Jehovah's Witnesses (I need help, please)!

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I am Catholic so, I know almost zero about “Jehovah’s Witnesses” and their beliefs. They come by about once a month and drop off their pamphlets. I’m always polite because my* personal* belief is to be kind to all people. Of course, I throw whatever they have given to me in the garbage after they leave. Well this Saturday I was visited by very* persistent* JW’s. I was amazed whenever they told me that JESUS is not God. And there is no such thing as the Trinity. I’m not very good in Apologetics ( but with the grace of the Holy Spirit), I defended my faith with everything in me. They will be back again since they left their book for me to read. And I have highlighted and flagged over half the book, so far. I’m amazed there are people who believe the things in this book.

Please give me advise and any scripture that comes to mind to assist me in this upcoming (and LAST) debate with them. As I previously said…I’m not trained in Apologetics. I want to give them correct church doctrine.🙂 Thanks in advance.
 
You might want to point out that their biblical translation has been modified especially in the epistles. In the epistles (sorry, I don’t remember where exactly, I’m a Catholic), it states that all the angels worship Him(Christ). Since The JW’s deny the divinity of Christ in most cases. There translation states that “all the angles do him obedience”. Take them back to the earliest translations if you can. And point out this discrepancy.

Also point out that it it written “…anyone who refuses to acknowledge that Jesus is Lord come in the flesh, this is the spirit of anti-christ.” (paraphrased. Sorry away from my bible. working from memory.)
 
SassysMum said:
I am Catholic so, I know almost zero about “Jehovah’s Witnesses” and their beliefs. They come by about once a month and drop off their pamphlets. I’m always polite because my* personal* belief is to be kind to all people. Of course, I throw whatever they have given to me in the garbage after they leave. Well this Saturday I was visited by very* persistent* JW’s. I was amazed whenever they told me that JESUS is not God. And there is no such thing as the Trinity. I’m not very good in Apologetics ( but with the grace of the Holy Spirit), I defended my faith with everything in me. They will be back again since they left their book for me to read. And I have highlighted and flagged over half the book, so far. I’m amazed there are people who believe the things in this book.

Please give me advise and any scripture that comes to mind to assist me in this upcoming (and LAST) debate with them. As I previously said…I’m not trained in Apologetics. I want to give them correct church doctrine.🙂 Thanks in advance.
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John Chapter 1 is something that a Catholic could explain to Jehovah’s Witnesses. Their re-write of the text describes Jesus as “the word was a god” rather than “the word was God”. In essence, it’s a big stumbling block that they are never able to explain.

You should always remember that Jehovah’s Witnesses have their own thing, which they are happy with. They think they’re going to convert you, and you might think you can change their minds too. The best you can usually hope for (and this goes for Mormons and others) is simply to make a good impression.

People in the JW (and Mormons from rural Utah too) are conditioned to think of Catholics (and others who don’t agree with them) as bad, sinful, ignorant and unpleasant. Being a kind and compassionate host(ess) will plant seeds inside the true believer which will grow into more tolerant attitudes. They might never leave their own religion, but they’ll see that the world isn’t divided into good -vs- evil, us -vs- them.

I don’t personally care about converting anyone else, but I always invite the Jehovah’s Witnesses inside when they stop by. I offer them coffee and discuss things with them pleasantly. In the case of people who are conditioned to think of outsiders as inherently evil, it’s worth the trouble.
 
Yes, CA has lots of resources, go to those first. For instance, the JWs will argue about the translation of the Greek in John, but those who did that translation for the JWs had no credentials as Greek scholars.

Now, from just the practical standpoint of talking to two JW’s at your house, you might point out that the Greek Orthodox speak Greek. Always have. Do the JW’s suppose that the Greeks been hoodwinked about how John reads? Up until about 600 or so, there wasn’t a person in the Roman Empire with any pretention about having an education who couldn’t speak Greek. It is highly unlikely that somebody in the US who was not even fluent in Greek turned up this “mistake” that had somehow escaped all the Christians in the East. This particular point of theology has been well-visited and understood in terms of Trinity. Theirs is a very old and recognized heresy. Also, they’ll notice that when Our Lord invited Thomas to put his hand in His side, Thomas responded emphatically “My Lord and my God!” Jesus did not correct him. Contrast this to Peter, who always met adulation with, “Get up. I’m a man, the same as you.” In other words, that kind of adulation was understood as being inappropriate, except for God.

The first thing I noticed about the JW’s, though, is that they’re selling “fire insurance.” So I asked them, “Let’s turn that around. If you knew you could do anything you wanted and would have a chance to repent before you died, would you do anything differently?” Because of course one would hope you serve God because you love Him and know that His laws, meant for our welfare, are our highest joy right now. We don’t serve God because we’re afraid of Him or because God needs us to get anything done. We serve God to give Him glory and because acting according to love forms our souls according to His own nature. That is how love works.
 
i’ve had some jehovahs come to my door, but never any persistent ones. once i tell them politely that i’m a Catholic and not inerested in their religion, they tip their bonnets and continue to the next house. you may have encouraged their persistence by leading them to believe that you’re interested.

i have seen others on this forum, particularly ex-jehovas, adivse against engaging in any debate with their missionaries. you will almost surely be at a serious disadvantage since you have said you are not an apologist, but the missionaries are coached carefully in how to lead you down a garden path.

the likelihood that you will get through to them is zero, or close to it. these are people who are thoroughly brainwashed. it would be like trying to convert your toaster.

my advice would be to avoid any further contact with them until you’ve spent some time prepareing for it through study and prayer.

May God bless you in your good efforts.
 
J_C said:
i’ve had some jehovahs come to my door, but never any persistent ones. once i tell them politely that i’m a Catholic and not inerested in their religion, they tip their bonnets and continue to the next house. you may have encouraged their persistence by leading them to believe that you’re interested.

i have seen others on this forum, particularly ex-jehovas, adivse against engaging in any debate with their missionaries. you will almost surely be at a serious disadvantage since you have said you are not an apologist, but the missionaries are coached carefully in how to lead you down a garden path.

the likelihood that you will get through to them is zero, or close to it. these are people who are thoroughly brainwashed. it would be like trying to convert your toaster.

my advice would be to avoid any further contact with them until you’ve spent some time prepareing for it through study and prayer.

May God bless you in your good efforts.
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No, I wouldn’t argue with them. They start with something about whether I believe in God and I answered that yes I did and I’d be happy to tell them about the Lord. We had maybe 2 minute exchanges, because every time I brought up a point that they weren’t ready for, they said, “Well, thanks, we’ll be back some time” and left. They came back twice, then gave up.

I’d like to think, though, that they did not go away with the impression that I didn’t believe them simply because I had some prejudice against them or didn’t want to be bothered. I was Catholic, I knew what I believed and why. I know they are under strong influence, but I hope that for maybe one or two, enough experiences like that could leave an impression.

Having the truth, we have a greater duty to witness to it than they do. On the other hand, if your preparation to witness is weak at present, it isn’t a bad idea to strengthen your own knowledge before you get into intellectual discussions. Better to teach only by your courtesy than to teach error in your explanations.
 
Actually, one thing that seems to have worked for me is when they talk about the end of the world and the need to repent before it happens, I usually point out that even if the world ends next week, I might not live to see it. The end of the world is abstract until it happens; regardless of when it happens, I need to be living today as if it is my last day.

The mistranslation of the Bible is also a good way to approach things. Obviously it helps if you speak Greek ;). But even so, point out that in Latin and Greek, when one wanted to get across the sense that is carried by an indefinite article (which both Greek and Latin lacked) that it was customary to use the Greek or Latin equivalent for one. (which I believe is were the indefinite article in the Romance languages come from). Therefore, since the word one was not used, it is improper to insert an indefinite article.

–
Bill
 
Sassy,

Which particular book is it that they handed off to you…they have a slew of them.

I actually recommend against “debating” with them unless you’re REALLY prepared. These guys TRAIN in apologetics and know their “proof texts” quite well. The web site mentioned is a good one. However, another tact might be to have some Catholic literature to hand off to them. If they refuse it (which they probably will because they are INSTRUCTED to do so) that gives you a polite way to end the debate before it begins…if they can’t accept your literature, there’s nothing to talk about…God bless and have a nice day.

If you wish for the visits to stop send a certified letter to the Local Kingdom Hall with your address stating you want to be put on the Do Not Contact List.
 
More have died from their Watchtower spiritual and medical quackery than Jim Jones and David Koresh cults combined!

Jehovah’s Witnesses beliefs:

A) They are at your door to recruit you for enslavement to their watchtower corporation,they will say that “we are just here to share a message from the Bible” this is deception right off.

B) Their ‘message’ is a false Gospel that Jesus had his second coming in 1914.The problem with this is it’s not just a cute fairy tale,Jesus warned of the false prophets who would claim “…look he is here in the wilderness,or see here he is at the temple…”

C) Their anti-blood transfusion ban has killed hundreds if not thousands

D) once they recruit you they will “love bomb” you in cult fashion to also recruit your family & friends or cut them off. There are many more dangers,Jehovah’s Witnesses got a bad rap for good and valid reasons.

99% of the world has rejected the teachings of the Watchtower Jehovah’s Witnesses, the darker truth is they are a destructive and oppressive organization.
Mind control is a terrible thing.

–

Danny Haszard Jehovah’s Witness X 33 years freeminds.org

jehovahwitness.vox.com/
 
THANKS so much for your advice. I told them immediately & also, as they were leaving, “I have no interest or intention of attempting to convert you to my beliefs. And you need to understand that I will never convert from Catholicism”.🙂

‘Persistent’ probably wasn’t a strong enough word for the couple that come to visit me. grins. I was getting into the shower and my husband came & told me the lady wasn’t leaving until they talked to me. 🤷 I said “What”??? He said “well, anything short of telling her to leave, I don’t know what to do”. Sooo, I got dressed and come to see what was going on. Apparently, someone had given them my name.:confused:

Yerusalyim: The book is “What Does The Bible Really Teach?”

The first page I opened pictured ‘Blessed Virgin Mary’ and a crucifix. And here’s a couple sentences from that chapter:

***“Some have had images or shrines in their home for years. Is that true of you?..So you can take a stand for the true worship by destroying any items you own that are connected with false worship. By all means, come to view them as Jehovah does -as something ‘detestable’.-Deuteronomy 27:15.” ***
 
SassysMum said:
I am Catholic so, I know almost zero about “Jehovah’s Witnesses” and their beliefs. They come by about once a month and drop off their pamphlets. I’m always polite because my* personal* belief is to be kind to all people. Of course, I throw whatever they have given to me in the garbage after they leave. Well this Saturday I was visited by very* persistent* JW’s. I was amazed whenever they told me that JESUS is not God. And there is no such thing as the Trinity. I’m not very good in Apologetics ( but with the grace of the Holy Spirit), I defended my faith with everything in me. They will be back again since they left their book for me to read. And I have highlighted and flagged over half the book, so far. I’m amazed there are people who believe the things in this book.

Please give me advise and any scripture that comes to mind to assist me in this upcoming (and LAST) debate with them. As I previously said…I’m not trained in Apologetics. I want to give them correct church doctrine.🙂 Thanks in advance.
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I never accept anything from them, I simply tell them that I don’t need their little book. One thing that I brought to their attention was where Christ revealed He was God. [Mark 12, 29-30] & [Mark 12, 35-37]

Basically Jesus says there is “one Lord” [Mk 12, 29-30] and yet says that he is “the Lord.” [Mk 12, 235-37]

That one ended the conversation quickly.

I kept on picking there brains and was surprised to find out that (these two of which I spoke to) don’t believe in hell, or obtaining eternal bliss in heaven, They told me that they believe that when one dies they merely cease to exist and rot in the ground.

Some books that I recommend are Tradition and the Church (this one really helped me) and A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture.

I hope that this helps.

Take care and God Bless.
 
Yep, I know the book, my ex-wife used to be a JW. My recommendation remains the same…try to hand them Catholic Literature (a paperback CCC or some such thing). When they refuse it, hand them back their book…ENSURE YOU WRITE IN THE MARGINS IN INK so it can’t be used again…with your objections to the contents of the book…rather than post-it pads.
 
Yerusalyim said:
. My recommendation remains the same…try to hand them Catholic Literature (a paperback CCC or some such thing). When they refuse it, hand them back their book…QUOTE]

I’ve done this a couple of times. I am one of the coordinators of our parish RCIA program, so I always have a catechism around. I’ve tried to hand it to them, and you would think they were Linda Blair in the Exorcist being sprinkled with Holy Water!!!

They don’t come around anymore, and I just don’t understand why.
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Yerusalyim said “ENSURE YOU WRITE IN THE MARGINS IN INK so it can’t be used again.”

IMHO, as Matthew 7:12 states, that would be so unchristian and just plain rude. (Besides, they have no lack of literature,)
 
you took the book —you are now a Bible Study. Give the book back and tell them never to come again and to make a note of it on the Territory Card. Do not engage them. I have seen crimes like you might read about in pulp fiction within their ranks, I was born and raised third generation and left at age 34 losing everything and everyone I ever had to do it. Do not play with these people. There is no converting them or planting seeds of doubt in their locked tight minds. Only personal tragedy will shake the brain washing loose. They are not like any other “christian” group, do not be misled. Here is my deconversion story:

disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion.cgi?disc=46743;article=2853;title=Searching%20for%20Long%20Lost%20JWs%20and%20Ex-JWs
 
Interestingly JW’s are taught that anyone that tells them their theology is wrong is a tool of Satan. I’ve had many JW acquaintances over the years, most of them have been quite respectful of the arguments that I’ve posed. However, their eyes seem to glaze over when I point out that their “Bible” has been altered from the original pre-reformation version in many places. They do however, get fairly touchy when you point out that their founder was a publisher/salesman!
 
Don’t take their stuff they come back! If they come back say you will read their stuff if they read yours, and tell them once you have both done that you will be willing to sit down and chat with them. But like earlier posters said unless you are confident in your spiritual life, and have a good knowledge of apologetics dont even let them put a foot in the door, they are persistant and deceitful. I know there are books out there written my ex-mormons and ex-jws who have written books on how to answer (from a catholic perspective) the speeches they are trained to give you.
 
dadofeight said:
Yerusalyim said “ENSURE YOU WRITE IN THE MARGINS IN INK so it can’t be used again.”

IMHO, as Matthew 7:12 states, that would be so unchristian and just plain rude. (Besides, they have no lack of literature,)
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It is neither Unchristian, or rude…it’s spreading the word of God…by JW policy the book technically belongs to the OP anyhow, so she’s not defacing anyone’s property but her own…and in the margins she’s explaining the Word of God as oppossed to the errors of the Watchtower.
 
Ravyn_Guiliani said:
you took the book —you are now a Bible Study. Give the book back and tell them never to come again and to make a note of it on the Territory Card. Do not engage them. I have seen crimes like you might read about in pulp fiction within their ranks, I was born and raised third generation and left at age 34 losing everything and everyone I ever had to do it. Do not play with these people. There is no converting them or planting seeds of doubt in their locked tight minds. Only personal tragedy will shake the brain washing loose. They are not like any other “christian” group, do not be misled. Here is my deconversion story:

disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion.cgi?disc=46743;article=2853;title=Searching%20for%20Long%20Lost%20JWs%20and%20Ex-JWs
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I just wanted to explain—unless you are on the top of your game it is not a good idea to try to witness to them. Yes there are wonderful apologetics and Jeffrey Schwehm has a ministry and a website dedicated to this ( catholicxjw.com/ ), BUT—they are not easily persuaded. These people let their babies die over blood transfusions, they are not likely to be converted in 15 minutes while they are trying to convert you no matter what your excellent arguments! They are very dangerous to the unprepared. Be careful.
 
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