Serious replies only.
2007-05-16 03:34:15 · 19 answers · asked by בַר אֱנָשׁ (bar_enosh) 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I've been studying for about a year and 2 months now. I love everything about it and hopefully I'm going to become an unbaptized publisher soon [even though I've got MAJOR, HUGE family problems @ home]. I was raised in an Orthodox home, where religion was never a main priority. Actually, it was never a priority. And it never occured to me that I would know so much about the Bible in such little time.
Before I was studying, there was this Baptist girl in my school that always preached to me. She would recite all these scriptures and I thought she was so wonderful [and she is by the way, a very nice girl]. I was always fascinated by all that she knew. Then I started studying with Witnesses, and I was so astounded as to how much I learned in such little time! I possessed knowledge that she has never heard of, the simplest fact being God's name, Jehovah!
Anyway, I'll stop blabbling hehe. I love Jehovah and his people. Please pray for me to overcome my family's disputes :)
2007-05-16 14:32:38 · answer #1 · answered by AnGeL 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Being there has been over 100 million JWs in its history, I would imagine there are quite a few. My mother and stepfather have been one since 1963, though he was very opposed to it, in the beginning.
He was a former officer and Korean War vet. He would destroy the books and magazines, as soon as he saw them in the house. Then one day, he read one. Now they have reached the end of their lives and are just waiting to see which comes first, the grave or Armageddon.
There is much to say that is right about them, and most of their beliefs correspond to Christendom, people have problems with those beliefs that don't follow traditions. The same thing happened with the first Christians.
Setting aside Bible issues, my guess is that some of the irritating issues people have with them could be:
They believe in obeying the law, even the inconvenient ones, such as speed limits when late for work.
They believe in paying taxes, even though there are many ways they could avoid them, as most religions do.
They believe in keeping their word, such as to the IRS that they will not promote politics in the church, and they actually mean it.
They teach their youth that waiting until marriage is preferable to using protection, and for the most part, the youths actually believe it. As a result, they have the lowest rates of out-of-wedlock births and STDs. Yes, there is the occasional ones who would rather have their fun now than wait, but there are far more who choose to wait.
They treat their youth with respect, not just "do what you're told!"
Youths are taught side by side with the adults, the Bible as a whole, and not just Bible stories. The very young may not understand what they are being taught, but by the time you reach the age of understanding, they have a good basic knowledge of the scriptures.
The congregations never get so large that the individual gets lost in the crowd. Since everyone is taught the same, it is easy to start a new congregation, with a set of elders.
Everyone knows everyone, whether in their congregation, or in their circuit. When Katrina happened, every Jehovah’s Witnesses, along with neighbors, living in New Orleans could be found in Texas, with every witness accounted for. How many other religions could say for certain they knew that none of those left behind belong to one of their churches?
They believe their Kingdom Halls should compliment a neighborhood, and not overwhelm it, so they are small and don’t include a lot of expensive decorative features. Each KH can hold up to four congregations.
They encourage all their members to read the Bible and submit their thoughts. This was before the NWT and when they were using the KJV, or Authorized Version. It should be noted that this version of the KJV was not the first, but the fifth. It took four revisions over a 150 year period, before it was approved by the Church of England.
2007-05-16 04:50:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 12⤊ 0⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses are wonderful people. I'm happy that very soon I'll become one.
Today while I was going to the Kingdom Hall a brother from another congregation stoped me. He wanted to offer me a tract. I said there's no need because I already know the truth. This isn't the first time I've been offered. JWs are really active. They don't waste any time or chance to preach the good news.
2007-05-16 09:37:16 · answer #3 · answered by Alex 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Everything about being a Jehovah's Witness is wonderful...we have the great privilege of learning about the true Almighty God and his son, Jesus Christ...and a bright hope for the future. Weekly we have meetings that shed more light to understanding the Bible...and how we can apply it in our lives more fully and encourage others to do so. Also nobody is forcing me to do this...I serve Jehovah because I want to, just as every single JW...that dedicate's their life to serving Jehovah. I wouldn't have it any other way...it gives me the deepest and everlasting satisfaction to serve Him. Also my fellow spiritual brothers and sisters are loving and kind...no matter what spot in the world you may drop me...sacrificing what they have to help others in need...and build people up...I love it I love it I love it...and i don't care what anybody thinks....to be a JW you have to have FAITH in Jehovah and his son Jesus Christ...and examine the Bible and live your life in accord with it...If you ask any true JW(not a hypocrite or an apostate)...they will tell the beauty and what a blessing it is to be a Jehovah's Witness...
2007-05-16 09:27:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
You better be careful Actung_heiss will be mean to you asking a question like this. I asked a question like this just to get a positive view from people and he totally chewed me up and spit me out. Not a very nice person.
Anyways being a Jehovahs Witness i have positive experiences every day. For one i have a worldwide brotherhood that will never abandon me. For another we follow God's word and are protected from many of the negative thingd of this world.
But the most important aspect of being a witness is that we get to communicate with the one that made the heavens and the earth and be confident in the knowlege that we are doing his will and will be able to do it forever.
2007-05-16 05:28:40 · answer #5 · answered by Adamantium 4 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Yes, millions have had such good experiences.
Globally, there are about 6.7 million active Jehovah's Witnesses, yet about 17 million associate with Jehovah's Witnesses. Their publications "The Watchtower" and "Awake!" enjoy circulations of about 27 million and 32 million per issue, and are almost exclusively distributed by personal interaction with Jehovah's Witnesses.
http://jw-media.org/people/statistics.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm
2007-05-16 11:03:07 · answer #6 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
My son and I went to the headquarters in Brooklyn and were treated as though we were royalty. Everyone went out of their way to make us feel welcomed. Everywhere I go. to each kingdom hall I go the brothers and sisters are so gracious and loving and kind.
I not only have a worldwide brotherhood, but I have the truth of God's word. I waited a long time to find a religion that taught the truth and I have never proved them wrong since 1970.
Even the young ones are so different from kids not in the truth. They show deep respect and are able to stand before a group and give a public talk. They fearlessly go from door to door helping young and old , rich and poor to come to an understanding of the bible.
What a wonderful God we serve, Jehovah, who blesses us every day.
2007-05-16 03:49:35 · answer #7 · answered by debbie2243 7 · 15⤊ 0⤋
Well, I'm a Jehovah's Witness myself.
Although I grew up with parents who studied with and became Jehovah's Witnesses, I began to stray like most youths. But I tried to contradict everyone and everything. Only found myself to be foolish.
I'm happy to say that I'm a Witness of Jehovah and proud of it. I've made a number of friends across the globe who are also members of our Christian congregation.
One of the best experiences I had, I went to Jamaica on a vacation with a few friends. We went to the local Kingdom Hall, and everyone welcomed us like we were from there. They invited us to their homes to cook for us, and even had a party for us! That was awesome! I love the way our organization has a way of showing brotherly love.
2007-05-16 03:40:31 · answer #8 · answered by ♥LadyC♥ 6 · 14⤊ 0⤋
OH YES! I have many! times over.
I started studying in 1994, and me, not Knowing a single thing about Christ, Jehovah God or His purposes for mankind; I had No Way of knowing if what I was being taught was "the truth", (besides that I figured out from reading on my own, @ least 1 hr a day, that the 'name itself' tells "who they r exactly; also, what the r doing" Jehovah---God's personal name; and Witnesses'- to tell what u know/ saw/see). Just as the Word of God says, "...ask & u shall receive, knock & the door will b answered..." (paraphased). I also, did 'more then the usual", to see if this was the truth...so off I went to the public library, to do independant research, myself. Hours and hours I dedicated my time, to searching out "the truth"...EVERY SINGLE THING I WAS READING FROM THE HOLY SCRIPTURES WAS INDEED AND IN FACT TRUE!!
And then the Word of God was alive and an a working active force in my life. I was kicked out of a friend's home (false friend), I was discouraged from studying, I was told "we like u just the way u r" (I thought no room 4 improvement? 2 b better?) My husbnd., fought me quite a bit, my son was saved from death in the war, (long...story. 2 type). Family has scorned me, insulted me, well, Christ really.When I was corrected by God, for something I did do...I did not 'blame him' oh no, it was proof of His love for me. I could go on & on, but, I have a family to take care of and a funeral to get to.
I'll come back later 2 finish.
2007-05-16 04:56:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 10⤊ 0⤋
Every time I go to the meetings.
Every time I go to an assembly / convention.
Every time I go to a quick build.
As to the statement about PR.
I think it's interesting that there are several current questions as to 'Why you don't like' and yet those questions don't receive comments as to PR.
Also, Jehovah's Witnesses are one of the few groups that really believe Jesus is the Son of God, and not God the Son.
2007-05-16 04:19:42 · answer #10 · answered by TeeM 7 · 17⤊ 0⤋