What would you say?

with tea and cake ? ?

seriously flange, i wouldnt knw where to start!? what DID you say?!

WTF?!

She said that unless we convert, if we don't die before Armageddon, when Armageddon comes, we will just die and that will be the end of us. I said that I was okay with that as that's what I believe happens when we die anyway (I don't believe Armageddon is on it's way). She then said "but what about me? It won't be very nice for me, I want you to come to the new system". In a way, it was kind of sweet what she was trying to say but also very crazy talk.

When is she predicitng Armageddon?

? I don't think I'd respond at all. Would be at a loss for words!

Eh?? Where has she got these ideas from? When I'm gonna die, that's it. Don't want to come back whatever system!!

Are you ready for this...? "Soon".

H has a joke with her and asks if she'll give him a call half an hour before so he can convert.

The Watchtower Society. Don't worry ATB, I think it's highly unlikely any of us will be coming back!

Yeah she does mean it in a nice way. She's a lovely girl, just very brainwashed.

How old is she? Old enough to know that not everyone believes the same as her?

Yeah she's 19. There's no if's or but's though. She KNOWS she is right.

Why is it harsh? What would you call it?

Really?

I would liken it to a cult. Madness.
Have no idea how I would respond to something like that.

Because some of the things they believe are completely bonkers.

Of course she is entitled to her beliefs but I disagree, i would say it is definitely a cult.

When one of their beliefs is routinely deemed completely inappropriate by various courts of law, it has to be questioned as a "bonkers" belief, no?

I wouldnt go as far as to say it was a cult but their beliefs are very extreme.

A cult is a group of people who exercise a set of beliefs considered bizarre. However, I have no problem with people practising any set of beliefs they wish. So I'd label them a cult based on a definition that includes a strong sociological and mental pressure to conform, a high penalty for apostasy, a "closed" circle of members and a requirement to submit to the teachings without question.

To be fair, I'd use the word "cult" to describe many other religions...

He he, see my post below.

Yes.

I find all religion a bit bonkers personally but Abi, I'm not trying to offend, all the JW's I know are lovely people, it's just my opinion that they are often preyed on whilst vulnerable (another aspect of cult definition) and made to feel a part of something special, then they are brainwashed with watchtower literature.

The fact they are expected to be friends only with other JW's is very cult-like - This includes cutting blood relatives out of their life if they can't convince them to become a JW, by preaching I guess.
IMO, there are stupid rules to live by. Refusing yourself and your children blood transfusions, for example.

Then there's the Armageddon bollocks.. Which has been falsely predicted many times - How do they explain that?

Seriously? You think the JW are simply making a statement about the necessity and economy of blood transfusions?

?

A friend of mine had to have a blood trusfusion after giving birth or she would have died. Would the easier option have been to just refuse it and end up dead?

Why are you not a JW?

My knowledge comes from what my step kids have told me. They are both JW's, are they doing it wrong?

They came to our wedding, as we are their family, none of their friends are non-JW's though. They are not permitted to mix with them.

Maybe, but that's the very opposite of the situation that many question about JWs. That is, when a blood transfusion IS necessary and they choose not to have one (not my problem, let them make that choice) or choose not to allow a child to have one (definitely a problem, for me anyway).

Oops, what have I started.

Abi, it may be different at you KH but the kids are definitely told they are not to mix with non-JW's. Stepson has been banned from playing football as it would mean him being in a team with worldly people!

Insanely extreme views.

A the end of the day, they have to go to work etc, so they are bound to have to mix with non witnesses at some point. Like the kids, half their family are not witnesses, it's the social aspect outside of family where it becomes a problem.

Atheists don't "believe" that a god doesn't exist. That would be dogmatic and unproveable.

Sorry if I have offended you. I'm not telling you what to believe, just what my opinion is. For the majority of people, having their stepdaughter wishing them dead (even in a nice way) would be very odd to say the least.