Sisters & religion?

Question

If you have two sisters and one becomes a Jehovah Witness but the other one doesn't , how does it affect their relationship?

Answer 1

The one who becomes a Jehovahs Witness has joined a cult and it all depends upon how deep she falls into it as to how it will affect their relationship.

Jehovah Witness: The Historical Background
Jehovah Witness doctrine was founded by Charles Taze Russell. He was only 18-year-old when he began a Bible study that focused on the second coming of Jesus, as well as the chronology of the Bible. As a result of his study, which took place around 1870, he published numerous books. During that decade, he also presented several formal lectures. In 1879, Russell founded Herald of Christ's Presence and Zion's Watch Tower, which became monthly publications. In 1884, the Zion's Watch Tower and Tract Society were officially formed. Russell served as the president until he died in 1916. Russell also authored a series of books called "Studies in the Scriptures," which became the basis of the Jehovah Witness theology. Today, several men lead the Jehovah's Witness "theocratic" organization, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (WBTS). The organization is based in Brooklyn, New York.

Jehovah Witness: The Basic Theology
Jehovah Witness theology has many subtle (and not-so-subtle) nuances. Here are the basics of Watchtower doctrine: God is a single being, not a Trinity. He is not all-knowing or present everywhere. (At one point, the WBTS proclaimed that God ruled the universe from somewhere in the Pleiades star system. They have since backed down from this teaching.) First, God created Michael the Archangel, through whom God later created all "other things," such as the earth, the universe, and all mankind. This process took place over exactly 42,000 years. When it was time for the birth of a savior, Michael became a man, in the form of Jesus Christ. He was without sin and kept every law of God. According to Jehovah's Witness theology, Jesus was put to death on a "torture stake." It is here that He bore the sins of all mankind (except for Adam). Later, Jesus rose from death in spirit, but did not rise in physical form. Jehovah's Witnesses who faithfully abide by God's organization on earth (the WBTS) will be spared from eternal annihilation. They will live forever on Paradise Earth. Heaven is a special place that is reserved for a distinct group of 144,000 Jehovah's Witnesses, who have been deemed "born again" by the WBTS and are allowed to take annual communion. Generally, Jehovah's Witnesses agree to attend five meetings a week where they are taught from WBTS literature. After studying the material for at least six months, they answer a series of questions before a panel of elders, and upon approval, are baptized into the organization. Followers are then asked to maintain a modest appearance and demeanor, refusing to vote in government elections, salute the American flag, join the U.S. armed forces, or celebrate birthdays and Christmas. Each member is required to fulfill a schedule of public canvassing in order to distribute WBTS literature and collect donations for WBTS headquarters in New York. If a Jehovah's Witness leaves the organization, he is shunned in all ways. Outside the WBTS organization, "Christendom" is considered "demonic." Christianity is deemed "apostate," filled with pastors who are antichrists, in churches run by Satan, who support the earthly governments.

Jehovah Witness: Watchtower Doctrine vs. Christian Doctrine
Jehovah Witness and Christian theology actually have some basic similarities. Generally, they both teach that God is the Creator of everything, as opposed to naturalistic evolution, and they both share the belief that Jesus Christ will ultimately return to earth to destroy Satan and establish God's eternal kingdom. However, this is where the general similarities cease. There are many important differences in doctrine between the Jehovah's Witnesses and evangelical Christianity, most important of which is the person and nature of Jesus Christ. The deity of Christ is the central point of the entire Bible. Scripture clearly teaches that Jesus Christ is God. The Jehovah Witness teachings concerning Jesus Christ clearly contradict the teachings of the Bible. Multiple passages tell us that Jesus Christ, who existed as God, took the bodily form of a humble servant so that He could die on the cross in our place.

Jehovah Witness doctrine considers the 66 books of The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT) as the only true and divinely inspired Word of God. The NWT is produced and published by an "anonymous" translation committee of the WBTS. The NWT is regarded as the best and only translation of the Bible, because "the translators held so closely to what is in the original Bible languages." In addition, the "governing body" of the WBTS is regarded as God's only true channel of accurate biblical interpretation. As such, Jehovah Witness doctrine requires that we be "associated with God's channel, his organization" in order to be true followers of God. This means that there is no salvation apart from the WBTS. Christian doctrine holds that the Bible is indeed composed of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, and is indeed the inspired and infallible Word of God. However, the NWT is not a legitimate translation, and merely reflects Jehovah Witness theology, especially its bias against the deity of Jesus Christ and the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. For example, John 1:1 in the NWT reads, "and the Word [Jesus] was a god." All other legitimate Bible translations say, "and the Word [Jesus] was God."

Jehovah Witness: The Basic Christian Response
As far as the Jehovah's Witness claim that the NWT is the only true interpretation of the Bible, the Christian response is that no religious leader or religious organization can claim exclusive control or possession of the true interpretation of the Bible. Through the Holy Spirit, all Christians are capable of interpreting and understanding the Holy Bible. As far as the Jehovah's Witness claim that the WBTS is the only way to God and salvation, the Christian response is that all people who have accepted the free gift of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior are saved. Salvation is "by grace through faith" in Jesus Christ alone. No amount of works or membership in any religious group is required for eternal life with God.

Answer 2

There is no black and white answer to that question. It depends entirely on those two individuals and how they choose to handle it.

It will almost certainly cause some problems because the Witness will no longer celebrate holidays or birthdays or do a lot of things they did before. On the other hand, there may be positive aspects that will actually improve their relationship. If they both want to have a familial relationship with each other, that does not have to change.

The relationship can continue pretty much as before if that is what they both desire. However, if both sisters were to become Witnesses, then one of them decided they no longer believed the Watchtower religion was the "truth", then the relationship would end because the remaining Witness would be forbidden to have contact with her sister who would now be considered an 'apostate' and lower than dirt in her sister's eyes.

Answer 3

Depends on your relationship with your sister if you have come to an agreement that you can each have your own idea of religious thought then there should be no trouble.
Now if one becomes a Jehovah Witness and the other becomes a non Christian then some sparks may fly if you do not try and find similarities in each others religions rather than just differences then you will most likely stop speaking to each other. and move physically away also.

Answer 4

Depends on the people. I am a Jehovah's Witness but neither of my 2 sisters are. One of them, the oldest of the two, respects me for the first time in my life and we have become very close--although she has no desire to become a Witness. The other, the youngest, and I have always been close but when I talk of spiritual things, she shuts down completely and tries to change the subject or make a joke. I accept that--what else can I do? I love them both.

Answer 5

Yes. At least in part. Family relationships never stay the same. People grow, people change. As far as what becoming one of Jehovah's People does to alter a relationship depends allot on the people involved. I am a Witness. Both my brothers are not. I have seen the mess they have made of their lives and the pain it is causing them. I cannot help but feel they are living their lives wrong. That is my choice. It is their choice to live their lives as they see fit. I never got along perfect with them. However it was not until one began, quite publicly, cheating on his Wife that I found myself nauseated with his choices. While, as a Christian, I have the Bible as a reminder of the sacredness of marriage, in all honesty given the circumstances I would be disgusted anyway. The other sibling has made it clear he is not willing to let me make my own decisions, regardless of what they may be. Given this I cannot stand being near him.
I honestly do not believe my relationship with them would be any different whether I was any religion or even without religion, save one thing.
I constantly am able to have hope that one day they will turn around, and as a Witness I know that only Jehovah knows what is in there hearts. So while all relationships do change, it is not necessarily because of ones faith.

For more information on how we as Jehovah's Witnesses are traineed by the Bible to regard our families either talk to one of us face to face or go to our official website http://www.watchtower.org

Answer 6

They will still love each other, but the Jehovah's Witnesses will not go to celebrate their birthday with them or give them presents or cards, won't celebrate the other holidays either. But it won't change them as loving sisters unless the one who is not a Jehovah's Witness takes offense at her sister for observing her faith and not celebrating with her. I know because I am the only Jehovah's Witness in my family and we all get along fine. But Jesus did say; Do you think I came to bring peace into the world, bit I tell you I bring not peace but a sword, a sword between father ,and son, between mother and daughter, between a daughter and her mother-in-law, for I tell you a person's enemies will be people of his own household. So there could be trouble, but not on the Jehovah's Witnesses part.

Answer 7

It would have to depend on their relationship before one changed their form of religion. If both sisters love one another and can respect each others' choices in their beliefs then the relationship shouldn't change.

But that is hard to do when faced with spiritual beliefs, most family members get hurt when one member of the family chooses to follow a different faith or form of the same faith. Hopefully the sisters can remember their love for one another and not argue over the differences in religion.

Answer 8

Jehovah's Witnesses are not a cult. Their teachings generally improve the personalities of their adherents.

A person who becomes a baptized Jehovah's Witness will often prefer to choose his closest associates from among those who respect his chosen religion. A sister or other family member who refrains from insulting, demeaning, or discouraging the belief system of his Witness relative should find his relationship to continue as before, or even improve!

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/library/t21/enjoy.htm
http://watchtower.org/library/w/1999/5/15/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/library/vcpf/index.htm
http://watchtower.org/library/vcpf/article_02.htm

Answer 9

So one becomes a Jehovah's Witness, and the other just Witnesses the Jehovah's Witness?

Answer 10

One spends her weekend knocking on doors and bugging the Hell out of people and the other one spends their weekend enjoying herself. Then, if they're identical twins, the one who isn't a Jehovah's Witness gets upset because every so often someone will say ''Hey, it's that religious lady who knocked on my door and told me that I'm going to Hell! Get her!" After awhile the one who is a Jehovah's Witness comes to her senses and spends her vacations gambling in Vegas. Then they become friends again.

Answer 11

Well NOTHING should effect ones relationship with their sisters/siblings. You can make good friend with strangers with different religion and background so why is your sister any different.

The relationship between sisters especially should not be effected by anything at all.......