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Dorothy
Guest
Great post! Thank you.
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ffg
Guest
Let us know how it goes Sawman!
Some interesting other experiences on the thread as well.
Some interesting other experiences on the thread as well.
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Waynec
Guest
I would ask the Holy Spirit to bring all things to mind and give you the words to speak to the JW’s.
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EveningSkye111
Guest
God’s blessings to you. Our prayers will be with you!
It’s just fearsome to me when I think of how they prey upon some… my elderly parents (now both gone to Heaven) were amazed at a young boy (jw) who would read the Bible to my folks. They were enthralled, but they did not realize that the jw’s consider our Jesus to be Michael the Archangel, that Jesus was a created being, their total denial of the Holy Trinity, etc.
I finally got the jw’s to leave my folks alone.
Read the jw Bible version of our Lord’s Prayer - it doesn’t even come close.
In my own thoughts I always figured the jw Bible, the “nwt” to mean “no way true.”
God bless. Prayers for you…
It’s just fearsome to me when I think of how they prey upon some… my elderly parents (now both gone to Heaven) were amazed at a young boy (jw) who would read the Bible to my folks. They were enthralled, but they did not realize that the jw’s consider our Jesus to be Michael the Archangel, that Jesus was a created being, their total denial of the Holy Trinity, etc.
I finally got the jw’s to leave my folks alone.
Read the jw Bible version of our Lord’s Prayer - it doesn’t even come close.
In my own thoughts I always figured the jw Bible, the “nwt” to mean “no way true.”
God bless. Prayers for you…
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PaulDupre1
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PaulDupre1
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CeelosDeznos
Guest
When I was a youth and forced to go with the JWs on their weekend door to door preaching, I did learn something that might help you.
The most important thing I can say to keep in mind that whatever you choose to say or do that the JW is not there to be open to what you may say or do.
In fact they take a strong emotional and mental position to strongly and purposefully avoid being taught anything by you. In their minds they are there to teach as they are from God and you, as a Catholic, are under the blinding control of the devil.
Because of this they will either ignore or attempt to redirect any attempt by you to control the conversation as it is against their religion to allow themselves to be converted to another religion. Some might engage in a debate with you that may last more than ten minutes, but they have to stick to their objective of seeing if you will allow yourself to allow them to conduct a study in one of their disciple making publications (they call it a Bible study, but it is actually a discussion of their doctrinal books along with “proof texts” from the Bible to back up their unique teachings).
You might still help them with something you might say, but just keep in mind that they are never there to discuss or learn from you. They likely will, but they can be instantly excommunicated if they admit that they agree with or accept anything you say.
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Tommy999
Guest
I echo your sentiments, CeelosDeznos. My sister used to be a JW and she told me the same sorts of things.
In my opinion, the JWs who come to your door are like salesmen out to make a sale. They are not truly interested in what you have to say, and like salesmen, are out to persuade you to convert to their “product” and have studied how to address the most common questions and concerns of the person being proselytized have – in your case, Catholic.
They are there – at minimum – to plant a seed. That is why they like repeat visits to see how their prospective plant is coming along.
While I admire Sawman’s desire to show God’s love to them and defend the Catholic faith, I think these types of meetings are best understood in the context of a salesman trying to make a sale, and you are the prospective customer. They are a Ford salesman and are bound and determined to sell you a Ford even if you politely explain why you are a happy Chevy or Toyota person.
I keep it short and sweet with them and politely tell them I have a church home and I am not interested in becoming a JW and politely end the discussion and close the door. I then say a short prayer for them in my heart that God will reach them, and if I ever see them in a 1 on 1 setting outside of them being in “salesman mode”, then I will chat with them if led to do so by the Holy Spirit.
I would also run this by your priest and ask for advice on how to handle this situation. Too many well-meaning Christians underestimate the persuasive nature of the JW’s who are taught the “art of the sale” and don’t realize they are playing with fire. This is true spiritual warfare taking place when they ‘come a kockin’.
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unstoppable_II
Guest
If I’m not expecting anyone and the caller is someone I don’t know, I simply don’t answer the door.
This was mentioned in “Strategies of the Jehovah’s Witnesses”
catholic.com/library/Strategies_of_Jehovah_Witness.asp
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Kay_Cee
Guest
The last time JWs came to my house, I asked them how they know which books belong in the Bible. They told me it was “decided by people just like you and me.” Well, I don’t think so. No JW decided which books should go into the New Testament.
Besides, if they were people “just like you and me,” doesn’t that make me just like them? May I then decide for myself which books go into the Bible? If yes, then the Bible can be whatever I want it to be. If not, why not? If they had the authority to decide which books are scripture and I don’t, then they’re not “just like you and me.”
Since then, I’ve seen JWs in the neighborhood many times, but they are avoiding me.
Besides, if they were people “just like you and me,” doesn’t that make me just like them? May I then decide for myself which books go into the Bible? If yes, then the Bible can be whatever I want it to be. If not, why not? If they had the authority to decide which books are scripture and I don’t, then they’re not “just like you and me.”
Since then, I’ve seen JWs in the neighborhood many times, but they are avoiding me.
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unstoppable_II
Guest
One of them pushed the “Independent Thinker” button on you.
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Tommy999
Guest
Hi unstoppable II,
I wasn’t able to pull up that link (page not found) but would be interested in seeing any other videos you may have on this subject. Perhaps my browser is having issues but it seems to be ok with other URLs.
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unstoppable_II
Guest
Sorry, but a lot of websites move stuff around, and this is one case. I wish they wouldn’t do that; it’s almost as though they don’t want you to use them for research.
Anyway, it is not a video but an essay. I found it here catholic.com/tracts/strategies-of-the-jehovahs-witnesses.
Good luck.
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Tommy999
Guest
Thanks! I just read it. Good info.
It reinforces the point that the JW have an aggressive agenda which involves the conversion of non-JWs to their religion, and their visit is not an open-minded exploration and discussion of religion and faith.
In the old days, a salesman at the door would be trying to sell vacuum cleaners or encyclopedias. The JW’s currently sell religion in much the same way, if we allow them.
I remember one time a while back, my very zealous Pentecostal brother was seen talking to a JW at his front door when my mother and I drove by his house on our way to run some errands (she never learned to drive, for some reason).
On our way back, a hour or so later, we saw the two still standing at his front door going at it with Bibles in hand. My mom and I both chuckled and she made a comment about the irresistible force meeting up with the immovable object.
In the end, neither made a convert but they both got an ‘A’ for effort.
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unstoppable_II
Guest
I got into a similar discussion one day in my youth. I was working in my garage when a JW paid me a visit. A time later we were still at it when my mother called to me and said I was wanted on the phone. Thank heavens that broke it up. [There was no one on the phone.]…
On our way back, a hour or so later, we saw the two still standing at his front door going at it with Bibles in hand. My mom and I both chuckled and she made a comment about the irresistible force meeting up with the immovable object.
…
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dcana
Guest
I just watched this video and it seems the organization has even stranger doctrines (God has a body and he lived in the Pleiades?) and is more deceptive than I had previously believed. I’d recommended it to anyone wanting to know more about it. Marcus has the discussion with two former JW’s and Fr. Mitch Pacwa is there as well. They are taught that the Catholic Church in particular (of course - “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me first”) is an apostate, diabolical organization and to not read anything in any way associated with it and to not listen to anything any Catholic has to say about it (or really anything else), even, maybe especially, if it makes sense. If something makes logical sense, then it’s the devil trying to trick you. Having an intelligent conversation with people who have been essentially brainwashed into believing such things is impossible. They are there to sell you a product and they have spent literally thousands of hours learning how to attempt to counter every objection and sound argument you could make. Apparently, they are as adroit in cherry-picking from the Church Fathers as they are from the NWT. They have also changed their New World “Translation” regularly, without any linguistic, logical, or justifiable basis to do so, in order to remove objections people have made by using their own “Bible” against them. In “God’s Organization”, as they apparently call themselves, all the classic elements of a cult are present. I don’t mean that in some sort of condescending or mean-spirited way, but in the technical sense. If someone thinks it’s condescending or mean-spirited to point that out, then so be it. The truth hurts sometimes. I’d say they are on a par with Scientology as far as that goes. Mormons have many cult-like elements also but I don’t think to the same extent as those two.
As I get older, I am becoming more aware that people believe, and have believed throughout history, just about everything under the sun. It never ceases to amaze me the things that people have come up with and persuaded others to accept as true. We humans are a crazy lot. And I’m not just talking about things of a religious or spiritual nature - like for instance, that God does not exist. Far from it. Coast-to-Coast, anyone?
God bless
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peace2u2
Guest
I have to agree with this post. This is not something that I do on a regular basis; ask my guardian angel to pray for me or for others, but I did once pray for my guardian angel to go and talk to my son’s guardian angel and to the guardian angels of some friends that were not good company for my son and I was quite startled with the outcome. 2 hours later there was an intercession by the police. It was and still is a rocky path and our relationship is still strained, but things could have gone differently that nite in a lot of worse outcomes.
Guardian Angel, pray for us.
Amen.
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peace2u2
Guest
Thank you for the summary on the “Journey Home” with Marcus Grodi. JW’s have put in many hours of time at their place of worship being taught how to practice apologetics and evangelization - as Catholic Christians, we (the majority) have not. And if we did learn how it was certainly NOT thru our CCD programs. Our Bishops need to change this and I believe that apologetics and evangelization needs to be implemented into our ccd programs. We are constantly being told to “evangelize”, but no one is teaching us how to do that at our parishes. Aside from Catholic Answers being a wealth of information, here are some other programs that you can bring to your parish as a Bible Study or Book Study
Our answers to ?'s need to be short but packed with enough info to get other to really think deeply about Jesus and His Church…
A Minute In The Church by Gus Lloyd:
guslloyd.com/store/a-minute-in-the-church-volume-1.html
Building Bridges:
catholicbridge.com/catholic/site_map.php
catholicbridge.com/catholic/relationship_vs_religion.php
St. Paul’s Street Evangelization:
streetevangelization.com/
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sawman
Guest
Well, I promised to report to you all about my meeting with the JWs today.
The short story; there was no meeting . Our wires got crossed and he showed up while I was at Divine Mercy celebration. Oh well. All is for the best. He left his number, but I’m thinking I won’t pursue this unless we happen to bump into one another in the future. Which will probably happen, as this is not the first time he’s been to my door.
I thank you all for your wise and pertinent advice and prayers. God bless you all. Peace, Tom
The short story; there was no meeting . Our wires got crossed and he showed up while I was at Divine Mercy celebration. Oh well. All is for the best. He left his number, but I’m thinking I won’t pursue this unless we happen to bump into one another in the future. Which will probably happen, as this is not the first time he’s been to my door.
I thank you all for your wise and pertinent advice and prayers. God bless you all. Peace, Tom
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dcana
Guest
Amen to all you said. Thank you for the links. Regarding the above statement, I would say that we need apologetics and evangelization classes for everyone in the parish, not just children. Wouldn’t it be great if we spent just 1 hour a week meeting together and learning: 1. Our faith, 2. How to defend our faith from the attacks of secular society, Protestants, Mormons, JW’s and so on, and 3. How to evangelize? What antidote is there for people not knowing their own faith, being apathetic, not understanding and/or believing what happens at Mass, being “easy-picking” for people of any creed who know how to cherry pick and throw verses around from the Bible to show how the Church is “wrong” on this or that and how their church is right (which is having a Bible-study this Wednesday hey why don’t you come and join us?) than education? JW’s spend *hours *a week doing this, many if not most Protestant denominations have adult Sunday school classes, why don’t we have something like this? I think it should be year-round in every parish.
God bless
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