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Post by Puzzler on Oct 12, 2009 11:28:57 GMT -5
Why do we run from Jehovah's Witnesses when they come to people's houses? I have seen people straight up run.....LOL!
Why do they come to people's houses? I'm still lost on that one...
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Post by DamieQue™ on Oct 12, 2009 11:41:56 GMT -5
I have seen people do the quiet tip-toe walk up to the door to see who's there to decide whether or not to answer it. And when they decide they aren't going to answer it - they make everyone else be quiet until their gone. LOL
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Post by adisa on Oct 12, 2009 13:07:50 GMT -5
Because I value my privacy at home and don't want to be disturbed by anyone.
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Post by Oldskool on Oct 12, 2009 14:33:58 GMT -5
...and we just don't want to be bothered by non-believers....especially on Sunday morning when you are trying to get ready for church. They know exactly what time to show up.
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Post by LejaOMG on Oct 12, 2009 15:08:49 GMT -5
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Post by QUIET As Kept on Oct 12, 2009 15:14:30 GMT -5
<<~~admittedly not completely versed on the ways of J Dubs, but is completely certain that they ARE believers
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Post by Sapphire on Oct 12, 2009 16:38:49 GMT -5
I have never seen any in my adult life. They used to visit us when we were growing up though.
I would imagine it's a both an issue of privacy (I don't open my door for anyone, folks is crazy these days. If I dont' know you or you ain't UPS/Fedex, leave a message), and an issue of not wanting to hear their beliefs. Meaning, if you're a Roman Catholic or a Baptist, you're already set in your ways. I'm not really versed in the beliefs and practices of the Jehovah's Witnesses, but I would imagine that you believe what you believe and a visit to your doorstep isn't going to change it.
That being said, I do know people who that converted (or at least investigated the JW faith in more detail), but I'm not sure what got them curious. It may have been a personal relationship or a visit.
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Post by adisa on Oct 12, 2009 16:47:11 GMT -5
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Post by LejaOMG on Oct 12, 2009 17:45:47 GMT -5
^^ thanks for sharing that. Very interesting
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Post by adisa on Oct 12, 2009 18:23:03 GMT -5
^^ thanks for sharing that. Very interesting Not a problem. The org (as we call that MB) is my SPOT! You should come join us. |
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Post by Highly Favored on Oct 12, 2009 18:24:29 GMT -5
I don't run from Jehovah's Witnesses. They have come to my house, but stopped when I wouldn't allow them to do all of the talking. In my experience, they don't have much to do with people who are able to defend their faith.
They are actually not wrong for what they are doing. We are encouraged to go into all the world - highways and hedges - to share our faith. Although I don't agree with their doctrine, I'm not mad at them for their methods. I 'm also not mad at those who value their privacy and choose not to entertain them.
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Post by Julie Art on Oct 13, 2009 10:29:49 GMT -5
I'm one of the ones who won't open the door, lol! They will ring my bell twice and then leave a little pamplet.
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Post by DamieQue™ on Oct 13, 2009 11:15:13 GMT -5
I'm one of the ones who won't open the door, lol! They will ring my bell twice and then leave a little pamplet. |
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Post by T-Rex91 on Oct 13, 2009 14:48:09 GMT -5
I don't run for the same reason i don't hang up on telemarketers, everybody's got a job to do. I answer and politely tell them Jesus is my homie and to have a good day. I only curse them if they don't take no for an answer and want to prolong the conversation.
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Post by Julie Art on Oct 14, 2009 11:30:07 GMT -5
I'm one of the ones who won't open the door, lol! They will ring my bell twice and then leave a little pamplet. I've had a plenty. |
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Post by kingdelta on Oct 14, 2009 15:03:20 GMT -5
Jehovah's witnesses do not believe Jesus equal to God as Christian's do. They believe he is a creation of Jehovah and at one point was Michael the arch angel. They do believe he was a perfect man.
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Post by **Dea** on Oct 14, 2009 23:01:20 GMT -5
I talk to anybody that has something appealing to say to me. The last time a Witness came to my door I sat out on the porch and talked with them for about an hour. As a non-denom christian I find it interesting to listen to others views of God.
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Post by 123Diva on Oct 15, 2009 9:34:22 GMT -5
Very interesting thread. I have never run. I just don't normally entertain the discussion. JWs are all over NYC so I grew up with them coming to my door, standing on the street corner, and a couple who were in class with me. Sometimes my mom would open the door just to tell them how wrong she felt their doctrine was, that it was a cult, etc... Usually we didn't open the door tho, as per usual in the hood when dealing with strangers. My dad would read up on some of their materials just to become versed in the thing that other Christians so strongly oppose. Can't be mad for that. (I'm kinda like that now.)
I actually was told off by an eldery JW in my current town a few summers ago. She was mad that I didn't want to hear what she had to say. I was polite. So I ended up having to tell her that I am not a JW. She started yelling at me with wild swinging hand motions (at the bus stop mind you) telling me that I would have to LEARN to be a JW, I don't just become one, it is a privilege, etc...
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Post by LejaOMG on Oct 15, 2009 10:13:05 GMT -5
I actually was told off by an eldery JW...She started yelling at me with wild swinging hand motions (at the bus stop mind you) telling me that I would have to LEARN to be a JW, I don't just become one, it is a privilege, etc... I'm sorry. This made me chuckle. Can you tell more details about this story? What was she trying to tell you? What did you say? Why did you have to tell her that you weren't a JW? (Did she think you were one? Did she seem unstable? lol) |
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Post by 123Diva on Oct 15, 2009 10:55:50 GMT -5
I actually was told off by an eldery JW...She started yelling at me with wild swinging hand motions (at the bus stop mind you) telling me that I would have to LEARN to be a JW, I don't just become one, it is a privilege, etc... I'm sorry. This made me chuckle. Can you tell more details about this story? What was she trying to tell you? What did you say? Why did you have to tell her that you weren't a JW? (Did she think you were one? Did she seem unstable? lol) Ummm, YES, she sure did seem unstable, like she may have tried to attack me at any moment. I felt the need to tell her that I wasn't a JW, because she wouldn't leave me alone. She clearly took it as an offense and had to inform me that it a privilege and that I'd have to learn to become one, because it wasn't my birthright I suppose. I was just trying to tell her that I wasn't interested in hearing what she had to say. I clearly need to go back to straight up ignoring people when I don't want to speak to them. I was just sooo shocked that she carried on the way that she did. I might have said something about me being a Christian, but not believing in JW doctrine, not sure. It became a blur after all that yelling. damn, she didn't have to flip.  |
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Post by Coldfront06 on Oct 15, 2009 14:39:49 GMT -5
Very interesting thread. I have never run. I just don't normally entertain the discussion. JWs are all over NYC so I grew up with them coming to my door, standing on the street corner, and a couple who were in class with me. Sometimes my mom would open the door just to tell them how wrong she felt their doctrine was, that it was a cult, etc... Usually we didn't open the door tho, as per usual in the hood when dealing with strangers. My dad would read up on some of their materials just to become versed in the thing that other Christians so strongly oppose. Can't be mad for that. (I'm kinda like that now.) I actually was told off by an eldery JW in my current town a few summers ago. She was mad that I didn't want to hear what she had to say. I was polite. So I ended up having to tell her that I am not a JW. She started yelling at me with wild swinging hand motions (at the bus stop mind you) telling me that I would have to LEARN to be a JW, I don't just become one, it is a privilege, etc... That sounds like something a BGLO member would say about their org LOL |
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Post by Chal™ on Oct 15, 2009 15:52:34 GMT -5
beat me to it <=== feels my old JW defensive mode coming on. let me go read the rest of this thread before I speak |
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Post by Chal™ on Oct 15, 2009 16:00:13 GMT -5
wow @ Diva. that's .... different. And it mad me chuckle a bit, too.
Let me say it like this. I can understand not wanting to be bothered, but running? Hiding? Is that really necessary? Too me, it seems a bit childish. No offense, but we're all adults here. There is a better way to say "No, thank you. I'm not interested."
Nonbelievers? Understand this. Just because a person isn't a part of your religion, that doesn't make them a nonbeliever. They definitely believe in something else.
KD mentiond that JWs don't think Jesus was/is equal to God. This is true. As a non-JW, I don't believe Jesus is EQUAL to God. Jesus is God's son who was sent here to prepare the way for us, Gods children. Jehovah (that IS his name, ya know) is our Father, and we are brothers and sisters in Christ. How does that equal equality.
Instead of running, one day, just take the time to listen. You'll see that "those people" aren't as crazy and messed up in the head as you originally thought.
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Post by 123Diva on Oct 15, 2009 18:06:13 GMT -5
Chal, while I hear what you are saying, take into consideration the following: 1) Often times, saying "No thank you, I'm not interested" isn't enough. Some JWs want to engage you in the back and forth and then take offense to you disagreeing with the doctrine, when you told them from jump you weren't interested 2) Predicting when Christ was gonna come back and being wrong (obviously) didn't do JWs well at all. Then of course there is that Bible verse that says that no man knows the day nor the hour, so how on earth could JWs or anyone else have predicted this as a message from God??? This turned a bunch of people off, and made the sect as a whole seem rather ummm, well just wrong. I do acknowledge that there are people from other sects of Christianity who have done the same, some very openly and publicly, but these predictions are tied to JW, so it doesn't help the perception. You predict that Christ is coming back (people are selling their earthly possessions going broke and what not and it's being commended), the day comes and goes, and here you are still on earth and no Christ. Can you blame folks for wanting to run in the other direction sometimes?  3) I know that I was taught in church that JWs/Kindom Hall was a cult. (Along with Roman Catholics, Seven Day Adventists, Church of Christ, Masons, etc...) The church I grew up in actually did a series that studied each of these. I mention this as a point concerning the "unbeliever" comment. Not every Christian is gonna consider ALL other "Christians" as "believers". Now of course it can be a whole other thread in and of itself to discuss what exactly a believer is. And it is my opinion that even things that are taught in church should be researched by the individual. Just wanted to point that out. 4) There's also the 144,000 people going to heaven to rule with God thing. I know that it is difficult for many people to understand how this very specific number came about. Anyway, in no way are these comments meant as JW bashing. To each his/her own. I am simply trying to keep it real and offer up a realistic assessment based on my own experiences and observations. Feel free to correct (since I'm no expert on JWs), comment, object, agree, rebuttal, whatever... |
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Post by Highly Favored on Oct 16, 2009 9:42:38 GMT -5
"Let me say it like this. I can understand not wanting to be bothered, but running? Hiding? Is that really necessary? Too me, it seems a bit childish. No offense, but we're all adults here. There is a better way to say 'No, thank you. I'm not interested.'" (Chal)
I agree. It is not necessary to run or hide.
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Post by Chal™ on Oct 16, 2009 10:13:11 GMT -5
Diva, I understand perfectly, and you have every right to your thoughts and opinions and it is far from my place to tell you that you are right or wrong. As you see in my post, I never said that JWs are the correct religion, nor did i say they were wrong. I simply pointed our thatthere are some beliefs that i share with that religion. As far as the cult thing, I don't know about that. Standing on two sides of the denomination fence, I really don't see that to be so.
As for them not taking no for an answer, again, this can not be limited only to JWs. There are aggressive people everywhere in every denomination. Just walk away. You don't have to listen and no one can force you to listen.
As far as the predicted date, yes, it was a major mistake, but that IS NOT of JW origin (thanks, Leja)
A person's choice of religion doesn't make what inside of that Bible any less real. Have you ever read a New World Translation Bible? It says the same thing as all others. The differences is in the certain terminology; Thee and Thou vs You and They. Jehovah instead of God. "In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth; and the Earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep." vs. In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth; Now the Earth was without shape and empty; and darkness covered the watery deep." etc etc etc
As for the 144,000, where is the disagreement. I'm not understanding if you're saying they do or don't believe this. But I know for a fact that, yes, they do. As a matter of fact, there is a book entitles You Can Live Forever In Paradise On Earth that speaks on the "rest of us" who will NOT be ascending to heaven. I do know that MANY other religions teach that there is either Heaven or Hell and make no mention of God's planned paradise here on Earth.
I'm not saying that you are wrong. I don't know that. I just feel like if there was less stress on "organized religion", this wouldn't be an issue.
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Post by Highly Favored on Oct 16, 2009 11:55:03 GMT -5
Well, it all depends on who is doing the organizing. Religion has always been organized, IMO. God is not the author of confusion. I believe that the problem with organized religion as we know it, is God is not the one doing the organizing.
I do think we tend to separate ourselves in the religious world a lot, based on what I call "non-essential" issues. However, I happen to believe in the deity of Christ and, to me, that does not qualify as "non-essential".
My biggest issue, with the Jehovah's Witnesses that I have encountered, is that they want you to listen to their viewpoint, but are not interested in hearing what you have to say about your beliefs. The same way they feel they have been commissioned to reach the world with their beliefs, I happen to feel the same about my beliefs. And if you believe strongly in your teaching, and I believe just as strongly in my teaching, we are unable to have an impact on each other. So, it really ends up just being a power struggle. My time and yours are better spent with people we have an opportunity of influencing. That is why I don't really entertain a lot of religious discussion with people of other faiths.
Now, don't misunderstand me, I can get along with anyone and I will listen to what they have to say, but my mind is already made up about what I believe.
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Post by LejaOMG on Oct 16, 2009 12:12:35 GMT -5
EX-ALT! Well, it all depends on who is doing the organizing. Religion has always been organized, IMO. God is not the author of confusion. I believe that the problem with organized religion as we know it, is God is not the one doing the organizing. I do think we tend to separate ourselves in the religious world a lot, based on what I call "non-essential" issues. However, I happen to believe in the deity of Christ and, to me, that does not qualify as "non-essential". My biggest issue, with the Jehovah's Witnesses that I have encountered, is that they want you to listen to their viewpoint, but are not interested in hearing what you have to say about your beliefs. The same way they feel they have been commissioned to reach the world with their beliefs, I happen to feel the same about my beliefs. And if you believe strongly in your teaching, and I believe just as strongly in my teaching, we are unable to have an impact on each other. So, it really ends up just being a power struggle. My time and yours are better spent with people we have an opportunity of influencing. That is why I don't really entertain a lot of religious discussion with people of other faiths. Now, don't misunderstand me, I can get along with anyone and I will listen to what they have to say, but my mind is already made up about what I believe. |
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Post by Chal™ on Oct 16, 2009 12:56:17 GMT -5
EX-ALT! Well, it all depends on who is doing the organizing. Religion has always been organized, IMO. God is not the author of confusion. I believe that the problem with organized religion as we know it, is God is not the one doing the organizing. I do think we tend to separate ourselves in the religious world a lot, based on what I call "non-essential" issues. However, I happen to believe in the deity of Christ and, to me, that does not qualify as "non-essential". My biggest issue, with the Jehovah's Witnesses that I have encountered, is that they want you to listen to their viewpoint, but are not interested in hearing what you have to say about your beliefs. The same way they feel they have been commissioned to reach the world with their beliefs, I happen to feel the same about my beliefs. And if you believe strongly in your teaching, and I believe just as strongly in my teaching, we are unable to have an impact on each other. So, it really ends up just being a power struggle. My time and yours are better spent with people we have an opportunity of influencing. That is why I don't really entertain a lot of religious discussion with people of other faiths. Now, don't misunderstand me, I can get along with anyone and I will listen to what they have to say, but my mind is already made up about what I believe. DITTO!!! |
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Post by 123Diva on Oct 16, 2009 13:34:54 GMT -5
Diva, I understand perfectly, and you have every right to your thoughts and opinions and it is far from my place to tell you that you are right or wrong. As you see in my post, I never said that JWs are the correct religion, nor did i say they were wrong. I simply pointed our thatthere are some beliefs that i share with that religion. As far as the cult thing, I don't know about that. Standing on two sides of the denomination fence, I really don't see that to be so. As for them not taking no for an answer, again, this can not be limited only to JWs. There are aggressive people everywhere in every denomination. Just walk away. You don't have to listen and no one can force you to listen. As far as the predicted date, yes, it was a major mistake, but that IS NOT of JW origin (thanks, Leja) A person's choice of religion doesn't make what inside of that Bible any less real. Have you ever read a New World Translation Bible? It says the same thing as all others. The differences is in the certain terminology; Thee and Thou vs You and They. Jehovah instead of God. "In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth; and the Earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep." vs. In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth; Now the Earth was without shape and empty; and darkness covered the watery deep." etc etc etc As for the 144,000, where is the disagreement. I'm not understanding if you're saying they do or don't believe this. But I know for a fact that, yes, they do. As a matter of fact, there is a book entitles You Can Live Forever In Paradise On Earth that speaks on the "rest of us" who will NOT be ascending to heaven. I do know that MANY other religions teach that there is either Heaven or Hell and make no mention of God's planned paradise here on Earth. I'm not saying that you are wrong. I don't know that. I just feel like if there was less stress on "organized religion", this wouldn't be an issue. Okay, so there are a bunch of things to tackle from your post. I'll say this: I do not personally "run" or "hide" from Jehovah Witnesses. What I tried to get across is that given certain perceptions, i understand why there are people who do run. I also think there is too much emphasis on "religion" as opposed to one's relationship with God and commitment to a godly walk. I actually attend a non-denominational church. I am undecided as to whether or not I actually believe that JWs are a "cult". I was explaining what I was taught. I don't allow anyone (including pastors) to spoon-feed me information that I take as gospel without digging deeper, researching, reading the Bible on my own, etc... My comment about the 144,000 was that I as well as many people do not understand where that number originated. I realize that it is a JW belief which is why I mentioned it. I was saying that it is confusing and a turn-off to mention such a specific number about who is going to heaven (is it in the Bible???) and not be able to explain where the number came from. I am familiar with the JW belief that the "others" will be in an earthly paradise as you mentioned. Trust me when I say that I scrutinize every other religion that I come across in the same vein if and when the discussion is broached. It is my nature, always has been. There are plenty of things that I was taught in the church I grew attended as a child that I feel are flat out wrong. Anyway, thanks for your response Chal. I genuinely appreciate intelligent, respectful, and informed banter about issues such as these. |
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