[soc.religion.christian] Jehovah's Witnesses & Children

scott@hpsdde.hp.com (Scott Roleson) (06/10/89)

I am looking for information relating to the impact on children when one or
both parents are members of the Jehovah's Witnesses.  I would prefer to hear
from people with first-hand knowledge of this subject.  I am particularly
interested in references to legal cases relating to the Jehovah's Witnesses
and child custody.

The background for my request is this:  Just over a year ago my wife became 
interested in the JWs, and has continued to see a pair of JW ladies on a 
regular basis since then.  Not knowing much about the JWs, I began looking 
into them myself (and with the help of many people on this net who I corres-
ponded with).  The more I learned, the less I liked the JWs.

We have been in counseling for about 6 months now, with only marginal results.
I have tried reasoning, other experts, family, and friends, to influence my
wife into considering other alternatives to the JWs, all without success.  I
feel it's time that I focus my attention on what is best for me and my son.
Divorce is clearly an alternative, but I must weigh the potential impact of 
that (and a custody battle) on my son, vs trying to maintain some semblence 
of family life with a religious extremist for a wife.  In the long run, I'm 
sure that I don't want to spend my life living with a Jehovah's Witness.

A fine mess, eh?  Seems like all I have are bad alternatives, and I've got 
to identify the least bad solution.  If you have a first-hand experience that
is related, and are willing to correspond, please send me a message.  I would
prefer e-mail to postings, but that's only for my own convenience.

Thanks in advance.
  
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Scott Roleson                     |   Internet: scott%hp-sdd@hplabs.HP.COM
Hewlett Packard Company           |   UUCP: {hplabs|ucsd|hpfcla}!hp-sdd!scott
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                                  |   Any opinions are my own, not HP's.
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