Jehovah's Witness beliefs

[DILCIA]

Help, I just spend 40 minutes talking to 2 JW and need some info. Is there somewhere online I can look at to see their beliefs from a Catholic point of view? Particularly that Jesus is not God (the bible says he isn’t apparently!) The Trinity is made up, some people will be on earth others in heaven!, etc Oh and a third of Catholic priests are or were peadophiles! The last is true because they have been told it by Catholics!
I’ve got their books which I will read but need to find info within a week!

 

[the_7th_one]

Help, I just spend 40 minutes talking to 2 JW and need some info. Is there somewhere online I can look at to see their beliefs from a Catholic point of view? Particularly that Jesus is not God (the bible says he isn’t apparently!) The Trinity is made up, some people will be on earth others in heaven!, etc Oh and a third of Catholic priests are or were peadophiles! The last is true because they have been told it by Catholics!
I’ve got their books which I will read but need to find info within a week!

Read Paul’s letters in the new Testament. They show the Church’s understanding of Jesus as it grows and her understanding deepens. Good translations of the Bible do not deny Jesus is the Son of God. They just are not too clear on how there is one God and Jesus and the Father are one. This goes back to the Church’s understanding of Jesus and his teachings growing and getting deeper over time. If you look at the Church Fathers you find more and more about what the relationship of Jesus to the Father is, and then what is the nature of the Holy Spirit and his or her reationship to the Father and the Son.
The Peadophilia thing, so much bad information is out there, most picked up by folks looking to sell news stories, not truth. If you contact the Catholic league for Civil and Religious Rights, they could give you the full story. My best understanding of it, most of the wrongdoers (and they were wrong) were Homosexual Priest, not Peadophiles. Secound the cases concerned were almost all from around 1960 to the 1980’s. The final point is they around to less than 10 percent of the priest who served then. A number far less than you were told, but still way too high.
Last thing what is heaven and what is Hell? I always see Heaven as being in direct contact with God for allways. Hell as being shut off from God and that love of his for always. The Bible says that this is the case, even the Church will tell you Purgatory will sometime be emptied. So, why are they talking like there is a third place for folks to spend eternity? If they are saying that the “New Heaven and New Earth” that Revelations talks about is what they mean, then I’d say “Hay if God’s with me, it’s still Heaven too me, even if I’m right here in this house”. People like the JW’s tend to argue to confuse, not to clarify, don’t let then confuse you.
Peace be with you

 

[ohioszo]

"What’s a good way to steer a conversation with Jehovah’s Witnesses who come to my door?
"Focus on John 6. This seems to do it every time–or, more properly, it seems to do something every time, and the something can be one of two things.
If you’re fortunate, your discussion of that chapter–it’s the one in which Jesus promises the Eucharist and states emphatically that what appears to be bread and wine really will be his body and blood–will throw the Jehovah’s Witnesses for a loop. Focus on Jesus’ repetition; over and over he said we’re to eat his flesh and drink his blood, and over and over he failed to tell his listeners he was speaking only metaphorically–for the simple reason that he wasn’t. He was speaking literally, and his listeners knew it.
First the Jews walked away, shaking their heads in disbelief. Then even some of Jesus’ disciples left him, unable to accept the doctrine of the Real Presence. One particular person fell away here: Judas (see verse 64). It was here, in his disbelief in the Real Presence, that Judas first betrayed Christ. Yes, later he would be a thief and a traitor, but this is where his tragedy began.
If you go through John 6 slowly, emphasizing what’s really going on, the Jehovah’s Witnesses will find themselves in a pickle. You’ll show them how all the people mentioned in that chapter took Jesus literally–so why shouldn’t we?
If you bring the missionaries this far, end your exchange with an exhortation. Use the lingo they (and you) have heard elsewhere; they’ll identify with it. Tell them they need to read the Bible. Say they should ask “Jehovah God” to give them the light to understand what John 6 really means. Tell them they have to “get right with God,” and let them know that means going wherever the truth leads them. Tell them they have to trust God and follow him wherever he may lead them, even if that is somewhere they think they’d rather not go. All the above explains what happens if you’re fortunate in you discussion with the Witnesses. Of course, things may go wrong–not drastically, not dangerously, but annoyingly. You may find that your consideration of John 6 produces no impression at all on the missionaries. If so, wait for their return and try again. " from newadvent.org/library/almanac_thisrock92.htm (Catholic Encyclopedia online )

Check out this site for former JWs and their conversion to the Catholic Faith:

catholicxjw.com/Resources.html

Jeffery Schwehm, who has the above website, was on Journey Home at EWTN, with Marcus Grodi. His ministry is to those who left the JWs. He has conversion stories of people who left the JW to come home to the Catholic Faith.

Catholic Answers site also has information about the JWs.

Please put in at least 40 minutes in finding out these answers for yourself by talking with your Parish Priest. If you were regularly attending Mass, on Sundays, you probably would not be tempted by this group. You should also have a picture of Jesus in your home, a crucifix too. If you become a JW, you actually throw out the crucifix and anything Catholic and become a pale reflection of the true church in your life … my opinion.

 

[puzzleannie]

Help, I just spend 40 minutes talking to 2 JW and need some info. Is there somewhere online I can look at to see their beliefs from a Catholic point of view? !

search the CA website, homepage library, TR etc.
the apologetics series sold here has a tract on JW beliefs and how to refute them

 

[Katrina5]

I was being hounded by a JW a few years ago during a time when my faith was wobbly.

I looked on Catholic Answers and found out they don’t even know who “founded” their church. Or there was a scandal and the person was just wiped off the history charts.

I remember reading their booklets in college and thinking, “They don’t list an author to any of the articles” and the reason is, they want no credit or accountability. And since they tend to “rewrite history” it might save on printing costs when the author was dumped from the rolls.

They have edited the Bible beyond recognition. If there was ever a confused bunch of people, the JW are it. They believe the Catholic church is a FALSE religion, like a piece of candy lying in the gutter.

The little picture in the booklet of the candy in the gutter made me feel sick. This is how they see MY CHURCH???

They believe Christ died on a stick, not a crucifix. They dropped by on Thanksgiving and wouldn’t leave-- they don’t believe in Holidays, and don’t care if we do!

I finally told this woman, “I’m Catholic and I have no plans to ever change to any other faith, so I don’t want to waste your time with this anymore.” She was very nice about it, and thanked me for being honest. She said no one had ever told her that, they would just slam the door in her face.

I had prayed a lot at the time and really felt the Holy Spirit leading me to be able to defend what I believe.

The whole experience was uncomfortable, but I came out of it stronger and made a new commitment to being Catholic.

 

[T_More]

"What’s a good way to steer a conversation with Jehovah’s Witnesses who come to my door?
"Focus on John 6. This seems to do it every time–or, more properly, it seems to do something every time, and the something can be one of two things.
If you’re fortunate, your discussion of that chapter–it’s the one in which Jesus promises the Eucharist and states emphatically that what appears to be bread and wine really will be his body and blood–will throw the Jehovah’s Witnesses for a loop. Focus on Jesus’ repetition; over and over he said we’re to eat his flesh and drink his blood, and over and over he failed to tell his listeners he was speaking only metaphorically–for the simple reason that he wasn’t. He was speaking literally, and his listeners knew it.
First the Jews walked away, shaking their heads in disbelief. Then even some of Jesus’ disciples left him, unable to accept the doctrine of the Real Presence. One particular person fell away here: Judas (see verse 64). It was here, in his disbelief in the Real Presence, that Judas first betrayed Christ. Yes, later he would be a thief and a traitor, but this is where his tragedy began.
If you go through John 6 slowly, emphasizing what’s really going on, the Jehovah’s Witnesses will find themselves in a pickle. You’ll show them how all the people mentioned in that chapter took Jesus literally–so why shouldn’t we?
If you bring the missionaries this far, end your exchange with an exhortation. Use the lingo they (and you) have heard elsewhere; they’ll identify with it. Tell them they need to read the Bible. Say they should ask “Jehovah God” to give them the light to understand what John 6 really means. Tell them they have to “get right with God,” and let them know that means going wherever the truth leads them. Tell them they have to trust God and follow him wherever he may lead them, even if that is somewhere they think they’d rather not go. All the above explains what happens if you’re fortunate in you discussion with the Witnesses. Of course, things may go wrong–not drastically, not dangerously, but annoyingly. You may find that your consideration of John 6 produces no impression at all on the missionaries. If so, wait for their return and try again. " from newadvent.org/library/almanac_thisrock92.htm (Catholic Encyclopedia online )

Check out this site for former JWs and their conversion to the Catholic Faith:

catholicxjw.com/Resources.html

Jeffery Schwehm, who has the above website, was on Journey Home at EWTN, with Marcus Grodi. His ministry is to those who left the JWs. He has conversion stories of people who left the JW to come home to the Catholic Faith.

Catholic Answers site also has information about the JWs.

Please put in at least 40 minutes in finding out these answers for yourself by talking with your Parish Priest. If you were regularly attending Mass, on Sundays, you probably would not be tempted by this group. You should also have a picture of Jesus in your home, a crucifix too. If you become a JW, you actually throw out the crucifix and anything Catholic and become a pale reflection of the true church in your life … my opinion.

This is good advice, but I would something else that would be somewhat easier for them to see from the get go.

The JW’s, once year, on Nisan 14 according to the Jewish calendar, observe what they call the Lord’s Evening Meal. For a Catholic, it would be rather bizarre to see. Bread and wine are passed around, but most do not eat of it, unless you’re one of the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation. They believe this to be a literal number, not symbolic, and there are only about 10,000 left in the world since 1914 that can partake. Why? They teach these 144,000 will go to heaven, and the rest will be on paradise earth and will live forever.

Now, Christ says in John 6 that those that do not eat of His flesh or drink of His blood have no life in them. Regardless of whether a particluar JW believes he is one of the 144,000 or not, Christ clearly says that unless they eat and drink of these, they have no life in them.

Let that settle in with them and see what effect it has. As always, the help of the Holy Spirit through prayer is your greatest weapon.

 

[oneGODoneCHURCH]

Help, I just spend 40 minutes talking to 2 JW and need some info. Is there somewhere online I can look at to see their beliefs from a Catholic point of view? Particularly that Jesus is not God (the bible says he isn’t apparently!) The Trinity is made up, some people will be on earth others in heaven!, etc Oh and a third of Catholic priests are or were peadophiles! The last is true because they have been told it by Catholics!
I’ve got their books which I will read but need to find info within a week!

The word Trinity is not in the Bible, but by reading we now that God is a Trinity. In genisis we read God said let us make man I our image. Jesus said that he and the FAther are one. in Johns gospel is written: ch 1 vs 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
Then we have same chapter vs 14, And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.

So if the word was with God and is God and the word became flesh(Jesus) then Jesus is with God and is God.

As for the the pediohiles. the last number show that it is less the 1 percenet of preist ( still to many) , but in comparions to the number in public schools and some other organizationwere the numbers reach upward of 10 percent makes you think the Church and our preist are being targeted. As for the end of times my understanding is that heaven and earth will become one. Not sure of the Chruch stand on that, but all who die in grace will be with God, if thats not heaven what is?

 

[nickybr38]

I remember asking a JW once if God was so small and so powerless that we, His children, needed His name to recognize Him (in argument of the name Jehovah). After all, doesn’t a child recognize their parent without having his name first? Ask a child what their dad’s name is and they’ll usually say; Daddy. Up to a certain age. That doesn’t mean they’re calling to the wrong father.

The response was yes.

And then silence.

Those particular JWs never discussed religion with me again.

That’s my JW story, as for your current predicament I think the advice already given sounds pretty good to me. Don’t expect to change their minds… but trust that you could plant valuable seeds.

 

[choy]

with regards to the 144,000, JWs believe these are the number of people who will enter heaven. the rest of God’s people will be left on an earthly paradise, something like Eden, which i think is the New Earth being talked about in Revelations, according to their interpretation

 

[DILCIA]

Thanks to everyone for their fantastic response. I did try ‘the Father and I are one’ and they agreed but said that meant as Father and Son.
After thinking about what they said I agree that they argue to get their point across. I thought of something after that in Genisis God uses the word ‘us’ which of course is the the’Trinity’, but they said it means the Father and Jesus because as I found out later, Jesus is Michael the archangel. But of course it doesn’t actually say that in the Bible.
Anyhow again thanks alot.

 

[nickybr38]

Thanks to everyone for their fantastic response. I did try ‘the Father and I are one’ and they agreed but said that meant as Father and Son.
After thinking about what they said I agree that they argue to get their point across. I thought of something after that in Genisis God uses the word ‘us’ which of course is the the’Trinity’, but they said it means the Father and Jesus because as I found out later, Jesus is Michael the archangel. But of course it doesn’t actually say that in the Bible.
Anyhow again thanks alot.

Jesus is Micheal the Archangel?

And I’ve heard others proclaim Jesus is the brother of Satan.

I don’t know if that makes me sad for them or just angry for Jesus.

 

[choy]

Jesus is Micheal the Archangel?

And I’ve heard others proclaim Jesus is the brother of Satan.

I don’t know if that makes me sad for them or just angry for Jesus.

to be more accurate, Jesus was the brother of Lucifer, before the fall

 

[jw2lds2catholic]

to be more accurate, Jesus was the brother of Lucifer, before the fall

You are confusing JW theology with Mormon theology.
JWs believe that Jesus was the first creation (ex-nilo) of Jehovah and through Jesus, created all that there is and will be. Jesus has/is/will be forever subservient to the Father depsite his divine (not to be confused with the Capital “G” God) nature.
Mormons believe that Jesus is Heavenly Father’s literal firstborn son and thus the brother of every one of Heavenly Father’s creations, including the later turned angel, Satan, and all people born and waiting to be born in heaven.

 

[SteveVH]

Help, I just spend 40 minutes talking to 2 JW and need some info. Is there somewhere online I can look at to see their beliefs from a Catholic point of view? Particularly that Jesus is not God (the bible says he isn’t apparently!) The Trinity is made up, some people will be on earth others in heaven!, etc Oh and a third of Catholic priests are or were peadophiles! The last is true because they have been told it by Catholics!
I’ve got their books which I will read but need to find info within a week!

One of my employees was a JW. We had some pretty heavy discussions which I put an end to due to our business relationship.

Don’t waiver in your beliefs or let them direct the conversation. I guess the real question is do you want to have this conversation. If you do, there are some good resources out there. Just google Jevovahs Witnesses and you will find plenty of material. The history of the founder is enlightening in itself. They definately have some of the more bizarre beliefs out there. Make sure you ask them to expalin, rather than let them “teach” you.

I personally love to talk to them but have only one stipulation; that they will come back at least five times. You can get nowhere in an hour meeting. I have never had them return.

If you really don’t want to have the conversation just tell them you have to get ready for the goat sacrifice at your local parish.

Good luck!

 

[jw2lds2catholic]

After leaving the JWs, I took me 2 decades to ‘come home’ to the Catholic Church.
What got me questioning was not the points highlighted above - the JW indoctrination was too deep. I prided myself in having scripture retorts to whatever anyone could through at me. I began having doubts about the organization. Things that couldn’t be explained away by creative ‘reasoning from the scriptures,’ like not celebrating holidays (when the organization did in its infancy), changing policy on blood and products becuase of ‘new light’ and other interesting tidbits from God’s True Organization that didn’t quite pan out over the years.
Another major thing that made me walk out was the lack of spirituality among JWs. The religion is alot of work - 5 meetings a week that require school-like homework and field service take up a lot of time. The quiet shunning when you are not living like a JW should (pioneering, being friends with ‘worldly’ people, persuing a college education) can cause one to be very lonely among the ‘friends’. I found very little joy in the faith just demands one to do more, do more, do more.
Each person has their own reasons to be in the faith. Let the spirit guide you to planting a seed of doubt, of discontent that can grow into something the JW can work on. Do not expect a doorstep conversion -won’t happen. JWs are highly trained to bypass much of what you have to say in the brief contact you have. Make it count. Trust in God.

 

[Javl]

There is much literature available by both Catholic and non-catholic authors. The best that is a very comprehensive study is in a book called “Kingdom Of The Cults” by Dr. Walter Martin. I have found it available in local libraries. If not, it can be ordered or you can purchase a copy at any Christian bookstore.

I have found the book quite informative and helpful in understanding and refuting the cults.

PAX DOMINI

Shalom Aleichem