Hey Propel
I had to post since I faced something kinda similar, yet not on the same level of jw/non-jw dating, but I hope it can enlighten you. My advice, first of all, is that you find out how deeply "religious" your other half is. Is she an active, ongoing JW or just going along to the motions like most young people ? (I'm assuming she and you are still young, though I may be wrong).
Well, I came to the "truth" on my own and for some reason, I often acted on my own, doing the things that I liked. On the 8 yrs. of being a Witness, I dated one girl from my HS and well, it was just a "puppy love" situation, but the elders never knew about it... I just wanted to know what dating was like.
Yet the real challenge came when I dated a JW who was 16 at the time. Of course, we gotta take into consideration the age factor, but that person is 19 now, and when I started missing meetings and was not "spiritually" strong as before, she started getting farther and farther away from me, as if our relationship depended on my religious standing. The last straw came when I joined the Marine Corps... this person doesn't speak to me anymore. Yet in a sense that's a hypocritical stance, since her best friend is known for hanging out w/ DF'ers (former JW's who were disfellowshiped) and DA'ers (former JW's who were dissasociated) and that friend herself is not exactly in the truth...just happens to have parents who are.
In any case, if I say all of this, it's with the purpose of encouraging you to be careful in what you do... find out asap what your future is with this person so that you'll avoid any bad breakups and sour feelings in the future. Seriously, man, ask her all sorts of questions...pick her brain and the two of you need to be honest with each other. One way or another, the issue of JW's not being allowed to date "wordly people" will become a headache for you both, and that needs to be addressed. Eventually, one of you will have to choose... either she chooses to obey the "elders" and not date you anymore, or leave the organization to go her own way. Once again, I don't know your circumstances, but that's my heartfelt advice. I think that if there's true love in the mix, things CAN work out, but there has to be honesty and selflessness.
Good luck and keep us posted.
