What would you do..religion ???

Question

My daughter (13) has a friend that lives up the street. This little girl is very sweet but very religious. She is Jehova Witness and yesterday while my daughter was at her house her mother did a bible study with her and my daughter.. Is it just me or do you think this is over stepping her boundries? I don't know if I should call the mother or forbid my daughter from going over to her house. If I do call what should i say... I'm really pissed right now...I'm I wrong?

Answer 1

Well, I guess I could see it two ways.  What's the harm in your daughter being exposed to other things (religions).  As long as the woman isn't trying to "convert" her.  Maybe you could call the woman and say, "I'm a bit uncomfortable that you did that without my consent.  Coudl I come next time you do it and take part in it to see if it is something I want my child to be exposed to?"

Then you can make an informed decision on whether it is something to "worry" about.

Answer 2

I always use this rule of thumb-How you feel is never wrong.They are your feelings,as for the sit at hand if it makes you feel some type of way then say something.

If it were me I would just b/c the mother shouldn't be in the middle of the kids relationship.Religion is good whatever it is you choose to believe in but it is not right to force it upon other people..

Also tell your daughter you don't approve and when it happens again tell her to come home. But still say something to the mother.

For ex: I respect your views but however do not appreciate your religious views being pushed on my daughter and feel it is a very touchy and unappropriate subject to have w/ a 13yr old. If she is not respective to what your opinion is, then hate to say it but your daughter just might not need to go over there......Good LUCK

P.S.

Your a mother for a reason.

Answer 3

I'm sure that, in their family, bible study is considered as normal a part of the day as eating a meal or reading a book.  

I'd just explain it to my daughter & teach her how to politely respect other people's customs & how to politely state her own beliefs.

Answer 4

If it bothers you that much, just have the girl come to your house.   It would bother me, but I have always said I will let my boys decide what religion they want to be.  Its also good for your daughter to experience people from different cultures and religions.

Answer 5

Have her daughter come over and preform surgery on her or something else JW can't do.

Answer 6

If she wants to learn about other religions then let her. Just because you feel that the Jehovah Witnesses are a cult, doesn't mean that they are. Same with the FLDS Church doesn't resemble all of the Mormon Faith.  If people want to make peace in the world, then it's high time, we learn to get along with people of other nations, cultures, race, s*x and religion.  Otherwise we'll end our world before God does.

Answer 7

if you would not instruct your daughter, some one will do so

jw students study what is called the arian heresy, that is, they believe the teaching of arius, about 400 ad, who turned on the teaching of the church and looked through the bible and changed parts so that jesus would not be LORD incarnate anymore.

if you will check this out, it is most amazing and it will take much of the "WOW" out of the jehovah witness teaching when your daughter sees it is just so much tripe

if you want a fast study, kingdom of the cults, by walter martin

Answer 8

It is part of the Jehovah's Witnesses belief that they MUST spread their faith.  Therefore you can safely assume that this behavior will continue.  You can try talking to the other mother first, but you may have to only let your daughter see this girl at your home or on "neutral" ground.  Just out of curiosity, what was your daughter's reaction?  Did she enjoy it?  Did she feel she was being forced?  You should discuss your daughters feelings on religion in general and explain to her that there are many different faiths and denominations out there and let her decide how much, if any, she would like to explore them.

Answer 9

You are not wrong. I say address it to the mother of this girl and tell her that you would prefer for her not to include your child in these bible studies...that if she wants to do that while your daughter is over, just go ahead and send your girl home. Tell her that you respect her religious beliefs and expect her to do the same...I don't think it will hurt your daughter...I always believed that it would be good for a child to learn and understand other beliefs and religions. Just tell your daughter to come home or she can stay and just listen...doesn't mean she has to convert...you decide...

Answer 10

Jehovah Witness's are supposed to try to convert everyone they can, at any cost.

If it was my daughter, she would not go to that friends house again. If the friend wanted to come to my house, that would be fine. I do not think you are wrong by ANY MEANS! That is not something that normal people do and that crossed a huge line as far as I am concerned. There is nothing wrong with being exposed to different religions and cultures, but there is something wrong with another person trying to convert a 13 year old little girl.

But rest assured, if you confront the mom about it, she will more than likely not let her daughter around yours. JW's are not supposed to have contact with people that refuse their faith. You are "shunned" if you don't believe what they do. My own sister cut ties with me because she decided to become a JW and I absolutely refused. She never stopped preaching until I finally ended up in her face about it and now we don't talk at all.

So with that being said, you have a decision to make. Are you ok if the other girl is not allowed to see your daughter at all, not at your house and not at hers?

I think it it was ME... I would confront the mom about it and possibly hand her, her teeth regardless if they were not allowed to be friends anymore, but I may just be a bit jaded from the experience with my sister.  

Answer 11

You are not wrong. She especially should've asked you first if that was ok. Call up the mom and just say that you don't appreciate her giving bible studies to your child and that if they want her over again they can't go on doing that.  

Answer 12

I'd be very upset as well.  Tell your daughter that next time this is about to happen..she is to come home.

Answer 13

Call the mother and tell her that she was in the wrong on this. Tell her that you will take care of your daugther religion yourself and ask her how she would feel if you had done that with her daughter. Be very nice and try to come to some understanding so that the childern can stay friends.

Tell the mother how mad you WERE. Dont call untel you have control feelings. Keep control of your emotions and reason with her but be firm in that she had way over stepped her boundries.