Do you think Jehova's Witnesses are antisocial?

Question

At school we have devotions and my friend refuses to congregate with the crowd.
They also dont celebrate Christmas and Birthdays, which i know but they dont really go out and talk to people only unless they want to convert you to their religion.
What do you think?

Answer 1

No, I do not think that at all. I know that witnesses are among the most genuine friendly people you could ever know.

What you're describing was how I used to be-- maybe it's just his personality. Have you personally tried befriending him, talking to him? He may be shy, not anti-social, not a social butterfly.

I know that JW's have a heartfelt love for people and that's among the things that motivates them to share the good news with others. Matt. 28:19-20; 24:14, 1 Cor. 9:16.

Answer 2

jw's try not to associate with people who dont have their same beliefs...but its a good thing...it protects them from making more mistakes.....as for holidays..have you ever researched these holidays..like christmas.....i bet you havent and im pretty sure once you know the real meaning behind them will you understand why people dont celebrate them. jw's arent the only ones who dont celebrate.

and they still make friends...and talk to others...at least most do

but if they have strict parents thats probably why.....some witnesses take it to far....and when they shut out people it makes their religion look bad....

and some should tone down the preaching....but i guess someone has to...it is in the bible to preach the good news...and they are some of the only ones who go knocking on the doors

i think they live healthier and morally correct lives ...of course not all do but i dont have a problem with them...i had a lot of friends who were witnesses growing up

Answer 3

I have only know what person who was JW, and she was a lovely person to work with, very bubbly personality, funny, etc. So from my one experience of personally knowing only ONE JW, I can't really comment.

However, I don't think refusing to participate in devotions or celebrations that are not in line with your religion makes one anti-social.

I am not to fond of the door to door proseltyzing, but I am not going to brand them as "anti-social".

I also don't think trying to incite bias against a group of people, by asking such a question is exactly "pro-social".

Answer 4

I'm one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

We don't celebrate holidays and birthdays as they are of pagan origin and not from the Bible.

None of my family are JWs and I spend time with them when they are around, they keep my girls some in the summer, we talk on the phone, email, etc.

I also penpal, am friendly with those at work, my husband's family (also not JWs).

I just don't run around with others really, don't go to bars and places like that.

As to parties, I really don't care for them at all. I also can't remember when they are when invited so I rarely go to the ones the JWs have also as I simply can't remember it.

I do a lot of RAKS (random acts of kindness), send non holiday/birthday, etc. cards (thinking of you, hello, get well, cheer, etc) to others, small gifts, tuckins, give people rides and such when it is needed.

Most JWs are pretty nice and outgoing. Some few are a bit on the mean side. A lot of the time people who are ill, feeling bad, in pain, etc. are kind of meanish (I worked in nursing homes for years).

Debbie

Answer 5

So, you are suggesting that Jehovah's Witnesses like to hide in a corner and that they speak only when they want to "convert" others to their religion.

It is not true. A proof is that Jehovah's Witnesses go from door to door to talk to people (doing so they respect Jesus' command found in Matthew 28:19). We must not make a confusion between "not wanting to associate" and "being shy".

Jehovah's Witnesses are sociable, but they are aware of what the Bible says about bad associations, so they try not to tie close relationships with 'worldly people'.

"Do not be misled. Bad associations spoil useful habits." -- 1 Corinthians15:33

"We know we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the [power of the] wicked one." -- 1 John 5:19


http://www.watchtower.org/e/20041208/article_01.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/e/t22/article_01.htm

Answer 6

My husband and I became Jehovah's Witnesses when we were married a few years. My husband's family hated it because we weren't there for their celebrations.
That was fine with us but then they stopped inviting us for bar b q's and family reunions, and when family came from out of town we were never called.
My in laws persecuted us until they died.
We wanted to be a part of the family to watch the nieces and nephews grow but they all pretty much cut us off.

So you can't blame Witnesses for pulling away...It's more like we're shunned.

Answer 7

I know quite a few and in my experience, the answer is No, they aren't anti-social. However, because they are a bit "different" they often don't fit in well with the people around them. It is usually the attitude of the people around them that make's them seem withdrawn. Yes, they tend to try to convert others to their beliefs, but you can handle that in many ways without being rude to them.

Answer 8

I think that Jehova's Witnesses are nuts, but that is only my opinion. Actually, their particular brand of religion forbids them from the practices that you spoke of.

Answer 9

If they were anti-social, then why would the preach "publicly and from house to house"?

Jehovah's Witnesses are not anti-social. They are very active in society. They go to the mall, they go to movies, they have dances, etc. In fact they are VERY social people. They just don't hang around immoral people. -1 Corinthians 15:33

Answer 10

They're so anti-social that they come to my door every Sunday...

Anti-social is not the word for them...all they do is bombard people with their religious talk...everything with them revolves around their religion, hence why they don't celebrate certain holidays or might not hang around certain people...