Jehovah's Witness'

[Inanna]

You are very thoughtful Lilas...

I believe (as Nelle said there are some JW's in our community no doubt who will correct me)
that
* it is important to name God as Jehovah
* to "witness" (by going door to door & speaking about Jehovah to those that you come in contact with)
* the literal interpretation of both the old testament & the new testament are taken. Though I am not clear on why that means that JW's eat pork etc. No doubt someone will help me with that too.
* only Jehovah should be celebrated & thus birthdays should not be celebrated.
* as it is believed by some that the time of the year that Christmas is celebrated was adopted from the old religion and the Sabat of Yule - Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas as it is seen as a pagan festival...
* AI also beleive that there is quite a large amount of study on the last book of the bible and thus the apocolyptic side of this. I actually find that fascinating...
* That Jesus will come again & there will be paradise on Earth
* The passover though is celebrated as in keeping with the following of the old testament

[Inanna]

I know something else that came to mind...
I think that why passover is celebrated is because some things in the old testament were "cancelled out" (obviously my wording isn't correct) by the new testament & other things were not.

I *think* that might be why the pork thing is okay for JW's - because maybe it was cancelled out by the new testament. I do know that taking "the life blood" of another isn't okay & this has been interpreted by this faith from the new testament but I can't quite remember what the particular area in the new testament that this is from..

HTH

[YoYo]

I had a friend who is a JW and they don't believe in accepting blood (transfusions...don't know if it means organs as well?).....not sure why! Anyone?

[entreat]

My DH was one (his mum & sisters still are, but his dad never was), and it has been very interesting learning about what he grew up with. I wouldn't say he & his family were necessarily the strictest, but they do witness every chance they get. Not at me, much, which is good. DH even got a cryptic text message from his mum on his birthday last year! "So what's it like being 34years old??" - we reckon his mum is softening in her old age.

I don't pretend to know anything about the religion specifically, but we did have a spectacularly humerous conversation about creation vs evolution.

Generally, I find them to be nice people, and if you choose to put a line in the sand re: witnessing, it is respected. Technically speaking, I know that DH is meant to be outcast from the family & 'church' for leaving. They can only technically speak to him if they are trying to bring him back to the fold. DH's best mate has had a terrible time (years!) coming to terms with this with his own family - who are a lot stricter than DH's family.

ETA: I think it's really good to learn about other religions in a non-judgemental way. Good for you for starting this thread.

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

I had a friend who is a JW and they don't believe in accepting blood (transfusions...don't know if it means organs as well?).....not sure why! Anyone?

This is because the Bible tells us to abstain from blood. Jehovah also views blood as sacred and life sustaining, saying in the Bible that our soul is in our 'lifeblood'.

On a medical note, it is very risky to accept blood, even your own, after it has left the body, as it changes. More and more surgeons are choosing bloodless medicine as they realise that blood is unnecessary. The body continues to make more blood, it is generally volume that is lacking, which saline solution / plasma expanders can take care of while the body boosts the blood naturally.

[Inanna]

JW what you refer to as the rebirth of the sun & the winter solstice is called the Yule in some parts of the world. So- I think we possibly were referring to the same thing but calling it different names!

Thankyou for sharing your faith.

[YoYo]

Thanks Sunflowa

Like you said, I'm not out there to change my views....but I dont' really have any, so I like to learn about all sorts.

I just remember watching a TV show once (a baby story) where the woman was a JW and after the birth of her baby, she was bleeding out and the docs said she needed blood. She left it for a good while saying about her faith, but in the end decided to take it. It would be a very hard decision I guess. She was sat there in the bed with a brand spanking new baby!

What happens if you do 'sin'.....do you have to repent and that makes it all better again?

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

I just remember watching a TV show once (a baby story) where the woman was a JW and after the birth of her baby, she was bleeding out and the docs said she needed blood. She left it for a good while saying about her faith, but in the end decided to take it. It would be a very hard decision I guess. She was sat there in the bed with a brand spanking new baby!

What happens if you do 'sin'.....do you have to repent and that makes it all better again?

Do you mean sin in terms of taking blood? Or just in general? If we do the wrong thing and are genuinely repentant, then Jehovah will forgive us. But we don't do an official 'confession' like some religions do, as it can lead to a wrong attitude - as in, I can do what I want because I'm confessing on Sunday anyway.

With more serious sin, something that the Bible specifically says NOT to do, things have to be taken more seriously, as the rest of the congregation needs to be protected as well. Again, if you are genuinely sorry for what you've done, everything's fine, but if you're not, then the rest of the congregation has to be protected. This is a part of our beliefs that many mock, and most outsiders don't agree with. I'm happy to explain further on this point over PM's, but there are a few members that I believe are in this situation, and I don't want to offend or embarrass them, so I would like to keep it off the boards

On a side note MM, was this show a documentary or a tv show? JW's not accepting blood has been portrayed on many medical soap operas, and sadly the only one I ever saw happen the right way was All Saints! The rest were all wrong - JW goes in for surgery, surgeon decides to give them blood despite their clear wishes, JW goes off their nut when they find out, cut to shower scene with JW trying to 'get the tainted blood out'. It's amazing how wrong tv shows can get it, when we're so willing to answer questions!

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

There are a few other JW's on the site lilias, but I'm pretty sure I'm the loudest of them all I'm happy to try and answer any questions you have...

I don't really know her well enough to really get into things with her and don't want to offend her with any questions which may be silly to her.

Believe me, she won't be offended! We get it all the time, and honestly, it is really appreciated that you take the time to ask. Some people have such strange ideas about our beliefs, and I honestly don't know where they come from, so its best to get it from the horses mouth so to speak

I think that JW's have some different theology from (I guess 'mainstream' is the best word to use?) Christianity. Some beliefs are the same though.

Our biggest differences from mainstream Christianity is that we don't believe in the Trinity, we don't believe in immortality of the soul, we don't believe everyone goes to heaven, and we don't believe in hell, or any sort of afterlife for that matter. These beliefs are all based on the Bible, and I or your colleague would be happy to go into more depth with you if you wanted to.

I believe (as Nelle said there are some JW's in our community no doubt who will correct me)
that
* it is important to name God as Jehovah

Definitely, this is why we are called 'Jehovah's Witnesses'. In the Bible, God tells us His name, Jehovah. He also tells us to cultivate a strong relationship with Him, and how can you have a relationship with someone if you don't know and use their name?

* to "witness" (by going door to door & speaking about Jehovah to those that you come in contact with)

Yes, all JW's go witnessing/doorknocking/preaching, whatever you want to call it. Again based on the Bible

* the literal interpretation of both the old testament & the new testament are taken. Though I am not clear on why that means that JW's eat pork etc. No doubt someone will help me with that too.

Inanna's further answer was correct, in that the Mosaic Law, the one that set down what animals were clean and unclean, was superceded by the Messianic covenant, which came into effect when Jesus died and was resurrected to heaven.

WRT literal interpretations, most Biblical prophecies had a literal fulfillment soon after they were penned, in particular in regard to Ancient Israel, but they also had further application to more modern times. Many of these have been fulfilled, and a few we are still waiting on.

* only Jehovah should be celebrated & thus birthdays should not be celebrated.

The Bible actually has 2 accounts of birthday celebrations. The 'birthday boys' were not followers of Jehovah, and both celebrations ended with the death of an enemy, in one case, John the Baptiser. The celebration of a persons birthday actually has pagan roots, and is also the most important celebration for a person following Satanist beliefs.

Jehovah also instructs us to be meek and humble at all times, not glorifying one person over another, as we are all imperfect.

* as it is believed by some that the time of the year that Christmas is celebrated was adopted from the old religion and the Sabat of Yule - Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas as it is seen as a pagan festival...

TBH, I've never heard of Sabat of Yule - is it related to the celebration of Saturnalia?

The traditional Christmas story tells of shepherds that were out herding their sheep, that were told of the birth of Jesus Christ by angels. The Bible confirms all of this, as well as the star in midheaven that the astrologers, or 'wise men' saw.

However, this time of year in modern Bethlehem, it is winter, and snows pretty heavily - therefore the shepherds would not have been living out doors with their sheep. Also, Jesus was born in Bethlehem because of a decree by Caesar that everyone was to return to their cities of ancestry to be registered for a census. At the time, the Jews were not happy under Roman rule, so its not likely that Caesar would've made them travel during the middle of winter

The institution of a celebration on the 25th of December is actually a celebration of the rebirth of the Sun after the Winter Solstice, when the days start getting longer. It was adopted as a Christian celebration under the rule of Constantine, around 300 years after Jesus was born.

* I also beleive that there is quite a large amount of study on the last book of the bible and thus the apocolyptic side of this. I actually find that fascinating...

So do I Inanna! Yes, we study Revelation in depth - if you've ever read it, you'll realise it can't just be skimmed over

* That Jesus will come again & there will be paradise on Earth

Some yes, some no. We believe that Jesus will be given rulership over the earth by Jehovah for 1000 years, after Armaggeddon. I think what Inanna is referring to is 'The Rapture', where Jesus comes back to earth and takes his followers to heaven. I'm not sure which mainstream Christian religions believe this, but JW's aren't one of them.

As for Paradise on earth - I'm looking forward to it

* The passover though is celebrated as in keeping with the following of the old testament

We memorialise Jesus' death on Nisan 14 every year, as He instructed whilst celebrating the Passover. The Passover was actually a rememberance of Jehovah releasing the Hebrew nation from Egyptian slavery, and refers to the angel sent by Jehovah to kill the firstborns, as part of the 10 plagues. The Hebrews were told to spread the blood of a lamb over their doorposts, hence when the angel saw the blood, he knew that Jehovah's followers were inside, and passed over their house.

As Jesus knew he was shortly going to be killed, becoming a Ransom for mankind's sins, the Passover did not need to be celebrated any more, and so Jesus instituted the memorial celebration of the Lord's Evening Meal, and instructed his disciples 'keep doing this in rememberance of me'

As I said Lilias, asking questions is the only way to learn anything, so I'm happy to answer questions, and so will your colleague be. We understand that some people are genuinely curious but not necessarily looking to change

[Peg]

You are very thoughtful Lilas...

I believe (as Nelle said there are some JW's in our community no doubt who will correct me)
that
* it is important to name God as Jehovah

This is true, its not because we have named him as such though, its because the God of the hebrew scriptures is named 'Jehovah'
In hebrew its YHWY (Yahwey) and this name can be found in many bible translations at Psalm 83:18. I had the experience when i was first studying the bible with the JWs (20years ago) My best friend and flatmate refused to accept that Gods name was Jehovah. I assured her it was in the bible but she jsut laughed and said that JW's made it up. Well, my friend had an old family heirloom, it was a very old king james pocket version of the bible handed down to her by her Irish Catholic great grandmother. I opened it up to Psalm 83:18 and there it was "That Men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the msot high over all the earth"

she wasnt happy lol

* to "witness" (by going door to door & speaking about Jehovah to those that you come in contact with)

This is true. Its in harmony with the command that Jesus gave his diciples before he returned to heaven at Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, 20*teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded YOU."
We take that command seriously which is why we go door to door. This is actually the method that Jesus sent his diciples out also which is found at
Luke 10:1-6
10 After these things the Lord designated seventy others and sent them forth by twos in advance of him into every city and place to which he himself was going to come. ...5*Wherever YOU enter into a house say first, ‘May this house have peace.’ 6*And if a friend of peace is there, YOUR peace will rest upon him

* the literal interpretation of both the old testament & the new testament are taken. Though I am not clear on why that means that JW's eat pork etc. No doubt someone will help me with that too.

Not everything is taken literally in the OT or NT. For instance, we do view the tree in eden as literal, but we dont view it so literally that we think it gave Adam and Eve special knowledge from God or that they became like God. But we do view the flood as literally happening and we view the crossing of the red sea as literal.
The dietry restrictions of the mosaic law are not followed because the mosaic law was made obsolete when Jesus arrived. A new covenant was made in which the old covenant was no longer required....hence why we dont observe the sabbath.

* only Jehovah should be celebrated & thus birthdays should not be celebrated.

Birthdays are not celebrated because they have a religious origin to them. The jews, nor ancient hebrews, nor Jesus or the christians ever celebrated birthdays because they were in fact a religious celebration of pagan nations. The hebrews were told not to adopt the pagan practices which explaines why Jesus never celebrated his birthday. The christians continued to observe that requirement and so we also observe it.

* as it is believed by some that the time of the year that Christmas is celebrated was adopted from the old religion and the Sabat of Yule - Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas as it is seen as a pagan festival...

this is true...christmas was originally the roman celebration of the birth of the Sun (sound familiar?)
Also, Dec 25 is not the date of Jesus birth, Nor did Jesus ask us to celebrate his birth....the early christians never celebrated his birth so nor do we.

* AI also beleive that there is quite a large amount of study on the last book of the bible and thus the apocolyptic side of this. I actually find that fascinating...

Yes this is true. We believe that the book of Revelation explains the events that will take place in 'the last days' including the destruction of Gods enemy Satan the devil and the restoration of the earth and its inhabitants to endless perfect life in a paradise earth.
Rev 21:3 With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. 4*And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”

* That Jesus will come again & there will be paradise on Earth

Yes, this is a teaching that is found throughout the bible. The prophets of the hebrew scriptures mention such an earthly paradise, its spoken of in the Psalsm as being Gods purpose of mankind and its where mankind started out...in the garden of Eden which was a paradise.

Jesus told the criminal next to him "And he said to him: “Truly I tell you today, You will be with me in Paradise.”
Jesus told those listening in the sermon on the mount at Matt 5:5“Happy are the mild-tempered ones, since they will inherit the earth"
Psalm 37:29 says “The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.”

* The passover though is celebrated as in keeping with the following of the old testament

Not quite. The passover is the jewish celebration to do with their salvation from Egyption bondage. We celebrate the 'memorial of Christs death' which is celebrated on the same day as the passover because it is the day Jesus died. On the last passover that Jesus celebrated, he instituted a new celebration and told his diciples to keep doing it in rememberance of him.
The account is found in Luke 22:14*
At length when the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. 15*And he said to them: “I have greatly desired to eat this passover with YOU before I suffer; 16*for I tell YOU, I will not eat it again until it becomes fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17*And, accepting a cup, he gave thanks and said: “Take this and pass it from one to the other among yourselves; 18*for I tell YOU, From now on I will not drink again from the product of the vine until the kingdom of God arrives.”
19*Also, he took a loaf, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying: “This means my body which is to be given in YOUR behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” 20*Also, the cup in the same way after they had the evening meal, he saying: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in YOUR behalf

later the Apostle Paul spoke about the christian celebration of the memorial at 1Corinthians 11:23*thus showing that it had become a celebration commemorating Christs death which they did yearly on the anniversary of his death.
For I received from the Lord that which I also handed on to YOU, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was going to be handed over took a loaf 24*and, after giving thanks, he broke it and said: “This means my body which is in YOUR behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” 25*He did likewise respecting the cup also, after he had the evening meal, saying: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood. Keep doing this, as often as YOU drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26*For as often as YOU eat this loaf and drink this cup, YOU keep proclaiming the death of the Lord, until he arrives