This will be the 3rd time I am asking this question because YA! keeps removing my question....
I had my first encounter with 2 Jehovah's Witnesses. They were 2 nice old ladies. We had a pleasant conversation for 30 mins. The first thing they said was "Did you know that you can live forever?". I had to repeatedly tell them I am an atheist. I was appalled by their faith. And it was not a nice feeling to me.
What has your encounter, if any, been with JW?
2006-12-15 07:47:42 · 23 answers · asked by ? 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
They're very persistant. Once I gave gloves to an old lady who looked really cold.
I am very polite. They have a "something or other" that they hand to me, but when they find out I'm an atheist, they have to get the special booklet for atheists. They ask me if I'll read it and can they come back. I always say yes. Then I read what they give me and mark it up with notes. Then...they never come back. But the next time one shows up, I have a couple of their books all ready to give back to them, with my notes, which should shorten the conversation.
I am never very mean to them because a friend of mine had a JW mom who left JW because of atheists. She said the kindest people she met in her door-to-door travels were atheists and it made her think about why.
2006-12-15 07:59:27 · answer #1 · answered by Black Parade Billie 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This questioner seems confused.
Was it a "pleasant conversation for 30 minutes", or was it "not a nice feeling" after "the first thing they said"?
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 "convert". 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/e/jt/
http://jw-media.org/people/ministry.htm
2006-12-15 08:23:52 · answer #2 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why would you be 'appalled' by their faith if they are only trying to help you... according to them. Whether or not JW's teach truth or false doctrine... they are really passionate about what they do and they are passionate about helping others. I guarantee you that this will not be your last encounter with a religious person b/c it's the innevitable. As far as them tellin you, 'you can lie forever'... well, I think they are trying hard to use a hook to attract people.
2006-12-15 07:56:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Haven't personally encountered one in years. Found a tract at the front door recently claiming that "The end of false religion is near!" (Makes me wonder if JW is about to shut down.) The usual religious visitors are the Mormon kids doing the missionary bit; I am in the process of preparing a list of errors in the BoM to give to the next batch that shows up.
2006-12-15 07:54:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was a supervisor for a woman who was J.W. She lived in an absolutely horrendous marriage. Hubby was meth addicted, physically and emotionally abusive to her and her children, refused to work and lived off her income, would disapper for days without a word, etc. This had gone on for years. She told me that if she stayed faithful to her religion, god would turn this man around and he would be everything she ever wanted. It's now 10 years later. Nothing has changed. She's still waiting for her Jehovah to fix the guy. I've always been astounded by her unwaivering decision to put herself anmd her kids through all this. Others have told me this is rather common in J.W.
2006-12-15 07:57:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My first encounter with a JW was at high school. I met a girl and we started dating. Later, I found out it that she was a JW but could tell that her mother made her go to church and go door-to-door. It wasn't because she wanted to go. I even went to her JW church and to a JW party with her. They asked if I wanted a soda, and I said a Sprite or 7-UP would be nice, so they brought me a glass. When I drank it, however, it was everclear! The suckers were drinking booze at a JW party! But I saved her from the JWs: I got her pregnant and they kicked her out! Later, they kicked her mother out too for taking a blood transfusion when she had cancer. My wife later joined a Christian church and I joined her about 10 years later. Oh yeah, I worked for a JW one time too. He told me to tell subcontractors that wanted pay raises to be happy with their current pay because the end was coming soon! They're just like the rest of us, goofy.
2006-12-15 08:02:50 · answer #6 · answered by Turnhog 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The best thing I ever said to Jehovah's Whiteness people is that my husband and I go to the local church every Sunday, I go to a bible study, and that we bring our two sons to Sunday school and all church events. Even though we still see them going to other houses in our neighborhood, we've never(over 20 years now) had them stop at our house again. Our religious beliefs are our own business and we don't want them to tell us what to believe or if we should believe in anything at all!
2006-12-15 08:02:21 · answer #7 · answered by Sue 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Everybody is trying to convert everybody. Every add on TV, every billboard, every perfume lady at the mall. The problem with JV is that they knock on your door, and, the TV remote doesn't turn them off.
Don't let it get you down, it's not worth it.
Next time, don't offer anything in the way of conversation other than, "I'm not interested, please go away now".
2006-12-15 07:57:29 · answer #8 · answered by vmmhg 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pleasant enough. Just gave me some literature and went on there way.
I think they prefer it when people slam the door in their face. One less person to compete with for a spot in Heaven.
2006-12-15 07:50:22 · answer #9 · answered by hot carl sagan: ninja for hire 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rented to one once. She was a good tenant, payed her rent on time, kept the place up. Worked with another one, he never pushed his religion. They don't come around here. I see a lot of Mormons on the streets here, but I live in an apartment, so they don't come around either.
2006-12-15 08:00:51 · answer #10 · answered by tonks_op 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋