Saturday, December 6, 2008
Conclusion
Within this blog I have spoken about my cultural encounter with the beliefs Jehovah’s Witnesses. I came into this experience not knowing anything about Jehovah’s Witnesses; all I knew was that I was supposed to avoid them. I have now come to the conclusion that they are not doing any harm to any one so even if they do ring the doorbell I should at least acknowledge that they are there. Even if I have to let them know that I am unavailable to meet with them I should at least gibe them the time of day. I hope that being more open to Jehovah’s Witnesses will influence my family to move into the same direction. I have spoken about many different topics in this blog including, What Jehovah Witnesses believe in, whether or not a Witness should receive a blood transfusion, and a comparison between Christianity and Jehovah’s Witnesses. While writing this blog I questioned why know one has tried to play the role of the savior so many religions believe in. Now I see why people question the idea as to whether or not Jehovah or God, or whomever people believe in really exists.
Why do Jehovah's Witnesses contemplate suicide?
People may not think of all of the demands of being a Jehovah’s Witness. They are put under so much pressure to continuously do the right thing. Jehovah’s Witnesses only have room to do good things and if they do bad things they pay for it emotionally. This causes many Jehovah’s Witnesses to consider the thought of suicide. Since their faithfulness to their religion is what gets them the opportunity to come back to life after the resurrection of Christ, they are forced to be good followers.
Since our society puts so many demands on a person, this plays a huge part in a Jehovah’s Witness life on top of the pressures they already receive from their religion. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not have a chance to take a break away from their beliefs. This causes them to take second guesses on how faithful they have actually been to Jehovah. There are no guarantees as to whether or not you will get into heaven so many people opt to suicide so they have a chance to get into heaven before Armageddon occurs.
http://www.jwinfoline.com/Documents/death/suicide.htm
Since our society puts so many demands on a person, this plays a huge part in a Jehovah’s Witness life on top of the pressures they already receive from their religion. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not have a chance to take a break away from their beliefs. This causes them to take second guesses on how faithful they have actually been to Jehovah. There are no guarantees as to whether or not you will get into heaven so many people opt to suicide so they have a chance to get into heaven before Armageddon occurs.
http://www.jwinfoline.com/Documents/death/suicide.htm
Friday, December 5, 2008
Are you apart of the 144,000 people?
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that only 144,000 people within their own belief will go to heaven. There are more than 144,000 people within the religion, so how do you become one of them? Well, you are to do good deeds and make sure that you play the role of a good Witness. You do this by going by the book and doing as many good things towards the religion as possible. The rest of the people that were not worthy of being chosen to go to heaven will be created into spirits and will be resurrected and live on earth after the return of Christ, while the people that were chosen will be living on earth as themselves with Christ.
If one is to pass away before Armageddon, which they believe is when the world will end, all Jehovah’s Witnesses and non believers of their religion will be let into heaven and will get a second chance to live on earth after the coming of Christ. If you do not believe in this religion Jehovah’s witnesses believe that you will be executed by Jehovah and will not have the opportunity to receive the second chance believers to get.
Reading about this issue has given me the opportunity to understand why Jehovah’s Witnesses come to your house every Sunday. They are not doing it to bother you but to fulfill their mission as a believer of this religion. It has broadened my thinking, and they are not annoying to me anymore. They are trying to do a good deed for what they believe in, but the common misconceptions society puts upon them plays a role for what they are known for, which is usually looked upon as bothersome.
http://jehovahs-witness.suite101.com/article.cfm/do_144000_people_go_to_heaven
If one is to pass away before Armageddon, which they believe is when the world will end, all Jehovah’s Witnesses and non believers of their religion will be let into heaven and will get a second chance to live on earth after the coming of Christ. If you do not believe in this religion Jehovah’s witnesses believe that you will be executed by Jehovah and will not have the opportunity to receive the second chance believers to get.
Reading about this issue has given me the opportunity to understand why Jehovah’s Witnesses come to your house every Sunday. They are not doing it to bother you but to fulfill their mission as a believer of this religion. It has broadened my thinking, and they are not annoying to me anymore. They are trying to do a good deed for what they believe in, but the common misconceptions society puts upon them plays a role for what they are known for, which is usually looked upon as bothersome.
http://jehovahs-witness.suite101.com/article.cfm/do_144000_people_go_to_heaven
A comparison of evangelists.
People that believe in Christianity are also evangelists. There are many differences within these two religions although they fall within the same category of evangelist. Christians as well as Jehovah’s witnesses preach their beliefs to people that may not be of their own religion. These two religions use the outlet of going out into society and ministering to people their beliefs. The difference is that they practice this form of preaching in different ways. While Jehovah’s Witnesses go from door to door preaching their mission, Christians are seen in public places handing out pocket bibles and other types of literature. Christians as well as Jehovah’s witnesses may be seen at meetings. Whether they are going to mass or bible study, they are forms of meeting and learning and talking about the religion on a weekly/daily basis.
Some other differences between the two religious beliefs are that Witnesses only believe that a certain number of people within their own religion go to heaven. To Christians it does not make a difference if you played a good or a bad role on earth, you just have to believe that he died for you, and that you will go to heaven for doing so.
Some other differences between the two religious beliefs are that Witnesses only believe that a certain number of people within their own religion go to heaven. To Christians it does not make a difference if you played a good or a bad role on earth, you just have to believe that he died for you, and that you will go to heaven for doing so.
Why they knock on doors, and what they get out of it.
Located in Brooklyn New York is Bethel, the international headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses. Here is where people of all ages are printing and publishing pamphlets and bibles people around the country are reading. The people that work here do not get paid in hourly work but with gratitude to serve their mission. The only true form of money is a reward of room and board and a gift of fourteen dollars a month for personal necessities, as stated in the article, The Jehovah's Witnesses: An Interpretation.
Whether it be to transcribe the bible into different languages or work at the switch board, All Jehovah’s Witnesses are happy to do their work since they are gaining recognition for doing a good deed. They feel an obligation to deliver their message to everyone before the end of the world arrives. Although Jehovah’s witnesses are people with a mission to serve and spread the news, they are not trying to convert you but to relay their mission to the world. It is a necessity to make sure that everyone is informed of the “truth”.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/1459283.pdf
Whether it be to transcribe the bible into different languages or work at the switch board, All Jehovah’s Witnesses are happy to do their work since they are gaining recognition for doing a good deed. They feel an obligation to deliver their message to everyone before the end of the world arrives. Although Jehovah’s witnesses are people with a mission to serve and spread the news, they are not trying to convert you but to relay their mission to the world. It is a necessity to make sure that everyone is informed of the “truth”.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/1459283.pdf
Monday, November 3, 2008
To receive a transfusion or to not receive a transfusion, that is the question
I came across an article in my Special Education class which my Professor brought to show us about Jehovah’s Witnesses.
It speaks about the Azevedo family and how fortunate enough to conceive twins. The only downfall was that one of the baby’s hearts was connected wrong and the baby wasn’t receiving blood to the lungs. This conditioned is called transposition of the great arteries. This condition is not a problem while the child is in the womb but once the child is born it needs to have an open heart surgery where they need to use donated blood in the process to repair the defect, if not the baby would suffocate and die. This surgery would consist of a one shot deal, the child would receive the surgery and they would be able to live a normal life, without having to go through any other procedures for this condition.
Due to the parents being Jehovah’s Witnesses they do not believe in blood transfusions, so their decision was made that they were not going accept the surgery. If they went along and accepted the surgery, they would be going against the laws of being a Jehovah’s Witness and could no longer be one.
Well couldn’t the law step in and help this unborn baby survive even if the parents where unwilling to go along with the surgery to save the babies life. This article states, “The first Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”. This shows that even if the parent is unwilling to accept the surgery due to a religious reason, the court system would make a decision in place of the parent for the well being of the child. In this case the court had to appoint someone else to authorize the surgery, and the Jehovah’s Witness liaison stated that, “if the judge orders it, then you are not going against the church teaching”.
In the end the Azevedo’s newborn baby was given the surgery, without the parents consent and they were happy with themselves for continuing on with what the court believed was in the best solution for the situation.
Citation
Sanghai, Darshak. "When Science meets the Soul." The Boston Globe Magazine 9 3 2008: 29-40.
It speaks about the Azevedo family and how fortunate enough to conceive twins. The only downfall was that one of the baby’s hearts was connected wrong and the baby wasn’t receiving blood to the lungs. This conditioned is called transposition of the great arteries. This condition is not a problem while the child is in the womb but once the child is born it needs to have an open heart surgery where they need to use donated blood in the process to repair the defect, if not the baby would suffocate and die. This surgery would consist of a one shot deal, the child would receive the surgery and they would be able to live a normal life, without having to go through any other procedures for this condition.
Due to the parents being Jehovah’s Witnesses they do not believe in blood transfusions, so their decision was made that they were not going accept the surgery. If they went along and accepted the surgery, they would be going against the laws of being a Jehovah’s Witness and could no longer be one.
Well couldn’t the law step in and help this unborn baby survive even if the parents where unwilling to go along with the surgery to save the babies life. This article states, “The first Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”. This shows that even if the parent is unwilling to accept the surgery due to a religious reason, the court system would make a decision in place of the parent for the well being of the child. In this case the court had to appoint someone else to authorize the surgery, and the Jehovah’s Witness liaison stated that, “if the judge orders it, then you are not going against the church teaching”.
In the end the Azevedo’s newborn baby was given the surgery, without the parents consent and they were happy with themselves for continuing on with what the court believed was in the best solution for the situation.
Citation
Sanghai, Darshak. "When Science meets the Soul." The Boston Globe Magazine 9 3 2008: 29-40.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Personal encounters of a JW
This is an interview I did on my ex-boyfriend, which was a Jehovah Witness when we were dating but does not consider himself apart of the religion anymore.
What is it like being a Jehovah’s Witness?
The people are very friendly an caring just like a family, and every one seems to be happy for the most part. There were defiantly some things to get used to since I wasn’t born into it. I had to get used to not celebrating holidays mainly.
Where you forced by your parents to partake in the religion or did you choose to on your own behalf?
They were very meticulous about the things you watched the music you listened to and the people you hung out with because of bad association. I wasn’t really forced but I kind of knew I had to do it because I was living in a house with my family and I didn’t want to let them down. As far as believing in the religion I did because I was always surrounded by it growing up, so I believed in it at the time.
So why did you choose to leave it, and where you shunned by the people you know, maybe even by your parents?
I pretty much grew up I feel like I noticed that religion kind of keeps people "stupid" and things didn’t make sense any more.
Can you talk to me a little about the whole blood/ hospital issue and if you knew anyone that was ever put into that situation and what their decision was?
Well the whole blood thing is looked at as unclean an dirty. Taking blood from another person you don’t know nor are related to is unclean. JW's would say no to blood all the time because of the God fearing faith.
Even if it was a life or death situation?
Yea they were strong when it came to saying no to blood. Due to this doctors found healthier ways around blood transfusions, so they would allow those. None of these methods used any actual blood.
That sounds cool.
Yea there were videos we had to watch and stuff.
I remember you telling me you weren't allowed to date. I’m not sure if you were only allowed to date other JW's but I specifically remember you telling me that. What is the issue with dating, and if you can't date how do they go about finding a partner?
Well they only want you to date when your ready to get married and they encourage us to marry other JW’s but that is not always the case, my mother and father serve as a perfect example.
So how are you supposed to go by doing that when you are ready if you haven’t found the person your ready to marry?
It is called courting in the Bible. When your interested in someone and you know they feel the same way and your at that age to date you can definitely go for it.
How about if you have more than dating experience, is that ok? Like searching 4 the one as people would say.
Yea I guess as long as you don’t take it as far as sex than its cool.
Ok and what do they think of homosexuals?
They are looked down on
But they can still believe?
Yea as long as they’re trying to do what is right in Gods eyes and fight that urge of imperfection is ok but fornication is bad.
That is kind of contradicting though.
No type of fornication can happen and they are not allowed marry, so having sex when your not married is fornication.
Fornication consists of a man and a woman so they basically cant have sex ever due to not being able to get married
Yea
Well thank you for putting up with my questions. I have one final question.
Go for it.
What do you think of JW’s now that you aren't apart of the religion?
Since I am looking from the out side in with a different pair of eyes I see them as the same as other religions, just a bit different and a little more organized.
Thank you again
Your welcome
What is it like being a Jehovah’s Witness?
The people are very friendly an caring just like a family, and every one seems to be happy for the most part. There were defiantly some things to get used to since I wasn’t born into it. I had to get used to not celebrating holidays mainly.
Where you forced by your parents to partake in the religion or did you choose to on your own behalf?
They were very meticulous about the things you watched the music you listened to and the people you hung out with because of bad association. I wasn’t really forced but I kind of knew I had to do it because I was living in a house with my family and I didn’t want to let them down. As far as believing in the religion I did because I was always surrounded by it growing up, so I believed in it at the time.
So why did you choose to leave it, and where you shunned by the people you know, maybe even by your parents?
I pretty much grew up I feel like I noticed that religion kind of keeps people "stupid" and things didn’t make sense any more.
Can you talk to me a little about the whole blood/ hospital issue and if you knew anyone that was ever put into that situation and what their decision was?
Well the whole blood thing is looked at as unclean an dirty. Taking blood from another person you don’t know nor are related to is unclean. JW's would say no to blood all the time because of the God fearing faith.
Even if it was a life or death situation?
Yea they were strong when it came to saying no to blood. Due to this doctors found healthier ways around blood transfusions, so they would allow those. None of these methods used any actual blood.
That sounds cool.
Yea there were videos we had to watch and stuff.
I remember you telling me you weren't allowed to date. I’m not sure if you were only allowed to date other JW's but I specifically remember you telling me that. What is the issue with dating, and if you can't date how do they go about finding a partner?
Well they only want you to date when your ready to get married and they encourage us to marry other JW’s but that is not always the case, my mother and father serve as a perfect example.
So how are you supposed to go by doing that when you are ready if you haven’t found the person your ready to marry?
It is called courting in the Bible. When your interested in someone and you know they feel the same way and your at that age to date you can definitely go for it.
How about if you have more than dating experience, is that ok? Like searching 4 the one as people would say.
Yea I guess as long as you don’t take it as far as sex than its cool.
Ok and what do they think of homosexuals?
They are looked down on
But they can still believe?
Yea as long as they’re trying to do what is right in Gods eyes and fight that urge of imperfection is ok but fornication is bad.
That is kind of contradicting though.
No type of fornication can happen and they are not allowed marry, so having sex when your not married is fornication.
Fornication consists of a man and a woman so they basically cant have sex ever due to not being able to get married
Yea
Well thank you for putting up with my questions. I have one final question.
Go for it.
What do you think of JW’s now that you aren't apart of the religion?
Since I am looking from the out side in with a different pair of eyes I see them as the same as other religions, just a bit different and a little more organized.
Thank you again
Your welcome
What do JW's believe in?
Jehovah's Witness believers are people just like everyone else, but their beliefs form a huge part of their life style. The reasons they go around neighborhoods knocking on peoples doors is manly due to then wanting to spread their word about their beliefs, their organization, and their opinion about people and the world in which all of us live. www.watchtower.org
The 66 books of the Bible surround Jehovah’s Witnesses beliefs, and to them signifies the word of God. In the official website of Jehovah’s Witnesses I found what their name was derived from, it states, “It is a descriptive name, indicating that they bear witness concerning Jehovah, his Godship, and his purposes. "God," "Lord," and "Creator"—like "President," "King," and "General"—are titles and may be applied to several different personages. But "Jehovah" is a personal name and refers to the almighty God and Creator of the universe”. www.watchtower.org
I also found a list of what their beliefs are on the website and the ones that I found most interesting are listed below:
Christ set example that must be followed in serving God.
Taking blood into body through mouth or veins violates God's laws.
Obey human laws that do not conflict with God's laws.
Satan is invisible ruler of world.
Images should not be used in worship.
Bible is God's Word and is truth.
Christ died on a stake, not a cross.
Christ's presence is in spirit.
Only a little flock of 144,000 go to heaven and rule with Christ.
Prayers are to be directed only to Jehovah through Christ. www.watchtower.org
Being a Catholic the belief about not using images while worshiping would be completely irrelevant to my religion because we have the cross right in the middle of the alter. As well as statue’s of different followers of Jesus. It bothers me that they believe Christ was burnt to death on a stake. You would have thought it was enough for him to die for the people that would then invade the earth, but they also believe that ontop of everything else.
Works Cited
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. 2000 Who Are They? What Do They Believe? Electronic document, http://www.watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_01.htm, accessed October 24, 2008.
The 66 books of the Bible surround Jehovah’s Witnesses beliefs, and to them signifies the word of God. In the official website of Jehovah’s Witnesses I found what their name was derived from, it states, “It is a descriptive name, indicating that they bear witness concerning Jehovah, his Godship, and his purposes. "God," "Lord," and "Creator"—like "President," "King," and "General"—are titles and may be applied to several different personages. But "Jehovah" is a personal name and refers to the almighty God and Creator of the universe”. www.watchtower.org
I also found a list of what their beliefs are on the website and the ones that I found most interesting are listed below:
Christ set example that must be followed in serving God.
Taking blood into body through mouth or veins violates God's laws.
Obey human laws that do not conflict with God's laws.
Satan is invisible ruler of world.
Images should not be used in worship.
Bible is God's Word and is truth.
Christ died on a stake, not a cross.
Christ's presence is in spirit.
Only a little flock of 144,000 go to heaven and rule with Christ.
Prayers are to be directed only to Jehovah through Christ. www.watchtower.org
Being a Catholic the belief about not using images while worshiping would be completely irrelevant to my religion because we have the cross right in the middle of the alter. As well as statue’s of different followers of Jesus. It bothers me that they believe Christ was burnt to death on a stake. You would have thought it was enough for him to die for the people that would then invade the earth, but they also believe that ontop of everything else.
Works Cited
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. 2000 Who Are They? What Do They Believe? Electronic document, http://www.watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_01.htm, accessed October 24, 2008.
Knocking on invisible doors
Due to stating my opinion in my last blog about how Jehovah’s Witnesses go door to door speaking about their faith, I decided to post this you tube video about how they do speak to people about their faith, but they do so without knocking on doors.
After watching this video it just reinforced to me that I am not the only person in this world that is bothered by them not only coming to your home but also having the guts to approach people on the street. I commend them for that but sometimes people just want to get from point A to point B without a fork in the road, just like the people in this video on their hunny moon. They went to that destination to enjoy their time not to have someone talk their ears off about a religion.
After watching this video it just reinforced to me that I am not the only person in this world that is bothered by them not only coming to your home but also having the guts to approach people on the street. I commend them for that but sometimes people just want to get from point A to point B without a fork in the road, just like the people in this video on their hunny moon. They went to that destination to enjoy their time not to have someone talk their ears off about a religion.
My opinion
My opinion of Jehovah’s Witnesses has never been a good one, they seemed as a burden to me. This is due to the fact that they would come by my house and bother us by ringing the doorbell until they got the hint that "we weren't there". If they found a way to get into my apartment building it was even worse because they could knock on your door and hear if anyone was inside. This always made me feel really bad because it’s rude not to open the door because we know they are Jehovah’s Witnesses, when they clearly know someone is there because either someone is talking on the phone, or the television is on. I remember one specific time in my household where the door of our house was opened and they came in to speak about their beliefs. I of course was very small so I did not understand much of what they were talking about all I truly remember was that they stayed and talked with my parents for a really long time, until my mother stated that she needed to go along and finish cleaning and doing her daily duties so they finally left.
Proposal
I chose the topic of Jehovah Witness because I do not understand why people of this religion go around to people’s houses if they know that people are hiding from them and making sure they do not run into a situation where they have to speak to them. As a child I was always told not to look out the window on Sunday mornings because they would see me and know that there were parents home to speak to. This was a prominent thing that happened within my childhood and I just learned as time went by that well the doorbell rang on a Sunday you just ignored it, because if they really knew us they would have our phone number and would call us and let us no they were outside. I also chose this topic because I dated a person that was of this religion and I was very confused by the reasons that they did and did not do certain things. I will be having a cultural encounter due to my religion being Catholic and attending a Catholic school from k1-8th grade. I hope to learn to understand their beliefs because while I may know some of the things they practice it seems unusual as to why they chose to do so.
Friday, September 19, 2008
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