Hiya,
First, sorry to hijack your thread but: If any Catholic ex-JWs who read this are from New Zealand, especially the Chch area please email me:
traviche@me.com I feel like the only ex-JW in NZ sometimes!
The main things that made me realise that the JWs teachings are incorrect were:
- Loaded Language within their literature.
- Scripture quoted out of context.
- I realised I read everything, not just publications, without questioning it. Basically I realised that I had been trained to not question anything I read. Scary stuff.
Now the following is just my opinion, so take it with a grain of salt.
I believe the problem is a question of authority, rather than one of doctrine.
What I mean is that JWs believe the Governing Body is the only authority able to interpret scripture, so basically like you say you are only able to use the Bible, which puts you at a disadvantage for a start as your JW friend won’t be just using the Bible, they will use the Societies publications as well, whereas if you use any outside source they will immediately discount it.
Like a previous poster pointed out you just need to plant seeds (1 Cor 3:6)
Like my title suggest I am currently studying the Catholic Faith. Over the course of study I got in contact with Tom Cabeen, and I mentioned to him that I was having trouble with the Trinity, as I assume most ex-JWs do.
I hope he doesn’t mind but I would like to quote, in part, what he said to me:
To very briefly address your question about the Trinity, I must start by telling you that the WT doctrines against this teaching are meant to counter a caricature of the doctrine, for the writers of WT publications either are completely ignorant as to what the doctrine actually is, or they purposefully misrepresent it so that it is easier to “refute”. Of course, a refutation of a caricature of a doctrine is no refutation at all. It is meaningless.
If you have a copy of the JW brochure ‘Should you believe in the Trinity’ I would suggest reading it, as this will confirm what Tom says. First they try to refute the Trinity Proper in part, then move on to mis-quoting the Church Fathers, then they set up a straw man by refuting Arianism. It is poorly written, which is obvious when you know the truth, but when you do not its arguments are quite convincing.
Jeffery Schwehm also has some great articles that may help you:
catholicxjw.com/doctrines.html
catholicxjw.com/Trinity1.html
The other disadvantage that you have is your choice of Bible translation. If you use the NWT it will add weight to your JW friends argument, as that is how it has been translated. But if you use a Catholic translation there will be doubt in their mind as it is not the NWT.
I am going through something similar with my Grandmother at the moment, who is still a JW. I have not approached the Trinity yet, as I am taking a different approach. I am trying to convince her of the Magisterium first, then will tackle everything else later. It’s not easy
Basically I think you need to show why the organisation should not be trusted to interpret Scripture due to the way they present shoddy arguments to prop up their theology.
If you decide to do this, and it sticks, just make sure you or somebody is there to help them pick up the pieces of their shattered life.
Well, that’s my 2c, I hope it helps.
So I really wouldn’t want to go back and change anything. One thing that is backwards though, and sort of funny now, is that my parents divorced when I was 6. He was disfellowshipped and remarried. Once I got a little older, they started buying me birthday and Christmas presents. Nothing extravagant, just something small. I tried to hide that from my JW friends and others who knew me. Because I didn’t want people to think I was living a double life or didn’t love Jehovah enough to give them back or something. Weird, huh?