Would you listen to them?

Question

I honestly can't believe the things I am hearing from Jehovah's Witnesses. I've been talking to them and find them humble and eager to teach. I was raised a Catholic, have studied many different religions, but none of them compare to Jehovah's Witnesses. I have always found all religions to be hypocritical in some way, but not with the JWs (and trust me, I've been trying to find something wrong w/ them). Every single one of their teachings they back up with the scriptures- it's even kinda annoying! lol. I don't know what made me open my door up to them that day, but I did. Anyways, my question is would u listen to them? Give them a chance? If not, why not?

silverbrich- their basis for 144000 is found in the book of Revelation 14:1. The rest of the faithful ppl will reside on an Earthly paradise. Psalms 37- For the meek ones themselves will possess the earth and reside forever upon it.
I find no mind altering techniques among them and i doubt young children are trained psychologically(as u put it) b/c even alot of the young children can explain basic bible principals.


able_jano- i did plenty of research. their bible is different ONLY in the way that it is in more nodern language- nothing else. give them any version of the bible u want. they'll STILL explain a verse correctly in which is the basis for their beliefs.

dance- not a cult. look up that word. it doesn't realte to Jws. JWs are christian. They're firm believers in jesus christ and acknowledge that he is our savior.

Answer 1

These facts about Jehovah's Witnesses are perhaps relevant to this question. The more one compares this Christian religion with others, the more remarkable it is shown to be.

1. Jehovah's Witnesses have no paid clergy. Yet they remain tightly organized with more than 6.5 million active Jehovah's Witness preachers (about 16 million associate themselves with the religion). Even fulltime preachers and workers at their branch offices are unpaid volunteers.

2. There is no elite class among Jehovah's Witnesses. Even the few 'anointed' among them enjoy no special privileges in their congregations on earth. An anointed person (one of those relative few with a heavenly hope) is not elevated above his fellow congregants in any way, and he may not even qualify for appointment as a simple 'deacon' or elder. There are no titles; EVERYONE is addressed as 'brother' or 'sister'.

3. No person benefits economically from the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. Even the 8 to 20 men who serve on their Governing Body receive simply room, board, medical care, and reimbursement for certain personal expenses according to the exact same provision as every other branch volunteer.

4. About a hundred men have served on Jehovah's Witnesses' Governing Body committee during the past 125 years or so. The vast majority of them have spent the vast majority of their adult lives volunteering for their organization's purposes, and the vast majority have died faithfully and near-pennilessly while still under their legal 'vow of poverty'.

5. Amazingly, Jehovah's Witnesses did not splinter as a sect from some other religion. Instead, a truly tiny but sincere group of bible students studied only the Scriptures to determine the will of God. Thus their religion remains absolutely independent of and not carrying the sins of Christendom's history, yet carries the authority of Christ's teachings.

6. Despite the distortions of anti-Witnesses, throughout their modern history Jehovah's Witnesses have refused to claim divine inspiration or infallibility for their teachings. They have pointed to the bible (and not any particular translation) as the only inspired infallible means of knowing God's thoughts. For over 125 years, their teachings have been presented as merely the results of sincere bible research by imperfect but godly humans.


Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/article_07.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20040601/article_02.htm
http://jw-media.org/people/who.htm
http://jw-media.org/people/statistics.htm

Answer 2

You need to take your time and look at both sides of the story before making any commitments. I urge you to read the information at www.jwfacts.com for a history on the doctrine, false prophecies and changes.

Around 75% of JW children leave, and this is highly destructive to the remainder of their lives, as anyone disfellowshipped are to be shunned by all their friends and family for life. Some of my friends have barely heard from their parents for over 20 years, and are broken hearted that they parents put the regulation of the Watchtower Society above natural love and Christian principles.

In 1878 Russell's followers stood on a bridge waiting to be taken to heaven, and have wrongly predicted the end many times since, such as in 1914 and then 1925. In the early 1990's they warned against having children because the end is so close. Doomsday religions have existed throughout the last 2000 years, and rather than focus on living sucessful lives around God, feed off fear and guilt. It is a negative way to live ones life, rather than the positive way many other Christians live.

Every Christian religion backs up their doctrine by scripture, it all depends on which ones they choose to highlight. You mention paradise earth. The JWs will show a scripture that says the earth remains forever, but avoid the ones that say it will end.

Isaiah 51:6 “Raise YOUR eyes to the heavens themselves, and look at the earth beneath. For the very heavens must be dispersed in fragments just like smoke, and like a garment the earth itself will wear out, and its inhabitants themselves will die like a mere gnat. But as for my salvation, it will prove to be even to time indefinite, and my own righteousness will not be shattered.”

Isaiah 65:17-18 “For here I am creating new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be called to mind, neither will they come up into the heart. 18 But exult, YOU people, and be joyful forever in what I am creating.”

Don't fall for being persuaded by doctrine. A JW will know more than you about Watchtower doctrine because they have trained their whole live to learn how to convert people. It does not make them correct.

Answer 3

No

Maybe you should continue with seeking knowledge in your Catholic belief.

Try reading the Douay Rheims Catholic Bible.

Go online and read up on JW.

Check out what Bible they use, New World Translation...and read up on their magazines ...Watchtower and Awake.

They believe that the wicked will be destroyed at Armageddon, and those who survive will form a new society and live forever in an earthly paradise. Jehovah's Witnesses differ from mainstream Christianity in that they reject doctrines such as the Trinity, eternal torment in hell, the immortality of the soul, and the reward of heavenly life for all who remain faithful to God.

Answer 4

I would but that's probably because I was raised as a Jehovah's Witness. My mom and dad did the same thing. They opened the door. My mom said she didn't know why but she did and she has been one ever since.

I think it's good to give every religion a chance. Every religion is different. I'd say talk to them. If you disagree or don't want them coming to your house anymore. Tell them you aren't interested and have them put you on a "Do Not Call" list and they won't come back. No harm No Foul

Answer 5

Correction about the 144,000. They believe yes that only 144,000 will go to the heavens to help god rule. but they also say whoever studies the bible and goes by god's word will live in paradise which will be here on earth after the "bad" people and satan are destroyed. But to answer the question i would listen because for one i know a couple and theyre really nice people. Not to mention theyre about the only religion i see that actually follow the rules of the bible. and no they did not change the bible from the original they just made it easier to understand.

Answer 6

No I would not, I am also a Catholic. The reason why is because I went to a funeral of a relative who was a JW and all the minister talked about was how the man was not a human being until he became a JW and he said that all the other religions are fake and the JWs are the one true church chosen by God and has been here the longest not that other heathen church The Catholic Church made by the devil. I left because of his preaching I was disgusted and will not have them at my house ever

Answer 7

I have listened to them a number of times and I can honestly say that you are cozying up to a cult. Wrong them and see what happens. They do not have the full capacity to forgive that is the main beef I have with them.
I have spoken to men and women who have been banished from their halls. The vindictiveness from their hearts in the name of Jesus is detrimental to Christianity.
The worst was this summer when I spent an hour in deep discussion with one who had come to my door and with my bible we read the words of Christ and of the prophecies. What discouraged me was his sense of history and the way he was able to make the words of the bible fit his agenda. And talk about passing judgement?
Well I have no respect for this cult, no matter how well they mean.

Answer 8

Even Catholics believe in their God. Check out this Catholic encyclopedia.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08329a.htm

There is also a feature on them in the holocaust museum in Washington D.C. Here's the website.

http://www.ushmm.org/research/library/bibliography/index.php?content=jehovah

Answer 9

There whole religion is based on one mans' supposed meeting with God while he knelt down at a stump in the woods.

Sounds cool huh?

The bible says no man may see God and live. so if he saw God then how did he survive to write their bible. And if you check on the history of their bible it is actually some writings from the book of the dead from Egypt. look it up.

Answer 10

I tried for 8 years to prove them wrong with a diligent study of 7 different translations of the Bible. I am now one of them and find them to be amazingly accurate, loving and genuine. I hope you will continue and also come to the same realization. You will not regret it.