Do Jehovah Witnesses Allow Interracial Dating

My nephew a JW who is white is dating another JW who is black with the intent to announce their engagement soon. I had been reading about the past history of the JW's opinion of the black race. Old writings that said they were Gods people too, but not intelligent as white etc and not qualified intellectually to go door to door to teach etc. That all people would be white in the new system. I had read of a rope being run down the pews of the fellowship halls to separate the races during services during the 50's early 60's at the halls that did allow intergrated services.. This was supposed to have taken place even up to a few years after de-segregation in the schools and other public places took effect. That in some areas they had their own hall to meet at and the whites had theirs. At one point the members of the black hall had asked to meet at the white hall as their building was being repaired or soemthing and they were told no, that some of the members of the white hall wouldn't understand or approve. And I read that even up into the late 90's, many black members still weren't being given postions or responsibilities that whites had held since the beginning of the JW's. I was just wondering how far they've come along to improve this image and if anyone knows thier opinion of interracial marriages. Welcome C. I have been out of the cult a long time but i know there are others on the forum that will help you. Had I not been df'd , I most likely would've married a childhood friend who was white.

D.C. Interracial Couple Helps Religion’s Mission of Bridging Racial Divide

Actually, he went on to marry a black girl anyway and his sister married a black man. There father and grandfather were very well known in the area, and the son was a former bethelite. Just like in businesses, people are promoted by people like themselves, that is why white men are promoted more often, because white men are predominantly in charge still. Thus because white men are still mostly in charge at the WTS, white men tend to be recommended for higher "privileges. The more exposure people have to people of other races, socially or at work, the less they are seen as "the other" including in congregations. These are all generalities and definitely there are exceptions to everything I have stated. Just some observations over the last 50 years. I was associated for over 30 years and attended congregations in the upper midwest, East Coast, and West Coast and I have never observed any prejudice toward blacks or any other race in any of the congregations; we had black, white, hispanic, and asian elders and circuit and district overseers and a number of interracial marriages, though not a great many. I know for a fact that the halls in Randolph County, North Carolina were segregated until the 60's. I didn't find this out until about a year ago, because I am only in my 20's. I was talking to an older black sister about the locations of the old halls and how did they have two different ones at the same time in one city? She said one of the locations was the black congregation and the other was the white congregation. Some of the really old halls, still have two water fountains. Many have replaced one of the fountains with a short fountain for kids, but back in the day two were installed, one for blacks and one for whites, after the congregations were segregated. I couldn't believe it. I was never raised with any predjudice, but my parents didn't join until the early 70's. There are many mixed racial couples now and they all are respected and I don't think they are shown any predjudice. It is just weird that the congregations have only been mixed for 60 years. I had never even known there had ever been a segregated KH until last year and I was raised in the troof.My mother was the first of the desegreated Witnesses. Our congregation was half black and half white, and nobody gave a crap who you married. To be honest, I would be very surprised to hear of segregation. I would believe it Anyway beside that I live in Maine so maybe this has something to do with it They of course did not understand that THEY were part of the problem, not my brother and his girlfriend. Toggle navigation. Sign up Sign in. JW's and interracial marriage? Anyone have personal experiences on it? StinkyPantz And I read that even up into the late 90's, many black members still weren't being given postions or responsibilities that whites had held since the beginning of the JW's. As a Black female I never saw anything like this. If there was any racism, it was hidden. It is alright for a white man to marry a black woman. It is less alright for a black man to marry a white woman. Older people over 60 tend to retain pre civil rights views of blacks. Up until the 80's I saw few blacks at Bethel.

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D.C. Interracial Couple Helps Religion’s Mission of Bridging Racial Divide

Just my experience. Country Girl My mother was the first of the desegreated Witnesses. Share this. They are simply presented to show what the Watchtower teaches regarding the topic. Despite the official end of slavery in America in , the 's were a time of significant prejudice and inequality against African Americans. It was during this time that religions such as the Watch Tower Society and Mormons were formed. This influenced early views and teachings regarding black people and mixed races. For example, it was explained in a Watchtower that in the New System the skin of black people could turn white. Viewing the quotes chronologically reveals that in more recent decades the Watchtower promotes racial equality. Despite this, in was not until that the first black Governing Body member, Samuel Herd, was appointed. As of , Herd was still the only black Governing Body member and there has been no Asian represenation. Watchtower Apr 15 p. We have received letters from several of these, who had intended engaging in the volunteer work, expressing surprise that in the call for volunteers in the March 1st issue we restricted the inquiry to white Protestant churches.They rightly realized that we have not the slightest of race prejudice, and that we love the colored brethren with just the same warmth of heart that we love the white, and they queried therefore why such a distinction should be made in the call. The reason is that so far as we are able to judge, colored people have less education than whites - many of them quite insufficient to permit them to profit by such reading as we have to give forth. Our conclusion therefore is based upon the supposition that reading matter distributed to a colored congregation would more than half of it be utterly wasted, and a very small percentage indeed likely to yield good results. Watchtower Aug 15 pp. Sir H H. They attempted to veil an unbridled immorality with an unblushing hypocrisy and a profane display of mouth-religion which, to an honest mind, seemed even more disgusting than the immorality itself. While it was apparent that not one particle of true religion had made its way into their gross minds, it was also evident that the spirit of sturdy manliness which was present in their savage forefathers found no place in their false, cowardly natures. The secret of the greater intelligence and aptitude of the Caucasian undoubtedly in great measure is to be attributed to the commingling of blood amongst its various branches; and this was evidently forced in large measure by circumstances under divine control. We are not able to determine to a certainty that the sons of Ham and Canaan are the negroes ; but we consider that general view as probable as any other. Golden Age Jan 7 p. Wonderful are the fixed laws of God. Watchtower February 15 pp. The difference between the races of men and the differences between their languages have long been arguments against the solidarity of the human family. The doctrine of restitution has also raised the question. How could all men be brought to perfection and which color of skin was the original? The answer is now provided.

Bridging the Racial Divide: Overcoming the Challenges of an Interracial Marriage

Edwards, Supt. Watchtower Apr 1 p. But it did not impress itself upon us until gradually their number increased to about twenty-five per cent of the whole audience. We had the same feeling respecting them as others; but it was quickly discerned that it was not a case of feeling, but that, whereas the colored people of New York City are about five per cent of the population, in our audiences they are about twenty-five per cent and the number increasing. What shall we do? As the attendance of the colored people would increase, proportionately the number of the whites would decrease; for explain it how we will, a majority of whites prefer not to intermingle closely with other races. Recognizing that it meant either the success or the failure of the enterprise of the DRAMA as respects the whites, we have been compelled to assign the colored friends to the gallery, which, however, is just as good for seeing and hearing as any other part of The Temple. Some were offended at this arrangement. We have received numerous letters from the colored friends, some claiming that it is not right to make a difference, others indignantly and bitterly denouncing us as enemies of the colored people. Some, confident that Brother Russell had never sanctioned such a discrimination, told that they believe it would be duty to stand up for equal rights and always to help the oppressed, etc. We were obliged to explain the facts, assuring all of our loving interest in the colored people, and of our desire to do them good, and not injury.We again suggested that if a suitable place could be found in which the DRAMA could be presented for the benefit of the colored people alone, we would be glad to make such arrangements, or to co-operate with any others in doing so. Our explanations were apparently entirely satisfactory to all of the fully consecrated. To these we explained that it is a question of putting either the interests of God's Cause first, or else the interests of the race first. We believed it our duty to put God first and the Truth first - at any cost to others or to ourself! We explained that we thought that all the colored brethren should know our attitude toward them - they should know that we love to serve them in any way possible and to give them the very best we have to give of the Gospel Message; and that it is only a question of whether our giving to them in one way would deprive us of giving the Truth to others. Some who were still tenacious and quarrelsome we merely reminded of our Lord's declaration that in inviting visitors into the house it is the place of the host to say where they shall sit, and then we showed them the parable of the man who chose the chief seat of honor and was given a lower one. In answer to the query as to how our course of conduct squared with the Golden Rule, we replied that it squares exactly. We would wish others to put God first. If our personal interests are or ever have been in conflict with the real and apparently best interests of the Lord's Cause, it is a part of our consecration vow to ignore our interests in favor of the interests of the Lord's Cause. This is what we mean by the declaration that we are dead to self and alive to our God as New Creatures. We reminded one dear sister that the Lord enjoins humility, and assures us that unless we humble ourselves we shall not be exalted. If nature favors the colored brethren and sisters in the exercise of humility it is that much to their advantage, if they are rightly exercised by it. A little while, and our humility will work out for our good. A little while, and those who shall have been faithful to their Covenant of Sacrifice will be granted new bodies, spiritual, beyond the veil, where color and sex distinctions will be no more. A little while, and the Millennial Kingdom will be inaugurated, which will bring Restitution to all mankind - restitution to the perfection of mind and body, feature and color, to the grand original standard, which God declared "very good," and which was lost for a time through sin, but which is soon to be restored by the powerful Kingdom of Messiah. Golden Age Oct 15 p. The Bible versus Evolution p.

Black Skin, Negros and Mixed Races

But the fact, that the white race has been more abundantly blessed with the light of the Gospel than others, is not to be understood to signify that when members of other races heard and appreciated the Gospel, they were repulsed or rejected by the Lord. Golden Age Jul 24 p. Answer: It is generally believed that the curse which Noah pronounced upon Canaan was the origin of the Black race. Certain it is that when Noah said, "Cursed be Canaan, a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren," he pictured the future of the Colored race. They have been and are a race of servants, There is no servant in the world as good as a good Colored servant, and the joy that he gets from rendering faithful service is one of the purest joys there is in the world. The Yearbook listed the number of "Negro members" separately when providing a breakdown of members at the Annual Meeting. Watchtower Jul 15 pp. God's Word does not forbid marriage between the races. On the contrary, it shows that all races are related in that they all came from one man originally. Acts No one race is esteemed better in God's sight than another.It is quite likely that those who marry across racial lines will have more of this tribulation than will others. In many parts of the earth there is still much racial discrimination, and entering such a marriage may result in restricting the Christian's opportunities for preaching the good news of God's Kingdom. Is it truly love or chiefly physical attraction? Watchtower Dec 1 pp. The Bible does not specifically discuss interracial marriage. It does, however, show how Jehovah God views humankind and it provides guiding principles for those considering marriage. Superiority of race is nowhere taught or implied in the Bible. Jehovah God accepts as his approved servants people out of all races, without discrimination. So, the Bible nowhere implies that racial differences in themselves have anything to do with the properness of marriage. But if her husband should fall asleep in death, she is free to be married to whom she wants, only in the Lord. Are there any other factors, then, worth considering? Yes, for Christians seek to exercise good judgment and wisdom in all they do. In many areas interracial marriages are becoming increasingly common. People are traveling more, and often find the ways and customs of people of other lands attractive.