Mary has a compelling story to tell. I met her online just a few days ago, and I quickly learned she was wrapped in a religion for many years that was extremely difficult. Then, she found freedom and truth on a new pathway. I’ve asked her to share this part of her life with us, which she graciously has. (Because it is such a significant time and important experience for her, the story is lengthy, so I’m making it into two posts.)
What were the circumstances that led your family to become Jehovah’s Witnesses? Why did they feel this was a good faith to pursue?
We became JWs when I was in 3rd grade, about 8 years old. My mom and step-father were out selling Christmas cards, door to door, and came to the door of JW’s. I was not with them, so I don’t really know what all transpired as far as the conversation. The next thing I knew, one day we were getting ready to go to a meeting (I had no idea what type of “meeting”). After that, all I remember is we were now Jehovah’s Witnesses. As time went on, I know they thought it was the truth, and so did I.
What are some of the basics of the faith you were taught?
[I was taught] that Jehovah has an organization on earth that He set up, and that He gives [JWs], and only them the true interpretation of the Bible. They supposedly have Greek and Hebrew translators at the head of the organization who have correctly translated the Bible (the New World Translation). No other translations are correct, according to the Watch Tower Society.
They also believe that Jehovah “spoke to” Charles Russell, the founder of the Watch Tower Society, and revealed the “truth” to him and used him to begin spreading “the truth” to others. Before Charles Russell, (late 1800s) there was no true religion on earth. They use a counting system of some sort (I don’t have any of their materials any longer to show how they figure this) “from the Bible” to show that there were so many years from Jesus death and resurrection until the return of Jesus that points to 1914 as his “return to Kingship, in a spiritual form” here on earth.
The main teaching is that Jesus is not Jehovah. They do not believe in a triune God. One of the arguments they use is that in John 1:1, they say the correct translation of the latter part of the scripture is “…the Word was a god.” (note the “a” and the small “g” in god, [rather than “the Word was God” in other translations].) They honestly believe this is the correct translation. (Right now I wish I had kept some of their materials so I could use direct quotes from them.) Right there is one of their own contradictions. They believe this Scripture is talking about Jesus—and it is—so they teach that Jesus is “a god”! Is he a false god then? They use many other Scriptures to teach this, as well, which gets all very confusing when you know the truth. Their teachings truly do not make any sense unless you use their materials…the Bible say to let the Holy Spirit interpret the Scriptures.
Some of their other main teachings are that there is no literal hell; after Armageddon, only Jehovah’s Witnesses will be left on earth to clean it up and make it into a beautiful paradise. Only 144,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses are going to heaven, as the “chosen ones.” Again, they use only their New World Translation to back this up. They use Scriptures like “the meek shall inherit the earth”…and Revelation 14:1, where it talks about the 144,000. They use many, many other scriptures to back up what they teach, which is why they get so many people to follow them and believe them, but the “Scriptures” they use are only from their own translation, the New World Translation. They will not use any other translation and they can only back up their teachings with their materials!
Growing up, did you ever question your faith? Why or why not?
For so long, even into my early 30s, even after “falling away,” getting married, and having kids, I thought it was the only true religion, and that all others were the devil’s ploy to deceive people. We were afraid to enter into any other churches because they were full of demons, and we wouldn’t want to be caught in one when Armageddon came! We were taught not to talk to or let people of other religions (including Christians!) pray over us, because Jehovah doesn’t hear their prayers because they are demonized or deceived by Satan. They believe they are the only true Christians!
What, if any, were some of the difficult parts of being a Jehovah’s Witness? What, if any, were some of the positive experiences?
My childhood was difficult over all because I was molested by my step-father, and I think my mom felt that she couldn’t divorce him because she would be disfellowshipped and rejected by her friends at the Kingdom Hall. I think that is the most difficult part of being a Jehovah’s Witness; if you don’t measure up to their standards (ie. hours of time spent going door to door, or if you commit a “public” sin, or don’t go to all of the meetings, or don’t study the Watch Tower for Sunday Mornings, etc.), then you can be “publicly reproofed” or disfellowshipped. If you are publicly reproofed, then you are not allowed to participate (ie. give talks, or answer questions) at the meetings, but other Jehovah’s Witnesses can still associate with you. If you are disfellowshipped, then other JWs are not allowed to associate with you at all! (Where is the love of Jesus in that?)
Visit this blog again for the rest of Mary’s story. In the meantime, feel free to post your thoughts in the comments section.
Talking Religion 