Can you help me with Religions Paper?

by crypto 3 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • crypto
    crypto

    Hi. I am taking a world religions class online and need to interview someone of this faith. I need to make comparisons to another religions. My main questions are how marraige works in your faith? Where do women fit into your faith? Is there such a thing as being "saved" and is this a branch of Christianity that "accepts Jesus as their personal savior"? Also, how do your personal views go along with the doctorinal views of the church?

    I dont want to start a debate, I just want facts for my paper. Also, if you are willing to respond, I may contact you via email to ask personal things I will need for my paper ie. name, how many years you have been acive in your religion, etc.

    Thank you.

  • jgnat
    jgnat

    Do note that there are very few active, faithful Witnesses on this board. Witnesses are not encouraged to discuss their faith openly online. If you must interview a Witness for your religion class, you might invite a few to your home to talk to you personally. Even so, I have my doubts if they would readily answer your questions. Witnesses have been instructed before not to answer the questions from researchers.

    I myself am not a Witness but I am married to one.

    My main questions are how marraige works in your faith?

    Are you asking who gets married and why? Members are strongly encouraged to marry someone in the same faith, and in "good standing". That is, the person is baptized, preferably pioneering, attends all meetings, and studies the materials faithfully. The only weddings an elder will preside over will involve a couple in "good standing", who are reserving sex for after marriage. Divorce is strongly discouraged, and is usually only dissolved from infedelity. Even where one partner is abusive, the elders will likely encourage the couple to work out their differences and remain married.

    Where do women fit into your faith?

    Women fully participate in field service and are encouraged to become pioneers. They are not permitted any further advancement in leadership in the organization. A woman cannot speak to the audience directly from the platform other than in rehearsed role-play, and she does not offer public prayer if a brother is availalbe.

    Is there such a thing as being "saved" and is this a branch of Christianity that "accepts Jesus as their personal savior"?

    A Witness would never refer to their salvation in this way. Jehovah's Witnesses humbly hope for eternal life on an earthly paradise by working out their salvation through continued faithful works in service (field service). They believe in Jesus as the son of God, emphasis on son, and do pray to him through his father, Jehovah.

    Also, how do your personal views go along with the doctorinal views of the church?

    A Jehovah's Witness would never admit to personal views that are contrary with the doctrinal views of the church. Such admissions would be considered apostacy.

    Your questions are not very carefully worded. How does any marriage "work"? I will not give you my e-mail, but you can send me a private message on this forum for your other questions if you like.

  • onacruse
    onacruse

    crypto, you have a private message.

  • onacruse
    onacruse

    Very good conversation!

    In a way, it was refreshing to have a revealing chat with a person who has never been a JW. The responses were pretty much all: "What??""Your kidding me!""That's incredible.""Bizarre!""Oh my goodness." etc.

    And to think that I actually believed all that crap!

    But then I'm talking to the choir here, eh? LOL

    crypto plans to send us a copy of the paper, and with permission, and if appropriate, we'll post it up. It sounds like it would be an interesting read.

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