I dont want to get any slurs started by this question; but I am truly interested in the answer. People such as the WatchTower door - to - door greeters, all I've ever heard is how you shouldn't even go to the door, and the pamplets they leave behind are treated as if theyre infected with anthrax or something. All I've managed to gather from own observations is that the jewish girl I went to school with was the only one who didnt have to say the pledge of allegiance & did not participate in the christmas gift exchanges, they stay to themselves, go to their own church and live in their own part of the town which you are advised not to go in unless you yourself are jewish & invited there... What's it all about?
> P.S. If it matters, I am Christian, but not nessasarly a devoted practicing christian
2006-10-20 08:52:32 · 20 answers · asked by Reb 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The 'people who go door-to-door with The Watchtower are not Jewish. They are Jehovah's Witnesses, or more formally, members of the "Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses".
It is true that Jehovah's Witnesses are not loved by everyone.
http://jw-media.org/newsroom/human_rights.htm
Some people hate Jehovah's Witnesses out of ignorance, or over some misunderstanding. A few may have had a bad personal experience with an individual who claimed to be a Jehovah's Witness, and prejudicially extended their animus to this entire Christian religion.
However, it seems that the majority of anti-Witness hatred is motivated by religious intolerance and bigotry. A few may even be motivated against their Christian worship by the unseen 'god of this system of things', Satan the Devil.
(2 Corinthians 4:4) the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers
Interestingly, such "hatred" should be expected by true Christians in this time of the end, and it actually helps identify Jehovah's Witnesses as Christ's true disciples:
(John 15:19) If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on this account the world hates you.
(Luke 6:22) Happy are you whenever men hate you, and whenever they exclude you and reproach you and cast out your name as wicked for the sake of the Son of man.
(1 Peter 4:4) Because you do not continue running with them in this course to the same low sink of debauchery, they are puzzled and go on speaking abusively of you.
(2 Timothy 4:3-5) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.
It seems signficant that the relatively small religion of Jehovah's Witnesses are the ones best known for their worldwide preaching work. Yet Jesus commanded that ALL who would call themselves "Christian" perform this public work:
(Matthew 28:19,20) 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, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And, look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/library/jt/index.htm
http://watchtower.org/library/w/2003/3/1/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/library/w/2002/4/1/article_01.htm
2006-10-21 17:43:00 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I read this as that jehovas witnesses avoid people they know to be jewish... and are bizzarely cautious towards jews.
firstly "most" of judaism isn't that segregated, some ultra-orthodox have their own little areas and such, and from my understanding those groups can be rather assertive about their areas being observant.
the very observant jewish communitys I think pretty much always made a point of staying to themselves, but in a non-harmful way. Jews largely can and do say the pledge, and frequently at office type things do give and take gifts and such... most have a thick skin about it.
now this is not meant in an arrogant way, but Jewish culture is one of the, if not THE oldest "developed" culture that still exists. for most of civilization it was way ahead of most of the others... pretty sure statistically observant jewish culture has massively lower percentages of divorce, alcoholism, abuse, and nearly every other social ill. the nature of the rules and traditions and such, generally help develop things in such a way that theres less of these problems.
pretty sure I read that when the plague was ravaging europe, jewish communitys had a vastly lower percentage of casualtys. ... which could be attributed to the fact that observant judaism has rules on cleanliness and kashrut and such that would tend to limit the spread of such diseases within that group.
and the stereotype of jews being rich... well, large amounts of jewish people ARE relatively well off. much of this is old money, but not always. (and believe it or not there are jews that are not rich!)
collectively all these problems, lol, or rather lack of problems... semi-rationally makes people who are nearby, and getting hit by things much worse... dislike them.
I mean you might think that if your having problems, and a group that isolates themself and has different traditions, is having a fraction of the problems, you might want to emulate them, rather than ostracize them...
alot easier to hate then to adopt more difficult standards and traditions
2006-10-20 11:07:55 · answer #2 · answered by RW 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Often because they were the tax collectors and business folks due to being sometimes the only folks who knew their numbers. Sometimes because they were successfull during times of poverty due to social conventions within their faith which made them a favorite scapegoat.
Some Christean's take a weird sort of offense because that means they know all about the bible but do not accept Jesus as a Savior...in other words unsavable.
Right now the atrocities done in the Jewish faiths name are a common reason...Some Jewish folks hate Jewish folks saying most are bad because the good ones would die instead of go along with/help those who would persecute them.
Also in case I read that right....Jehovah's Witness are not Jewish.
2006-10-20 09:02:08 · answer #3 · answered by Sqwrll F 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Envy, mainly. I'm an "armchair" Christian, too, that admires the hell out of the Jews. Abused and persecuted for centuries, they've turned barren deserts into gardens. And with a population of about 5 million, they've not only held off a surrounding hostile neighborhood of about 1.1 billion, but kicked their invading butts in a few days anytime it was attempted. Makes you think twice about smirking at the designation "chosen Ones", eh?
2006-10-20 09:13:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not aganist jewish people, and as far as JW's they teach many lies. Do a study on the two men who started the JW. Lied in court many times. Find out who they really are before you take there pamplets. I could write you a bunch of things but best you learn it for your selves. So I am aganist that religion, not the people cause they are just blinded.
2006-10-20 09:04:01 · answer #5 · answered by iwant_u2_wantme2000 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is your question about Jews or Jehovah's Witness?
I do not know many who are against the Jew here in the U.S. Most Christian today feel that the Jews are still God's chosen people and ignore the fatat that the N.T. says that God rejected them because they rejected his Son.
2006-10-20 09:14:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's a generalisation, not everyone is 'against' Jewish people. And for the most part it's ignorant and narrow-minded people who act or speak negatively against them. Many culutures have been targeted at one time or another, Jewish people have had more than their fair share of the prejudice. I can't understand why. They are normal people, with their own beliefs, just like the rest of us!
2006-10-20 08:56:24 · answer #7 · answered by lovefromkatie 2 · 6⤊ 0⤋
I think you are confusing Jews and Jehovah's Witnesses.
JW's are the ones coming door to door, and don't say the "pledge" nor participate in gift exchanges.
Jews will say the pledge, and exchange gifts, depending upon the holiday.
2006-10-20 08:58:27 · answer #8 · answered by Bob L 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
First off, why should Jews participate in the practices of other religions? Although I have no idea why she didn't say the pledge...there is absolutely nothing wrong with saying it.
as far as the rest, take a few minutes and view:
http://www.aish.com/seminars/whythejews/index.htm
2006-10-20 08:57:42 · answer #9 · answered by mzJakes 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i think you are confusing jews and jehova's witnesses.
the watchtower is a JW magazine. judaism is anti-missionizing.
jews say the pledge of allegiance.
jews participate in christmas gift exchanges, except we get chanukah gifts instead of christmas gifts.
2006-10-20 09:06:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋