Street-Talk with Jehovah's Witnesses

by Vanderhoven7 11 Replies latest jw experiences

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  Vanderhoven7

  Street-Talk with Jehovah's Witnesses

  Opening up a street-level dialogue with Jehovah's Witnesses:

  Since this will probably be a one time occurrence, an important objective of any street encounter is to bless JWs with doubt about their beloved organization.

  After exchanging niceties, you might say something like:

  I must confess - I could never become a Jehovah's Witness (Why not?)

  • because I don't believe your religion is Bible-based. (Of it course is!)

  Is it Bible based:

  .

  • to say that God promised to bring about a new safe system before those who saw the events of 1914 passed away? (?)

    That was taught right up to October 1995. Was that Bible based or speculation based?

    Didn't the Watchtower make God a liar since He made no such promise?

  • to say that organ transplants are cannibalism? (?) Was that Bible based or speculation based?

    Was that Bible based or speculation based? How many Witnesses died unnecessarily when transplants were banned from 1967-1980?

    .

  • to say that vaccinations represent a breach of the everlasting covenant? (?)

    How many died because vaccinations were banned from 1921 to 1952?

    Was the ban on vaccinations Bible based or speculation based?

  • to say that alternative military service compromises neutrality? (?)

  • How many young JWs in the 60s went to prison because of Watchtower speculation?

  • to teach that Armageddon would occur in 1914, 1918, 1925, 1975 (?)

    Was that Bible based or just prophetic speculation.

  • to teach that one need be associated with and loyally follow men in New York to have eternal life? Where does the Bible teach this?
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  john.prestor

  One time conversation is right :P They'll book it
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  FFGhost

  After about the 3rd question, the JW will peg you as an "apostate" (using the WT definition of the word: "Anyone critical in any sense whatsoever of the teaching of the Watchtower Organization") and shut down. If he is engaged in "public witnessing" he will walk, and if necessary, run away.

  I.e., you'll never get to ask the majority of your questions.

  JWs used to be trained to defend their beliefs. Now that non-JWs realize what questions to ask to expose the undefendability (is that a word?) of those beliefs, JWs have been trained, over the past 2-3 decades, to (if necessary, literally) walk away.
• 

  JeffT

  A number of years ago I ran into a group doing street work in downtown Seattle. One guy approached me and starting talking about 1914 and the end of the world. I asked him if he'd read any of Russel's books. He said no. I told him he should, as Russell said 1914 would mark the end of the world, not the start of the last days. He mumbled something about Russell predicting big things and the conversation ended.

  A few years ago I asked two JW's at my door about Jesus not being mediator. He insisted that Jesus was mediator to everybody, I asked him to look up when they changed that and come back and talk to me. (He didn't).

  I liked asking them a question like that as I think its possible (although unlikely) they may look up the answer and be forced to think about it. This isn't really working anymore as they just say "look it up on JWdotborg"
  
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  Vanderhoven7

  Hi Jeff,

  Actually before I bless them with doubt, I ask them to tell me how they became Christians, then share my testimony in Christ. That's when I tell them I could not become a Witness.

  Another strategy evangelicals can use is to ask -" How would I benefit by becoming a Witness?" In Christ we have every benefit that they do not possess.... such as eternal life, forgiveness of sin, the righteousness of Christ, acceptance in the beloved, sonship etc.
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  truth_b_known

  JW: Please read this Watchtower publication that proves my religion is right and your religion is wrong. You owe it to yourself to examine your current religion.

  Person-on-the-Street: I will agree if you read my non-Watchtower publication that proves your religion is wrong.

  JW: No thanks. Have a nice day.
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  Biahi

  I was approached by witnesses while I was getting something out of my truck. (I work outside) 2 grown men were passing out memorial tracts door to door, they came over to me, all smiles and offered me an invitation to the memorial. I said thanks but no thanks, they looked quizzical, so I said, “I walked away from this religion 35 years go, not interested in having anything to do with it.” They literally looked scared, ran to their car, and left the territory completely. Lol
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  Phizzy

  I think Van that JW's claim that there religion is Bible Based is true.

  Based only means that is the foundation you are working from, not something you are sticking rigidly to, as in Politics, a movement may be based upon the ideas of Karl Marx and therefore claim to be Marxist, but not stick to what were in fact his ideas close enough for Marxist Historians to agree with that Label.

  That distinction is probably lost upon JW's and they probably think their weird and wonderful interpretations and twisting of Scripture is "the truth" ,which plainly is not so, but, regardless, those interpretations are "based" upon the Bible.

  I have found it pointless and time wasting to actually try to debate Doctrine with JW's, but what I have done with some is reveal that I used to be a JW, and then say quickly, "There are several reasons why I am no longer a JW, a lot disturbed me deep down, surely there must be at least ONE thing that disturbs you about the JW Org ?"

  Usually they come back with " No, I believe we have the Truth", then I say, (maybe) " Well one thing that disturbed and saddened me was the huge hidden Paedophile problem that is in the JW org". You are then away. But if something is more appropriate then do go for that, but rarely will arguing Doctrine work, their minds are shut fast against taking on board what is after all just another interpretation.
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  Vanderhoven7

  Hi Phizzy,

  If Witnesses claim that their religion is entirely Bible-based, as they like to do, I will ask them if false prophecy is Bible-based or if adding to scripture is Bible-based?
  

  I will agree that the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses represents Bible-based speculation. But then, of course, Bible-based becomes a meaningless claim when doctrines turn out to be absolutely unbiblical and obviously wrong. E.g. that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were resurrected in 1925 and could be called in Jerusalem and asked to raise granny in 1926.

  I like your strategy of explaining that you are troubled by the hidden WT pedophile problem. Now that the WTS has officially joined the Australian redress scheme it is hard for Witnesses to deny there is a problem.
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  Phizzy

  That strategy worked with a few, who were surprised to learn about it ! I also had one or two actually honestly answer my question about something they found troubling ! Their honesty surprised me, and of course I was able to explain more upon the subject that troubled them, and where to go, places like JW Facts.com etc to find out more.

  When doing that I quickly explained that the guy who ran the Site asks you to e-mail him if you find any mistakes, which I hoped reassured them as to the honesty of the Site.

  I really do not know if any of this had an effect, but I hope it helped them in some way.