is it possible for a jehova's witness and catholic to stay together?

Question

we're madly in love and we talk about marriage constantly. he says we can work, and i agree with him until he starts talking about the end of the world that's "just around the corner." then i roll my eyes and try to change the subject. i believe he's been brainwashed. how long can it work like this?

Answer 1

Anti-Witnesses have spread many slanderous lies about Jehovah's Witnesses, even suggesting that they are not Christian or "brainwashed". Yet Witnesses have typically spend hundreds of hours in bible study, while the typical anti-Witness bigot has little actual understanding of Witness beliefs.

A devout Jehovah's Witness would not pursue a romantic relationship with a non-Witness, because the beliefs and goals are too different:

(2 Corinthians 6:14) Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers

(Exodus 23:32) You are not to conclude a covenant with them [adherents of other religions]

(Deuteronomy 7:3) And you must form no marriage alliance with them. Your daughter you must not give to his son, and his daughter you must not take for your son.

(1 Kings 11:4) And it came about in the time of Solomon’s growing old that his wives themselves had inclined his heart to follow other gods

(1 Corinthians 7:39) She is free to be married to whom she wants, only in the Lord.


However, if a marriage already exists, then the Jehovah's Witness would do everything he could to assure the success of the marriage, even with a non-Witness.

(Malachi 2:16) For he has hated a divorcing,” Jehovah the God of Israel has said

(Genesis 2:24) That is why a man will leave his father and his mother and he must stick to his wife and they must become one flesh.

(Matthew 5:32) However, I say to you that everyone divorcing his wife, except on account of fornication, makes her a subject for adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

(Matthew 19:8) He said to them: “Moses, out of regard for your hardheartedness, made the concession to you of divorcing your wives, but such has not been the case from the beginning.

(Mark 10:9) Therefore what God yoked together let no man put apart.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/library/w/2003/9/15/article_01.htm

Answer 2

Well, just by reading the Jehovah witness comments you have already received you can see how messed up they can be as a non Christian group and this can give you an indication of the problems you could inherate. This is along with the fact that you will probably be asked to convert to their religion as they view the Catholic faith as non legimate.

I am a Catholic married to a non Christian (a Jain) and we make it work but then neither of ours agenda is to either convert the other or ridicule, despise or insult the others faith. Our marriage is built on love but depending on the strength of your boyfriends beliefs and if they are anything like the comments on this website then you are in a not very pleasant ride - especially if you suspect the brainwashing is of a strong nature. I would suggest discussing this issue with your Catholic Parish Priest for some sound suggestions.
Good luck and God Bless you with your decisions

Answer 3

I've been in your situation and, at least in my case, the answer is "no." Let me clarify one point, though: I am no longer Catholic, having "converted" to non-denominal Protestantism a while ago.

I have carefully looked into JW beliefs and, sadly, have concluded they are not a truly Christian religion; they are a cult that brainwashes followers into believing lies that are from the pit of Hell. If you think this statement is extreme, look into these key issues: do JWs believe Jesus is God? (no -- they think He was the Archangel Michael); do JWs believe any person can receive the Holy Spirit and be "born again" as referenced by Jesus in John 3:1-21? (no -- only a select few are Born Again and go to Heaven; the remainder constitutes the "great crowd" and will never see Heaven or God); do they believe the Bible is God's only means of written communication to believers? (no -- they give equal and sometimes higher credance to the writings of their cult's founder). There are other important issues, but I won't go into them all. The important point for you to understand is they "preach a different gospel," and God's Word instructs you to turn away from them.

I urge you to keep two things in mind when making this vital decision:

2 Cor. 6: "14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?"

2 John 1:9 "Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds."

Some have written here that all you have to do is tolerate each other's beliefs and, somehow, it'll all work out. I'll tell you something, we should never put on "rose colored glasses" when we choose a marriage partner. God says these two people become "one flesh:" they think alike, have common goals and should share the same religious beliefs. You cannot become "one flesh" with a marriage partner who is so radically different from you.

Other thoughts: what will you do when you and your kids receive nothing from him for Christmas and birthdays? (JWs don't celebrate these occasions, and you'll be lucky if he even permits a Christmas tree or birthday party in your home). What will you do when he refuses to participate in Thanksgiving dinner, or go to your 4th of July cookout? I can say from experience, it gets pretty lonely after awhile. And if you love God, all you want to do is talk about Him. How will it make you feel when you finally realize you can't talk about God with him? Then, there's the issue of "headship." God says the husband is the "spiritual head" of the household. How can you trust someone in a religious cult to make Biblically supported decisions regarding your family? You cannot -- trust me. Before you know it, he'll try to keep you from going to church and he'll insist your kids only go to his "Meeting Hall," where they, too, will be indoctrinated.

It is possible God is using this as a test of your faith. Whether He is or is not, I pray you make the right decision.

Answer 4

I think it is possible. It depends on the mindsets of the individuals. I would not write him off just because he thinks the end of the world is right around the corner. A lot of people who are not Jehovah's Witnesses think the same on the issue. It is called paying attention to what is happening around the world and acknowledging human nature, I feel. It would depend on how he talks about the "impending" end of the world and whether he seems to be mindlessly repeating what he has been told, or using his own original thoughts. Maybe the people who are not Jehovah's Witnesses are not as certain that it will end all but tomorrow.

I think if I were in your relationship I would move on to other issues such as "stonecutting" and its presence or pervasiveness in the Jehovah's Witness religious organization, and how Catholics feel about it. If you do not know what I mean you should ask your boyfriend or someone in your nuclear family who is trustworthy and who you know to be safe to confide in.

Answer 5

This match can be extremely difficult. JW's do not like non-JWs and especially Catholics. Now this may not be who and what your boyfriend is about, but his religious group may put a lot of pressure on you to convert and if you don't they might put a lot of pressure on him to divorce you.

A lot of this depends on the modus operandi of the JWs in your area and whether they are going to follow the standard procedure with you.

Let me say this now...if you think he has been brainwashed, then I would not suggest marrying him. This is not a productive attitude to have towards a future spouse, regardless as to whether or not it is true that he has been brainwashed.

Now I am a Catholic, and I am going to speak to you as a Catholic. How strong is your own faith? I do not recommend weak Catholics marrying non-Catholic because of the difficulties of progressing in the spiritual journey without the support of your spouse.

In reguards to JW's, they are not Christian, though they will use Christian terminology. It is important for you to reorganize this and try to get onto the same spiritual page as your boyfriend. May I suggest that you look at http://www.catholic.com/library/noncatholic_groups.asp and go over those JW sections with your boyfriend and have a good discussion? You may not reach agreement, but you will both have a better understanding of each other when you are done.

Answer 6

I encourage you to think about this.

Love (those fantastically wonderful feelings that he is the ultimate man and you are so lucky to have him) will fade and in turn you have to develop that permanent love.

Knowing that there is a possibility that you two may have children, but at the least, will make a home together. How will the two of you agree or agree to disagree on key issues.

Marriage is about commitment to one another and the only way for a marriage to last for a lifetime is for both of you to have that commitment to one another.

So, the question is, can both of you be committed to your relationship with this barrier between you. You two really need to talk about this issue and your differences in beliefs and determine if this is going to be an issue you are committed to working through. And more importantly, are you willing to continually work through this issue after marriage, because this issue will be there for as long as both of you are committed to different faiths.

May God grant you his wisdom on this issue.

Answer 7

I would agree with your boy friend on the end of the world. With it so near, perhaps you should go your separate ways

If you have already agreed to marry or have been together; you are already married in the sight of God.

Marriage in any religious order or organization is just so much busy work; whereby these groups subject people to spiritual bondage and deprive them of Christian liberty.

Answer 8

It can work it you are willing to respect each others beliefs but it will be hard. Also to marry and have the Catholic Church recognize that marriage you need to get him to promise to let you raise your children in the Catholic faith. I will warn you that there is a danger on both sides that one of you may later convert to the others faith or divorce. Religion is a very private and important matter
Peace of Christ be with you,
Debra

Answer 9

If you both recognize the godly in each other, which is what love is all about, you've already done half the job.. the other half is accepting that you don't always agree. You can go far together I'm sure, there are many who have done it before you! Keep faith!! And go for it. If you really care about this person, don't let it pass you by!!

Answer 10

"Madly".... Yes..... Run for the hills...

P.S I find it telling that "Christians" of so many colors are all too willing to brand every other brand of their religion "cult". The difference between a cult and a mainstream religion is simply political clout. Utah anyone?