My two aunts is a Jehovah's Witness, and I feel uncomfortable.?

Question

My two aunts and my favorite cousin have turned into a Jehovah's Witness. And I feel uncomfortable about it. They are constantly shoving their beliefs down my throat when I was in Arkansas for a week, this was a vacation. Everything that came out of their mouth was about their beliefs. They even tried to brainwash me and I said no, I like celebrating holidays. They even wanted me to go to peoples' porches and doorsteps to talk about Jehovah's Witness things and try to brainwash others. I am really sick of this and I want to know how I can tolerate them and their religion-bashing.

Answer 1

By every honest measure, Jehovah's Witnesses certainly do not 'shove their beliefs down throats' or "brainwash" anyone. They absolutely would never suggest that a non-Witness pretend to be a Jehovah's Witness minister to join in their formal ministry work!

A common misconception is that Jehovah's Witnesses go from door-to-door because they feel it is their duty to "recruit" a householder, or get him to "convert". In fact, Jehovah's Witnesses would go from door-to-door even if there were no hope that anyone would change their religion, or even if no one would listen to them!

That is because Jesus Christ specifically assigned the house-to-house ministry to the Christian congregation, with no regard for specific results.

(Luke 10:1,2) After these things the Lord designated seventy others and sent them forth by twos in advance of him into every city and place to which he himself was going to come. 2 Then he began to say to them: “The harvest, indeed, is great, but the workers are few. Therefore beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.

Jehovah's Witnesses are trained to direct attention to the bible, and move on when their message is unwanted. Since each congregation in the United States tries to call at every home in its territory at least twice each year, there is strong motivation for them to move on where little interest is shown. Also, the Scriptures help the Witnesses to expect little interest from most:

(2 Timothy 4:3-5) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching ...and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/
http://jw-media.org/people/ministry.htm

Answer 2

First i want you to know, that depending on any person of any religion have the same tendency to really be enthused about their beliefs as any other. Along with those who are light and breezy about it. ITS THE PERSON(S) not the belief system, its how its used and put out y that ONE individual and concerning your cast 2. Not all witnesses will push it like them, we are not robots we all have our personalities and traits still. Maybe your aunts need to gain more qualities (good ones we are taught) but everyone is imperfect. If you tell them that they arent giving a good example i promise you they will stop, that is the last thing we want to be...a bad example. Realize theres always things you dont understand till you see the big picture. Please dont assume wrongly about us. I apologize for any harshness you went under. No brainwashing is to take place, its all by your choice no one can force you into anything but yourself, this is another point you can say to them in lighter terms that they are appearing like extremists in other religions, thats what we try to differ from, we ust want to encourage bible reading and help with any questions, believe me i did my research and i didnt let any one talk me into or out of anything. I never encountered your situation but i hope i helped. Please not that i am trying to come to a solution and i'm not choosing sides.

Answer 3

That is because they have found something that is soo meaninfull. They know and beleive it is the truth... they are only doing what the bible commands them to do...that is Math.28:19 TO PREACH TO EVERY OF ALL NATION!!!. They are not trying to make you uncomfortable but as the bible says the Jehovah will bring his day of ire and revenge like an unexpected thief...which means that Jehovah is going to Judge all humanity soon...on a day that no one knows. They simply care for you and want you to learn and see how happy and safe you can be when you make Jehovah happy. Being one of Jehovah's Wittnesses is not easy and common...so don't be scared. Just talk to your family and tell them you feel strange and I'm sure they will take it easy on you. If you have a chance go with them to the Kingdom Hall at least once just to see how normal and friendly the people there are.

One more thing...Jehovah's Wittnesses would not tell you NO because they said so...It is because the Bible says so...Like it or not the bible is not always kind...Jesus, a perfect man always got straight to the point...remeber he said in Math 15:7 "You hypocrites"...so you see perhaps it is the Bible that is making you uncomfertable...and NOT your family.

Answer 4

Hi,

What a shame that you did not have a loving and relaxing family vacation.

Anytime that someone comes into a new belief structure, they can be a little overwhelming. This even happens if one friend quits smoking sometimes!

Your family members must have a strong belief that they are trying to save you and other people.

You can try backing off a bit and see if they relax. Maybe send them a thank you note for the visit, and just ask that they aloow you to find your own way in your spiritual beliefs. I don't imagine that they will accept it, but at least you have calmly expressed your wishes without an argument.

Religion is a huge thing in relationships, and sometimes they just have to change if there is discord. You may find that you cannot be close to them anymore if you do not follow the same religious path with them. If that is your decision, please try to find a way to treat them with love and respect.

Answer 5

I can understand that you feel uncomfortable. However there are parts to your story that make absolutely no sense.

First there is no "shoving their beliefs down my throat". They may have been very excited to share Bible truths with you however.

"They even wanted me to go to peoples' porches and doorsteps to talk about Jehovah's Witness things and try to brainwash others"

Oh boy can you say "Phony?"

They wanted you, someone who is not one of Jehovah's Witnesses, not studying with Jehovah's Witnesses, nor particularly interested in what Jehovah's Witnesses teach and believe, to go with them in the ministry?

Very, very unlikely!

Answer 6

I am a Jehovah's Witness
.
#1 we DO NOT BRAINWASH or even try to!

#2 if you are not a baptized Witness, they would not have asked you to share in the preaching work !

no doubt, if you would have politely told them that you were uncomfortable/not interested , they would have left you alone.
As followers of the only true God, we all know what Jesus' last command was ( Matthew 28:19,20 ) No doubt your family members wanted to share with you the glorious good news of God's wonderful promises for mankind.

your family tried to share this wonderful information only because THEY LOVE YOU!

and for N D : a true witness would have never said that in sincerity

Answer 7

They aren't trying to shove it down ur throat as u put it.
They are excited and want to share the good news w/ you.
You say they turned into J's W's;
so apparently they weren't always.
That would be bc they read,
and realized on their own volition who the One true God is.
When I 1st came into the truth, I told every1 I knew,
you just wouldn't believe the joy they have found,
unless u ask them or they tell u and YOU actually listen to what they r saying.
Why don't you ask them how they found this out.
How it is that they started to study w/ the Witnessess.
You don't have any Q's about how their lives were changed?
No 1 is trying to brainwash you.
They want to share and give you a chance to listen to the word of God, and chose life.
They love you. You love them, u said ur fav., cousin.

U say u told them "no, I like celebrating holidays"
and still they asked u to go out in field service.
That doesn't even make sense.
I know; for that matter-most ppl know,
that a person doesn't just get up & go into field service,
without proper training & approval.
Not knowing what ur talking about.
This makes u sound foolish.
Now, if they invited u to go along,
it would most likely be to a meeting,
a service; not out in the field ministry.

YOU don't have to tolerate them,
u said they're in another state,
they're not right down the st., from you,
so what's to tolerate?
Where is the love?
You said favorite; why is this cousin ur favorite?
Don't you 2 talk, often?
You can't ask ur cousin, what's gong on in his / her life?

Religion-bashing u say;
u don't sound like a person who cares about religion or faith anyways.
And if u heard a word about "religion-bashing" (as u put it) they were most likely telling you that this is the truth to serving the Sovereign Lord of all the universe,
YHWH aka Jehovah.
No, other religion or faith is doing this great commission work commanded by Jesus to his followers.
The time of the end is @ hand.
It's a warning bell being sounded off;
a seperating of ppl, now!
We all make our own choices in life,
including the 1's that involve our own death
and our everlasting life.

you don't have to answer the q's put b4 you.
Go talk 2 ur cousin.

edit:
I'm being polite even tho' your tale sounds like Hooey!
To much of it doesn't jive.
& N D;
that's just a lie ur trying to get out.
That is ridiculous! No Witness would ever say that!
We don't even 'think' of "birthdays" like that.
That sounds like something ur grandma woulda told you.
Or a ghost story u heard @ summer camp.
School yard material.

Answer 8

It seems simple to me, they feel strongly about their beliefs, you clearly don't agree, and seem rather disrespectful of said beliefs. If it is such a problem, don't spend allot of time around them.

Rereading your question, I have to wonder your age. The ONLY way I could consider someone suggesting you go with them out in service is if you were a young minor and they were going anyway.

As for the other comments, oy. First let me tell you, if you have so little respect for our beliefs, and don't want to discuss them then Do NOT try to talk about the Bible, as firstly this is the Basis for our beliefs, so you will be entering in to the exact conversation you seem to want to avoid. If however you really want to have a conversation, then PLEASE do ask questions and challenge what you hear, then be willing to Listen. See if what you hear makes sense.

As for the person who said a Witness told him/her he/she was a demon baby for being born on Halloween, either they were joking, or they were by NO means a Witness.

As for the person who said it was silly that someone thought that the "ghosts" he believed in were in fact demons, which is more silly, belief in ghosts or belief in demons?? How can someone judge on that one??

Answer 9

One day you will find something that absolutely excites you and you will be virtually bubbling over with it. The people you will most want to share this with will be the people who are closest to you. I hope, for your sake, that they are tolerant of you and your enthusiasm for whatever it is.

Since this is your favorite cousin, I am assuming that you are fairly close to at least one of these aunts. They are the ones you should speak to about this. Keep in mind that they love you. They have found something wonderful and they want you to have it too. Even if you disagree with their beliefs, you owe it to yourself to at least try to understand their point of view, if for no other reason than the fact that you love them too.

Answer 10

I am one of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

First of all, we don't BRAINWASH people. We just share our beliefs with people, we prove our beliefs with the Bible.

If you don't want our beliefs to be shared with you just talk to us and we will stop. That's all, nothing hard to do. But please do so politely.

But in your case your aunts are related to you, we believe that sharing our beliefs with our family is important to us, but we tend to never to force people to believe in us.


I hope that your situation didn't make you feel too uncomfortable. We just share our beliefs as part of our work with Jesus- Matthew 24:14 and Matthew 28:19, 20