# Would it be evil for me to give Jehovah Witnesses handouts from JWFacts.com when they come here? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 17, 2014, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-evil-for-me-to-give-jehovah-witnesses-handouts-from-jwfacts-com-when-they-come-here/695774 "2014-08-17T20:41:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-evil-for-me-to-give-jehovah-witnesses-handouts-from-jwfacts-com-when-they-come-here/695774/121 "2014-08-20T17:11:12Z")
> [@PorchePine](#): > > Use weaselesque…that way you don’t need to remember about\* l\*'s… > Seriously, though…all this “taking time to consult this or that” and “studying posts” does smack of being weasely. Just answer the question already! Don’t rush me. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-evil-for-me-to-give-jehovah-witnesses-handouts-from-jwfacts-com-when-they-come-here/695774/122 "2014-08-20T17:13:09Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Learn something new everyday department: I thought Jehovah Witness = Mormons.:smack: Oh, please! Don’t bring Donny Osmond into this! ---
**Author:** ![PorchePine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@PorchePine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PorchePine)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-evil-for-me-to-give-jehovah-witnesses-handouts-from-jwfacts-com-when-they-come-here/695774/123 "2014-08-20T17:14:58Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Don’t rush me. It’s not a nuanced question. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-evil-for-me-to-give-jehovah-witnesses-handouts-from-jwfacts-com-when-they-come-here/695774/124 "2014-08-20T17:17:03Z")
> [@PorchePine](#): > > Nope. Both have their members go door to door recruiting, though. > > Mormons are much more forgiving about apostasy, though. My mom joined as an adult, was active for a few years, and then decided it wasn’t for her. Acquaintances and coworkers who are LDS still treat her in a friendly manner, invite her to (non-LDS related activities), and respectfully encourage her to come back to the fold. My niece became a Mormon; she got married in a temple, and according to Mormon tenets, non -Mormons are barred from temple services. I have attended a few Witnesses’ weddings; nobody was excluded. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-evil-for-me-to-give-jehovah-witnesses-handouts-from-jwfacts-com-when-they-come-here/695774/125 "2014-08-20T17:19:00Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > My niece became a Mormon; she got married in a temple, and according to Mormon tenets, non -Mormons are barred from temple services. I have attended a few Witnesses’ weddings; nobody was excluded. apples and oranges - apples and oranges. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-evil-for-me-to-give-jehovah-witnesses-handouts-from-jwfacts-com-when-they-come-here/695774/126 "2014-08-20T17:19:27Z")
> [@PorchePine](#): > > It’s not a nuanced question. :Sigh: I’m busy this morning; do you mind? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-evil-for-me-to-give-jehovah-witnesses-handouts-from-jwfacts-com-when-they-come-here/695774/127 "2014-08-20T17:23:02Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Oh, please! Don’t bring Donny Osmond into this! You deny lusting after his sister in your youth? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![PorchePine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@PorchePine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PorchePine)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-evil-for-me-to-give-jehovah-witnesses-handouts-from-jwfacts-com-when-they-come-here/695774/128 "2014-08-20T17:34:14Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > My niece became a Mormon; she got married in a temple, and according to Mormon tenets, non -Mormons are barred from temple services. I have attended a few Witnesses’ weddings; nobody was excluded. We’re talking about how different religions handle apostasy, not how they handle outsiders. But, here we go: The Temple is a sacred place to LDSs. It is not merely a meeting hall, like other Christian churches, so it makes sense that only members of that religion are allowed in. Friends and family without temple recommends are still invited to congratulate the happy couple after the Sealing, but the Sealing itself is a Holy Sacrament, and some exclusion of outsiders can be deemed necessary. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-evil-for-me-to-give-jehovah-witnesses-handouts-from-jwfacts-com-when-they-come-here/695774/129 "2014-08-20T17:46:21Z")
Question: If I tell a JW at the door that I’ve been disfellowshipped, will that get me a pass from future visits? ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-evil-for-me-to-give-jehovah-witnesses-handouts-from-jwfacts-com-when-they-come-here/695774/130 "2014-08-20T17:55:22Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Question: If I tell a JW at the door that I’ve been disfellowshipped, will that get me a pass from future visits? Sorry. Disfellowshipped individuals may be reinstated into the congregation if they are considered repentant of their previous actions and attitude. From [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah%27s_Witnesses_and_congregational_discipline#Disfellowshipping). ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-evil-for-me-to-give-jehovah-witnesses-handouts-from-jwfacts-com-when-they-come-here/695774/131 "2014-08-20T18:40:20Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Question: If I tell a JW at the door that I’ve been disfellowshipped, will that get me a pass from future visits? If you tell them that you aren’t interested and to not come back, it will get you a pass from future visits, at least for a few years. It’s not that difficult. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-evil-for-me-to-give-jehovah-witnesses-handouts-from-jwfacts-com-when-they-come-here/695774/132 "2014-08-20T20:07:51Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > Sorry. Disfellowshipped individuals may be reinstated into the congregation if they are considered repentant of their previous actions and attitude. > > From [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah%27s_Witnesses_and_congregational_discipline#Disfellowshipping). The only people that can officially re-instate is the elders - until the elders approve the person is to be shunned by all other members - this includes sitting in the back of the meetings and conversations not allowed. Talking with a disfellowshipped member - even family - is grounds for disfellowhipping. Family members are allowed “minimal” contact. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-evil-for-me-to-give-jehovah-witnesses-handouts-from-jwfacts-com-when-they-come-here/695774/133 "2014-08-20T20:21:21Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > :Sigh: I’m busy this morning; do you mind? :rolleyes: Really? You’re so busy that you can’t answer a question yet you have the time to keep coming back to this thread and post in it. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-evil-for-me-to-give-jehovah-witnesses-handouts-from-jwfacts-com-when-they-come-here/695774/134 "2014-08-20T20:55:50Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > You deny lusting after his sister in your youth? > > 😉 I can’t stand her either. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-evil-for-me-to-give-jehovah-witnesses-handouts-from-jwfacts-com-when-they-come-here/695774/135 "2014-08-20T20:57:36Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Question: If I tell a JW at the door that I’ve been disfellowshipped, will that get me a pass from future visits? You know, I’ve never thought of that… I’ll have to find out. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-evil-for-me-to-give-jehovah-witnesses-handouts-from-jwfacts-com-when-they-come-here/695774/136 "2014-08-20T21:01:28Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Really? You’re so busy that you can’t answer a question yet you have the time to keep coming back to this thread and post in it. :rolleyes: Within ten minutes after I made that last post–and I was attending to unfinished business at my desk at the time–I got two calls from customers for help and was away from home for nearly two hours. Some things take priority over academic discussions. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-evil-for-me-to-give-jehovah-witnesses-handouts-from-jwfacts-com-when-they-come-here/695774/137 "2014-08-20T21:15:03Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > You know, I’ve never thought of that… I’ll have to find out. This’ll be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-evil-for-me-to-give-jehovah-witnesses-handouts-from-jwfacts-com-when-they-come-here/695774/138 "2014-08-20T21:53:24Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > You know, I’ve never thought of that… I’ll have to find out. I guess as long as you’re at it, you could find out if learning I’m a disfellowshipped JW would obligate you to put me on “ignore.” I’m not one, btw; this would be a purely academic exercise. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-evil-for-me-to-give-jehovah-witnesses-handouts-from-jwfacts-com-when-they-come-here/695774/139 "2014-08-20T22:24:05Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I guess as long as you’re at it, you could find out if learning I’m a disfellowshipped JW would obligate you to put me on “ignore.” > > I’m not one, btw; this would be a purely academic exercise. All things considered, I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-evil-for-me-to-give-jehovah-witnesses-handouts-from-jwfacts-com-when-they-come-here/695774/140 "2014-08-20T22:28:44Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > My niece became a Mormon; she got married in a temple, and according to Mormon tenets, non -Mormons are barred from temple services. I have attended a few Witnesses’ weddings; nobody was excluded. Temple services are private. Meeting houses are equivalent to regular churches and are open. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-evil-for-me-to-give-jehovah-witnesses-handouts-from-jwfacts-com-when-they-come-here/695774.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-evil-for-me-to-give-jehovah-witnesses-handouts-from-jwfacts-com-when-they-come-here/695774.md?page=8)