Jehovahs Witness - Moral Dilema

[Pickled Piper]

I have been visited at home by a local JW for several years now. He calls about once a month and since I work from home I am invariably in. He's a very amiable chap and always very polite. The interchange lasts about five minutes and finishes with him handing over a copy of the Watchtower. I always thank him and wish him well and then promptly put the magazine in the recycling bin.

Now my dilema is this- Clearly he feels some sense of satisfaction at having this exchange with me. I'm guessing at most doors he knocks on he is told to get lost or worse. Should I be honest with him or keep entertaining him (hey, it doesn't cost me anything other than five minutes and I'm sure it makes his day). I have never encouraged him or invited him into the house etc. I was brought up as a Sikh and encouraged to accept the validity of other religions as well as the right of the individual to worship however he /she wanted. I don't think it's a lack of assertiveness on my part I'm quite happy to give presumptious double glazing salesmen their marching orders.

On a personal basis I believe in his right to worship as he pleases. He's not pushy or rude. Should I tell him to stop coming round or should I continue in the knowledge that I make his day and probably bring something into his life.

Over to the PH massive.

pp

[Yugguy]

It sounds like you don't mind him visiting, it's a bit of distraction from your work, a break for a few minutes and you say he doesn't try and push his beliefs on you. If you enjoy it and it makes him feel good where's the harm?

[MilnerR]

No harm being done, and if its not a major inconvenience to you then why stop. Ok you're telling a little fib by pretending to be interested but I do that at work every 5 minutes

[marki]

As a side line ,, i know absolutly nothing about the Sikh religion what should i read to get a overview of it ?

[skinnyboy]

Is this "brother" a balanced chap? In so much as you can have a two sided conversation with him. If so then if you get to talk religious matters on an even keel and you garner some satisfaction at the conversations you have, then i don't see there being a problem. I grew up from the age of 4 to about 16 a JW and beleive me, i hated every sanctimonius second of it, the onesidedness of their faith repulses me. The only saving grace is that they do have a few gems who though they beleive in their faith, they're not the lemmings the majority are. Sounds like you have one of the balanced ones.

You may want to read some of the material the average JW hasn't a clue about or choses to ignore. That way you can have something to talk about next time he pops over for a chat.

click here for a great resource about JW's

[B17NNS]

marki said:

As a side line ,, i know absolutly nothing about the Sikh religion what should i read to get a overview of it ?

Sikh and ye shall find brother

[racefan_uk]

Tell him you never saw the accident...

Sorry, I'll get me coat.

[Boosted Ls1]

I think their religion demands a bit of door knocking so he probably hates having to do this. You may be the only nice chap he meets.

I do the same, say hello, thankyou and then recycle. It's not really hard to do, just being polite. I don't engage in any conversations apart from being brief. Ask him if a sikh friend visit him for a chat and see how he responds.

Boosted.

[Pickled Piper]

marki said:

As a side line ,, i know absolutly nothing about the Sikh religion what should i read to get a overview of it ?

Marki,

Ironically one of the best books I have found is published by Christians Aware. It is called "Meeting Sikhs" ISBN1 873372 08 6. Also, as you would expect lots of stuff on the net. Although, no one site I would recommend over the others.

pp

[gideon]

Working from home a lot myslef I know how bloody depressing it can be, sounds like a pleasant distraction for you and a feeling of satifaction for him. No harm being done on either side so why not.

To look at it another way at least it not a scroat selling double glazing or 'do you want to switch gas/electric/phone supplier', had to threaten to forceably remove one of them from my drive last summer.

[Monster26]

The chap might be nice, I would have no problem with asking him to leave me alone, due to the religon not allowing blood tranfusions. My Sister and Mother have had due to a life threatening conditions, if they happened it would mean letting them die. Blood given freely by people like you and I, for the good of others and they deem this wrong!!!!!!!!!

Anyway religion is always difficult.....

ps
I remember when I got married and the Vicar said "your not getting married in a church because it's a nice building are you"..........er..well..er......

[gideon]

Monster26 said:

ps I remember when I got married and the Vicar said "your not getting married in a church because it's a nice building are you"..........er..well..er......

My wifes Roman Catholic and I had to go through to same as she (and her family) we all set on a church wedding.

We had to attend marriage classes for a few months and I had to ask the local Bishop for permission to marry a Catholic as I'm CofE.

Still the priest was an ex-army chaplin and a damn nice guy, which made it a lot easier, the current one at the church reminds me of Father Jack from Father Ted.

[oi_oi_savaloy]

To be honest I had the same situation as yours about 6 months ago. I worked from home then and I was happy to have a chat with the JW that used to turn up. About 5 mins chat each timehe turned up.

We mentioned family during one chat and I said something about i wouldn't mind having one at some point. The next time this chap came round he brought his wife and two kids along. One of the most depressing things I've experienced in a long time. Wife- brainwashed to the JW way of life and the kids? Jesus. utterly brain washed and what was so sad was that they were so young.

Didn't answer the door after that. Still feel sorry for those little blighters.

[dmitsi]

If the Mormons come to your house ask them if they would mind helping tidy up. You have to put up with a bit of chatter, but get a nice tidy house as part of the bargain.

[flasher]

Jesus. oops!

Anyway, why? Irrespective of whether hes a nice chap, his "religion" is a crock of unadulterated shite. Ask him why he would let his child (or any other member of his family for that matter) die rather than let him/her have a blood transfusion just because his freak religion says so.

Better to be honest with people. Next time he comes round tell him to bugger off.

problem solved. Next...

[tinman0]

gideon said:

Monster26 said: ps I remember when I got married and the Vicar said "your not getting married in a church because it's a nice building are you"..........er..well..er...... My wifes Roman Catholic and I had to go through to same as she (and her family) we all set on a church wedding. We had to attend marriage classes for a few months and I had to ask the local Bishop for permission to marry a Catholic as I'm CofE.

this is the sort of borrocks that really stuffs up Christianity. rather than using the wedding as an excuse to welcome you and your family into the church they have this whole petty rubbish that they throw in. it gives people (and rightly so) the idea that the Church is made of small petty minded Christians who are more interested in structure and order than actually getting the word of God across.

[Yugguy]

Our church (CofE) will offer you marriage classes but they are about how to make relationships last, that kind of thing.

[flasher]

Maybe we should get Ted to have a "God-botherers" forum?

[Yugguy]

Should go well right next to the Intolerant forum.

>> Edited by Yugguy on Monday 6th February 15:32

[tinman0]

Yugguy said:

Should go well right next to the Intolerant forum.

tell us what you really think dont hold back!