i'm really interested in learning more about Jehovah's Witnesses...help?

Question

i have a child that i work with...and i dont understand alot of why he isnt allowed to do certian things...and he is always talking about "well in my religion" so i just would like to learn a little more about it...Like why cant he say the pledge of allegence? or how come he is not allowed to go in front of the class to "lead" the class at calander time? Also...why cant he be in the school play? his mother says it is agianst his religion...its about a zebra with no stripes...if anyone can help itwould be GREAT...i cant find alot of info on the watchtower site..at least not what i am looking for. My email is [e-mail] if anyonewould like to talk more about it with me...thanks

Answer 1

This question is interesting because it IMPLIES that the child and his mother claim to be Jehovah's Witnesses, but does not EXPLICITLY state that they actually are Witnesses.

Frankly, too many people (including the occasional Jehovah's Witness) will claim that some undesirable activity is "against my religion" when that is not actually the case. For example, each individual or family head among Jehovah's Witnesses makes his own entertainment choices. While Jehovah's Witnesses almost universally avoid 'horror' films, technically such films offend a Witness's "conscientious" sensibilities rather than his "religious" beliefs. A Witness who chose to watch a horror film may have violated his Christian conscience, but he has not violated his Christian religion.

It seems reasonable to excuse a child who fails to distinguish between his family's "religious" beliefs and his family's "conscientious" sensibilities. But such imprecision is less common among adult Jehovah's Witnesses, and even less so among Witness parents who expect to discuss such issues with teachers and other school officials.

Interestingly, Jehovah's Witnesses' own statistics count about 1 million active Witnesses in the United States, but about 2 million associate themselves by meeting attendance. Secular surveys generally note that about 1% (or 3 million) Americans identify themselves with Jehovah's Witnesses. In summary:
...1 million practice
...2 million attend
...3 million identify

Clearly, there are many who identify themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses while having little or no formal connection with the religion. This questioner is to be commended for seeking information about Jehovah's Witness beliefs, but should be cautioned that such information may be of limited use in understanding a family which is only tangentially committed to the faith.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20050508/article_01.htm
http://jw-media.org/beliefs/membership.htm
http://jw-media.org/people/index.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20060401/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_08.htm

Answer 2

The person you need to talk to is the Childs mother. She can probably explain best why she feels a certain way.

I can tell you that as Christians we give our Allegence to God, not a government.

I really can't tell you what the problems with calander time, or the play are.

Answer 3

I think you should call the childs parents and ask them for a parent teacher conference (type of thing) and don't forget to ask them to bring their Bible. You should have yours too. This way you can sit down with them privately and ask all the questions you want. True servants of Jehovah just love talking about him but may be shy or nervous.

Answer 4

Witnesses have no political ties and will not pledge to any country since the bible is clear Satan is in control of Earthly Goverments.

Luk 4:5-7 So he brought him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the inhabited earth in an instant of time; and the Devil said to him: “I will give you all this authority and the glory of them, because it has been delivered to me, and to whomever I wish I give it. You, therefore, if you do an act of worship before me, it will all be yours.”

Witnesses do honor the Country they live in and pay their taxes.

Matt 22:15 - Then he said to them, 'Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.'

Witnesses follow what the bible says. Unless it is against the bible being in a play will not be a problem.

Answer 5

I'm sorry to say that you will need to address this to the child's parents. No one else is qualified to answer FOR them. They need to explain to you what they view as acceptable and what they view as unacceptable.
I'm not familiar with the play, or the 'taking the lead at calender time.