Jehovah Witness

[rikkk1958]

Recently, they came to my house. A young lady first, an elderly man behind her. I think they will never leave one alone. They knocked, I opened the door and immediately recognized they are JW so I asked, "What are you selling?’ They replied, “we are not selling something… but we are inviting you to a gathering… I said, “oh, I thought you are trying to sell me something so I can get converted…sorry, I am a Catholic and I do not see myself leaving a Church that is founded by Jesus Christ” I am also a Christian and Christians believe in the Trinity” He responded by saying, “where in the Bible that says about Trinity?”

The elder man took over and so eager for a debate so I invited them in. I asked them to sit but the elder man refused and stood next to the door. “I told them that the word Trinity is not in the Bible but it has a meaning that can be found in the Bible.” He read to me scriptures from John and Revelations. I asked him who gave him the authority to interpret the Revelations. I just did not wait for an answer, I just told him that our Church is founded by Jesus Christ and “sorry, we have pedigree and you don’t have.”

 

[Mimi20]

Some Catholics [moi included] figure that if you tell them you are Catholic, they will assume you are firm in your faith, thank you, and be on their way. However, this is not the case. JWs consider the Catholic Church a main target. One of them, upon hearing I was a Catholic, immediately said, “Oh, I used to be Catholic, too!” Quite the salesman!

Thanks for the laugh!

Here you don’t even have to be at your own house. We’ve had experiences of being approached while at a gas station. (though that doesn’t seem to be as common with anyone else. Maybe we just rubbed off as the type of people who were in need of their salvation. Lol! Or the rosary hanging from the rear view mirror tipped them off? Who knows.)

One approach I’ve tried with some success is to let them do all the talking, and I mean all of it. Don’t answer any questions, don’t agree or disagree, don’t even say “yes” or “no”. Whenever you even ask a question, you are giving them information. IOW, Let them make their case.

That method has certainly worked with us.
The last time a car pulled up with about 4 Jehovah’s witness at our house I was outside with a friend who was visiting. They came with their introduction of who they were, etc. and asked “What did I think would happen at the end of times?” Then proceeded to explain what was in the Bible and what that means, (since I’m sure I was assumed to be illiterate of such revelation.)
After they stated their case I simply but firmly responded, “Thank you but we’re already a people of faith.” Then the guy asked, “Oh, you’re Catholic?” At first I though What? How do they know? Then I realized it was my shirt. At the time without even realizing it I was wearing an old shirt from my Confirmation retreat that proudly displayed, Roman Catholic Diocese of … and listed all of the parishes within the diocese. That was persuasion enough for them and they soon left.

 

[sedonaman]

…He read to me scriptures from John and Revelations. I asked him who gave him the authority to interpret the Revelations. …

I gotta remember that one!!!

They read me their Bible also, but it didn’t occur to me at first that their Bible is not the same as the Catholic Bible, so we had a disconnect from the get-go. I was ready for the next one when she started reading from it. I stopped her and said, “There were differences that I didn’t agree with and don’t ask me for book, chapter, and verse because it’s been a while since I read it.” It seemed to have worked because she politely wished me a nice day.

I was part of a group of Catholics discussing what the Church meant to us. Examples were, a ruling body, a teaching body, a social body, or one that you could just “Kumbayah” in. How we perceive it seems to be the root source of a lot of misunderstanding and friction, and only one of these requires an authority to interpret scripture. This difference would necessarily cross denominational lines.

 

[sedonaman]

…Here you don’t even have to be at your own house. We’ve had experiences of being approached while at a gas station. …

U.S. Highway 1 runs along the coast of California, and there are 80 miles between Santa Barbara and the next town heading north. About halfway, there is a filthy rest stop that most travelers have to use. I once saw a couple of JWs or Mormons there in their white shirts and ties, talking to people. I thought, “Now that’s a tough ministry!”

 

[dogknox]

I was wondering … Should I have literature handy, to hand out to them!!?

 

[Nicea325]

Recently, they came to my house. A young lady first, an elderly man behind her. I think they will never leave one alone. They knocked, I opened the door and immediately recognized they are JW so I asked, "What are you selling?’ They replied, “we are not selling something… but we are inviting you to a gathering… I said, “oh, I thought you are trying to sell me something so I can get converted…sorry, I am a Catholic and I do not see myself leaving a Church that is founded by Jesus Christ” I am also a Christian and Christians believe in the Trinity” He responded by saying, “where in the Bible that says about Trinity?”

The elder man took over and so eager for a debate so I invited them in. I asked them to sit but the elder man refused and stood next to the door. “I told them that the word Trinity is not in the Bible but it has a meaning that can be found in the Bible.” He read to me scriptures from John and Revelations. I asked him who gave him the authority to interpret the Revelations. I just did not wait for an answer, I just told him that our Church is founded by Jesus Christ and “sorry, we have pedigree and you don’t have.”

I have experienced similar situations as yours. I once had 3 young JW girls approach me with their NWT Bible. Nonetheless, we some how got on the topic of the Trinity and they stated it is unbiblical and the term is not found in Scripture. I replied, “True it is not explicitly found,but is implicit.” One of the girls said, “What do you mean by implicit?” I knew they were not as versed as they portray at times. So I asked her, “Care to show me where the term Bible is mentioned and what books should belong in the Bible?” All three looked as though a 747 airliner was going to crash in from of them…

 

[T_More]

I have experienced similar situations as yours. I once had 3 young JW girls approach me with their NWT Bible. Nonetheless, we some how got on the topic of the Trinity and they stated it is unbiblical and the term is not found in Scripture. I replied, “True it is not explicitly found,but is implicit.” One of the girls said, “What do you mean by implicit?” I knew they were not as versed as they portray at times. So I asked her, “Care to show me where the term Bible is mentioned and what books should belong in the Bible?” All three looked as though a 747 airliner was going to crash in from of them…

Good one, Nicea. Another one would be to ask them where the term “paradise earth” is in the bible. They won’t be able to, because it’s not there. It’s a key catch phrase and doctrine of their faith, but it isn’t in there.

 

[Nicea325]

Good one, Nicea. Another one would be to ask them where the term “paradise earth” is in the bible. They won’t be able to, because it’s not there. It’s a key catch phrase and doctrine of their faith, but it isn’t in there.

Hey thanks! I’ll remember “paradise earth” the next time.

 

[SteveVH]

But the Watchtower also has a president of the Watchtower corporation, which corresponds to the pope! And they have a governing body of the corporation, which is like the college of cardinals! So you can see that the organization of the Watchtower Society is very similar to that of the Catholic Church. They are a miniature Catholic Church.

Say what? The Watchtower corporation is a publishing company that forces its adherents to document their efforts in knocking on doors to gain converts at the risk of loosing their status in the organization. They don’t even refer to themselves as a church. Most organizations have some sort of hierarchical structure. That does not make them unique in any way and it certainly does not bring them anywhere near to the Catholic Church.

 

[T_More]

Say what? The Watchtower corporation is a publishing company that forces its adherents to document their efforts in knocking on doors to gain converts at the risk of loosing their status in the organization. They don’t even refer to themselves as a church. Most organizations have some sort of hierarchical structure. That does not make them unique in any way and it certainly does not bring them anywhere near to the Catholic Church.

Perhaps Mack meant a caricature of the Church.

 

[SteveVH]

Perhaps Mack meant a caricature of the Church.

Perhaps. But a caricature captures at least some essence of the thing from which the caricature is drawn. It’s not a big deal. I just find no relationship or comparison whatsoever between the two.

Peace.

 

[T_More]

Perhaps. But a caricature captures at least some essence of the thing from which the caricature is drawn. It’s not a big deal. I just find no relationship or comparison whatsoever between the two.

Peace.

I couldn’t agree more. You couldn’t get further apart in theology between the two.

 

[GEddie]

Perhaps. But a caricature captures at least some essence of the thing from which the caricature is drawn. It’s not a big deal. I just find no relationship or comparison whatsoever between the two.

Peace.

They are both human organizations, that’s something.
Indirectly, the JW is a rip-off of the Church.

ICXC NIKA.

 

[Keith_W_OR_USA]

What do they believe?
What is the best approach when they come calling!?

**Dogknox **

The JW’s biggest difference from Catholicism and Protestantism is that they do not believe in the Trinity. Jesus was Michael the Arch Angel, not God’s Son. They base it on the Son of Man/gods statements in the New Testament. Another item is that the don’t believe in Blood Transfusions based on the forbiddance of eating blood from slaughtered animals in the Old Testament. However, the JW’s don’t follow other forbidden items in the OT like consuming shellfish. Unofficially, Incest is acceptable among many JW’s because Lot had sex with his daughters. There is a former JW’s web site called Silent Lambs that documents the JW’s attitude about incest.
religioustolerance.org/chrincest.htm

 

[sedonaman]

Say what? The Watchtower corporation is a publishing company that forces its adherents to document their efforts in knocking on doors to gain converts at the risk of loosing their status in the organization. They don’t even refer to themselves as a church. Most organizations have some sort of hierarchical structure. That does not make them unique in any way and it certainly does not bring them anywhere near to the Catholic Church.

One of them told me they were “not an organized religion.” My comment was, “You mean you are not organized?”

He also mentioned this “paradise earth” concept. Since he said that only 144,000 would make it to heaven, I asked what was the best I could hope for according to his religion. “You will be able to enjoy forever any activity you want here on earth.” I asked how it could last forever since we know the sun will burn itself out in about 5 billion years. He had no answer for that.

 

[sedonaman]

Which comment are you referring to?

 

[SteveVH]

Unofficially, Incest is acceptable among many JW’s because Lot had sex with his daughters. There is a former JW’s web site called Silent Lambs that documents the JW’s attitude about incest.

I agree. I’ve known quite a few JW’s myself and this just doesn’t pan out. As Catholics, I think most of us get perturbed with myths about our religion. JW’s true beliefs speak for themselves. We certainly don’t need to make things up. It isn’t necessary or fair.

 

[T_More]

Well said, Steve. They most certainly do not condone incest. I think someone may be confusing their policy of pedophilia and the requirement of 2 witnesses to the crime for it to be investigated by the local elders, which is true.

 

[SteveVH]

Well said, Steve. They most certainly do not condone incest. I think someone may be confusing their policy of pedophilia and the requirement of 2 witnesses to the crime for it to be investigated by the local elders, which is true.

Wow. I find that a strange policy as well as something as insidious as pedophilia, by its very nature, is usually done out of the sight of any witnesses.

 

[C_the_K]

One particularly virulent doctrine, and one they will not tell you at all, if they ever tell you, is that Jesus is the mediator not for you, but only for members of the 144,000, the “anointed” as they call them. Plus, the Christian scriptures are only written to the 144,000, NOT to any others. I’ll repeat that: the contents of the Christian scriptures are for the anointed and apply to them only, not to the vast majority of humanity, who are the “other sheep.”

That’s interesting. If the scriptures are only for the 144.000 why are they using the scriptures? Do they think they are one of the 144,00 and what proof do they have?