Phone calls from a JW

[Jordan719]

I recently received a phone call from a 78 year old JW who was looking to convert me. We’ve since spent about four hours on the telephone and plan to meet in person. She’s confident she has the truth and will convert me. I hate playing Bible “ping pong” with her, it seems to be leading no where. We start on a subject and when I begin to make headway, she changes the subject.

How can I stop the rehearsed Watch Tower tract that is burned on her brain to make her wake up? I already pray for her, but I would like other suggestions.

 

[fermat]

There are a number of tracks here on CA that address how to talk to a JW. I would also learn their history. If you show her evidence of all the times that they have been wrong, you might get something going.

I always bring up the differences in the bible. They do not believe in the Trinity, so I usually focus there. I use Acts 13:2
[BIBLEDRB]Acts 13:2[/BIBLEDRB]

Here the Holy Spirit is directly addressing the apostles. How can the Spirit do that if it is not a person?

 

[the_phoenix]

If you hate playing Bible “ping pong,” then my advice is, don’t.
Why are you a Catholic? Talk to her about that, from the heart.
If she can change the subject, so can you. Why should she set the rules?
You’re also free to just socialize and enjoy cake and coffee.

My background on this?
Was “friends” with a JW
who deceived me about her religion
for years, then dumped me when she
let me in on her secret, expecting me to
convert to keep her friendship or something?
… And instead I answered that
I was still willing to be friends with her
as long as she respected my right to be Catholic.

After several years, she picked up the phone
called me out of the blue … guess she missed me.
The relationship is on again, off again … since
being my solidly Catholic self apparently makes her nervous …
but she knows deep down that if she reaches out
in friendship, I’m there …

Hope some of this helps!

~~ the phoenix

 

[Catholic1954]

This is a job for the Holy Spirit. Trade your ping pong paddle in for a rosary. If she is 78 years young and is a life long JW, I doubt there is anything you can say to her to change her mind. Bring some good Catholic Tracts with you to the meeting, end it as soon as possible and pray, pray, pray for her.

 

[Phyllo]

There are a number of tracks here on CA that address how to talk to a JW. I would also learn their history. If you show her evidence of all the times that they have been wrong, you might get something going.

I always bring up the differences in the bible. They do not believe in the Trinity, so I usually focus there. I use Acts 13:2
[BIBLEDRB]Acts 13:2[/BIBLEDRB]

Here the Holy Spirit is directly addressing the apostles. How can the Spirit do that if it is not a person?

Their NWT says the same thing yet they do not believe that the HS is a person but a non personal force of God. It is impossible to get through to them with the truth. As posted here it is the job of the HS to instruct them .

 

[Faith1960]

I wouldn’t waste my time, except to tell her that I’m Catholic and will remain so. I agree with whoever said that you’re not going to change her views.

 

[thistle]

I recently received a phone call from a 78 year old JW who was looking to convert me. We’ve since spent about four hours on the telephone and plan to meet in person. She’s confident she has the truth and will convert me. I hate playing Bible “ping pong” with her, it seems to be leading no where. We start on a subject and when I begin to make headway, she changes the subject.

How can I stop the rehearsed Watch Tower tract that is burned on her brain to make her wake up? I already pray for her, but I would like other suggestions.

catholic.com/tracts/stumpers-for-the-jehovahs-witnesses
catholic.com/tracts/the-god-of-the-jehovahs-witnesses
catholic.com/tracts/distinctive-beliefs-of-the-jehovahs-witnesses
catholicnick.blogspot.com/2011/01/1914-house-built-on-sand-jehovahs.html

 

[Joe_Kelley]

…We start on a subject and when I begin to make headway, she changes the subject…

I agree with the others who say she won’t hear what you are saying. However, if you continue, insist that she stick to one subject. Use the broken record technique. Whenever she starts a new subject say, “But we haven’t finished discussing …”

 

[puzzleannie]

I . We start on a subject and when I begin to make headway, she changes the subject.

.

they are trained to do this.
if we are not trained in this kind of apologetics “ping-pong” as you aptly describe it, yes they will get the best of us. She does not want to be converted, she does not want to learn, she is not in the least bit open to having her ideas challenged. Losing battle. Hang up the phone.

 

[JanetF]

I have a co-worker who is JW and has asked me questions about catholicism and now we are discussing one topic each week (two weeks so far), we’ve discussed the definition of tradition and she has talked about how celebrating the holidays is evil
Last we we discussed the trinity
This week will be the immortal soul

The ground rules are she doesn’t try to convert me and when either of us become uncomfortable, we can back out

What I’m getting out of this, is that I’m spending more time researching things, and being reminded of the whys of my faith, which is great and probably totally the opposite of what she was hoping for

Unbeknownst to her, I ain’t ever givin up Christmas…

 

[DTrent]

I recently received a phone call from a 78 year old JW who was looking to convert me. We’ve since spent about four hours on the telephone and plan to meet in person. She’s confident she has the truth and will convert me. I hate playing Bible “ping pong” with her, it seems to be leading no where. We start on a subject and when I begin to make headway, she changes the subject.

How can I stop the rehearsed Watch Tower tract that is burned on her brain to make her wake up? I already pray for her, but I would like other suggestions.

You cannot be converted by another person. Conversion is between you & God. It’s a decision that YOU make. She is just trying to give you the option of another choice.
Would love to know the ‘subject’ you 2 were on & how she ‘changed’ it.