Are you a jehovah's witness? if so, are you a parent?? do you force your kids in believing in JW??
JW is mind control, dont you think??
2007-09-21 04:36:37 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I was born one (a JW) I am now a born again Christian
My favorite information site on Jehovah's Witnesses http://www.freeminds.org
2007-09-21 09:16:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
Wow, odd.
Yes I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses.
No, not a parent. I personally don't want to have children. If I did I would teach them my beliefs. If they followed them great, if not that is their choice. My 2 brothers decided not to.
No I do not think JW is mind control. Not sure how a person, assuming JW is meaning Jehovah's Witness, can be mind control.
2007-09-24 14:52:34 · answer #2 · answered by Ish Var Lan Salinger 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
As of 2006, there are nearly seven million active Jehovah's Witnesses. About ten million more associate themselves with the religion.
Jehovah's Witnesses do not engage in any sinister form of "mind control". Ironic to the questioner's accusatory suggestion, Jehovah's Witnesses actually believe that any worship offered against one's free will is not even acceptable to God.
Parents among Jehovah's Witnesses typically do insist that their minor children accompany them to congregation meetings, but no individual (not even a young child) is ever required to participate in meetings or proclaim any message with which he disagreed.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_06.htm
http://jw-media.org/beliefs/trueworship.htm
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/jt/
2007-09-25 04:25:53 · answer #3 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have raised my three sons with Bible principles. On a regular basis I am complimented on my children's behavior, is that because I am such a fabulous parent...hum, it would be nice to think so, but in actuality, it is because of what I have learned over the years from the Bible as one of Jehovah's Witnesses.
As far as using "mind control" not possible, they are individuals and can think for themselves. I do try to teach them right from wrong, which I would hope all parents try to do, and then I hope that when they are not around me and are faced with challenges, they will make wise decisions.
2007-09-23 05:53:05 · answer #4 · answered by izofblue37 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It's not just JWs who do that though. So you shouldn't single them out.
Most parents expect their kids to follow their faith and indoctrinate them in it.
However the difference is that SOME religious people never let their kids know that there are other paths out there they are free to explore and that if they do, they will not be treated with any loss of love, respect and family support.
Many people add emotional blackmail into the mix to force their kids to stick within their faith. I do not think a JW kid can choose to not be a JW and still enjoy family life, love and support. They will be kicked out of home. I know because
my daughter had a JW friend in school who left that faith and her parents kicked her out of the home.
Some sects also ensure religious compliance by using forced ignorance by denying the child access to any other influence or information except what the parent whats the child to believe. They home school and inculcate a fear of outside information or opposing views in the child from young and make the child live in an Us vs. Them world.
I think if you need to keep a child ignorant in order to keep them obedient, something is wrong.
I raised my kids in my religious beliefs but right in our own home we have several bibles, the koran, bhagvand gita and other religious books. They have attended Catholic mass on many Christmases, Bar Mitzvahs and they go to public school.
I want them to have a vast pool of knowledge of the world and people around them. I want them to be empathetic and tolerant citizens who think FIRST before speaking to others and NEVER speak in ignorance. I want them to have all the tools they need to map out their OWN spiritual journey.
2007-09-21 04:48:55 · answer #5 · answered by pixie_pagan 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Parents are told in the bible to train their children.
"Train up a boy according to the way for him, even when he grows old he will not turn aside from it."
Every religious person teaches their child their religion whether they are Catholic, Baptist, Hindu or even Atheist.
That is the parents right.
Your question is based on a "old wives tales" about Jehovah's Witnesses. They are not brain washed. Most children of Jehovah's Witnesses could talk the bible to a priest or preacher, just as Jesus spoke to those at the temple when he was twelve. This was because his parents had trained him as a boy. Luke 2: 41-50
2007-09-21 05:06:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 2⤋
My friend's ex is an Jehovah's witness. They have a daughter. She use to come to our house every week. Even though she wasn't suppose to participate in any holidays she did. Until she turned 14. She came for Christmas and told us she would not be celebrating the holiday anymore. After two months she quit coming to our house at all. I guess the brain washing finally sank in. She can only have JW people as friends. she can't even stand for the pledge of allegiance. Yeap they force it on their kids. Sad.
2007-09-21 04:49:31 · answer #7 · answered by shellshell 6 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Most people in any religion teach their children the religion that they themselves practice, it's not anything odd. I don't think it's mind control.
No, I'm not a Jehovah's Witness.
2007-09-21 04:43:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think all Christians practice mind control, not just JWs.
I do have a sister in law who is a witness and while she makes me so mad because she doesn't come to holiday parties and such (we never see her!), she is the nicest, kindest lady and does not talk about religion at all around us. I respect her for that.
Her kids aren't witnesses but she converted later in life.
2007-09-21 04:42:44 · answer #9 · answered by spike_is_my_evil_vampire 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
it's no more "mind control" than any other aspect of parenting.......singling out one faith because of the stigma attached to them isnt really conducive..........I will agree forcing anything onto children isnt the best way to teach respect, love, honor, etc but there has to be guidelines in order to promote structure and discipline........every parent knows this (or at least should know).......I'm actually studying JW and I would advise just doing a little research
2007-09-21 04:45:14 · answer #10 · answered by Saiyanman3 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋