Jehovah witness friend

Why would it be hypocritical? It is totally fine for you to say that you are not interested in receiving messages about religion. Your own religious status doesn't matter.

Away With The Fairies wrote: »

I think it's hypocritical because I'm non practicing but she does practice her own religion.

Not hypocritical at all. You don't want the messages, they are of no relevance to you so she shouldn't send them.

Away With The Fairies wrote: »

I think it's hypocritical because I'm non practicing but she does practice her own religion.

That's still not hypocrisy.

Just tell her you're not interested in discussing religion and you'd appreciate it if she stopped sending that material

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Just ignore the religious messages etc and only reply to the personal messages?

She'll soon get the hint

I doubt it. Witnesses, Mormons and other religions who 'preach' like that feel like they are genuinely doing a good thing informing people about the bible. The OP definitely needs to be clear about their lack of interest in the topic of religion.

OP, it would be hypocritical if you were sending her religious things but didn't want her sending things back. It is absolutely okay that you say that you aren't interested in religious information.

Graces7 wrote: »

That might backfire as it arouses more zeal. Been there, done that . And no need to be unkind.. Just let the correspondence quietly lapse? Leave longer and longer between messages.

I think it's more unkind to slowly ghost a friend without telling them why, than it is to be up front and say that you want to remain friends, but you do not want to receive religious material.

OP just be upfront that you've no interest in discussing anything related to religion, if they aren't able to respect that then tell them you will no longer remain in contact. There is no need to ghost people or try any underhand approach. I've a friend from college who is Mormon and we get on great with no religious talk or push so its not true that every JW, Mormon etc have a zeal to convert people - yes some do but I've also had hard sell from Catholic friends - just be blunt, you've no interest in religion and if someone can't respect your wishes then tell them it's best you stop contact with them. There's nothing hypocritical about it, its a matter of respect.

Away With The Fairies wrote: »

I didn't know they were a jehovah witness until these messages. I just want to be nice about it and not be racist towards them either. I'll take the advice above and tell them I'm not interested with their information.

It wasn't hypocrisy not to have any interest in hearing about their religion and it's not racist either. Not really sure where you got either of those ideas.

You're seriously overthinking this, OP. Just politely but firmly tell them you're not interested and you'd appreciate if they don't bring it up again. That's literally all you need to do.

Don't forget Jehovah's Witnesses are used to having people tell them that they're not interested. I'm always polite to them but I'm sure they get plenty of people who don't answer the door or are rude. Just tell her nicely that you're not interested and leave it at that.

o1s1n wrote: »

Send her back links to articles on www.jwfacts.com showing how her religion is actually a doomsday cult that under a veil of smiles and happiness, tears families apart via shunning and allows children to die and become martyrs rather than accept blood transfusions.

She'll soon get the hint!

Or just politely tell her you're not interested rather than getting into a tit-for-tat that could well be interpreted as an invitation to treat.

Mam of 4 wrote: »

To say JW's only interact with non JW people only as a way to try to convert them isn't true ime . I know lots of JW's and we just don't discuss religion at all .

OP , just be honest and let her know you don't appreciate her sending you unwanted links/pamphlets, whatever , and you dont want to receive any more from her , that would be my advice .

I knew people who were ex jw. Even family members who were still involved were forbidden to have anything to do with them. They all eventually got out.

Loveinapril wrote: »

This isn't true.

People are people. If the OP's friend is a fanatic, that's a different story but to say a statement like the above is just a lie.

In your opinion.

SouthWesterly wrote: »

In your opinion.

My opinion is based on first hand knowledge of very close family members and acquaintances who were witnesses. They still maintained lives outside of the religion, including friendships, relationships and marriages. I personally knew a lot of Jehovah's Witnesses and don't know any who were shunned or excluded from families. To me, they just seemed like typical people but had a strong faith in their religion. Maybe it differs from place to place but the ones I knew in Dublin weren't fanatics.

Away With The Fairies wrote: »

I done a course last year and still keep in touch with others that were on the course. Mostly because we progressed to a higher level and are on the same course again this year.

There is one that didn't progress and I have no issue with staying in touch. Messages were mostly just checking up on me because they knew how crap I felt with the pandemic.

However, lately alot of messages contains Jehovah witnesses material. The course we done wasn't religious and I'm not interested in this type of thing.

While I am a catholic, a non-practicing catholic, is it a bit hypocritical of me to ask her to stop sending me Jehovah things? She can practice Jehovah witness but not through me.

I would stop interacting with this person full stop. JWs are a cult, not a religion. Your "friends" only intent here is to convert you. Those in the religion are actively encouraged not to have friends outside the faith, when she talks to you she has alterior motive. It will not matter what you say to this person. They're brainwashed and will absolutely persist in trying to convert you no matter what. This is a dangerous cult, avoid avoid avoid.

I had a colleague who I used meet weekly - great guy, totally normal, went out for drinks, had the craic - after about 3 years I mentioned the JW’s going door to door & made some quip and he roared laughing at me & said he was one too! You’d never have guessed! Of course I said that and he roared laughing at that too - we are normal people too and don’t come with Jehovah stamped across our forehead or horns!! I was
mortified but insisted - you can’t be a JW you drink! And party! More laughter... he’s never mentioned religion or tried to convert me - I know him years now and he’s ‘just’ another person & ‘just’ another religion.

I happen to know 4 JW ( found out by accident as I ket one giving out leaflets one day!). I’m a happy relatively lapsed Catholic and their line is that their mission for some of them may be to spread the word or create dialogue between different religions but that (so far) dosn’t make them a cult or evil or dangerous - just different to ‘us’. Lots of them do go every week to ‘the hall’ and take their religion seriously and place it at the centre of their life but I wouldn’t stamp someone out of my life for having their beliefs or occasionally putting their god ( I think we share the same one!) in the conversation. I used the line that I was happy with my religion & was worried they might try and convert me - again - to much laughter. We are still friends years later & no sneeky conversion! They’re just into their religion the way some people like horseracing or football or gaa or chocolate - and enjoy sharing it - dosn’t mean if you are honest with them that you are going to wake up milking a cow or with a rake in your hand or wearing an apron! Just be nice & be honest.

People also need friends and different perspectives to balance themselves out - we complain if they stick together because they are clannish and a cult Nd we complain when they falk to us because they are trying to turn us into little Jehovahs! I’d say its hard to win sometimes!

I’d advise to tell the friend no more religion talk and see if they respect that. If so grand. If they continue to go on about it then cut ties. No point ending a friendship unless you have to.

Graces7 wrote: »

Exactly. But in this case that has not been the case?

That is why the second paragraph of my post contained my advice in what to do .