Experiences with Jehovah's Witnesses

[DC Al Fine]

Jehovah's Witnesses were in my neighbourhood. I usually talk to the Mormon missionaries who stop by, so I figured I'd talk to them as well. The Mormons were always polite, and willing to debate issues, ask question etc. The JW's on the other hand were a bit pushy and rude.

Another difference I noticed was how the JW's went straight into deeper theological issues even before they knew I was a Christian. The Mormons on the other hand went with a more seeker friend approach. The JW's theology was obviously unorthodox from the beginning; their main thing they wanted to talk about was the fate of the criminal who asked Christ to remember him on the cross. ("Jesus really didn't mean he'd be with him in paradise...")

The JW's got noticeably annoyed when I told them I am a Calvinist. While I always enjoyed talking with the Mormon, the Jehovah's Witnesses visit left a bad taste in my mouth.

Was this experience typical of Jehovah's Witnesses? What have your experiences been?

[barfbag]

I invite them in for debates.

[TJ in Oregon]

I had the same set of JWs come by three times and I think I was the only person in the entire apartment complex who bothered responding. (I suspect they rang every door bell in the box)

They started off asking me if I though God was cruel or mean. They let me answer no and get in about a sentence before going off into some random Bible verse that talked about God's love (not John 3:16 of course since the JWs want to avoid discussing the divinity of Christ). Anyway I continued to talk to them whenever they actually managed to find me around and came to the door (which is difficult since I'm rarely home anymore these days) and they always picked strawmanish topics like that and avoided the meat and potatoes of what they were attempting to sell me.

[Free Speech Enjoyer]

I've never spoken to a JW before, but I have definitely received mail from them, especially shortly after my father passed away.  (Doesn't seem like the kindest thing you could do for someone when they're going through a tragedy, but that's just me.)

To be honest, I never really understood JWs for one simple reason, and maybe someone in this thread can clear it up for me: supposedly, the Bible says exactly how many souls are going to Heaven.  Assuming only believers can enter into Heaven, what is the logic behind converting people if it numerically reduces your own chances of getting there?  Or, is it a contest to see who can get the most converts and then enter into Heaven?

[Robert California]

I had the same set of JWs come by three times and I think I was the only person in the entire apartment complex who bothered responding. (I suspect they rang every door bell in the box)

They started off asking me if I though God was cruel or mean. They let me answer no and get in about a sentence before going off into some random Bible verse that talked about God's love (not John 3:16 of course since the JWs want to avoid discussing the divinity of Christ). Anyway I continued to talk to them whenever they actually managed to find me around and came to the door (which is difficult since I'm rarely home anymore these days) and they always picked strawmanish topics like that and avoided the meat and potatoes of what they were attempting to sell me.

My dad used to love taking on the quasi-Christians and evangelicals whenever they were at the door or the county fair. And he always loved to immediately broach the subject of Christ and His divinity. Ah, good times. (For the evangelicals, who has this booth about "the question no one can answer, and the answer no one can question", the question being whether or not you'll go to heaven, he would always reply in confidence, knowing the perks of his Catholic faith. )

[Zioneer]

Well, I haven't met any myself, but Jehovah's Witnesses always try to convert people in Utah. Even though they don't have much chance, their persistence is admirable (and hilarious).

Mormon missionaries basically treat the JHs as friendly rivals.

[memphis]

I have a coworker who was raised very strictly JW. Once he became an adult, he left the organization, and it has created an enormous rift between him and his parents. He's clearly traumatized from the whole experience. It's sad to see all the problems caused by religion. Completely senseless.

[DC Al Fine]

To be honest, I never really understood JWs for one simple reason, and maybe someone in this thread can clear it up for me: supposedly, the Bible says exactly how many souls are going to Heaven.  Assuming only believers can enter into Heaven, what is the logic behind converting people if it numerically reduces your own chances of getting there?  Or, is it a contest to see who can get the most converts and then enter into Heaven?

This is an oversimplification, but I think the way they teach it now is that the 144 000 are going to be an aristocracy of sorts in heaven. The other people will get to heaven, just without the status.

[bedstuy]

The JW headquarters is in Brooklyn so we have our fair share of them. 

My only experience with Jehovah's Witnesses proselytizing is seeing them at the entrance to the subway holding up their newsletter/magazine.  I don't think aggressively proselytizing is as socially acceptable in Brooklyn as it is in other parts of the country. 

[afleitch]

They are small enough a group in Glasgow that when I name the three people I know who were ostracised by them and are no longer spoken to by their families, they tend to shut up and leave me alone.

[DemPGH]

Generally, religious people don't come around often, but when they do I usually humor them for a few minutes at the door, explain that I'm neither religious nor a believer, and they usually go away. The really obnoxious ones will say something like, "We'll pray for you" or something, usually older, obese women. One of the really excellent coffee shops I frequent does passive ministry - they have their pamphlets and so forth about "Jesus did this or that for you" lying on the counter and pinned to a bulletin board. Obnoxious stuff, like, "Do you know anyone who doesn't go to church? Have you ever considered asking them to go to church with you?" While it doesn't overwhelm you, it is there. Also "Caffeine for the soul" promo stickers and trash like that.

As to the JWs, when I was an undergrad there was an old guy who would stand at a street corner very near the main campus in a fedora and, if it was cold, a long wool coat and scarf. A lot of students would pass by there, and he was there, well, religiously, once a month, I would guess. usually a Friday, as I recall. Interestingly, sometimes he would stand there like a statue and other times he would offer his literature. I don't think he ever spoke. If you spoke to him he would probably speak back, but I never did. One time I got curious and took what he had.

I sifted through it and found myself perplexed. The religion seemed built off negatives (as in, we don't do this, we don't believe that), but what was positively stated was so nebulous and vague that I couldn't tell you what the religion is / was about. I was never curious enough to research it. Not interested.

And their "churches" resemble funeral homes, IMO. Not interested. Don't exactly want to go knock on the door. Lurch might answer. And I don't want to go look in the windows.

In the end, it's another weird religion to throw on the pile with the rest.

[Mopsus]

To be honest, I never really understood JWs for one simple reason, and maybe someone in this thread can clear it up for me: supposedly, the Bible says exactly how many souls are going to Heaven.  Assuming only believers can enter into Heaven, what is the logic behind converting people if it numerically reduces your own chances of getting there?  Or, is it a contest to see who can get the most converts and then enter into Heaven?

This is an oversimplification, but I think the way they teach it now is that the 144 000 are going to be an aristocracy of sorts in heaven. The other people will get to heaven, just without the status.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the remaining faithful will be resurrected in perfect bodies and live out eternity on earth, which will be ruled by Jesus Christ.