Anyone know what I can do?

Question

For example, although my parents do not wish for me to be attached to the Jehovah's Witnesses, they are acting prejudiced, too.
They don't allow me to talk to them just because of their religion, and my entire family detests them.

However, I know that whatever we are doing now( E.g, celebrating Christmas, B-Days, Halloween) is wrong.
Everytime I try to convince them to trust them without the religion, they yell at me.

I tell mother," They don't talk to me about their religion." They really don't, even when she's gone.
They respect my mother's wishes, but she still doesn't trust them.

I tell her this is prejudiced, but she's too ignorant too listen.

Yes, and it's my belief, for Mugsy, but even if I respect them, they are still being prejudiced.
They won't let me talk to them unless they were some other religion.

Should I just follow their beliefs now(like do Halloween, Christmas, and etc.)
or even though I can't talk to them, I can still not follow their holidays.
Is it too late to start now? However, they say they don't want me to be with them when I'm grown up.

Answer 1

Changing people as a plan of action does not work. You may have to develop your ideas and wait until later in your life to move in that direction. Here is a question that puzzles me, why would your family detest them? Do they feel threatened in some manner by people who are basically trying to do good? I like to chat with them. I may not agree with everything they say or the flyers they hand out, but I know they are trying their best to do good, and I think that is great. It sounds like your parents minds are made up, but you are your own person and can start to form your own path now, step by step, and don't worry about trying to convince your parents or anyone else. Just be yourself.

Answer 2

Your parents think they are protecting you, so they care about you. They just don't know what Jehovah's Witnesses believe and what they think they do know is probably been false stories from other who are not Jehovah's Witnesses. My parents were opposed to my studying with Jehovah's Witnesses, but every question the Witnesses answered was from the Bible. I was very excited to learn the truth from the Bible. I was raised a Lutheran and my husband was raised Baptist. We wanted to be united in our beliefs so we prayed to find the true religion that we would both agree on. We went to many different religions but they would only teach what the churches believed not what the Bible teaches. So, we began to study the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses, my parents became very angry with me and disowned me. My dad kicked us off his land for awhile, trying to get us to not study with Jehovah's Witnesses. We prayed for help and also found through our Bible study why this was happening. Their reaction saddened us, but we trusted in Jesus' promise that we would have many spiritual brothers and sisters and fathers and mothers.-Matthew 19:29. We have spiritual family all over the world that love us. I am glad to say that my family treats us with respect and excepts our beliefs even if they don't agree with them and we do the same to them on their beliefs. Praying is the most important thing you can do to help your parents that they will have an open mind and heart.
Another scripture that helps is Matthew 7:13,14; which talks about the spacious road and the narrow and cramped road. Take time to look this up in your own Bible and continue to pray for your parents.

Answer 3

And you say your parent's are "prejudiced"?

Aren't you doing the same thing by saying that "whatever we are doing now (e.g. celebrating Christmas, B-days, Halloween) is wrong? Wrong in who's eyes, yours? It's certainly not wrong in my eyes and millions of other peoples?

Everyone (even you) are entitled to their beliefs. Religion is a very personal thing and your are not likely to change your parents feelings about it. You should respect their beliefs just as you want them to respect yours, even if they are different. Just because they are "different" doesn't mean they are "wrong".

I happen to be Catholic, but that doesn't mean that I think everyone else is "wrong". I think most people (no matter what religion they are) are trying to be decent and caring individuals.

If someone wants to discuss your beliefs with them that's wonderful. Personally, you'd never change mine and I doubt if you are going to get anywhere with the attitude you have. You can't "convince" anyone to "believe" in something just because you happen to.

Some things are open to discussion and debate, some things just aren't. Stop trying to "convince" your parents about something they have probably believed their entire lives, it's disrespectful. If you want them to respect you, try respecting them.

Answer 4

As a JW, I can tell you only your good conduct is going help you in this matter. My mother was greatly opposed when I first started to talk to the Witnesses. Only I was old enough to move out.

Though the years, my mother came to appreciate the Witnesses, even though she never became one.

There are many experiences about young ones in your position. and Jehovah helped them and He will help you.

Answer 5

It would be wrong for anyone to violate his trained Christian conscience. Even if one is not free to formally associate himself with a particular religion, that does not excuse his responsibility before God and Christ to do what is right with respect to his godly obligations.

(2 Peter 2:20-21) Certainly if, after having escaped from the defilements of the world by an accurate knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they get involved again with these very things and are overcome, the final conditions have become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have accurately known the path of righteousness than after knowing it accurately to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them.


Parents may forbid a child to discuss any matter in the home. Parents may forbid their child's social interactions.
Parents may insist upon themselves engaging in customs which displease God.
The child must respect her parents' authority and refrain from interfering with their decisions for themselves.

(Proverbs 23:22) Listen to your father who caused your birth, and do not despise your mother just because she has grown old.


However, no human authority can supercede Jehovah's supreme sovereignty and no one should disobey clear bible instruction.

(Acts 5:29) We must obey God as ruler rather than men

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20040815/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/archives/index.htm#families

Answer 6

Check out the Seventh Day Adventist Church. You'll get the right doctrine, and maybe your family will be happy. Do the JW's keep the ten commandments? No.

Answer 7

If you are an adult then it is your choice. But be respectful of your parents beliefs. If they celebrate Christmas or B-Days then you have to decide if you want to be part of the family or not.

You have some tough choices ahead of you.

Good luck,

A

Answer 8

Shut them off, but you shouldn't blame them for not wanting you to be a nut like Michael Jackson.

Answer 9

you know, just keep to yourself. you dont have to believe what they believe. i find it hypocritical that they are forcing you to beieve something (especially if they are christian) because christians proclaim god created man and free will for man, however by forcing religion and belief on one is negating the state of free will, and by not allowing one to CHOOSE to accept god... do you think god really would rather have a buncha people forcing other people to worship him or brainwash them so thats why they believe? or do you think god would rather man come to him on his own accord?

Answer 10

How old are you? You sound young. Maybe you should listen to your family.