Welcome ILT. You are among friends. Try to keep that fire inside a bit. Direct assault will just get someones red flag to go off, and end up causing problems for you. Here are a few thoughts.....on your thoughts.
1. The fact that no NT manuscript contains the name "Jehovah"
The Jehovah controversy is not as dead and gone as people would believe. Jah could be the undisputed name of God for example. NWT uses the "J" texts to spuriously translate in some areas, and take authority where the NT quotes from the old. I have no problem with the latter. In fact I thinkt here are some compelling reasons to think theat Jehovah could be accurate. That being said, its not really God who i have a problem with, just those claiming exclusive rights to his favor so to speak. This might be a dead end for a reasoning with a JW.
2. The blood doctrine
This is a doctrine there is TONS of ammunition against. It is indefensible. Hypocricy, death, and ridiculousness around every corner. This might be a good place to go with people. But since it is considered "core", it could set off those flags. I try to always say that it should be a conscious decision not enforced through disfellowshipping, rather than they are just imbiciles for teaching this, even though that is what i really believe.
3. Whether Jesus died on a cross (as we know it) or not.
Who cares.
4. I don't buy either the Trinity or Unitarianism... I think that the Bible has evidence for both parties to endlessly debate this... at the very least, I think that the Bible does go for Jesus being God...
Trinitarians and JW's are closer than they think on this. "...the God was divine", is an accepted rendering to JW's of John 1:1 for example. So in what way is Jesus divine? This goes in line with a trinitarian thought oj Jesus and his father both sharing the "nature of God", but being two separate people. I think its hogwash, but honestly are you really going to get anywhere with the trinity and JW's? Nope.
5. Salvation by grace or by works... again both sides can debate this endlessly...
Chicken vs egg. It doesn't matter. Once again, biblically speaking one doesn't exist without the other. There is no debate here for reasonable people.
6. Contradictions in the Bible
Lots of them. Working through this myself currently.
7. Why the Septuagint is accepted in some religions and just the Masoretic in others... Masoretic is 9th century, whereas it has been shown that the Septuagint was quoted by Paul, for example... Why was it accepted by Paul and others but rejected by most Christians today?
Is this something you think will strike a cord with the people in your life you care about?
If you are looking for something that will ring true to them, focus on the things we INSTINCTIVELY know not to be right, but supress. Blood, shunning of family, secret meeting of elders and hoarding of letters written without your ability to see what is in them, policies that protect the organization but don't smell right, technicalities being adhered to, especially in cases where peoples lives are at stake.
The list goes on and on. Oh and the nutty history. When it comes down to it, you know your friends best. Try to ease them into it, and ask questions. Don't expect too much. Focus on yourself. You can't take everyone with you, and many of us have learned that the hard way.
