Why have almost all of the young Jehovah's Witnesses I've met been thoroughly messed up?

Question

I don't mean "confused." I mean: heavily into drink and/or drugs, burdened by psychological problems, prone to promiscuity, law-breaking, etc.

This includes at least one lapsed Jehovah's Witnesses, but it's almost always ones who claim to still be faithful.

These are people I didn't have much to do with, given the 'messed up" aspect.

Have I just met highly peculiar ones, or...?

Are there any statistics on this? It has made me think of it as being not similar to, but parallel to the Amish "rumspringa."

Answer 1

Frankly, it seems that the questioner is commenting more regarding her own preferred associates than regarding the millions of devout members of a well-respected faith such as the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses.

(Ephesians 5:6) Let no man deceive you with empty words

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20000622/article_03.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20000715/article_01.htm
http://jw-media.org/people/contribute.htm

Answer 2

The Bible tells us that "foolishness is tied up in the heart of the boy". First let me say that such behavior as you have listed is not condoned by us. Everyone has times when they stumble. We are all imperfect. I am very saddened if the only people you know who chose to identify them selves as Witnesses are setting such bad examples and not leading Christian lives. Please remember also that people can and do claim allot of things.My Sister-in-laws father told his Doctors he was a Witness. He was most definitely not. HE said this so they would not pressure him to take blood. I could tell you I am the queen of England but I am not. I know and have known many fellow Witnesses young and old who do/did not make these kinds of mistakes. I also know some who have done horrendous things and repented. I know others who have left Jehovah and, as of yet, have not returned. No offense but, if most of the young Witnesses you have met are as you put "messed up" then maybe you need to look at why you seem to be meeting so many messed up people, regardless of the religion
.
As to the comment about Respiring, hope I got that right, it is not the same. We are all free moral agents true. However there is no appointed time to go "sow our oats" and see what which is better. Everyday we make a choice.

Hope this helped

Answer 3

Your question is a timely one and really easy to answer. We as human beings have one thing in common, we all are not perfect. No Jehovah Witness I know professes to be perfect, so they are subject to all the enticements of this old dying world, which we live in. And this world at this point of time is ruled by Satan and his deamons, which are not about to allow you to see good in anyone who worships "his" adversary, Jehovah God and his son Jesus Christ. I am 53 and have been a Jehovah Witness all my life except for a time in my youth when I allowed Satan to rule my mind and fell away from serving Jehovah. Let me tell you it was not an easy thing to do to give up all ties and connections with family and friends of the faith. Some leave the organization with anger and frustration vowing never to return...some leave because they want the pleasures of this old world. Yes, some become awful, and have to hit rock bottom before they can think right again. But the young Witnesses you speak of can not be practicing witnesses, it is not a thing one could hide from the elder's and they would be counseled and if needed Disfellowshipped as I was so many years ago. But once I woke up and realized I was ruing my future, by not serving and obeying Jehovah I prayed for help to clean up my life and return. Just like all faiths you will find some who claim to be beleivers and don't actually act like it, so don't judge all Jehovah Witnesses by a few lost souls you meet. I hope I was able to answer your question and hope I did not offend you or anyone in any way. I just love being a Witness and will proclaim my love for Jehovah in any way I can.

Answer 4

I wonder how could it be that a person with psychological problems would not be accepted in JW's. Considering that they claim to be Christ-like. Wasn't all of Jesus's friends and followers drug addicts and those who were not accepted in mainstream society of the time?
Now, to answer your question: I believe that being brought up as a JW can only cause harm to the children. They are forced to be outcasts at school by not associating with their classmates and having no holiday celebrations like the rest of the children. That alone can cause very serious psychological problems. Now add into the equation the lies they are taught, Jesus did not die on a cross for example, the fact that they harbor child molesters and won't report them to the authorities, California's Carey Verse for example. WOW! Read through some of the comments the "loving" people JWs wrote here and you can see why folks get messed up by them.

Answer 5

I think you just hang around the wrong people or only notice this about the Jehovah Witnesses and not the ones of your own faith (maybe you're prejudiced, even without realizing it, and notice everything bad about the group you're prejudiced against while ignoring the same characteristics in your own group). Or it can simply be a coincidence that you know so many "messed up" Jehovah Witnesses. How many are you talking about anyway?

I know a few young Jehovah Witnesses and they are nothing like that. Come to think of it, I've never seen the Jehovah Witnesses I know drunk and none of them has done drugs or seems to have any more psychological problems than other people. Jehovah Witnesses aren't any different from other people really, except when it comes to faith and religious practices. Some of them are messed up, some of them not. Just like the rest of us.

Answer 6

As a matter of fact, if you search the Internet, you find they have the lowest rates of divorce, drinking, drugs, and all other factors. Even the Amish rates are higher. Compared to any other religion and they are at least five times higher, so spew your venom somewhere else, it is too easy to disprove your claims. My guess is that you were disfellowshiopped for significant immoral conduct, as I was by the Corning, CA in 1982. Get a life, as I did. My parents also still talk to me.

One thing I don't think you will find is a current or ex-JW putting a wire around the throat of a cab driver to rob him, as the young man, who was a Baptist, and the young woman who was Catholic, did to me a week ago. That's the religions they put down on their intake forms when they were arrested.

Answer 7

I am sorry that you encounter some bad apples of this faith, I am sorry also to say in every faith it is the same thing. My Mother who happens to be a Jehovah's Witness has been for over 30 years.. I came out a good person with a good judgement.( I no longer practice the faith).Remember Jehovah's witnesses are still humans and prone to the same things. As Humans we are all messed up in our own way.

Answer 8

I am a young Jehovah's Witness myself. For young people everywhere it is hard to deal with peer pressure and the lifestyle of this world. Im sure you knew what it was like to be young and inexperienced at some point in your life. It's just a stage that we all must go through and come out of. Some young witnesses have given in to this peer pressure and are leading double lives. They see things on tv, movies, listen to it in music, and get it from other kids thier age who are in the same situation as them. They claim to be witnesses but their actions prove who they really are. I have never been involved in anything that wasn't lawfull or broke my moral standards. Im am still a teenager so i can definitely say i am in this age bracket. I have been faced with many challenges while in public school. But attending the christian meetings, regular bible study, and having good christian parents ( who i am so thankful for) help me to resist these temptations and stay on the right track. Some young people do not have the same circumstances. So not all of them end up doing things the right way and can get to a point where they seem "messed up". I have meet both types of these young ones. They ones who are having problems cause these problems themselves or just have personal problems and maybe not the best upbringing. These are facts that relate to most young people. Its a matter of staying strong and resisting the temptaion to be like the rest of the world and our peers. This is the same for adults but harder for children because we have yet to learn some things. I associate with the young ones who are determined to do whats right and who have respect for themselves, their bodies, and most importantly Jehovah. When you think about it, it really boils down to our association. 1 Cor. 15:33 says bad association spoils useful habits. That is very true. And it comes from God himself. If my parents allowed me to hang out with those who expressed bad habits then that would have influenced me to do the same. But fortunatly they surrounded me with older ones who are wise and and those younger ones who they knew were responsible and well mannered. This lead me to become the person i am today. And i owe it all to Jehovah, the bible, christian principles, and my good parents. So just try to keep an open mind and look out for those young ones who are livin their lives correctly. The proof may knock on your door one day!

Answer 9

Jehovah's witnesses are but humans, though they try to imitate the ways of Jesus Christ (He being the image of God), there are still lots of things that make them stumble. The important thing is that they know how loving Jehovah is and they are willing to correct mistakes.

Sadly, there are some who are really burdened by peer and family pressure...I myself am....but we understand why these are all happening so we dont easily give up because we know JEhovah is there to back us up.

thanks.

Answer 10

This is not just a problem with Jehovahs Witnesses but with all high control religions. When a person is born into a high control religion they are told what they can and can't do. Fear of Armageddon or being disfellowshipped prevents them from developing their own boundaries. This leads to emotionally stunted adults.

Almost 3 out of every 4 JW children eventually leave the religion. Not only do they need to develop boundaries that should have been formed as teenagers, they are also afflicted with trust issues on learning that they have lived a life based on deception. Many swinging wildly out of control for several years until they learn who they really are. It is often recommended that they seek professional counselling to assist during this time.