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otolith
Original Poster
19,374 posts
73 months
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My younger sister is quite worried that our mother has recently been spending a lot of time with the JWs - visiting their church once a week for bible study and - for instance - coming out with a load of their bilge about blood transfusions (my sister is a student nurse). She's basically lonely and vulnerable - retired and alone during the daytime - and I fear these b  ds are taking advantage. She has started avoiding discussing the subject with concerned relatives. Unfortunately, I'm at the other end of the country, making it hard to intervene. Has anyone any experience of this?
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Papa Hotel
9,485 posts
51 months
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It's a legitimate religion, they're not into the whole "fleecing the vulnerable" thing.
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otolith
Original Poster
19,374 posts
73 months
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It's a proselytising cult with an authoritarian streak and some very dangerous superstitions.
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Fer
6,464 posts
149 months
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otolith said: It's a proselytising cult with an authoritarian streak and some very dangerous superstitions. That's what Papa H said!
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wollowizard
6,605 posts
69 months
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otolith said: It's a proselytising cult with an authoritarian streak and some very dangerous superstitions. Then call your mother and tell her that instead of a bunch of strangers on the internet.
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Oldandslow
878 posts
75 months
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I know some JW's and they are really nice people. They did give me watchtowers for a while but they gave up and are now just really good neighbours. The religion is a bit culty but then so are most compared to the CoE.
Is it possible she's a bit lonely and they provide her with a community. On balance I think that they're more likely to take care of her than fleece her.
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Papa Hotel
9,485 posts
51 months
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otolith said: It's a proselytising cult with an authoritarian streak and some very dangerous superstitions. Exactly like most religions then. Oh, it's beliefs, not superstitions. Count yourself lucky it's not the fricking moonies and that she hasn't started going to funny camps in the wilds of Pakistan. On the whole, she could have fallen in with a much worse bunch, they're decent people who will not take her for a ride.
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otolith
Original Poster
19,374 posts
73 months
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I'm not keen on her dying for want of basic medical care because she's been indoctrinated by some bunch of fundamentalist crackpots - and while I have no liking for any religion, some are more malign than others.
I will be raising the issue with her, I was just interested in hearing people's experiences.
(I don't fear that they're after her money, that's irrelevant)
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voyds9
4,066 posts
152 months
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Confuse them with a different god C8H18 (octane)
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BlackVanDyke
8,040 posts
80 months
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It sounds like they're filling a pretty major need for company/companionship, as such if you feel uncomfortable enough to want to bring it to an end, your mum's going to need a similar source of attention and friendship - any ideas where she might find that?
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slopes
27,613 posts
56 months
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BlackVanDyke said: It sounds like they're filling a pretty major need for company/companionship, as such if you feel uncomfortable enough to want to bring it to an end, your mum's going to need a similar source of attention and friendship - any ideas where she might find that? The local WI, the local round table any organisation such as these can provide what she needs, she could even take up lawn bowls for example 
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TwigtheWonderkid
6,057 posts
19 months
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Papa Hotel said: It's a legitimate religion, they're not into the whole "fleecing the vulnerable" thing. They are a bunch of b ds who are out to fleece the vulnerable.
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TheHeretic
68,025 posts
124 months
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It depends what they are like, I suppose. They have some quite strict rules regarding medical issues, (could be an issue if your mother requires medical care later in life), and shunning or defollowship again could be an issue should she gain a lot of friends. It is a way of keeping people withing the community as many can be scared to leave and lose that. They can have some funny ideas about other religions, bordering on discrimination.
But, as I said, it depends what level of nutty they are.
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Boshly
1,734 posts
105 months
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I've had a lot of exposure to them through business. I wouldn't be comfortable, though agree it appears they are fulfilling a need that your Mum appears to have. My worry is that once indoctrinated they will put pressure on her to shun non JW's, ie everyone else.
I know there are some mixed families but in general their way is to only mix with JW's.
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Papa Hotel
9,485 posts
51 months
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It's funny, how some religions are seen as fair game yet people are afraid to attack certain others. A lot of guff gets talked about the various Christian sects yet I've rarely seen anything properly anti-Islam without the PC brigade jumping all over it. And the Jews, we mustn't speak ill of Judaism. It'd be like saying we love Hitler!
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TheHeretic
68,025 posts
124 months
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I like to think I am fair, and give all superstitious nonsense a fair go! 
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ali_kat
22,454 posts
90 months
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I'd be worried too if she has started spouting their crap about healthcare!
Why is she lonely? Have her friends moved? Can you move her closer to you/your sister/ her friends?
I'd be visiting ASAP to see for myself, & a few times too!
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Boshly
1,734 posts
105 months
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Papa Hotel said: It's funny, how some religions are seen as fair game yet people are afraid to attack certain others. A lot of guff gets talked about the various Christian sects yet I've rarely seen anything properly anti-Islam without the PC brigade jumping all over it. And the Jews, we mustn't speak ill of Judaism. It'd be like saying we love Hitler! I think JW's are lambasted more than most because their main focus appears to be converting others; correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that what the purpose is? Go out and convert? As such, this persistent and sometimes tenacious behaviour gets on people's nerves. I have never been 'door knocked' by Muslims or Jews or any other religion or sect who are so obvious in their (futile in this instance) attempt to 'convert' me. JWs also have some pretty exclusive traits, whereas most other religions (in my narrow knowledge and experience) are more welcoming and inclusive. For other readers, (PapaH knows what I mean) don't mistake their enthusiasm at initial stages as anything other than a conversion attempt. In JW land, everyone else but them, on earth, will burn on Judgement day, good or bad, young or old,. I was privy to a book for JW kids which had images (drawings) of non JW's (adults and kids) burning whilst all the JW's survived.  I can understand that 'your' religion (whatever it may be) will bar me from entering 'your' heaven when you get your way, but why burn me, when earth still exists? That's just selfish
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W124Bob
814 posts
44 months
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Try suggesting an alternative,my parents switched churches when dad gave up the car.Local Salvation Army proved to be very active no bible bashing if you didn't want it,lots of daily clubs,painting, choirs, cheap lunch club, trips etc and they where always there in difficult times.It was upto the individual how far they took the religion,no pressure but a lot of warmth from a very happy church.
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elster
16,647 posts
79 months
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Papa Hotel said: It's a legitimate religion, they're not into the whole "fleecing the vulnerable" thing. EFA
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