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Original poster

I just had a 20 minute discussion on the doorstep with 2 Jehovah witnesses.......

60 replies

ladytophamhatt · 27/02/2008 14:19

and came away feeling quite proud of myself.

Basically, I believe what I believe, I don't fit into any peigeon hole of religion and we discussed this. I was able to answer all of her JV questions/quotes with a proper rational answer from my own "made up" LTH religion.

She thanked me for taking the time to talk to them (and for not shutting the door on them) and tbh it was quite a nice chat

Not sure why I'm telling you this, just thought I owuld.

OP posts:
Platino · 29/02/2008 18:21

I have always wondered that too about the 144,000, but its not the first 144,00 JWs it the chosen ones. apparently. no further comment on that.

Platino · 29/02/2008 18:23

sorry lots of typos.

144,000 are chosen ones. I could be one? I am not JW though so its highly unlikely, but if I were to do as PIL would like I could be one...iykwim.

I don't want to live forever anyway so I am fine with that.

Tommy · 29/02/2008 18:24

they will keep coming back now! I had a long chat with them once when I was on mat leave with DS1 and they kept comng back until I told them that wewere never going to agree and it would be better if they didn't come anymore.

To be honest, the ones I met were nice enough people but they didn't have enough biblical knowledge to back up their claims and didn't know what to say when I challenged them on it

No1ErmaBombeckfan · 29/02/2008 18:27

Friends of ours use to say 'sorry, they didn't witness the accident '

That and big dogs....

peanutbear · 29/02/2008 18:29

Platino - I said does that mean I would never have had children and the little girl said no because you probably wouldnt have been here PMSL

JingleyJen · 29/02/2008 18:30

I talk to them each time as after each visit it seems to leave me frustrated that I forgot to tackle them about x y or z.

As far as I understand it the 14400 will be angels, there are unlimited places for the rest on earth as Heaven is unlimited. (or that is what the lady told me when I asked her)

They happened to come at the time it was in the news about a mother dying because her husband wouldn't authorise a transfusion after a twin birth.

I find them interesting to talk to..

nooka · 29/02/2008 19:00

Our local ones are nice, but they have given up talking to me about religion after a long chat whilst I was loading up a skip in the summer (I am an ex-Catholic aethist, and I studied the Middle East at uni, so quite up for a debate on belief). Now if I bump into them we tend to chat about bringing up children! I can't say that we see eye to eye, but I don't feel the need to pretend I'm not at home anymore!

beeper · 29/02/2008 20:49

The JWs have the blood thing totally wrong.

The prohibitation on blood is that you are not supposed to eat it.

Jews must make sure that all the blood is removed from meat before it can be consumed. This is done by butchering in a Kosher way.

In pagan worship back in the 1st century and before, consuming the blood of animals or worse was part of the worship, and this was considered to be part of Idolatry which is forbidden to all those who profess faith in Jesus Christ.

The main thing about the JWs is that they deny that Jesus was God in human form. They also believe that you can work your own salvation apart from the total reliance on faith in Jesus Christ.

Essentially they are a cult, and they treat you very badly if you join then leave, they will cut you off.

Also the founders of the JW's are proven false prophets, thier own prophecies outlined in thier own magazines have failed to come true.

Be very wary indeed.

bossybritches · 29/02/2008 23:47

ask them about transfusions or masturbation.....

expatinscotland · 29/02/2008 23:49

i either pretend not to speak English or tell them thanks but no thanks and leave it at that.

SlugsNSnails · 01/03/2008 02:25

I seem to recall my dad telling them that he couldn't read, and they arranged to come back at a better time and read through the stuff with him... he arranged it for when he knew he would be out and my mum would be left to handle it

I tend to tell em I am pagan. Sometimes they back away, other times they just seem to like that I believe in summat.

Ambi · 02/03/2008 18:43

I had a long convo with them when I started Mat Leave, and kept bouncing questions back and forth. It was fun the first time, but then they decided I was fair game to return. It was a good convo though about religion in general, and asked them what will happen when the world ends and why there are so many christian sects and why they always fight over what is essentially the same belief, cos I'm genuinely interested.

Ambi · 02/03/2008 18:47

Though when they started to push the books on me, I declined because I wouldn't read them, said with a lovely smile. At my old house they'd turn up regularly, we weren't far from a Kingdom Hall, they'd start the spiel (sp?) Me: I don't believe in God, Bloke: What? Were you hurt as a child? Me: [hmmm] Yes thats right, goodbye.

havalina · 23/03/2008 19:31

Dp opened the door the to them one day god only knows what he said but he was there for awhile, and they have been back every week since. Luckily he was at work, he's far too polite and obsequious for his own bloody good.

catok · 23/03/2008 22:11

I work on the same principle with mormons and JWs - the longer they spend talking to me, the less time they can evangelise to other people. It's fun! My favourite line is "I have personal experience of what Jesus can do" and they usually back off.
For JWs I say I couldn't trust in any religious group which would let my child die for want of blood. Then get big DH to finish the conversation!!

FriedGreenTomatoes · 23/03/2008 22:14

We often find that the JVs are good value for an intellectual chat. As long as both sides respect that the others have different views then it seems that the JVs are just happy to enter into discussion and not have the door slammed on them!

MaryBS · 24/03/2008 12:47

We had the JWs round on Saturday. DH answered the door. When they tried to push a WT on him, he said "no thanks, my wife is religious". They pushed a bit more and he said "no, my wife is VERY religious, she's a Reader at the local church"

But he got rid of them, yet still stayed polite and friendly...

CrackerOfNuts · 24/03/2008 12:49

I chatted with some JW once and then they regularly came back again and again. In the end they once turned up whilst my dad was here and he kindly but firmly asked them to leave me alone from now on.

Miggsie · 24/03/2008 12:51

I know someone who said "but what if you're wrong, I mean, you've completely F*ucked up your life then, haven't you?"
They did not have an answer to that one!

EzrasMummy · 24/03/2008 13:41

Can i just point out that not only 144,000 can be saved. yes they are the chosen ones and will live forever, but so will those with good hearts etc. I am a Christian by the way, but i have weekly meetings with JW's and i am friends with a few too.

I know i could never be one because i would never reject a blood transfusion (have had one before too) and nothing in the world would make me believe that refusing one is the right thing to do.

At the end of the day they are doing what they feel is right. I dont think there is any need to be rude (unless they are rude first or too pushy). A firm "We dont want you to come back" should suffice, and if they dont respect that, THEN by all means, I would be as rude as i like!

They, like everyone else, are all different so i dont think it is nice to think they are all like that.

Just wanted to get that off my chest. Have a nice day!

UniversallyChallenged · 24/03/2008 13:50

So let me get this right -

I have to be a dog owning catholic with a child on my hip who knows lots about science to confuse them yet doesnt speak english?

solo · 24/03/2008 14:10

Dp's mother is a JW, so I looked up a lot of info on the internet so I'd be informed. She never says anything to try to push her views on me, but often reminds me that she doesn't do birthdays, Christmas etc and that I won't be forgotten on their gift day. I actually think she secretly misses getting cards and gifts for her birthday.
JW's also do use blood products to a point, though I can't remember the details that I read. A lot of the elders make the decisions for their flock, which I just can't get my head around.
I've also come to the conclusion that when they come round to the houses recruiting(if that's a phrase I can use), I think if they catch people on a ' low ebb', then they seem better able to convert them to the cause.
I've read WT as I've had friends and colleagues that have been JW's, but it isn't for me. I've been a doner and had a donation of the red stuff and was glad of it. I certainly would not pray whilst watching my Dc's dying for the lack of it.
Live and let live, each to their own me thinks, but leave me alone please!

beaniesteve · 24/03/2008 14:13

I'm an atheist but used to have a woman come over to my house regularly when I eas a late teen.

I invited her in every tiome much to my dad's annoyance. She was a nice woman but could never convert me!

serin · 24/03/2008 21:29

They don't do Easter either!

My 5yr old DS offerred them a Cadbury's mini egg this morning and they politely declined.
Mind you it had been in his sweaty palm for half an hour!!

Our local Kingdom Hall seems to have changed tack and instead of sending out pensioners with grandchildren in tow they are sending very handsome young chappies like the Mormans!!!

purpleduck · 24/03/2008 21:56

I don't mind talking to JW's either - there was one girl that I really quite liked. I asked her why there is such an issue with hypnotherapy. She said she would check, and hasn't been back! ? ?

Then about 2 years ago dh answered the door to some JW's I was upstairs, and the conversation was:

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