Okay, I wanted to know more about the JWs, so I went to the website and filled in my name and other info. I was finally contacted, set up an appointment and visited. The first two people came and they were nice, but one of the fellows looked uptight and avoided eye contact. The other came for all three visits and was genuinely nice and clearly a believer. During the third visit, they came with an elder who seemed to be more aggressive.
Back in the 70s, the JWs I spoke with seemed to be very knowledgable about their religion and about the Bible. But these guys kept writing down my scriptural references and telling me they'd get back to me on them. Specifically, I pointed out the "other" verses associated with Armageddon (the ones showing that it would be located at Jerusalem). In these cases, it wasn't a matter of them disagreeing with me as much as that these scriptures came as a complete surprise to them! The terms "Judah" and "Jerusalem" seemed to really throw them. I also asked about the validity of their religion and why it wasn't a manmade church, while all the others were. On the third visit, they assured me they would check the scriptures and get back to me. (The elder took quite a few notes, folded the papers and stuffed them in his pocket.)
They also assured me they'd be back in touch for another visit, but that's the last I heard from them. It's been two weeks and...nothing.
Did I offend them? Scare them off? What?
I was very surprised by all three visits and the fact that none of these guys seemed to know how to answer critical questions. In short, they seemed to know all the scriptures in that little book they gave me, but little else. It made me wonder what had happened to them. In short, they read the book with me, asking all the questions that had predetermined answers -- and they were ill prepared to handle any questions that weren't in the book. Then they stopped coming!
Back in the "day," they were much better versed than they are now. Their arguments weren't any better back then, but at least they knew how to handle a curve ball. Now all they'd say was, "That's an interesting point. I'll make a note of it here and we'll get back to you." (I think I could have debated their points better than they did, except for the ones questioning the church's verity. (In olden days, churches and church officers were established and appointed by prophets, apostles and others that weren't self-appointed. Now the JWs' claim to be the church and kingdom of Jehovah is based only on the process of elimination, and anyone can do that! And they do! Seventh Day Adventists, churches of Christ -- they're all established with their own claims to fame, though the SDA can point to the visions and revelations of Ellen White who, like Muhammed, didn't leave a successor.) The small book they gave me doesn't make much of a case, either, except to condemn other religions as being false. I guess that would make theirs true by contrast.
But all that aside, why didn't they come back? I can't believe they caved that easily. I was pulling my punches as it was because I really wanted to get the answers and wasn't interested in a debate.
