Gawen

This was taken from the Jehovah Witnesses Watchtower Society book "Aid To Bible Understanding" [Published in 1971, pages 1060-1061]:which seems to have a different definition of lying than most of us.
"Lying generally involves saying something is false to a person who is ENTITLED to know the truth..." "While malicious lying is definitely condemned in the Bible, this does not mean that a person is under obligation to divulge trueful information to people who are not entitled to it"
Read more here:
http://www.silentlambs.org/Warfarequotes.htm

At any rate, your upcoming confrontation with JW's may go something like this:
JW/ "Would you like to accept Jesus into you heart?"

"No thanks. He didn't actually exist. Would you like me to show you proof that Jesus didn't exist?" {pause}(This usually produces a torrent of THEIR gospel quotes and references.)

{then continue} "The only sources of information we have about Jesus have been copied, translated, edited, re-edited, forged, interpreted and re-written to fit the author's purposes or prejudices."

JW/ (anti-processing with change of venue) "Do you realize that only true believers will be able to enter Heaven?"

"It's going to be a very lonely place then because according to your Watchtower, 15th.Dec.1968, only 144,000 Jehovah's Witnesses will be allowed in, and the soul of anyone who does not join their organization will be destroyed. That means that nearly 5 million Jehovah's Witnesses while retaining their souls will not enter heaven. So what happens to those 5 million that don't get into heaven?"

The rest is up to you. Just remember that JW's invoke all the standard fallacies that any other cult does.

Gullwind

I once showed one proof that the name Jehovah didn't exist before the twelfth century, and all he said was "okay." That wall is amazing.

David B

I started on the OT atrocities last time they accosted me.

The bit about killing all the men and boys and most of the women, but keeping the young nubile ones in particular.

David B

reddhedd

The reasoning here is that it would be ok to lie to say... a Nazi who wants to kill JWs, and asks you if you know any...you can lie, to save them.

In reality, it is a sneaky way to plant the idea that honesty is relative, and a person can be completely "honest" while not telling the truth...


JW/ (anti-processing with change of venue) "Do you realize that only true believers will be able to enter Heaven?"
<SNIP>
So what happens to those 5 million that don't get into heaven?"
[/QUOTE]

JW's all know and agree that only 144,000 enter heaven. The remainder is the 'great flock' and they stay here on earth, to fulfill Jehovah's original plan to make the earth a worldwide Garden of Eden. The 144,000 "rule as kings and priests over the earth".


Go to a used bookstore, and see if you can find a copy of "Reasoning from the Scriptures". It's the standard book of arguments and persuasive dialogue JW's use. It's not given to people until they are baptized or near it, so you can't just get it like you can most other publications. It's small, about 5"x7" and dark brown, hardback. Great to have handy if the JWs come calling, because you'll know what they're gonna say in advance, and be ready with rebuttals.

It's the only book I kept....

Ubercat

Thanks alot for all the great info and suggestions, folks! My fiancee has already told me not to let them into the house, so whatever talking we do will be outside. Apparently the neighbors are born agains. With a bunch of luck, I'll do the JW's some good. With a shitload of luck, the neighbors will overhear and I'll do them some good as well. I'm dreaming, I know .....

-Ubercat

TheMightyThor

Ubercat. Tell your neighbor that you have some folks who are interested in the gospel. Invite your neighbors over when the Witnesses appear. Pour yourself some wine and enjoy the fireworks

TheMightyThor

Ubercat

Reminds me of my fifteen year old christian self back in Michigan. Some JW's came to the door and my non christian mom saw them off. I then immediately called my Pastor and got his wife instead. She said to call her back if they returned and she'd come straighten them out.

-Ubercat

IonMic

If you want blacklisted procure yourself a Book of Mormon. Most secondhand book stores have them eradily available.

Then when the JW's turn up tell them you have a message to share with them and pull out the book of mormon and offer it to them and watch them run.

Plus you get the added bonus of being blacklisted from having that house proselyted by them for as long as you live there!

Or for real fireworks invite the mormon missionaries around at the same time and ask them to explain why the other is false.

Wayne Delia

I provide the neighborhood a valuable service by engaging and distracting the JW's while the neighbors hang around and overhear the conversation for their general amusement. Pretty much everything Gawen wrote is accurate. The JW's are usually very well dressed, sometimes overdressed in hot black formal wear ("Hot" as in high temperature, not sexually provocative), and often bring a small child who gives off the impression he's just going along with the parents, but would much rather be somewhere else. Using an accompanying child as a hedge against abuse and attack had never occurred to me; in this area of town, the worst form of abuse and attack they encounter is "No, thank you, I'm not interested." What I've noticed is that the kids are often used as a physical manifestation of special pleading with emotional appeal: let's not argue about the basis of the faith in front of the child, because the JW's are repeating stuff which the child believes, and nobody should disappoint or hurt the child's feelings by questioning those beliefs. I generally battle that with a little heart-tugging fallacy of my own. My 11-year-old daughter and I have a routine in which I call her to the door, to meet the JW child if they are close in age, and I introduce Lisa to the JW's. Lisa is unusually sweet, bright, and intelligent (and blonde, thus she has me wrapped around her finger tightly). I briefly brag about her school accomplishments, her sports, and her other activities, before dropping the bomb: Lisa does not believe in God. I ask the JW's what Lisa has done, apart from disbelief, to deserve being thrown into hell for eternity (while Lisa smiles sweetly). Then I admit, with a guilty conscience, that as a young child she was involved in a coverup attempt involving her brother, the sofa, and some chocolate pudding. Lisa rolls her eyes and says "Dad, get over it! That was eight years ago!" I then say to the JW's "I was pretty mad at her then, but I've managed to forgive her. Why can't your God forgive her?" It puts the believed behavior of the JW's God into terms the child they brought along can understand, and a very potent seed is planted in a very fertile mind. I then say that I'm not qualified to be a Christian because of what Jesus required of those who would be followers of His: that a follower must hate his parents, spouse, children, and himself (Luke 14:28), followed by a friendly pat on the back to the JW child, saying "You look like a pretty good kid. If I was your dad, I don't think I could hate you." Ouch. Conversation usually ends within the next minute or two.

WMD

Hawkeye

Brilliant!