Any Jehovah's witness or other faiths restriced from using the bathroom during meetings (church) as a child?

Question

I grew up in a strict JW household that attended just about every meeting. During these meetings that would last up to 3 hours long the children were expected to remain still and quiet. Going to the bathroom for most children was forbidden though some parents did not inforce it. I was one of the unlucky children whos parents did. I have early memories of having to urinate very badly, but was not allowed to go. I just had to sit there and endure it. Holding myself or figiting was not allowed. More than once I was taken to the bathroom to be spanked not staying still or whining. Even though we were in the bathroom I was not allowed to go. Instead I was brought back to our seat after I stopped crying. Not only did I have to endure a full bladder, but I also had to endure the pain from the spanking. I wasn't always able to fully stop crying from the pain so I was brought back again for another one which caused me to cry even more. Has anyone else had this happen to them or seen this?

Lookm in up on the internet tonks_op. It is standard practice for children to be whipped for not stiiting still during the meeting. I can not even go into the stuff I seen and witnessed when I was part of the church.

We did have some meeting that lasted three hours. I guess each is different and things have changed since the 70s and 80s. You are right there is no written policy that says no, but many parents did restrict the bathroom. I believe it was due to them always discouraging it. Let me be clear I’m not bashing the religion, just some of it members. I’m no longer a JW BTW.

I remember wetting myself twice once while being spanked and it only made the beating worst. I learned at a young age to just hold it and be still.

My parents never let me go during the transition song and so did some of the other parents. I can not beleive no one here have never had a 3 hour meeting!!! I think your trying to cover up what really goes on.

Answer 1

Unlike the other controlled JW's (and its easy to figure who they are) that answered your question with doubt and more or less called you a liar, I believe every word of what is typed in your question. No one makes up such detailed experience and you can read the pain in the body of the question. I will not begin to tell you the misery that piece of you know what religion has brought into my family. If you are still a member of this cult then you need to sit down and read your question aloud to yourself and then ask yourself why you are still a part of this. The plan and simple truth is that was child abuse. Plain and simple. If I was still teaching and you had told me that as a teacher I would be forced to turn your parents in. I know I am sounding very harsh and you may love your parents very much but they are and were truly misguided. I will stop here because I could go on with horror stories of what I have been through with this cult (and that is why I believe every bit of what you typed) but I will spare you. May God give you the strength to go on and find the light of real love and faith.

Edit update:Three hours or two hours and to not let a child use a rest room is outrageous period. I am also very well educated in this religion and know how members will paint a false picture, plant false smiles and lie. It is known as theologic warfare and I am sure it is being used right now.

Edit update again: It is never slander if it is personly experienced. It is only slander if you lie and who will prove that?

*NEW Edit update 05/01/07: If any of you here at this question are defending the JW's and pinning the question asker up against the wall and you are of another faith, don't defend them. The JW’s have complete disrespect for any other religion. I promise you that they would never look out for you as they have complete disdain, contempt and zero respect for your faith. They specially have zero respect for Catholicism and their definition of worshiping statues within the Catholic faith. If none of you none JW’s believe me then please start educating yourself on this religion as there are much, much deeper issues here than not saluting the flag or not celebrating the holidays. Those minor surface things are nothing compared to the way the cult can brake up families and totally disregard your own faith.

Last, if any of you thumbs downing JW's want to declare my words slander, then please come and fix the mess your cult has caused to my family, that is if you can get past me at my front door.

Answer 2

Sorry you had to go through that. I grew up in a strict household as well and yes I was not allowed to go during church, but was never spanked with a full bladder in the restroom and taken back without going.......That's just sick!!!!

I think this happens in a lot of churches (and stores) not just with the Jehovah's Witness. I know our pastor tells parents that their potty trained child should be able to last an hour and a half without needing to go. So I know from experience this is discouraged in some churches. I did a search and found this link http://www.communitybaptistchurch.com/articles/Children_In_Church.htm

Its funny how all the post speaking negative about the JW had bad scores and the ones that say you are lying have positive. It makes me wonder if people have called their Witness friends for do this.

Its sad that people can't believe that this goes on. Its also sad they can not give you the benifit of the dought. I guess they do not believe that 1000s of children die each year from child abuse. They need to get out of their Watchtower books and read on on current events once in a while. Remember most child abuse happens away from the public eye. Also things have changed over the years. What went on in the Kingdom Halls 20 years a go a different than today. Please wise up people. Did you ever think that just because your church does not have this going on that it does not mean it goes on elsewhere.

Finally if you want to know why so many people dislike the Jehovah’s Witness I will tell ya.
They rather their child die than receive blood which could save their lives.
They do not allow their children to be a part of most group activates that are separate from the church.
No birthdays, Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving Valentines day and more.
No saluting the flag.
They kick those out that violate the rules.
How they alienate themselves from the rest of the world has many trademarks of a cult.

Answer 3

" Going to the bathroom for most children was forbidden though some parents did not in force it."

Do you have something in writing to back this up? I would suspect that you do not. Could you picture the mess that such actions would entail, how many 'accidents' would occur? The brothers would be cleaning the carpet every week.

Now could YOUR parents have restricted YOUR bathroom travels? I have no doubt, but don't make absurd claims like the above.


" Has anyone else had this happen to them or seen this?"

The ONLY place I see these "stories" is here, on the Internet. They all have ONE thing in common, they are all anonymous.


"It is standard practice for children to be
whipped for not stating still during the meeting"

No it is not nor has it ever been "standard practice". While some parents may have done so, ( and that is their responsibility) it never was a standard practice. Nice attempt to smear though!


"Let me be clear I’m not bashing the religion, just some of it members."

Yes you are. That is your purpose with your 'question.'

"I can not believe no one here have never had a 3 hour meeting!!!
I think your trying to cover up what really goes on."

My family has a long connection with Jehovah's Witnesses. I have been around Jehovah's Witnesses all of my life.
I was baptized in 1973 and I do not remember ANY three hour meetings. Even during the C.O.'s visit at that time it was two and a half hours tops.

Answer 4

Maybe your parents were like that, you can't blame anyone else for it. It looks like you're putting this here just to diss the Witnesses.

I've seen Witness kids at the meetings countless times, and I've seen kids going to the restroom with their parents during the meetings. In fact, it just happened yesterday. Some parents may not want to do it because it can cause a distraction, but I've also noticed that people who have kids always sit towards the back, which allows them to sneak into the restroom without causing any major distraction, which is a good idea.

PS: the longest meeting is 2 hours!!

Answer 5

I believe every word of what you are saying is true as well. Do not listen to Santa and the rest of these everyone is a troll unless they can prove otherwise people.

While I have never been to a JW meeting I have been to many churches and attended a private school for 5 years. I can tell you restroom restrictions do exist and I too was a victim of this at school. This has nothing to do with Jehovah's Witness, but abusive religious parents which I'm gathering was the point of your question.

I have seen this happen at church once when I was a young teenager. This little girl about 4 years old had to pee during church services that were about 1.5 to 2 hours. I over heard her asked her mom to take her more than once but she refused telling her to hold it. I do not know what happened but as we were leaving I seen the mom carry the little girl right out the front door past the restrooms without taking her. The poor thing was screaming pointing to the restroom as she was carried away. I followed them outside and watched as the mom spanked her with the car door open. BTW no one did anything to help. Then the mom put her inside car with the little girl still screaming and left. I'm guessing she was being made to wait until they got home as punishment for asking during the church services. Some sick stuff and from what I'm reading people seem to believe this kind of stuff does not go on. I suggest everyone to visit this website
http://childadvocate.org/1b.htm and the many child abuse forums out there. Also here is some others who know what you are talking about
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/118508/2.ashx/Were+you+a+bathroom+breaker%3F

Answer 6

I am also a JW and since I was little went to the meetings. Going to the bathroom is NOT forbidden during the meeting. The bathroom is there for that purpose. However it is recommended to go to the restroom before or after the meeting to not cause any distractions. I was allowed to go but if I was going every few minutes my mom would put a stop to it. I believe that your parents maybe thought that you would miss some valuable info from going to the bathroom and thought you could hold it till it was over and that by you not staying still or whining that it would distract the audience. I'm sorry you had to deal with that type of expirience but I would like to make it clear that going to the bathroom during the Jehovah's Witness meetings is NOT forbidden just not recommended.

Answer 7

WOW I would hate being treated like that, good thing I was raised a Witness.
Well I have a hard time believing you, for one thing I have never heard of us having "3 hour meetings". I know some parents do feel that children shouldn't be using the bathroom repeatedly during the meetings. Case in point, I have seen some children who seem to need the toilet several times and hour, then when they get there they play at the sink. Yet these same kids could sit through movies at the theater with out going to the bathroom, or could play video games or watch Disney channel *before they had commercials* with out any bladder troubles.

All parents make mistakes. If what you claim is true, then firstly I am sorry for you. Secondly, you need to realise your problems are with your parents, specificly.

As for those who claim it is cruel to try and train children to sit politely during meetings, consider the fact that many children now go to prepreschool where they are expected to be respectful and obediant, is this Abuse?

Answer 8

No. I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses, and the most time the meetings last are 2 hours, and thats on Sundays during the talk, and Watchtower. And have you ever considered it to be a little bit rude when someone is giving a talk and a lot of people get up and leave to do whatever? And going to the bathroom is not forbidden, it just seems better to go before the meeting starts, or when the transition song is being sang. I don't think that a child should not be able to go to the bathroom, I think that thats just plain cruel, and I hope that the whole bathroom experience didn't cause you to walk away from Jehovah. That would be sad for you.

Answer 9

that's ridiculous. I know a bunch of them and that just didn't happen. Those kids are spoiled.
They are cute but I can't imagine them being told they couldn't go to the bathroom. That just wouldn't happen.
Those people are not like that.
Just read her answer and did go back and read his other questions he has tried every angle to discredit Jw's.
Must be some mental problem he has.
He has a bunch of accounts. I can tell it is him by the grammar and spelling and refrences to JW's.
They don't call it church, it is meetings I know that much.
I am in college and no we don't have anything better to do than to trace your accounts on that computer.

Answer 10

Whenever I suspect a question might be a lie, I look at other questions and answers from the asker to see if their Q&A's have a common theme. Did you realize that you asked this question 2 different times about 4 months ago? The only difference was the location you mentioned saying your parents did this to you in public places. If that was the case, that they prevented you from using the bathroom EVERYWHERE you went, then why did you have to purposely mention JW's? You know very well it has nothing to do with the Witnesses, and has everything to do with your parents! I'm very sorry your parents acted in such an abusive way wherever you went as a child, and hope you can resolve this in your heart and mind. It sounds like a very painful memory. But please realize by you mentioning JW's and the meetings, it appears you are trying to malign the whole organization, when in reality, your problem lies with your parents behavior.

Answer 11

I really can't imagine being spanked without pissing my pants at the same time as a kid. My father who was raised Catholic used to hold my wrist so tight I would have bruises from his hand and fingers while he had spanked me around in a circle. I would also have welts and bruises around my waist from the belt too. It was an old thin leather belt around an inch wide. Spare the rod and spoil the child seems to confuse people but I think it means if you don't that you'll spoil them. Not allowing them to use the toilet is really lame. Making them sit through any service this way wouldn't make them a better witness unless it was to testify about the cruelty. Can you imagine the long line on judgment day? I remember going to one of their celebrations when they passed around the bread and um grape juice. I don't remember any so-called chosen there. After the service I seem to remember some old guy dying of a heart attack outside. I guess it was his chosen time? Many religious organizations can seem cruel especially with children. Suffer the little children that they may come unto me? My step son used to hold his piss for hours while he was playing his video games.
The things that people will put themselves thru just to get to the next level in life.