I have a thing for this lovely guy...thing is he's a Jehovah's...?

Question

There is a very lovely guy at my college who I am quite good friends with. Let's call him Alex.
I've always rather liked him (he's clever, honourable, sweet, musically talented, and one of those people who is SO attractive that when they smile at you it makes your stomach immigrate to the region of your oesophagus), even when I was with my boyfriend (long, long, long-term bf, who I broke it off with quite recently). And I think it's possible that he likes me too.
HOWEVER. He is a Jehovah's Witness. They're quite rare here in the UK and I don't know much about them. His mum is JW, his dad isn't (they are together). Alex is apparently quite faithful to Jehovah's Witness-ness but not what I'd call devout, I mean he has an active social life outside as well as inside his temple/church, and unless my other friend told me I would never have guessed.
My question (finally, sorry) is would we be able to have a relationship despite our religious differences? (I am an agnostic.)

slow down, people. we're both very young. i don't want to marry him, i just want to know whether to most JWs it'd be a problem to hang out with and maybe share a couple of kisses with an agnostic. nothing serious. i just got out of a six-year relationship, people.

and also, Mark Twain was an anti-semitic, sexist, racist a**hole. i don't believe a word he says.

Answer 1

Hang out and share a couple of kisses with an agnostic?

Jehovah's Witnesses do not date for fun. They do not consider dating recreational. Let me set up a scenario for you: you think this guy is sweet. You find him " clever, honourable, . . . and one of those people who is SO attractive that when they smile at you it makes your stomach immigrate to the region of your oesophagus). I' m not too sure about stomachs immigrating – I thought only people did that. But be that as it may:

I presume you find him physically attractive which will eventually "immigrate" to sexually attractive, if it has not already done so. Sooner or later, you are gonna want to be alone. Why? Well, think about it. Being that humans are very sexual creatures (indeed, we were made that way), and seeing as how you are already looking forward to a "couple" of kisses, how long do you think it will be before things start mutating in the nether regions? Sooner or later, you are going to want sex. And so will he. Outside the framework of marriage, sexual intimacy is fornication. Jehovah's Witnesses reject fornication. That is one major reason that Jehovah's Witnesses see dating as a means of ascertaining whether someone is marriage material and not as a way to have a good time and kick up the heels.

So, you should just leave the guy alone.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 2

Actually, this has come up at least once before on Y!A. Here was my answer then.

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Interesting wording. We Witnesses, like everyone, have free will so we can do anything we want. Now as for whether or not we should/would that is a different story. Growing up in the south you hear the addage Marry only in the Lord allot. The principle is sound. When we get Baptised it is as a synbol to the world that we have dedicated our lives to Jehovah. When getting married, it is wise to marry soomeone with whom you share things in common. Because of this fact it seems extremely unfair and unkind to begin a relationship with someone who's outlook is diametricly opposed. Case in point, Christmas is a VERY big event to some people. We Witnesses know it is Pagan and as such do not celebrate Christmas. As marraige is something very important to us if a Witness and a nonWitness were married they would have to go through this very uncomfortable time together. It s hard enough to do what you know is right without having someone who opposes your beliefs in bed next to you. In the case of an agnostic or Atheist person without religuos affilliation or attachment there are still inherint problems as while the Atheist/Agnostic mate may not follow a different religion there beliefs are opposit that of Jehovah's followers.
Please do not misunderstand. Marraige is never perfect. There will always be trials, and there have been cases where, depending on what you consider successful, Witness/nonWitness marraiges have succeded. It is just much easier and more fair all the way around to "Marry in the Lord".

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The most important thing to consider is, you and he are ultimately individuals. Please talk with him.

As a general rule we as Christians see things like kissing and dating as prelim for marraige.

Answer 3

Jehovah's Witnesses don't have a religion,

They live their lifes in the way of the truth.

Understand there are 5 meetings a week, plus the ministry, plus 3 yearly assemblies we attend.

How are you going to feel when your husband leaves you alone 4 days / nights?

How are you going to feel when you see your neighbors and know your husband was at their door talking about the bible?

Please don't misunderstand me, My wife, children and myself wouldn't trade this life for all the tea in China.

But we made this choice.

If you are truly interested, I would call the local Kingdom Hall and request a bible study.

After 6 months you can make an educated decision on what you want to do.

.

Answer 4

WO, religion is a major differance in a relationship!! So what happens, if you 2 should fall deply in LOVE. But he's not dropping his religion!! Bit problems in lil house.. "A man marries a woman,believing she never change, and a woman marries a man believing she'll change him"! And they are both dissappointed!!