My friend is Jehovah Witness..?

Question

I would like to ask questions but i'm afraid she would feel uncomfortable. I would like to know the differences in their religion (JW) and Catholics in simple terms i.e. like do JW belive in virgin Mary?

Answer 1

Most Jehovah's Witnesses are quite comfortable discussing their beliefs from the bible, especially with a friend. Even schoolchildren among Jehovah's Witnesses typically preach from door-to-door using the bible.

Regarding the Virgin Mary, Catholicism insists that Mary was 'forever virgin', seemingly ignoring the fact that she had other sons and daughters after Jesus was born.

The bible teaches quite clearly that Jesus had literal brothers and sisters in connection with his human mother Mary. There is no reason to think that these ordinary men and women were also the result of divine conception, rather than from normal marital relations between Mary and Joseph.

(Matthew 13:54-56) And after coming into his home territory [Jesus] began to teach them in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said: "Where did this man get this wisdom and these powerful works? 55 Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Where, then, did this man get all these things?"

While some Catholics pretend that the terms "brothers" and "sisters" do not mean literal siblings, the plain meaning of this Scripture is actually acknowledged by Catholic authorities.

The New Catholic Encyclopedia (1967, Vol. IX, p. 337) admits regarding the Greek words "adelphoi" ["brothers"] and "adelphai" ["sisters"], used at Matthew 13:55, 56, that these "have the meaning of full blood brother and sister in the Greek-speaking world of the Evangelist's time and would naturally be taken by his Greek reader in this sense. Toward the end of the 4th century (c. 380) Helvidius in a work now lost pressed this fact in order to attribute to Mary other children besides Jesus so as to make her a model for mothers of larger families. St. Jerome, motivated by the Church's traditional faith in Mary's perpetual virginity, wrote a tract against Helvidius (A.D. 383) in which he developed an explanation . . . that is still in vogue among Catholic scholars."


In addition, Bible students note that Jesus himself made a clear distinction between his literal brothers and sisters and his spiritual brothers and sisters:

(Mark 3:31-35) Now his mother and his brothers came, and, as they were standing on the outside, they sent in to [Jesus] to call him. 32 As it was, a crowd was sitting around him, so they said to him: "Look! Your mother and your brothers outside are seeking you." 33 But in reply he said to them: "Who are my mother and my brothers?" 34 And having looked about upon those sitting around him in a circle, he said: "See, my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does the will of God, this one is my brother and sister and mother."


Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20050908a/
http://watchtower.org/e/20031215/

http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_14.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/pr/index.htm?article=article_04.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/dg/index.htm?article=article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/ti/index.htm?article=article_09.htm

Answer 2

hi there, your friend won't mind at all if you ask her questions about what we believe. We try and follow the example of Jesus' preaching that he did when he was on the earth:

(Matthew 24:14) . . .And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come. . 

We believe Mary was the mother of Jesus, but as far as worshipping her as being "the virgin mary" we do not do that.

There are a lot of negative and false websites about Jehovah's Witnesses that list things that just are not true about what we believe. If you want to look at the official website of Jehovahs Witnesses you can go there first, but definitely talk to your friend, I know that they would enjoy a discussion with you and you can even bring your own Bible to look up scriptures with him/her.

http://www.watchtower.org

Answer 3

You friend will be glad to answer your questions. As for many of the so-called claims made above by people who hate what they refuse to understand, I do recommend take what they often say with a pound of salt. I know, that is a little superstitious.

I was disfellowshipped in 1982 by the Corning, CA congregation for cause. It had nothing to do with interpretation of the Bible. I could have appealed the decision, but didn't. I've been approached many time by people wanting me to tell my story. Not, the real one, but one written by a ghost writer that would be believable and can be sold to earn money for their cause.

JWs are not seeking converts. They are seeking people who are looking around and realzing that there has to be something better than all this.

They are seeing that the only answers Christendom has is to just wait until you die and enjoy the benefits of heaven, if you are not found wanting. Otherwise, you are tortured for eternity, which means even after Satan and his demons have been destroyed all together at the end of the 1000 year rule of Christ.

Keep an open mind. Remember, JWs are basically a copy of the first congregations, which were also made of people, with the exception of Paul, with no formal education, especially in religion. And Paul's education kept him from recognizing the Truth. They were also writing their own scriptures, rather than relying on the Holy Torah as was traditional. We now call their writings the New Testament.

Answer 4

By all means ask her. She won't be offened.
As to ur Q about Mary, we only worship God.
She was a virgin @ the time of conception.

And, please do not listen to the inane ramblings of 'daisy' and 'me' that's some pretty far out stuff. Crazy if u ask me.
Both of these females must have got their list from the same source, cuz they both printed the same answer.
Just the other day, here @ Y/A some1 said we don't drink iced tea, or wear pants or use a red pen to write w/ that we think its writing w/ the devil's blood. There is 101 things on that list.No, room or time to address them all ( I have a family)
??u can't b a cop? a cheerleader? or b in a school play?
We are Not out to Make or Get "converts". Can't play chess?or own a 2 dr car??? My wind chimes are blowing in the wind now, as I sit in my office. No seats in the Kingdom Hall?? what do u think we do ..stand on ur heads? I own Jade jewelry and Coral, and pearls and diamonds..And what??
I like cookies too.
I am the only Witness in my entire! family, and when some1 buys a gift @ X-mas time, he/she will not wrap it in x-mas wrapping, and they don't give it to me on Dec. 25th., b-4 or after is just fine. My hsbnd is not a witness and he complains that I get more gifts then him. I just tell him, I can't help it, every1 knows I don't celebrate it, and still I receive gifts.
And all the "can't's" and "not allowed" on that list, is a bunch of WHOOEY!!! Which most is just ridiculious. Out right slander. Reality check... we don't want to, example: salute an inanimate object. i.e. the flag. We have respect for the country we live in. We don't disrespect the flag. We have rights the same as YOU.

So, thank You for going to a Witness.
btw- we do go to Weddings, celebrate Anniversaries, Baby Showers, Graduations (even college), B-B-Q's any wholesome gathering.

Answer 5

Jehovah's Witnesses love to answer questions. So no, she will not be uncomfortable at all.

As far as the virgin Mary. I can answer you this, yes we believe in Mary, that she was the mother of Jesus, but we do not believe that she remained a virgin her whole life, because the bible mentions Jesus as having brothers and sisters.

Jehovah's Witnesses do not put any type of reverence to Mary. We only pray to God through Jesus.

Ask your friend to show you the scriptures where it shows that Jesus had brothers and sisters. I know some feel that this may have been speaking about cousins, but I'm sure she can do some research on the Greek word used.

Someone mentioned that we don't go do parties, we do not go to parties that are for holidays or wild parties etc.. but we do love parties. Most Jehovah's Witnesses love to dance. But no "dirty dancing".

Answer 6

Just to point out that the list someone posted with 100 statements about JW's is in many places inaccurate.

Your friend will be happy to talk to you about what she has learnt from the Bible. If you know she is a JW, then you know she can give you accurate information. There is a lot of misinformation spead about JW's and people unwittingly repeat it, believing they have a trustworthy source. Some opposers to JW's in cooperation with 'main stream' Christian demoninations have made an art of promoting mis-conceptions, half truths and out right lies about Jehovah's Witnesses.
Aslo, for accurate information see the official website of JW's
www.watchtower.org

Answer 7

Ask your friend. Getting answers face to face from a Jehovah's Witness is actually the best way to learn about us. Tell her you are curious and would like to know some of her beliefs.

Answer 8

you will get some very distinctive responses to this. fairly from people who're no longer Jehovah's Witnesses. To wit: one individual published that 'you may not even renowned a kinfolk member who isn't JW and you should disown them.' This canard is repeated frequently and yet no longer something must be added from the actuality. I even have been a Witness for over two decades. i'm the only one in my kinfolk now that my mom is ineffective. I even have disowned no relative. Neither am I estimated to. If this has been the adventure of a few, it relatively is unscriptural a minimum of of it and ridiculous on the very worst. I even have some who I planned to be somewhat close pals. they are no longer Jehovah's Witnesses. it relatively is genuine that Christians are admonished to be careful with their friends. it relatively is lifelike, is it no longer? And it relatively is genuine that a million Corinthians 15:33 is often quoted: "don't be misled: undesirable institutions smash functional conduct." Why? apparently adequate, the apostle Paul replaced into here discussing the resurrection desire. Paul suggested the resurrection of Jesus Christ and yet there have been people who have been denying this coaching. Paul warned of associating with some. See how the incorrect association can undermine one's faith? A standard and considerable coaching replaced into being denied by skill of a few claiming to be disciples of Christ and that denial replaced into threatening the religion of others. extreme, certainly. It somewhat concerns who your pals are. a individual may well be affected detrimentally in a spiritual way by skill of those he chooses as his pals. yet it is genuine in different concerns besides. Hannah J Paul

Answer 9

Why would your friend be offended? Feel free to ask her anything.

Many professed Christians believe that Mary did remain a virgin throughout her life. They point to Mary’s statement to the angel Gabriel as proof. Told that she would conceive and bear a son, Mary said: “But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34, Jerusalem Bible) In the Jerusalem Bible, a footnote on this rendering says: “Lit[erally] ‘since I do not know man’; this phrase means that Mary is in fact a virgin and perhaps expresses also her intention to remain so.”

For Mary to have gotten engaged to Joseph with the intent of remaining a virgin would have meant making herself an object of reproach. How could Joseph have consented to an arrangement whereby his wife would come under the reproach of barrenness? Why would he deliberately want to forfeit the opportunity to have an heir to carry on his name? The Hebrew Scriptures with which he and Mary were acquainted in no way recommended such a thing. They pointed to parenthood as something desirable. For example, at Psalm 127:3 we read: “Sons are a gift from the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward.” (New American Bible) The only arrangement known to the Israelites whereby a man or a woman might remain a virgin was by continuing in the single state.

By their answers, it is apparent that many of the responders to to your question are prejudiced to Jehovah's Witnesses. Unlike what you requested (the differences between the beliefs of JW's and Catholics), they can't resist the urge to attack us at any given opporunity. For that reason, it would be better for you to ask your friend about our beliefs. I'm sure she would be more than happy to assist you.

Answer 10

It has been my experience that one of the things Jehovah Witnesses do not mind doing and that is sharing their belief. I seriously doubt that she or hw will be offended. They manage to be out on foot every sunday and sometimes weekends knocking the doors of complete strangers in order to "share" their word. I cant answer as to what they honestly believe in but if they are your friend as you state, I am sure they would be happy to have you be more understanding of their philosophies and beliefs. That is what friends do and all you are doing is showing an interest in the differences between you. Now if you think it may lead to an intense debate or argument you may just want to do some research on the side regarding their religion and then ask specific questions surrounding it where at least you have some prior knowledge.

Answer 11

The best way to find out about Jehovah's Witnessess belief's is to ask a current and active Jehovah's Witness. Not an "ex" Witness, or some book about them, as they will mostly be biased and inaccurate. A true Witness will ALWAYS be happy to answer any questions and back up the answers with the bible.
As for the responder named "ME", Witnessess can go to college, they don't limit what pet foods they can give pets, regardless of blood products. That law was written for humans.
Answers like yours are a perfect example of why an interested person needs to ask an actual Witness. It's the same as if you had questions on how to ride a motorcycle, you wouldn't ask someone who's never been on one!