Can Jehovah's Witnesses associate with people outside of the religion?

Question

Meaning, can they have friends who are not witnesses? I know in work and school they have to associate, but I mean voluntarily in a social setting. Just curious.

I work with a really cool lady who is also a witness, but we never talk about it. It's kind of hush hush.

Answer 1

if they do they're probably considered "spiritually weak"

which is cool, not judging them, just that I know they're much too busy with their church to have a lot of time to maintain dear friendships with people who are not part of their religious circle. If they have time for worldly friendships with persons outside their faith, chances are they're not very busy in their faith. Also, your friendship probably is not known amongst their church leadership.. they'd probably be reprimanded for it, if it were. "Worldy association" (association with nonbelievers) is never considered "wholesome" no matter what they say.

keep the faith and God bless.

Answer 2

Of course we can. Should we is another matter that I have found is specific to each case. Also there are so many levels of "friendship" now days. Case in point, I have a friend who I rarely ever see or talk to anymore, he isn't a Witness but it is mostly, I think, a matter of being busy with our lives. I still consider him a close friend, even though our lives have gone down very different roads.

In general, it is a good idea to make close friendships with people who are supportive to, and share, similar values as yourself.

Honestly I have known many Witnesses who either had many, or few non Witness friends. I have seen either scenario work out good/bad. An example, a friend of mine who is currently a Witness was a Mormon? before but had a Witness friend in HS. He used to come over for sleep overs all the time. The Witness parents simply explained that when it was time for meetings or to go preaching, Tony (My friend) could either come, or would be taken home and could meet up after. Clearly Tony and this other young man were close friends though of differing faiths.

Answer 3

Yes.

Many Jehovah's Witnesses enjoy close friendship, even sibling-like intimacy, with non-Witness friends. This certainly implies that the non-Witness is relatively wholesome, but there is no "cut-off point" for measuring some minimum of that quality.

(1 Corinthians 15:33) Do not be misled. Bad associations spoil useful habits.


Each individual and family head among Jehovah's Witnesses decides for himself with whom he will socialize, although Witnesses do not do so with disfellowshipped former Witnesses.

(2 Corinthians 1:24) Not that we are the masters over your faith, but we are fellow workers for your joy

Learn more:
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/20041208/article_01.htm

Answer 4

Workplace JWs and JWs are two different people.

A JW is often desired as an employee because of their closed mouth and cash box honesty.

JWs do not have non JWs as friends - Not as you and I understand buddies.

The only purpose to a JW being open to paling around, so to speak, is to try to find and opening to proclaim Jehovah. Proclaiming Jehovah is not what they do - They really proclaim what they have been taught by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.

If you have a social setting keep the conversation away from the bible and they will leave early - She may give you or leave some literature with you though.

Take great care - What they teach is very convincing - but they cherry pick verses to prove the doctrine taught by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.

The JWs are the nicest cult members you may ever meet.

Answer 5

Actually a Jehovah witness cannot marry or have friends out side of their faith or religion.

Answer 6

--THERE ARE NO STIPULATIONS in our organization as to who we can & cannot associate with as far as a strict law.

--THE PRINCIPLE of not having "bad associations" as in this Bible text:
(1 Corinthians 15:33-34) “33 Do not be misled. Bad associations spoil useful habits. 34 Wake up to soberness in a righteous way and do not practice sin, for some are without knowledge of God. I am speaking to move YOU to shame.”

--IS A PRINCIPLE that applies to anyone who might be a danger to us & our children as to morality, belief, honesty, heavy drinking, obscene joking-- etc.
---This also has application to any of Jehovah's witnesses who might be off in their actions as to morals, heavy drinking , etc.
--OUR ASSOCIATION AS to social gatherings would be limited if they would have as any theme of nationalism, popular holidays, birthday parties, bachelor or bachelorette parties etc. that would be in difference to our beliefs and that could be a compromising situation as to our efforts with morals etc.

--PLEASE NOTE one of latest articles in our official publication the Watchtower:

*** w06 3/15 p. 23 “Each One Will Carry His Own Load” ***
***Who Will Be Our Associates?
--8 “Do not be misled,” wrote the apostle Paul. “Bad associations spoil useful habits.” (1 Corinthians 15:33) Jesus Christ told his disciples: “You are no part of the world.” (John 15:19) Upon learning these principles, we quickly see the need to avoid fellowship with fornicators, adulterers, thieves, drunkards, and the like. (1 Corinthians 6:9, 10) As we progress in knowledge of Bible truth, though, we realize that spending time with such individuals by watching them in movies, on television, or on computer screens or by reading about them in books is just as damaging. The same can be said of associating in Internet chat rooms “with those who hide what they are.”—Psalm 26:4.
--9 What about having close association with those who may be morally clean but who lack faith in the true God? The Scriptures tell us: “The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19) We come to discern that bad associations are not limited to permissive or morally debased people. Hence, we are wise to cultivate close friendships only with those who love Jehovah.
--10 Completely avoiding contact with those in the world is neither possible nor required. (John 17:15) Sharing in the Christian ministry, attending school, going to work all involve contact with the world. A Christian married to an unbeliever may have to rub shoulders with the world more than others do. Having our perceptive powers trained, however, we appreciate that it is one thing to have necessary limited contact with the world and quite another to cultivate close ties with it. (James 4:4) Thus, we are able to make mature decisions as to whether we will participate in extracurricular activities at school, such as sports events and dances, and attend parties and dinners arranged for fellow employees."

--IF YOU NOTE it is indeed an individual decision that we as individuals have the free-will to make, using certain guidelines that I have already stipulated

Answer 7

The older ones can but they're closely watched. Sometimes it's just out of necessity. I think they would like to voluntarily bet then by doing so they might just think for themselves and they might see the watchtower for what it really is. The watchtower doesn't like this and if your suspected you face a kangaroo court where they humiliate you then ostracize you and if you come back to the congregation everyone is supposed to ignore you.

Check out my sources for more info on jehovah witnesses.

** Great answer Trolltotroll! LOL

Answer 8

One of my closest elementary school friends was and still is a JW-she never tried to convert me and we're still close today.

Answer 9

OF.... Course..... NOT....!

They .... ARE UNDER.... THE .... "Threat of Dis-fellowship!"

They WILL..... Be Kicked OUT.... IF.... they ask TOO MANY..... WRONG [ Really Right ] Questions...!

Like.... WHO RAISED THE BODY OF JESUS?

Jesus DID!

(John 2:19-to-22) Jesus answered and said to them, Destroy this temple = = and in three days = = I will raise it up.

(Joh 2:20) Then the Jews said, This temple was forty-six years building, and will you rear it up in three days?

(Joh 2:21) But He spoke of = = the temple of His body.

(Joh 2:22) Therefore when He had risen from the dead, = = His disciples remembered = = that He had said this to them, and they believed the Scripture = = and the word which Jesus had said.

See.... they will .... DIS-FELLOWSHIP.... a JW for this QUESTION.... !

Thanks, RR

Answer 10

Perhaps...why not? It doesn't stop them from knocking on doors.