Jehovah`s Witness/marriage

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Expert: Brandon Harper - 8/10/2006


Question
Hello,

Growing up i was brought up catholic...it was not intill i met my fiancie (sp?) did I start to learn more about JW. Just recently we got engaged...i did attent a service awhile back...im open minded about the religion and accpeting the fact he family is JW. My question is if we were to have a wedding and be a non religion person to say are vowels...would his family still attend...should i consider starting my practices of a Jw? Would they accpet me more...or because of my past will it effect us and our day. I really want both are familys to come together to share the fact we made a commitment to one eachother.i have not spoken to the parents yet...but i would love to hear your side! Thanks!  

Answer
Beth,

You asked: "[If] we were to have a wedding and be a non religion person to say are vowels...would his family still attend?"

If you are asking whether having a non-religious person officiate the wedding would cause his family to stay away, then the answer is, "It depends."

If it is a civil authority (such as a Justice of the Peace) there would be no reason why JWs could not attend as long as it is not held in a church. Even if held in a church, it would be up to individual JWs whether or not they would attend, there is no rule about it. But if the service is a religious one it must be officiated by one of Jehovah's Witnesses in order for JWs to attend, according to the rules. Some JWs ignore the rules, however.

You asked: "...should i consider starting my practices of a JW?"

You should consider starting the practices of JWs whenever you wish to become one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

I offer a friendly recommendation that you study the doctrine THOROUGHLY (checking whether the Bible actually requires what Jehovah's Witnesses teach that it requires) PRIOR to being baptized.

After baptism the opportunity to do this thorough investigation without severe penalty is gone. I suggest that you don't let anyone pressure you into doing something you don't feel COMPLETELY comfortable with.

I hope this helps.

Respectfully,
Brandon Harper

Jehovah`s Witness

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Brandon Harper

Expertise

I was raised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses and was baptized for 21 years. I was a 4th generation Jehovah's Witness both paternally and maternally and am qualified to answer many questions regarding doctrine, doctrinal changes, historical basis for various doctrines, as well as offer rebuttal responses from the perspective of a former Jehovah's Witness. I can also answer questions from the perspective of an ardent Jehovah's Witness.

Experience

I am 33 years old, became a publisher and gave my first public talk at age 4, was baptized at age 12, became an inactive publisher at age 32, and disassociated myself at age 33. My father has served as a congregation servant/elder continuously from the age of 17 on. Of my 9 uncles, 6 are elders. Of my 9 aunts, four are regular pioneers. My father is the presiding overseer of a congregation. When I began seriously investigating this religion I had to prepare for conversations with a very large extended family steeped in the history and doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses. I have thoroughly studied many Watchtower Society publications that most Jehovah's Witnesses have never even read, if they have heard of them at all, seeking the origins of various doctrinal points. I knew I would need to have this knowledge to discuss the issues in detail with my family when I decided to disassociate myself.

Education/Credentials
I read every Watchtower and Awake! magazine from at least age 8 through age 32. According to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society I have the equivalent of several four-year degrees (Reference available on request). I would hope that education would qualify me as an expert.

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