Why are JWs not up for a discussion

  • Thread starter Thread starter TomH1
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

TomH1

Guest
This afternoon two Jehovah’s Witnesses came to our front door. When it dawned on them that I was not going to passively stand there and listen to their indoctrination but that I was up for a discussion and may have been able to hold my own they politely excused themselves and left. I had not even told them I was a Catholic or even a practising member of any faith.

Are they no longer trained to be able to debate? I have noticed over the last few years the minute you clearly are able to make reasoned debate they effectively run away.
 
It was simply one example that happened today. Has happened the last few times they have called at my house and when they have approached me on the street. They are frequently in our town centre.
 
I come from that background. They never really would debate. If someone at the door showed any significant knowledge of the Bible, JWs beat a hasty retreat.
 
From my understanding they are expected to spend more time with those who are interested in the Faith. They quickly discard those who simply want to debate and argue.

A year ago or so, I believe they were given new instructions that they were to only spend a certain number of months on a person or family who was interested in becoming one of Jehovahs witnesses. If after that time frame the person or family was still on the fence, it was recommended that they move on to new people, because the current belief is that once again the time is coming soon for the end of this “current system of things.”
 
JWs are not made to discuss or debate, they are programmed to just obey. You are asking them to do something they simply don’t have the ability to do. It’s like asking a horse to fly. That’s not an insult, they can be wonderful people, but they just don’t have that ability.
 
They are trained extensively not to entertain opposing thoughts. Want them to stick around? Call them Protestants and have reasons for your claim.
 
niceatheist said:
I come from that background. They never really would debate. If someone at the door showed any significant knowledge of the Bible, JWs beat a hasty retreat.
Click to expand...
Maybe you can clarify something for me. I have been told that they go back to their car and record how badly they have experienced persecution. In other words, if I debate in a kind way they do not get as many points in their favor as they would if I treated them harshly. Is there any truth to that?
 
I had just the opposite experience. I had one JW come back 3 separate times for continuing Biblical debates. In the end, though, she brought her superior, and as they are not allowed to accept written material from other viewpoints (so she told me) we decided we were at an impasse and left it at that.
 
Door to door evangelization is fundamentally a sales job.

They must have realized their time was better spent on prospects they have a higher chance of closing.
 
I was born and raised a JW, left about 5 years ago.
Originally when I was in the cult, sitting and talking about the JW’s was encouraged. Really anything to get the other person to take the literature and lead to coming back. But, as I was leaving, i noticed a big change in their tactic. It became instead to just leave literature and go. If someone wants to spend a bit talking about differences, we were just supposed to excuse ourselves. I think this has to be because more and more people are leaving the JW’s, and not just because they get shunned for doing something sinful but because they are being convinced the religion is wrong. More and more exposure to points that disprove the JW’s, especially things on the 144,000 and the Governing Body, will lead the JW to start researching things privately, and that usually leads to falling away from the Watchtower. The leaders don’t want that, so they are pushing less conversations unless its some who is either ignorant of the JW’s, or someone who isnt debating but will take the literature and listen.

I had some JW’s stop by and when i tried talking to them as kindly and patient as i could, the very fact that I could quote scripture from memory led them away.
 
Didn’t Jesus and the Disciples go city to city preaching? Knocking on doors, speaking wherever they could find a listening ear? I don’t recall them just being confined to a church.
I also remember reading Jesus instructions’ to the Disciples that if they weren’t welcomed at the door, to wipe their feet and go onto the next until they find sheeplike ones? In Matthew, Luke and Mark he says that I believe?
 
Last edited:
treva said:
Didn’t Jesus and the Disciples go city to city preaching? Knocking on doors, speaking wherever they could find a listening ear? I don’t recall them just being confined to a church.
I also remember reading Jesus instructions’ to the Disciples that if they weren’t welcomed at the door, to wipe their feet and go onto the next until they find sheeplike ones? In Matthew, Luke and Mark he says that I believe?
Click to expand...
I do not understand that comment, care to elaborate?
 
TomH1 said:
This afternoon two Jehovah’s Witnesses came to our front door. When it dawned on them that I was not going to passively stand there and listen to their indoctrination but that I was up for a discussion and may have been able to hold my own they politely excused themselves and left. I had not even told them I was a Catholic or even a practising member of any faith.

Are they no longer trained to be able to debate? I have noticed over the last few years the minute you clearly are able to make reasoned debate they effectively run away.
Click to expand...
It’s pretty easy to understand if you put yourselves in their shoes imo. You’re definitely not the only person they’ve encountered that wanted to debate them and it puts them in a difficult and compromising position, possibly even an upsetting and stressful situation. JWs often come from materially poor families with a lot on their schedule, little or no free time, and are frequently verbally abused.

Also, without trying to sound snobby, people that are pulled into JW congregations usually aren’t great debaters. They have some specific rehearsed lines and not necessarily a lot more than that.
 
Last edited:
niceatheist said:
If someone at the door showed any significant knowledge of the Bible, JWs beat a hasty retreat.
Click to expand...
Not always . . . I had a pair that was utterly baffled when I wouldn’t choose between absolute literalism or mere literature.

And then I asked them which account of creation I was supposed to take literally, and they got really befuddled, denying that there were two accounts . . .
 
My Mom used to have JW ladies come over and have friendly chats. They knew my Mom wasn’t going to convert; but they were nice women and liked to hang out. My Mom gave me the Look of “ Don’t argue “ and I kept quiet.

The thing I noticed with them is that both of them were lapsed Catholics and they mentioned that a lot of Catholics were going to them.
 
Last edited:
I once had a good discussion with a JW. I invited them into my home and we talked for quite a while, during which I nearly converted them to Judaism (unintentionally).
 
Hahaha, That’s pretty funny @meltzerboy2. I thought the Jewish tradition wasn’t to proselytize and reject those seeking to convert three times before accepting them.
 
You’re right about that. I was not purposely trying to convert them, but they were very interested in what I was saying and wished to explore Judaism further. Maybe I should become a (Jewish) missionary?
 
Hahaha. You mind if ask you if you’re Orthodox, Conservative or Reformed, @meltzerboy2?

The funny thing is, my niece ( She’s has a really bad experience in her ELCA church that’s now a court case ) asked my sister if she’d mind if she converted to Judaism. Her best friend is a practicing Jew.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top