Which current and ex-NBA players are Jehovah’s Witnesses? – According to Google, there are actually three current and ex-NBA players who are Jehovah’s Witnesses — Dewayne Dedmon (currently of the Miami Heat) and former Indiana Pacers’ teammates, Danny Granger and Darren Collison,

The one other identifying details in her set (a light skin tone) seems to imply that Schmitt is talking about Granger. However, she also mentions a cousin named Keith and a basic Google search was didn’t turn up a cousin named Keith for either Granger or Collison. And whether any of this is actually true or just a somewhat wild standup bit, who knows? Check out The Step Back for more news, analysis, opinion and unique basketball coverage.

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Published on 01/01/2023 at 7:16 PM CDT Last updated on 01/01/2023 at 7:16 PM CDT

Are there any Jehovah’s Witnesses in the NBA?

Current Players – Several current NBA players follow the Jehovah’s Witness faith, such as Jonathan Isaac, Trey Burke, and Jahlil Okafor. These players place their faith before their professional careers. Jehovah’s Witnesses have ethical guidelines that apply to home and court.

How many people in the NBA are a Jehovah’s Witness?

How many ex NBA players are Jehovah’s Witnesses and have a cousin Keith? – It is believed that only three former NBA players, Danny Granger, Dewayne Dedmon and Darren Collison, are Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Where do JW get their money?

This is an archive of an old page that has been merged into Beliefs and practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses, The information is kept here, as editors may find it useful in editing the above article. Practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses include activities common to many Christian denominations, such as evangelism, gathering for group worship and study, and donating money to support their religious activities.

This article discusses how the doctrines as well as non-doctrinal organizational and cultural arrangements manifest themselves in the practices and stances of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Jehovah’s Witnesses fund their activities, such as publishing, constructing and operating facilities, evangelism, and disaster relief via donations.

There is no tithing or collection, but all are encouraged to donate to the organization; Witnesses typically provide an opportunity for members of the public to make such donations as they encounter them in their preaching work. Donation boxes labeled for several specific purposes, are located in Kingdom Halls and other meeting facilities.

• Generally there is a Kingdom Hall fund for operating expenses locally, and a general fund for the “Worldwide Work”, which includes the printing of literature, organization of conventions, supporting missionaries and disaster relief.
• The accounts (including donations) and the financial operation of the local congregation are reviewed monthly with the entire congregation at the Service Meeting.

(This meeting is open to the public.) Donations are also accepted via mail, and the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society can be named as a beneficiary to an estate, and also accepts donations in the form of life insurance policies, pension plans, bank accounts, certificates of deposit, retirement accounts, stocks and bonds, real estate, annuities and trusts.

1. As their name implies, Jehovah’s Witnesses are well known for their intensive witnessing, or, proselytizing, efforts.
2. Witnesses generally refer to their evangelizing activities by terms such as: “preaching,” “disciple-making”, “service,” “the ministry,” and, more formally, but less frequently, “evangelizing”.

All ‘publishers’ who are healthy enough are strongly encouraged to go from door to door, participating in this activity to the extent that their circumstances allow, every week if at all possible. Even children are encouraged to participate, accompanied by their parents.

• However, all publishers must possess a basic understanding of Bible based teachings and profess to be living in harmony with such teachings.
• For example, use of illegal substances (drugs) or employing dishonest business practices (fraud, tax evasion) would disqualify such a person from hypocritically participaing in this public work.

Witnesses who spend at least 840 hours of witnessing during a year (an average of 70 hours per month) are known as “regular pioneers”. Witnesses who wish to spend 50 hours per month are known as “auxiliary pioneers” and can serve in this capacity either a month at a time or consecutively.

1. Missionary service is another opportunity that members have to reach persons in other lands.
2. Those invited to share in such work are usually given specialized training at the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead,
3. On average, these individuals dedicate over 120 hours per month to their work.
4. As of 1998, there were 2,390 Witnesses having missionary status serving in 148 lands.

Witnesses have, in the past, used a wide variety of methods to spread their faith, including information marches, where members wore sign boards and handed out leaflets, to sound cars, and syndicated newspaper columns and radio spots devoted to sermons.

Between 1924 and 1957, the organization operated a radio station, WBBR, from New York. They discarded this medium largely due to the prevalence of evangelistic radio programs to minimize identification with other religious groups. In recent decades, additional methods have included preaching by telephone, writing letters, at bus stops, places of business and in the street.

Specialized territories of residential and commercial areas are made up within a congregation’s boundaries and distributed to publishers. Currently, door-to-door evangelizing for the Witnesses involves endeavouring to engage individuals in discussion of religious matters and offering literature about their faith, with the goal of starting a Bible study with anyone who shows an interest. Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses Jehovah’s Witnesses call their meeting places ” Kingdom Halls ” instead of churches, to indicate that the gathering of the congregation for the purpose of learning about God’s Kingdom is what is important, not the physical location itself.

Another reason is that they deem the use of the term church to now be largely confusing and inaccurate because the term in its Biblical context actually refers to a gathering or a “congregation” of people and not to the meeting place or the building itself (see the etymology of the word ). In general, the buildings are functional in character, and do not contain religious symbols.

In many countries, the Witnesses have “Assembly Halls” where about twenty congregations meet two or three times a year for one-day or two-day Assemblies. In countries and areas without such Assembly Halls, or when attendance is expected to exceed seating capacity, the annual assemblies are held in borrowed or rented facilities suitable for the purpose, such as public auditoriums.

1. The great majority of the Kingdom Halls and Assembly Halls, as well as the Watchtower Society’s headquarters and branch office facilities around the world, have been constructed by the Witnesses themselves freely contributing their own time.
2. The needed finances come from voluntary contributions.
3. Congregational meetings, which are open to the public, are held three times a week.

All meetings are generally synchronous, so that all congregations are studying the same material at the same meeting. Meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses open and close with prayer, Hymns called Kingdom songs are usually sung at meetings held in the Kingdom Hall, as well as at assemblies and conventions.

Dress for meetings is local formal attire. In most Western countries, this would consist of a suit and tie for males, and conservative dresses/skirts for females (pants are considered inappropriate for meetings). In places with hot and/or humid climates such as Australia and Malaysia, a body of elders may deem it temporarily appropriate not to wear a tie if the Kingdom Hall is not air-conditioned.

Such exemptions can also apply in the field service.

Who is the ex NBA that’s a Jehovah’s Witness?

More Recently – Well, three former NBA players are Jehovah’s Witnesses: Dewayne Dedmon, Danny Granger, and Darren Collison retired to live the life. Dewayne Dedmon is a 7-foot center who had a year-long stint with the Atlanta Hawks in 2014. Danny Granger is a veteran forward who spent 10 years in the NBA playing for Indiana Pacers and a few other teams.

1. Darren Collison is an American point guard and recently retired from NBA to become a Jehovah?s Witness.
2. These former NBA players aren’t outliers in sports, as there are several others around the world who follow the same faith.
3. It is interesting to see athletes retiring from the game they love to follow their religion.

The three mentioned athletes have gone down in history as professional basketball players and Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is an inspiring story about athletes playing a sport and having strong religious convictions. Growing up, Dewayne Dedmon was immersed Jehovah’s witness household in a lifestyle of faith religious household family’s religion and strict adherence to the beliefs of the Jehovah’s Witnesses religion.

As part of the nontrinitarian Christian religious movement, the former NBA player and his family were compelled to live by a stringent set of rules and regulations, including not saluting the flag, not voting, not joining the armed forces, not running for public office, and abstaining from blood transfusions, among other things.

Dedmon’s mother, Gail Lewis, joined the Truth About four in 1995 in order to provide her three kids with a structured environment and devoted a majority of her Saturdays to spreading the word of Jehovah’s Witnesses. To the disappointment of her son, she did not allow him or his sisters to partake in sports or celebrate holidays and birthdays.

• Dedmon was refused basketball coaching as a teenager, and would likely have never played as a professional NBA player had he listened to his mother’s advice and stuck with the tenets of the Jehovah’s Witnesses faith.
• Dewayne Granger is a well-known NBA player who was raised in a Jehovah’s Witness family.

Growing up in a highly religious environment instilled a sense of respect and individual standards in Granger which helped him come into his own while evolving as a man. In 2017, Danny Granger was baptized in his mid-30s, two years after his final season in the NBA.

1. Since his debut in 2005, he has played for 10 teams, most recently the Los Angeles Clippers and the Miami Heat.
2. The story about Granger’s faith came to the public after comedian Brittany Schmitt mentioned him in a comedy set.
3. The popular NBA point guard, Darren Collison, shocked fans when he announced his retirement in June 2019.

Citing religious reasons, it was easy to see why Collison chose to prioritize his faith and family. The former Kings player abides by the tenets of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and makes sure to remain active in the worldwide ministry. He also finds joy volunteering to help others, coach young basketball players, and spend time with family.

1. In addition to his religious beliefs, Collison publicly stated that family is paramount for him.
2. After competing on a professional level for over 10 years, the savvy point guard decided his wife and children were more important to him than continuing his professional basketball career.
3. Things changed briefly when Collison decided to come out of retirement.

He signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in December 24, 2021, then again with the South Bay Lakers on March 24, 2022. However, it was clear that the former Kings player was in it for the love of the game; family and religion were once again the priority.

Darren Collison’s retirement from the NBA shocked many fans. To fans, it was perplexing why such a talented player would walk away from a brilliant career. But to Collison himself, it was the best decision for his faith and family. The international ministry, volunteering, and spending time with the ones he loves are of paramount importance to him; something that is readily within reach now that he is retired from the NBA.

Players from the Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, New Orleans Hornets, Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles teams have had players that are jehovah’s witnesses diciples.

What active NBA player is a Jehovah’s Witness?

Danny Granger and Dewayne Dedmon are also players to follow the faith – Danny Granger was also a Jehovah’s witness and he also played for the Indiana Pacers at some point in his career. The Pacers drafted Granger as the 17th pick in the 2005 NBA Draft.

Despite the many injuries he faced, the former NBA player featured in the league for a whole ten seasons, before retiring. Fun fact: Danny Granger is a Jehovah’s Witness, too. — Joe Beckman (@Beckman24Joe) June 29, 2019 Unlike Collison, Danny did not retire to focus on his faith, but he opted for it in 2017.

Including playoffs, Granger averaged 16.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 621 games across his career. Another player to be part of the group is Dewayne Dedmon. The 33-year-old is the only active NBA player to be a Jehovah’s witness, He currently plays for the Miami Heat as a center. Danny Granger and Dewayne Dedmon (Credit- Twitter) Both Granger and Dedmon were raised by family members who are also reportedly Jehovah’s witnesses. It is still unknown how many more NBA players are of the same faith, apart from the ones who have publicly declared it.

But fans have started to claim that it might be Danny Granger as he looks to be the light-skinned one compared to Collison and Dedmon. With that said, many believe Granger is the player who was in a relationship with Brittany. Many fans have reacted to Granger and his “cousin Keith” as the former NBA player suddenly became relevant once again after a long time.

He did have an eventful time in the NBA, as he was once slapped with a hefty fine by the league.

Are JW allowed to drink?

Morality – Jehovah’s Witnesses demand high standards of morality within their ranks. Their view of sexual behavior reflects conservative Christian views. Abortion is considered murder. Homosexuality, premarital sex, and extramarital sex are considered ” serious sins “.

Gender transitioning is considered “contrary to nature” and sex reassignment surgery is considered a form of “mutilation”. If a transgender person “who has already undergone a mutilating operation of this sort” wishes to become a member of the denomination, the person is expected to live according to their biological sex, and to leave their spouse if biologically the same sex.

Smoking, including electronic cigarettes, abuse of drugs, and drunkenness are prohibited. Alcohol is permitted in moderation. Modesty in dress and grooming is frequently stressed. Entertainment promoting immoral, “demonic”, or violent themes is considered inappropriate.

What happens if you leave JW?

Abstract – Shunning and ostracism have severe impacts on individuals’ psychological and social well-being. Members of Jehovah’s Witnesses are subject to shunning when they do not comply with the stated doctrine or belief system. To investigate the effects of shunning, interviews with 10 former Jehovah’s Witnesses, ranging in age from 20 to 44 years old, were conducted; six male, six White, one Native American, one Black, and two Latinx.

1. Transcripts were analyzed with interpretative phenomenological analysis for narrative themes pertaining to their life after exclusion from their former faith using the context of Jehovah’s Witnesses culture.
2. Results suggest shunning has a long-term, detrimental effect on mental health, job possibilities, and life satisfaction.

Problems are amplified in female former members due to heavy themes of sexism and patriarchal narratives pervasive in Jehovah’s Witnesses culture. Feelings of loneliness, loss of control, and worthlessness are also common after leaving. The culture of informing on other members inside the Jehovah’s Witnesses also leads to a continued sense of distrust and suspicion long after leaving.

Keywords: Shunning, Ostracism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Fundamentalism, Disfellowshipping, Familicide, Suicide Lauren Stuart was a model, a mother, and a wife. After leaving Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW) to enroll her sons in college, she was shunned by family and friends alike. In 2018, she shot and killed her husband, three children, and herself in Keego Harbor, Michigan (Boroff, 2018 ).

She left notes and messages detailing the pain shunning had caused her and the belief systems that had influenced her actions (Wright, 2019 ). This is not the only case of former JW members committing familicide. The Miller family from South Carolina, the Longo family from Michigan, and the Bryant family from Oregon were all JW members who were subjected to this tragedy (Frazier, 2003 ; Golgowski, 2019 ).

JW is a Christian sect that began in the United States in the late 1800s. The current version of the religion holds that a worldwide Armageddon will occur in the very near future and that any nonbelievers alive at that time will be killed in an act of godly retribution. Members who choose to leave the religion due to moral or doctrinal objections are shunned by the community.

Members who sin in the eyes of their congregation are shunned as well (Pietkiewicz, 2014 ). These beliefs have been cited as one underlying reason for the Keego Harbor familicide as well as additional cases of suicide among former members (JW Survey, 2014 ).

Based on these cases, JW beliefs may be internalized and have the potential to have a strong influence on the mental health of former members, even long after they leave the congregation. Existing research examines the quotidian life of members or focuses on the contrast between life ‘inside’ this very insular organization and life after ‘adjustment’ to the outer world.

Current research also examines the nature and type of pathological behavior by former members as well as the reasons many remain in this ‘high control’ organization despite the toll on their mental health. However, there are gaps in the research, especially regarding the exit point of former members.

Can JW donate blood?

FACT CHECK: Has Jehovah’s Witnesses changed its rule on blood transfusion? Have you heard? It is being reported that Jehovah’s Witness issued a circular that members can now receive blood transfusions.

• One of the popular doctrines associated with this denomination, which has distinct beliefs from mainstream Christianity, is the rejection of blood transfusions.
• Based on a scriptural quotation, Witnesses (as they are also referred to) should never be privy to accepting, storing, or donating blood for transfusion.
• The practice, which teaches its adherents to outrightly refuse the reception or donation of blood even when doing so comes as the last resort to saving a life has remained unchanged over the years.
• The doctrine has led to a and between parents who reject blood transfusion for children and doctors who defy their wishes.
• CLAIM : Recent reports filed by, and the news medium claimed that Jehovah’s Witness’s Council of Elders issued a circular to all their Kingdom Halls and declared that its members can now receive blood transfusions.

“Regarding the issue of accepting blood transfusions and blood components. We hereby announce that henceforth these matters will be one of personal conscience,” the governing body was quoted to have written. “We are writing to you at this time to convey to you a number of fundamental changes being implemented at this time. “We recognize that some of these adjustments may prove disconcerting to our brothers and sisters. We trust that a spirit of love and forgiveness will ensure all to make the transitions detailed here.”

1. CHECK : To ascertain the credibility of this information, TheCable reached out to three different operators of the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ public relations desk and three members of the denomination in Nigeria.
2. Gad Edia, one of the operators, dubbed the reports making such claims as “fake news” and stated that the denomination has made no such adjustment to the longstanding doctrine.
3. One of the members of the denomination contacted with regard to the news similarly described it as “impossible” and stated that the practice would always remain in force so long as Acts 15:29, the scriptural excerpt on which it is based, remains unchanged.

“Until this scripture changes, we cannot change our stand on blood transfusion: To keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you carefully keep yourself from these things, you will prosper.

Was Selena Gomez a Jehovah’s Witness?

Selena was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness.

Is Jehovah’s Witness a true religion?

Religious beliefs and practices – Jehovah’s Witnesses identify as Christians, but their beliefs are different from other Christians in some ways. For instance, they teach that Jesus is the son of God but is not part of a Trinity. By traditional measures of religious commitment, Jehovah’s Witnesses are one of the most highly religious major U.S.

religious groups. Nine-in-ten Jehovah’s Witnesses (90%) say religion is very important in their lives, while similar shares say they believe in God with absolute certainty (90%) and that the Bible is the word of God (94%). Our survey found at least two other interesting ways in which Jehovah’s Witnesses stand out in their beliefs.

For one, while half of Jehovah’s Witnesses say they believe in heaven, very few (7%) say they believe in hell, the traditional image of which is challenged by the denomination’s teaching, The share of all U.S. Christians who believe in hell is 10 times larger (70%).

And most Jehovah’s Witnesses (83%) say their religion is the one true faith leading to eternal life; only about three-in-ten U.S. Christians (29%) believe this about their own religious faith. Compared with U.S. Christians overall, Jehovah’s Witnesses are especially likely to say they attend religious services at least once a week (85%, compared with 47% of all U.S.

Christians), pray daily (90% of Jehovah’s Witnesses vs.68% of all U.S. Christians) and – perhaps not surprisingly – share their faith with others at least once a week (76% vs.26%). They also are more likely than U.S. Christians overall to participate in prayer or scripture study groups and to read scripture at least weekly, among other religious behaviors,

Is Jesus God Jehovah’s Witness?

God – Jehovah’s Witnesses believe God is the Creator and Supreme Being. Witnesses reject the Trinity doctrine, which they consider unscriptural. They view God as the Father, an invisible spirit person separate from the Son, Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is described as God’s “active force”, rather than the third part of the Trinity.

1. They believe God is “infinite, but approachable”; he is not omnipresent, but has a location in heaven; it is possible to have a personal relationship with him as a friend; he is kind and merciful, and would not eternally torture wicked people.
2. Being respectful of the principle of free will, he does not force his sovereignty on people, choosing to save only those who want to serve him, even though the course of mankind in general may lead them to harm.

Witnesses teach that God must be distinguished by his personal name— Jehovah, The name is a common modern Latinized form of the Hebrew Tetragrammaton, or four-letter name, transliterated as YHWH, The use of his personal name is regarded as vital for true worship, and Witnesses usually preface the term God with the name Jehovah,