What's your take on Jehovah's Witnesses?

[Drunken Irishman]

I had a close friend growing up who was a Jehovah's Witnesses and I remember he never stood up during the pledge, couldn't celebrate any holiday (even birthdays) and I remember later on, in high school, when we had a blood drive, he couldn't give blood because it was against his religion. I've found their teachings to be a bit out of the mainstream, especially the ones involving the belief that only 144,000 will be allowed into heaven. But, of course, I believe in religious freedom, so I have no problem with them believing what they want...even if I do find it a bit strange. Thoughts? Do you know of any Jehovah's Witnesses? Are you one? Hm.

[flvegan]

1. They're afraid of pit bulls.

They don't even come in my yard.

[Drunken Irishman]

2. I bet Mormons are too. ;)

[Critters2]

25. There's one way to find out.

Send 'em to flvegan's.

I can attest that they are not afraid of beagles.

[NewWaveChick1981]

3. They're afraid of evil-sounding mutts too.

:P :rofl: I let the dogs handle any visit by Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, etc.

[SPKrazy]

4. I've Witnessed Jehovah's Witnesses

at my door

and quickly closed the door after saying Satan rulez you evil bastids :P

:evilgrin:

kidding

I just don't speak to them I say no thanks before they say a word if I see a bunch of people standing on my porch.

Of course it could have been the prize patrol and I just turned down millions of dollars :think:

no, they didn't look like Ed Mc Mahon

:hi:

[hfojvt]

12. I keep getting Mormons

who are kinda cute (young females, ya know) so I don't mind talking to them.

[SPKrazy]

14. hell i've never had female mormons

come to my door

:rofl:

[Ikonoklast]

5. No more or less looney than all the other religious loonies

I find all purveyors of fairy tales and stories of magical beings rather juvenile.

I went to high school with a kid that was the best basketball player in the school, but wasn't allowed to play competitively, because he was a JH.

His nickname was 'Nofun'.

[mreilly]

6. My town has banned Halloween from the schools...

... because Jehovah's Witnesses might be "offended" if kids wore costumes to school and candy was given out. There is probably all of about one family in this town who are Jehovah's Witnesses so I find this ridiculous, frankly. When these people move away can we have Halloween back so my kids can celebrate it in school as I did when I was a child?

What I want to know is, where are the right-wing ranters when you need them? Why aren't they mobilizing against the "War on Halloween" in my town? Why aren't they making passionate speeches about how wrong it is for the majority to be tyrannized by the minority? Why aren't they lecturing on about tradition, and political correctness, and making rude remarks about how "if those people don't like it they can keep their kids home from school?"

Oh yeah, because in this case the minority involves religious wackos. So it's all fine, apparently. The right-wingers only mobilize when the religious wackos are being "victimized" (or they want to claim victim status anyway which is usually the case).

[CC]

16. If that is why they banned Halloween

then they need to ban Christmas celebrations and songs and Easter and any other celebrations including birthdays because they are as "offensive" as Halloween. JW's do not believe in celebrating anything holiday or personal days and one would be as offensive as the other. There are a lot of JW's in my DH's family, some 3 or 4 generations back. There is one set in my family but she was converted though her husband wasn't. My DH doesn't have anything to do with the ones in his family so what little I know about them I got from the convert. I do know they do not vote at all.
I kept waiting to hear the pResident Idiot was giving a speech to JW's like his trying to woo the Amish around here when he was running in 04 since neither group votes in public elections.

[Perseid]

7. I believe in no religion/belief

so therefore, wish them the best in their lifetime of delusion.

[DarkTirade]

8. All I know is that if they knock on my door first thing in the morning...

they'd best be prepared to have me come to the door wearing nothing but my whitey tighties and with my largest broadsword slung over my shoulder.

[hippywife]

9. I worked with a woman

who was JH and she was very nice and actually lots of fun. I always enjoyed her company.

[JCMach1]

10. Dated a girl who was one nominally... completely messed her up!

Fortunately was years ago in high school...

I still hold a grudge against them!

[ironflange]

11. Some are better than others

I grew up across the street from a family of JW's. They really kept to themselves, never really knew them. However, the Dad took off one day to shack up with another JW woman.

Right now, we live next door to another JW family, Polish immigrants, two teenage sons and a neurotic dog. I couldn't ask for better neighbors, they are really really nice and would give me the shirts off their backs if I asked. They have a lot of backyard parties with friends, and it's fun to listen in on their conversations. They'll jump around from hockey to end-times to movies to door-to-door to golf and so on. It's very entertaining.

[hunter]

13. I had an interesting Jehovah's Witnesses childhood.

They are strong pacifists, and that has stuck with me.

I don't have strong feelings about birthdays or Holidays, and this indifference has caused conflicts with my wife, but I sort of get it now (He can be taught!) But my parents do not remember birthdays at all, not even their own birthdays.

When I was still a kid my mom got booted from the Witnesses for her political activism. When my mom takes up a cause she goes into it full throttle, and next thing you know she is on the television or in the newspaper.

Out on my own, my final act of rebellion against the church was taking a job in a blood bank.

[SeattleGirl]

15. My next door neighbors are Jehovah Witnesses.

I have absolutely no problem with them. I don't talk a whole lot with the husband, but the wife and I have had lots of conversations, not always about religion and beliefs, but quite a few of them HAVE been about those topics. She has never tried to "convert" me, and I find that a lot of our beliefs are more similar than different. We respect each other a lot, and thus, respect each other's beliefs, differences and all.

Edited to add: To me, they key is respect. I find that, more often than not, if I am respectful of another's beliefs, they are respectful of mine.

[Arugula Latte]

17. There is one in my son's class and one in my daughter's class.

It seems ridiculous to me -- What, eating a cupcake for Caitlin's birthday is going to damn you eternally? -- but, then, all religion is basically ridiculous to me.

I think it's sad to deprive children of childhood's simple pleasures like birthday parties ... for what? Another fairy tale.

[LostInAnomie]

18. They get awfully indignant when I come to the door naked.

Like seeing a naked man slathered in mayo and Funyun crumbs is hurting they're delicate sensibilities... douchebags.

[SKKY]

19. I didn't see what happened...

...so how could I be a witness? :shrug:

[no name no slogan]

20. My closest coworker is one

and we get along very well, even though he knows I'm not interested in his religion. We've had some interesting discussions about religion, and both respect each others viewpoints. In fact his whole approach to his faith is a lot more appealing than some of the overly zealous evangelical "christians" I've worked with in the past.

And BTW I'd doubt it if any current JWs were here, as their religion forbids them from participating in politics.

[Turbineguy]

21. A small town I lived in

had a family that seemed to be stalked by bad luck and tragedy. It was one thing after another with these people, who were actually very nice. One Member of the family was an HS classmate of mine. One Saturday he came to the door and I found out the whole family had become JW.

I thought this is great, maybe it will help them. A year later he was killed in a motorcycle crash. I hope their faith helped them somehow.

[Aristus]

22. As I am with all religions, I'm perfectly okay with a person believing anything he or she

wants to believe, provided it harms no one else. Celebrate holidays, anniversaries, birthdays, etc. or not. Whatever works for you.


But...


Stop knocking on my door trying to spread it around, willya?!?!?

If I want to know more about your religion, I'll come to you, okay?

[Fire Walk With Me]

23. Although I don't agree with many facets of various religions,

I have to give kudos to any who live their beliefs and are willing to go out and work them. If they're non-invasive, etc.

There are times when human visciousness gets me down, and then I'll come across a person or their words regarding God or doing the right thing, and I'll remember that fear, self-interested dominance, and hatred, perhaps though being the norm, are not the absolute.

To stand up for God and God's instructions is abnormal. What a shame, and you can see what ignoring it is getting us. That negativity is so obvious, but believing in good is so difficult, is sad.

This world is only what we make it through each and every action. All responsibility is our own. This is not the decade of responsibility...

[ashling]

24. I had a housemate in law school

who used to answer the door naked when they came over.

[skygazer]

26. I don't usually take on Jehovah's Witnesses

I tell them I'm not interested and close the door. :hi:

[JVS]

27. I like them. They used to read to my grampa when he was sick, and a couple visit my mom's house

I had a nice chat about the war with a couple of them once too, back when the war was popular. they had knocked on my door and said "What do you think about the wars going on? Do you think that it's right?"