Jeovah Witness

[JackJack]

I just recently found out a lady I worked with is a Jeovahs Witness, when another person had brought her a birthday gift and she said she thank you, but couldn't accept the gift, because she was a Jeovahs witness and didn't believe in gifts?

 

I know very little about the Jeovah Witness, so I was wondering if others could tell me exactly what their beliefs are? This is just from what I heard before. They believe in God but do not believe in Jesus. They think that Jesus was a regular man just like any other man, and did not die on a cross for sins or rise again, that no man could do that. They don't accept gifts or celebrate things such as Christmas, Easter, birthdays etc. I'm not sure I understand, they believe in God, but not his son Jesus? Looks like if they don't believe in Jesus, then they wouldn't belive in God either? I'm just trying to understand, and like I said these are things I heard, not things I know.

[My Fair Katie]

Jehovah's witnesses do believe in the divinity of Christ. They also believe that salvation can come only from Christ. However, you are right, they don't believe he died on a cross, but rather a "torture stake" (a stick without a cross bar). You are also right they they don't believe in the resurrection of the "physical body" of Christ (1 Peter 3.18 "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit") but rather the resurrection of his "spirit."

 

They also believe in God, Jehovah is their translation of God's Hebrew name from the Bible (I won't share it here because it's considered bad taste amongst many to use his proper name).

 

However, as I understand it, Jehovah's witnesses do not believe in the holy trinity. In other words God and Christ are two seperate entities, both divine. I could be wrong, and I'm sure someone will correct me if I am. No idea how the holy spirit comes into play.

 

Jehovah's Witnesses also do not believe in heaven/hell the same as other sects of Christianity. They believe what it says in the Book of Revelations, that ONLY upon Armageddon will souls be resurrected and the good sent to Heaven (and they also believe the number of souls going to heaven is 144,000--so why they show up on my doorstep trying to convert me is beyond me, I'd keep it under wraps to ensure my salvation, heh). There is no hell. The rest disappear, as there is no immortality of souls.

 

They won't celebrate Thanksgiving, birthdays, etc, because they feel those holidays stem from ancient "false" religions.

 

Anyway, they have a website and a publication they hand out. Google "The Watchtower" if you want to delve in further.

 

Usual disclaimer: IANAJW.

[pureinheart]

That's odd, I always thought JW's didn't believe Jesus is God....

[Almost]

It's possible to believe in God but not Jesus, or believe in both while not believing that they are the same entity.

 

It sounds like Jehova's Witnesses believe in God and Jesus, but don't think they are the same thing.

 

Jews believe in God but believe Jesus was just another prophet and not the messaiah. They are still waiting for the first coming of the messaiah.

 

I've always been confused about the Holy Trinity, known as the father, son, and the holy ghost. What is the holy ghost supposed to be? The father is God, the son is Jesus. So why do we need a holy ghost? Who invented that?

[westernxer]

I don't know much about them, but I used to come across them all the time in South America (when I was a Mormon missionary). Even attended their church service one Sunday, when we found ourselves in one of their neighborhoods. They were all walking to their local Kingdom Hall, so we decided to follow suit.

 

I'm not religious anymore, but I firmly believe that all those people we came across would've been Mormon had we found them first.

 

I've become a devil's advocate since my mission days, and I'm loving it more than ever. They can do whatever they want, as long as they don't interfere with me personally.

[dropdeadlegs]

(and they also believe the number of souls going to heaven is 144,000--so why they show up on my doorstep trying to convert me is beyond me, I'd keep it under wraps to ensure my salvation, heh).

 

Usual disclaimer: IANAJW.

 

You had me laughing out loud at the computer monitor. My kids often think I have lost my sanity upon LS visits.

 

Christians, and I'm not well versed, believe 144,000 Jews will convert to Christianity and recognize Jesus as The Messiah as foretold in the Book of Revelations. The JW's think only 144,000 souls will live eternally? That is confusing, I was recently visited by both the JW's and the Mormons within 24 hours. There was something scary about that, but I'm still not sure what. Now I'm wondering where the Mormon's stand on the 144,000....

[Storyrider]

So why do we need a holy ghost? Who invented that?

 

The concept of the spirit of God, Ruach Elohim, appears in the Hebrew bible, but obviously not as one part of the trinity. It is implied that is is just a form God takes from time to time.

 

In the Catholic creed it says that the Holy Spirit procedes from the Father and the Son. So I think, from what my husband says, that the HS is created from interaction between the Father and the Son. I think in some branches of Christianity, the HS is believed to be the force that guides people when they are speaking in tongues.

 

I am Jewish, so a Christian could explain some of this better.

[westernxer]

Now I'm wondering where the Mormon's stand on the 144,000....

 

If I remember correctly, the Mormons believe these are 144,000 high priests who will be called to govern the Earth before final judgment, or something like that.

 

I think the Jehovah's Witnesses also revised their beliefs to accomodate this same point of view, since their membership has now surpassed 6 million, or something like that.

 

I love their Watchtower illustrations... a melting pot of vegetarians with good teeth, green grass, and plenty of sunshine. The facial expressions say enough.

[dropdeadlegs]

There is no hell. The rest disappear, as there is no immortality of souls.

 

Don't mean to keep quoting the same post, but I may have to let the JW have their moment to shine and possibly convert me (from exactly "what" I'm not sure, but I digress) because this whole "there's no hell" thing sounds way better than the eternal damnation the extreme conservative right wing is promising me. Nothingness as opposed to eternal nit picking is a much better ending in my opinion.

 

PS. Nit picking is my "hell." Has your child ever contracted head lice? It's not pleasant for either of you and I deduced from the experience that those in hell must experience an eternity of never ending nit picking. I mean 24/7 FOREVER.

[dropdeadlegs]

I've been meaning to tell you that I love the avatar. Unfortunately the voices in my head would probably just get off on that Q-tip. I find using them almost as good as sex and often have "ear canal" O's There must be an erogenous zone deep inside or something?

 

Okay, back to the JW's....

[whichwayisup]

RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I nearly lost a close friend to JW. She dated a guy who was one, he changed her! (*note I wanted to say brainwashed, but out of respect for those who are JW on LS, I won't actually say it - Even though I did, but somehow putting it in brackets isn't as offensive.*) She started coming over to my house, lecturing me, and promoting how wonderful JW folks were, and how perfect people they were. No cruelness, no crime, just pure ...... Well, within afew months our friendship suffered, she distanced herself not only from me, but her whole family! She became arguementive if any of us disagreed with her...ANyway, the whole thing got really flippin' weird. We stopped being friends, her choice, not mine.

 

One day she called me out of the blue, about 4 months later, she had ended it with the guy and told me how sorry she was. Things went back to normal pretty quickly - And she decided to go to counselling to try to figure out how she could let someone completely suck her in and change her way of thinking, making her doubt her own belief system and religion she grew up with.

 

Now she's with someone amazing, they have 3 kids and are extremely happy.

 

I guess what I resented most about this guy she dated was, he changed WHO she was. IF she wanted to be with him, she had to give up everything. Very unfair and I guess I have trouble understanding a religion that makes you choose between them and your own family and friends.

[dropdeadlegs]

RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (*note I wanted to say brainwashed, but out of respect for those who are JW on LS, I won't actually say it - Even though I did, but somehow putting it in brackets isn't as offensive.*)

 

It's a shame, but I see the same story in TomKat...maybe I read too much into their relationship, but it seems like a similar story....

 

WWIU, I like that you're not afraid to be real, damn the torpedoes!

 

(Wow, this Firefox built in spell check is REALLY working for me! The proofreading has come to a halt.)

[karen7680]

I grew up a JW. I left as soon as I could and haven't looked back! No offense, but you've gotta be pretty hard up to convert to that religion.

 

Yes, they believe in Jesus, but not the Trinity. They say that there is God, his son, and God's active force, which isn't an entity at all, just a force.

 

They don't believe in celebrating anything because of the supposed pagan roots, yet they are willing to participate in other things with pagan roots, like weddings. Why? I don't know. They also will not celebrate other things that are not from pagan roots ... like Thanksgiving, Mother's Day, etc. Why? I don't know.

 

They are a very controlling group ... they will attempt to control every aspect of your life ... EVERY aspect of your life. I don't care if I offend, so I will use the word BRAINWASH!

 

Not that I'm bitter or anything!

[RecordProducer]

They think that Jesus was a regular man just like any other man, and did not die on a cross for sins or rise again, that no man could do that.

Jesus WAS a regular man who existed, ate, slept, walked, talked... The only difference is that you believe he was god's son.

 

I don't know about Jesus, but I know I am God's daughter. God is my father and I regularly talk to him. I can tell you all about it. And I can show you how I can turn water into wine, blood, rabbit or pigeon. Moreover, I can make coins disappear and I can cut people in a box and then they can get out of it whole.

 

I'm not sure I understand, they believe in God, but not his son Jesus?

You are making a national-database case out of this.

[karen7680]

Let me clear this up:

 

They believe that Jesus existed in heaven long before he "came to earth". They believe is God's son who was sent to earth in human form. They do believe he lived as a regular man until he somehow regained his memory of his pre-earthly existance and began walking on water and all that jazz. They also believe that he died on a stake and not a cross, and for some reason, they really like to make a case out of that point. They also believe that he died for mankind's sins and after three days, was resurrected and returned to heavenly life.

 

I could be mistaken (because I haven't been exposed to many other religions), but I don't think that belief is TOO different from many other christian religions. It's their other weird beliefs and practices that make them so different.

[alphamale]

I could never be a Jehovah's Witness cause I didn't see the accident.

[RecordProducer]

RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I nearly lost a close friend to JW.

WWIU, the guy was just a jerk and the friend was prone to be easily influenced before a strong figure. It has nothing to do with being a JW. If you're evil, you can use any theory to backup your behavior. Hitler used Nietzsche's philosophy to approve his intentions and justify what he did. I've read F. Nietzsche and I assure you, there is nothing there, absolutely nothing, that covers any of the evils that Hitler did. People find different inspiration in the same source.

 

How that guy interpreted the lifestyle that a JW should live was his personal viewpoint depending on his character. And your friend's character was obviously weak, because she willingly accepted his attitudes. It's very sad that she blamed her own mistakes on him and even sadder that she didn't realize it was HIM - not his religion - that was evil.

[whichwayisup]

was prone to be easily influenced before a strong figure.

 

No, not at all. She fell inlove with him and THEN he told her he was JW. She was in so deep by that time, she couldn't get out. JW or not, the guy was still a real jerk! Very manipulative too.

 

She's actually one of the strongest people I know, so that's why I was so shocked she got sucked in. Trust me, she's not a weak person!

[karen7680]

How that guy interpreted the lifestyle that a JW should live was his personal viewpoint depending on his character. And your friend's character was obviously weak, because she willingly accepted his attitudes. It's very sad that she blamed her own mistakes on him and even sadder that she didn't realize it was HIM - not his religion - that was evil.

 

I don't think you understand the level of control that this religion exerts on its members. While he is most definitely a jerk and there is some personal choice involved, you cannot discount the role of this religion. It is a very controlled group, and from the outside looking in, it is easy to say that they have choice, etc. When people are immersed in the religion, especially if you were raised in it and never exposed to other ideas, personal viewpoints are not seen as an option ... only the church's.

 

It does sound extreme ...and it is. Unfortunately, that is the reality of this religion.

[westernxer]

All churches exert a certain degree of control over their members.

 

That's why membership has its privileges.

[Gunny376]

I find it odd that JW's don't believe in Halloweene?

 

Isn't that when you're suppose to knock on people's door's you don't know?

[SmoochieFace]

I don't think you understand the level of control that this religion exerts on its members. While he is most definitely a jerk and there is some personal choice involved, you cannot discount the role of this religion. It is a very controlled group, and from the outside looking in, it is easy to say that they have choice, etc. When people are immersed in the religion, especially if you were raised in it and never exposed to other ideas, personal viewpoints are not seen as an option ... only the church's.

 

It does sound extreme ...and it is. Unfortunately, that is the reality of this religion.

 

As an XJW, I can attest to this quote. It is a very controlling religion - actually, I would call it a 'cult' - and their 'quirks' are no laughing matter. The concept of 'shunning' is practised and it is quite disturbing indeed.

 

My experiences there have completely turned me off from organised religion.

[whichwayisup]

I'm glad you got out Smoochie. Just like my close friend. I tell ya, the stuff she was talking about, between blood transfusions and changing her complete way of thinking and behaving! It got to the point my husband didn't want her coming into our house and preaching, acting all weird. THANKGOD she woke up and realized wtf was going on.

 

To be honest, it really pisses me off when JW come to my door.

 

I can see why it has turned you off organized religion.

[JackJack]

You are making a national-database case out of this.

 

It was a question, not a national case. Like I said, I don't know much about it, that's why the question was asked. But a case, nah.

[blind_otter]

RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I guess what I resented most about this guy she dated was, he changed WHO she was. IF she wanted to be with him, she had to give up everything. Very unfair and I guess I have trouble understanding a religion that makes you choose between them and your own family and friends.

 

I had a friend in high school who was a jehova witness. She had to drop out after 10th grade because education was not something for women, they were supposed to stay at home and pop out kids. Her brother got to finish high school and even attended college. It made no sense because her brother was not the brightest bulb in the bunch, and she was much smarter than him. It made me mad that she was forced to stop her education.