Is it legal for my ex-wifes parents to tell my daughter that I worship Satan?

Question

When my daughter goes for visitation with her mother the grand parents are Jehovah Witnesses and have been telling my daughter that I worship Satan because I celebrate
X-mas/B-days/Halloween. My daughter is now affaid to celebrate in these events because she thinks that she will die and not get to go to paradise (Heaven).
How should I deal with this problem?

Answer 1

If you live in the United States, then the answer is yes it is legal. It is called freedon of speech.

It is also, however, judgemental. Which is NOT how Jehovah's Witnesses are taught to be. I would suggest learning a little more about what Jehovah's Witnesses really teach about holidays. If you are really concerned about the way your ex in-laws are talking to your daughter about you, why not try speaking directly to them? You may find that a lot of what is being said is being misinterpreted by your daughter. If that doesn't work or you already don't get along with them well enough to attempt this, I would suggest contacting the Elders in the congregation they attend. The phone numbers of most Kingdom Halls are published.

They will not intervene as family counselors but if someone in their congregation is causing someone in the community to feel maligned, that is an issue for them because it reflects on the public image of the congregation and Jehovah's Witnesses as a whole. We should certainly not be calling anyone a Satan worshiper unless that person publicly proclaims it themself.

The important thing is how this affects your daughter. I can't address your in-laws because you are the one posing the question. It seems you are the one who wants to resolve the problem so you are the one who will need to take the first step. Understanding why your daughter believes you are being caled a Satan worshiper seems to be the first step. I am not suggesting that your daughter is wrong about what she heard but it is possible. The first step is to find out whether she is correct or not and then if she is clear, to come to understand why they would say it to her. You are under no obligation to accept a bible study or anything else Jehovah's Witnesses believe, but to at least attempt an understanding will help. The better you get along with her grandparents, the better off she will be.

Answer 2

If you are a Satan worshiper, there is no problem. However, because you do celebrate Christmas and such, I'll assume you are not.

This is a problem many divorced couples go through, and it is very wrong. Just because you do not get along with your ex, doesn't mean you can create falsehoods to make yourself look better to your child. This is defiantly an actionable case because not only is it a form of abuse and harassment, it is also defamation of character and libel.

Seek out a lawyer. The longer this goes on, the more your daughter will get confused and separated from you. Your ex is trying to drive a wedge between you and your child.

Answer 3

I'm not trying to split hairs, but I used to be a Jehovah's Witness and just to clear this up, your daughter's grandparents are not threatening your little girl with not going to heaven, but as you said, Paradise on earth. (They don't really hold out hope of heaven to anyone now,since they feel all the slots are filled already.) They are probably filling her head with the idea that if people do anything except what Jehovah's Witnesses teach, that Jehovah will destroy them...including her...at Armageddom which they teach is "very soon".

It sounds as though you are the custodial parent, and as such, you can probably petition the court to instruct your ex-wife not to allow the grandparents to continue making these kinds of statements to the child. I'm sure any psychologist would testify that such statements are emotionally disturbing to a child who is apparently being raised by parents who DO celebrate these things.

Even if the grandparents would cease from making these statements, though, if your daughter is attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall, she is probably going to get the same idea even if the grandparents honor the request to keep silent. If your wife is not a Witness, only the grandparents, then I would advise you to take whatever steps you can to prevent the grandparents from taking your daughter to the Kingdom Hall. If the wife is a Witness and takes your daughter herself, then that would probably complicate matters further.

You don't say how old she is, but if she is old enough to understand, you might share with her what the Bible says in Romans chapter 14:1-12. Explain to her that even back in Bible times, not all Christians agreed which days were important to celebrate and Paul said that either way was OK as long as the person celebrated the day to honor God, or refrained from celebrating to honor God. Explain that people honor Jesus in different ways, and that Paul said we have to do what we think is right, and let other people do the same.

If she is already so indoctrinated that she feels guilty for celebrating holidays, I hope you will do what is best for her and not force her to participate. You should also acquaint yourself with the history and teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses if you want to be able to show your daughter that even though they're fine people, they have and continue to be mistaken about many things.

In the book The Finished Mystery published back in 1916, Jehovah's Witnesses promised that God was going to destroy all the churches of Christendom, except for Jehovah's Witnesses, in the year of 1918. Help her to see that she doesn't need to be afraid of the 'judgments' pronounced by these people against everyone who doesn't agree with them. Obviously God is not doing their bidding, much to their disappointment.

Answer 4

Interesting.

Get an adleitem for your daughter and tell them to have your daughter talk to a pscychologist concerning this matter. I think the doctor will form the opinion that these grandparents are a bad influence on the child.You may be able to secure a peace bond against them or a restraining order in that case. Your ex wife won't like you and your child may hate you but the problem will be a thing of the past. Of course, it will cost you several thousand dollars in court costs and lawyers' fees.

Answer 5

It's emotional abuse, not to mention going to have some severe psychological effects. Start by talking to your ex-wife. Tell her that they either start keeping their opinions to themselves or they are going to be in a huge battle over their grandparent rights. I'm not sure if you and your wife have discussed what religion to raise your daughter, but often in divorce, it becomes an issue, especially if the spouses believe differently. In most cases, the judge will order the child be exposed to both religions within reason and then be allowed to decide on their own once they reach the age of majority. If you haven't done so, seek a modification in your judgement of divorce to include this language. This way, when the grandparents start filling this child's head with all these crazy notions, you can haul them into court and have it ordered to be stopped or they get charged with contempt.

Answer 6

Halloween is a scary day for many people, not just Christian children. Other holidays are less overtly scary, but are troubling as well.

Jehovah's Witnesses practice strict political and nationalistic neutrality, so they do not celebrate nationalistic holidays such as Independence Day and Memorial Day.

Other holidays derive from false religion, and so are incompatible with pure worship as adulterating interfaith. For example, Easter derives from the pagan god Oestre and celebrates "rebirth" and "fertility" instead of commemorating Christ's Last Supper and death as Jesus commanded:
(Luke 22:1-22) [Jesus] dispatched Peter and John, saying: “Go and get the passover ready for us to eat.” ...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.” ... Keep doing this in remembrance of me.”

Seemingly innocuous holidays may have only a tangential connection with false worship, such as Mother's Day and Father's Day (although arguably derived from ancestor worship). Understated observance of these is not generally considered interfaith by Jehovah's Witnesses, but it is too easily misunderstood in some cultures.

Since such celebrations are not required in true worship, and can easily become a distraction, so Jehovah's Witnesses focus their attention elsewhere. In particular, they are focussed on the preaching work which *IS* a requirement for Christians:

(Luke 10:1-17) [Jesus] 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. 2 Then he began to say to them: “The harvest, indeed, is great, but the workers are few. Therefore beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/library/w/2005/1/1a/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/library/w/2000/12/15/article_01.htm

Answer 7

file with the courts to forbid your daughter from seeing those grandparents. They have no right to do that to your daughter.

If you are a Christian than help her to see what the Bible says. Particularly the parts that talk about celebrating and holidays. Jesus first miracle was after all performed at a party.

Answer 8

Tell her she should read Scripture and judge herself how she can get to Heaven and she should learn the history of all the events you celebrate to make an informed decision. She can still celebrate with you and remember that not all those holidays need to have religious connotations.

Answer 9

thats the worst thing i have heard in a long time. it definately sounds like they need to be talked to. you should also explain to your daughter that "nan and papa are crazy, because normal people dont say thing that like." honestly what kind of twisted old people going around trying to ruin christmas for their own grandchild? give me their number and i will crank call them. and i hope they get a special visitor this halloween. meanwhile... back to the real problem. you need to have a serious talk with your daughter and ex. about whats going on. and maybe include granny and granpa. it sounds like they are holding something against you. and they are using thier religious beliefs as a way of covering up their animosity. get it out in the open. tell them that if they have something thats bothering them, they need to discuss it with you. and not confuse or frighten your daughter. because in the end its only going to drive her away from them. and they are going to end up crusty tired and lonely. withering away forgotten in a home, and smelling like they could benifit from a urinal cake.

Answer 10

Sounds like somethimg my wife and her exhusband are battling about with their daughter. Best advice is to contact your lawyer and make sure all of this is documented..it might come to having a judge order that conduct to end. The most important thing is the well being of your daughter...and obviously they think of nothing other than themselves.