Jehovah's Witnesses and going door to door

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Yes, I used the word “debate” but not with the intention of aggressive tactics. More so discussing what they believe about topic X, then discuss what Catholics believe, with personal stories mixed in there. Basically I just want to be able to take all of the facts and thoughts regarding my beliefs that are in my head and be able to communicate them in a reasonable manner.
Being better able to communicate your beliefs is always a good thing! Starting with communicating them with your 🙂
 
I asked them how they know which books belong in the Bible, and they’ve been avoiding me ever since.
 
Have not seen one in a while now that I think of it. Once in a blue moon we get someone but its usually tree service people who come to our door.
 
I asked them how they know which books belong in the Bible, and they’ve been avoiding me ever since.
That’s a very, very tough question for almost everyone. How can anyone claim to believe in a traditional Bible and then . . . I don’t know. The books of the Bible were canonized by the Catholic Church quite a few years before Protestants, Jehovah’s Witnesses, New Apostolics, Mormons, Baptists, Moonies, anyone was around. Isn’t it kind of inconsistent to accept the Bible of Christianity offered by the Catholic Church and turn around and reject the Pillar, or Guide, of Christianity? The way various sects have decided to eliminate some books from the Bible are haphazard. They argue about the book’s author, about whether the book mentions Jesus (in the New Testament), about whether the doctrine is “correct”. They accept two histories, Chronicles and Acts, but reject others, the Macabees. They accept one book because it agrees with their doctrines, and rejects another because it does not, instead of determining their doctrines by the books themselves. Or they even make a decision almost completely arbitrarily (or through personal discomfort), such as Joseph Smith’s removal of the Song of Solomon.
 
One thing I really wish I could have more confidence is talking to JW/Mormons/Protestants about the Catholic faith. I feel like I can’t accurately “debate” theology. Something for me to pray about!
You don’t really have to. While it’s always great to learn more about one’s faith, not everyone is a natural debater. I know I’m not, at least orally. I’m somewhat better in writing.

We all have our particular charisms, and I prefer to leave the debating to those for whom it’s like shooting fish in a barrel.

But you did well to tell them that you were serious about your faith. I haven’t had a visit from them in a good 10 years. But if they do come, I’ll tell them politely that I am a devout Catholic, very involved in my Church, that I will pray for them, and wish them a good day.

Like anyone I need to always learn more about my faith, but mostly to apply on myself to make me a better Christian. I just don’t have the energy for a debate of which I aready know the outcome: they will still be JWs at the end of it, and I’ll still be Catholic 😃
 
JW are good at loving, but be docile to them, they have a lot of experience to begin with. But as far as we know, Catholics know the truth, and nothing by it.
 
Do unresponsive homes eventually get “taken off the list”, so to speak? Most members of the local congregation probably know the same uninterested people live in this house as did thirty-five years ago, and since we’ve never shown any interest, I can’t help but wonder if they’ve simply stopped trying to convert us. Once again, we have no interest in converting, so certainly won’t be seeking contact with anyone.
Hi there.

I can answer from personal experience! 🙂

We keep calling on every house, regardless of past interest.
People move house, or develop an interest in spiritual things later on, or come up with a question they want answered, so we keep offering free Bible studies.

Only if someone specifically instructs us to stop coming to their house, or there is a really unpleasant householder who gets angry and shouts abuse would we stop calling.
Even then, the elders in the congregation are supposed to call each year or so to check if the request is still valid.

We are trying to contact everyone. Matthew 24:14, Matthew 28:19,20. 😉
 
Hi there.

I can answer from personal experience! 🙂

We keep calling on every house, regardless of past interest.
People move house, or develop an interest in spiritual things later on, or come up with a question they want answered, so we keep offering free Bible studies.
When someone agrees to a Bible study do you sit down with them and a Bible or do you use a JW publication instead?
We are trying to contact everyone. Matthew 24:14, Matthew 28:19,20. 😉
So you baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit as Matt 28:19 instructs ?
 
Only been visited once in my entire life.

My front door was open, but the full-length screen storm door was closed and locked. They rang the doorbell and were greeted by my half-redbone coonhound half-rhodesian ridgeback “Clifford”.

I arrived at the front door to find them standing halfway between the porch and the street. I settled Clifford down and asked them if I could help them. They invited me to some kind of shindig they were having on Sunday, and I told them that I wouldn’t be able to make it because I would be busy attending Holy Mass.

They lost interest and left. :confused: I would have liked to have kept talking to them… 😦
 
Only been visited once in my entire life.

My front door was open, but the full-length screen storm door was closed and locked. They rang the doorbell and were greeted by my half-redbone coonhound half-rhodesian ridgeback “Clifford”.

I arrived at the front door to find them standing halfway between the porch and the street. I settled Clifford down and asked them if I could help them. They invited me to some kind of shindig they were having on Sunday, and I told them that I wouldn’t be able to make it because I would be busy attending Holy Mass.

They lost interest and left. :confused: I would have liked to have kept talking to them… 😦
Awww Clifford is adorable!
 
I ask JW’s & Mormons in, offer them water, cookies, & in case of LDS coffee, tea, cola - whoops did I do that? 😊 A good podcast on iTunes found @ Cradio - Words of Hope "the Jehovah’s Witnesses (May 31, 2012). A very good podcast, took notes & typed it up & mostly memorized it, put it in a binder & have it ready to go 👍

Also have a copy of “The Bible in Living English” edited by Stephen Byington. WTBTS bought it & published it in the 80’s because says Jehovah all over the place in NT. BUT read John 1:1 “…and the Word was God…” & John 8:58 “…I AM…” compare to same scriptures in NWT & yikes, it gets sticky fast!

Problem: if WTBTS prints both Bibles, which is RIGHT & which is WRONG? This is an infinity loop.

Have the best of the best in my binder to show them - Brooklyn, you have a problem :tsktsk:
 
A very good podcast, took notes & typed it up & mostly memorized it, put it in a binder & have it ready to go 👍
If you want to reach an individual, using an individualized approach is best: talk to that person specifically-- what are their questions, concerns, strengths, and joys? That’s how God deals with people: leaving the 99 to individually seeking out the 1.

People can tell when they’re receiving a memorized generic lecture, and it turns them away.
 
I make anything I learn my own; binder organizes ideas, but far from a canned presentation.

“Hey, I ran into this what do you think of this? I have a question about this & can you answer this?” & they usually cannot. Key: Gently ask great questions THEY CAN"T ANSWER!

When you “speak their language” I’ve found they get interested & tends to put you on a better footing (instead of them being justified by me slamming the door in their faces OR they’ve got a real dummy here to twist into a scriptural pretzel). Finish by telling them about own personal experience in the RCC, what Christ does for me daily… ALWAYS be Charitable & ask them to come back any time if they have any questions :curtsey:
 
I make anything I learn my own; binder organizes ideas, but far from a canned presentation.
That’s great!
“Hey, I ran into this what do you think of this? I have a question about this & can you answer this?” & they usually cannot. Key: Gently ask great questions THEY CAN"T ANSWER!

When you “speak their language” I’ve found they get interested & tends to put you on a better footing (instead of them being justified by me slamming the door in their faces OR they’ve got a real dummy here to twist into a scriptural pretzel). Finish by telling them about own personal experience in the RCC, what Christ does for me daily… ALWAYS be Charitable & ask them to come back any time if they have any questions :curtsey:
I do very much agree with the charity and it’s best to speak their language. Hence why my first real question (once communication is established) is “what are your questions?” rather than inserting my own or going for ‘gotcha’ games.

(Note: I’m not saying that you’re going for ‘gotcha’ games, in fact we seem to be very much in agreement here).
 
I ask JW’s & Mormons in, offer them water, cookies, & in case of LDS coffee, tea, cola - whoops did I do that? 😊 A good podcast on iTunes found @ Cradio - Words of Hope "the Jehovah’s Witnesses (May 31, 2012). A very good podcast, took notes & typed it up & mostly memorized it, put it in a binder & have it ready to go 👍

Also have a copy of “The Bible in Living English” edited by Stephen Byington. WTBTS bought it & published it in the 80’s because says Jehovah all over the place in NT. BUT read John 1:1 “…and the Word was God…” & John 8:58 “…I AM…” compare to same scriptures in NWT & yikes, it gets sticky fast!

Problem: if WTBTS prints both Bibles, which is RIGHT & which is WRONG? This is an infinity loop.

Have the best of the best in my binder to show them - Brooklyn, you have a problem :tsktsk:
Wow you get enough JW’s and Mormons at your house to warrant having a binder? I think I’ve had one JW pair show up on my doorstep once at an apartment I lived at about 7 years ago but that’s about it. I had Mormons a couple of times when I lived near the San Diego LDS Temple (which was unusual as my understanding was when they built the temple part of the agreement that allowed it was that they agreed to not proselytize our neighborhood 🤷) and I think once at my current place if I remember correctly.

Those missionaries I get in my neck of the woods these days tend to be Evangelical Christians more than anything else from what are typically non-denominational churches (typically from the Baptist or Pentecostal family).
 
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