherd, Jill Scott, Ja Rule, Xzibit, Donald Glover, who became an atheist, Michael Hutchence,

 

[Earthling]

No surprise, I'm going with no. I'm not a rabid anti-JW. I like them as individuals. I think they're mostly decent people.

But the watchtower is untrustworthy. They've made false prophecies in the past and the Jehovah's Witness organization was founded by an apparent freemason.

I respect and admire them. I'm grateful for the tremendous amount of source information their staff has gathered, for the most part. The freemason thing . . . well, C.T. Russell isn't that significant to me really. If you think about it when he died the "Russillites" went one way and the rest went another.

 

[Jim]

I don't know how it is with Jehovah's Witnesses, but when people want to join my religion, I tell them that if it's because they enjoy our company, they'll do much better not joining it.

That's interesting, why, may I ask, would you say that?

Sometimes we aren’t as nice to each other as we are to other people.

 

[crossfire]

I would check out some other forms of Christianity before making the commitment. There is quite a broad range of Christianity, like Quakers and such.

 

[BSM1]

It was good enough for this wierdo!!!! He became a JW because he realized yea sex is awesome but respect is important. For sexuality without respect is lame... Prince was a strange cat..... artists. BTW I love his "my guitar weeps" solo for George Harrison tribute. Off the charts incredible and the back story to that.
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As a side note, up until he died I thought the lyrics of the song was, "raspberry parfait". I always wondered why you would be buying this in a second hand store. Imagine my chagrin....

 

[GoodbyeDave]

I'm a formerly practicing homosexual.

Do you really believe in a god who created you with desires that he then forbad you to practice? You can still be a Christian: Anglican, Lutheran, etc.

That's the dark side of it. Though, it seems to be the norm.

There's a dark side to heterosexuality. I'm not sure that it's the norm, but maybe I've only known respectable homosexuals!

 

[stvdv]

Sometimes we aren’t as nice to each other as we are to other people.

That is very honest, and a good observation. The same was true with the group I belonged to.

My Master even declared "When I am very happy with a group I will send someone who is going to create trouble, just to testhow you handle challenges". And then He continued "And when I am more happy with a group, I will send a couple disturbing the group". This makes perfect sense. Easy to be nice if all is smooth, but when troubles start, then you can really show how good you are in practicing the teachings.

 

[Vee]

This is something I have been wrestling with since I picked up a Bible and became a believer. For the last 10 years or so I have repeatedly claimed that I would never join an organized religion, and therefore never become a Jehovah's Witness. Am I wrong in thinking that way?

If you need to come here and ask people if you should become a Jehovah's Witness, you've already answered your own question.

 

[Earthling]

So, this is going to seem completely off topic, but it is something I wondered about the first time I saw your chosen username/handle, and then again when you changed your avatar to the current, humanoid-robot pic you have. "Rothschild" and "SaxeCoburgGotha" are both references to very rich/affluent names/places/dynasties, am I right? Is there any sort of preoccupation with wealth behind this selection or admiration for those names? And with the humanoid robot - in the past your words have expressed what seems to be sincere disdain for science, yet the idealistic robot in your chosen profile picture would seem to be representative of one of the high goals of robotic science.

These seeming contradictions - the (seeming) preoccupation with wealth though Christianity espouses grace with the act of giving what you have and not hoarding it, and the (seeming) disdain for science and yet at the same time embracing some aspect of it, and possibly even being enamored with the idea of earthly immortality that a robotic, humanoid body is sometimes purported to someday in the future be in the offering - are interesting to me. I simply seek to know the truth behind your selections of these as representations of yourself.

There are two types of science IMO, good and bad. I give evolutionist a hard time, and I personally don't have much of an interest in science. Having said that with the purest optimism that it won't result in another science 'debate' I started a story I called The Pathway Machine. A futuristic science fiction story of a global revolution. Economic, social and political, in which the debt based economy was replaced by a resource based economy. Where science and technology supplied the resources of every man, woman and child on earth. The Place was New Pangea, and their space stations were Laurasia and Gondwana. Laurasia was a station for public education while Gondwana was run entirely by robots and androids for the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, crystals and electronics. The Appendix is my idea of what humanity could accomplish, under imperfect sin, if they would do away with the current monetary system because science and technology has gotten to the point where it (money) has become obsolete.

The name. I do get comments and questions on the name. Someone on my profile called me antisemitic for using Rothschild. Not anti-german for using Saxe Coburg Gotha, mind you. Anyway, there was a practice, when slavery in America was abolished, of the freed slave to take the name of his former master. For the last two hundred years or so we have all been slaves of the Rothschild bankers and the throne of England's German family, the Saxe Coburg Gotha's. They own you. They own your children. If you don't believe me check out your birth certificate and the deed to your house. Most likely they own the country you live in. I took on the pen name in symbolic protest, in the fashion of the former slaves, who, were brought over here by the Rothschilds and the Throne of England.

So there is the story of the name . . .

 

[David T]

As a side note, up until he died I thought the lyrics of the song was, "raspberry parfait". I always wondered why you would be buying this in a second hand store. Imagine my chagrin....

That's art baby!!!! See you just have to make lyrics sound like something and at the same time be say something else and viola you are a genius!!!

 

[Earthling]

Do you really believe in a god who created you with desires that he then forbad you to practice? You can still be a Christian: Anglican, Lutheran, etc.

I'm not interested in a watered down modern day politically correct version of Christian teachings, I'm only interested in the uncompromising truth. If I wanted to be in a gay pride parade I would do that. I'm looking for the truth. No one else comes close.

There's a dark side to heterosexuality. I'm not sure that it's the norm, but maybe I've only known respectable homosexuals!

Honestly. I've not seen any. I've known hard working common folks, entertainers, and "respectable" homosexual's in million dollar homes who are more deprived and perverted, drug addled alcoholics than any or the common ones. It's all the same story. They all end up in the same place. The bath houses, the roadside restrooms, the gay bars, looking for lust in all the wrong places. It's a dark, superficial and extremely lonely and painful world. Maybe you've seen the show - I've been backstage. That isn't putting down homosexuals. I'm not a self loathing homosexual. It's just the way most of the country is set up. Perhaps if you live in big city on the coast, it would be different, but for the most part, it's underground and two bit dark alley.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

Pray to Jehovah, and talk to the brothers openly. They'll be glad to listen, and help!