Why Are People Afraid To Talk To Jehovah's Witnesses?

Question

Why is it that people don't like to discuss the Bible with them? Are people afraid that they might be shown something from the Bible that contadicts what they already believe, through their clergy?

Answer 1

Seriously not trying to be sarcastic, but I couldn't help laughing when I read this question.

I'm not scared of them, or intimidated by them, in any way. My mother-in-law is a Witness. I invite them into my home, get them a drink (usually tea), and then we sit in the Family room, and it begins.

Here though, is where the problem comes into play...
I tend to be more knowledgeable than they are about their own faith. When I ask questions, they can't answer them, and I already know the answer, I just want their views on it. I do agree with alot of their beliefs, but I do not agree with all of them.

Anyway, I wish people would be a little more educated in their own beliefs before they try to teach it to others....

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P.S. Are you a Witness? If you are, do you really think that your Elders would agree with this type of discussion?

Answer 2

Some people fear Jehovah's Witnesses out of ignorance, or over some misunderstanding. A few may have had a bad personal experience with an individual who claimed to be a Jehovah's Witness, and prejudicially extended their animus to this entire Christian religion.

However, it seems that the majority of anti-Witness skepticism is motivated by religious intolerance and bigotry. A few may even be motivated against their Christian worship by the unseen 'god of this system of things', Satan the Devil.

(2 Corinthians 4:4) the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers

A common misconception is that Jehovah's Witnesses go from door-to-door because they feel it is their duty to get a householder to "change his mind". In fact, Jehovah's Witnesses would go from door-to-door even if there were no hope that anyone would change their religion, or even if no one would listen to them!

That is because Jesus Christ specifically assigned the house-to-house ministry to the Christian congregation, with no regard for specific results.

(Luke 10:1,2) After these things the Lord designated seventy others and sent them forth by twos in advance of him into every city and place to which he himself was going to come. 2 Then he began to say to them: “The harvest, indeed, is great, but the workers are few. Therefore beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.

Jehovah's Witnesses are trained to direct attention to the bible, and move on when their message is unwanted. Since each congregation in the United States tries to call at every home in its territory at least twice each year, there is strong motivation for them to move on where little interest is shown. Also, the Scriptures help the Witnesses to expect little interest from most:

(2 Timothy 4:3-5) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching ...and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/library/jt/index.htm

Answer 3

People are usually intimidated because they aren't prepared for the debate. If they had a Bible full of sticky notes and an idea of which issues JWs like to discuss, they might feel differently.

Then there is the time commitment. Because the JW view of the world is so peculiar, abetted by their unique "New World Translation" of the Scriptures, it takes a long time to reach the fundamental issues in their arguments. It's a debate doomed by incompatible definitions.

I spent two years with visiting JWs, discussing all sorts of things. When we agreed, it was over trivia. When we disagreed, they had to promise to get back to me with an answer next week. They simply couldn't handle any topic that hadn't been spoonfed them by Watchtower authorities. I don't think that's what Jesus meant by "becoming like little children". It was fruitless. They didn't change my mind and I think I made them nervous.

I felt guilty because they kept giving me books and pamphlets that I know they had to pay for. Eventually they realized I wasn't a prospect and moved on. Now when I answer the door, I tell them not to waste our common time.

Answer 4

Many people would prefer to follow man's teachings rather than God's. When it comes down to actually checking scriptures up to see if what you were raised to believe is actually in the bible - then that's up to each individual.
God gives everyone free choice but if they haven't got the right heart condition, then their heart won't be opened to the truth.

If your house was burning down with you inside - wouldn't you want someone doing their utmost to warn you to get out to save your life?
That's exactly why Jehovah's Witnesses come knocking on your door - not to harass you - just to warn you urgently that Satan's system of things (the world scene as we know it) is going to be destroyed. .... unfortunately, many people will be going down with it if they don't listen.

1 JOHN 2:15-17
PSALM 37:9-11 (a "meek" person is teachable)
REVELATION 18:4

Answer 5

I used to be a Jehovah's Witness, knocked on many doors and I don't recall that people seemed afraid to talk to us. Most simply weren't interested.

However, I'm sure there are a few people out there who might not want to talk to JW's because they aren't familiar enough with the Bible to be able to offer good arguments to support the doctrines they espouse.

Now that I'm no longer a JW, I find that JW's are very much afraid to talk to people who are thoroughly familiar with the history of the Watchtower organization and who have left it. They shut their eyes and stop up their ears so as not to hear anything that as you say "contradicts what they already believe."

Answer 6

I've known many Jehovah's Witnesses, and while I like their style, their missionaries are trained to respond to anything the homeowner's say. Any contradiction, any argument has a conditioned response. There are even those little guidebooks of "what to say if they say this __________"

That's not Bible scholarship. That's programming.

There are some true blue Christians in their midst, but the JWs have many cult-like qualities that detract from their sincerity.

Answer 7

I love discussing the Bible with them. I have them go get their handler and come back and I get out the Greek dictionary and begin to explain why the New World translation is a fraud, beyond the fact that Charles Taze Russell could not even read the Greek alphabet as proven in Congressional hearings, but afterwards they never knock on my door again.

Answer 8

that isn't the way it is. .

Jehovah's Witnesses only want to talk to people who don't know the Bible. .

when someone shows that they know the Bible, the JW's are in a hurry to leave, because they know they have found someone where they can't pull the wool over their (the person's) eyes, someone that can't be dazzled with a lot of [ apparent ] Bible knowledge.

If JW's know the Scriptures so well, and understand them so well, then why do they have to take all kinds of verses out of their context to get them to support the Watchtower teachings?

Answer 9

Because they don't party, they don't celebrate anything or give gifts to each other, and because they are ready to answer all of your questions with quotes from the Bible they know by heart!! the Bible is an impressive book but it does'nt hold all the answers and it is certainly not a manual to tell you how to live.

Answer 10

I don't think most people are afraid, it's just irritating having people peddle their beliefs at your doorstep.

That said, I invited witnesses into my home when they were combing my neighborhood years ago. We had a nice chat. I listened with genuine interest, and they listened as I explained why I didn't think they were correct. Everyone was very respectful and friendly.