Ex-Church of Christ Support Board

and they went into their pitch and I challenged them on a some things and they reacted just like someone in the CoC. It was 2 men, they were very nice and I treated them the same way. First I made it clear that we had something in common, so I told them the church I grew up in and their organization both believe that they are the one true church and anyone who doesn't belong to that particular group is lost. The reply was they don't follow what man says, they follow the Bible (they read a verse, I forgot which one).They kept talking as a way to distract me but I went right back to challenging them. They said when the Pope speaks, he doesn't use the Bible, he just speaks. I asked them why does the watchtower print material (tracts,pamphlets, etc) that are from men and are to be considered equal to the Bible. They replied they use scripture, and went to the Bible to quote 2nd timothy 3:16 (classic coc proof text) . 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. They would not respond with a direct answer, but went around it through a Bible verse (just like the coc). I asked them about their term "new light", which is when the high ranking Jehovah's Witness change a rule or a part of their doctrine, they will print it out and say it's new light. They read a verse from Psalms about light, but it was only to get around the subject without dealing with the question directly. I told them I know if someone decides to leave the witness organization they will shun them and consider them lost. They did not deny it, but once again would not comment directly on the subject. It was getting close for me to leave for work so I cut the conversation, and they left. I guess i still have some coc in me because I enjoyed challenging them

JW's do know about the physical kingdom which the COC does not. Some time can be beneficial if you have it. They do have some funny assumptions. They do have a literal translation of the Bible called the New World translation. Do realize the ending of the world is their thing. I often accept their tracts and they move out. It depends on what they say and have time for. They spend alot of time going door to door. One person is the trainee usually. This is true for Mormons too. The last ones got a lecture about mountain meadows massacre. This is the most embarrassing moment in Mormon history. You can find it on web search.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Meadows_massacre
A Mormon militia attacked a wagon train. Brigham Young was implicated. The surviving children were adopted by church members. A scape goat (man) was shot by Mormon firing squad.

The JW's I have encountered over the past few years always seem to be fired up about challenging people with "Do you know the name of God?" It is a silly argument and they are all geeked up on the flow chart of possible responses and talking points. I usually go another path with asking about the 144k...but if you really want to stir it up then go after the trinity stuff, asking about where the Bible says Jesus is an Angel and in fact Michael. Of course their current WT translations have toned down Heb 1:6

Somehow they have not stopped at my house in a god while. I have seen them in the neighborhood, usually on Sundays it seems. But maybe they come when I am gone, but no encounters is a god while. We have some at the office but the only one that tried "reaching me" is long gone.

I always bring up Oholah and Oholabah, the two whore wives of Hosea. No, not really, I just wanted to use the word whore in a post today. There, I did it and feel a lot better now.

Carry on about your business.

I can see B.H. inviting them in for coffee and discussion then when the conversation is really intense, out come the belly dancers.

klp wrote:The JW's I have encountered over the past few years always seem to be fired up about challenging people with "Do you know the name of God?" It is a silly argument and they are all geeked up on the flow chart of possible responses and talking points. I usually go another path with asking about the 144k...but if you really want to stir it up then go after the trinity stuff, asking about where the Bible says Jesus is an Angel and in fact Michael. Of course their current WT translations have toned down Heb 1:6

Interesting point, the Michael/Jesus subject would have been very interesting. Maybe I'll ask next time.

GMan wrote:I can see B.H. inviting them in for coffee and discussion then when the conversation is really intense, out come the belly dancers.

I like belly dancers. They get quite warm after with all the muscle movement. Stand close and their bodies radiate heat. They supply the entertainent. It is an art form and tougher than it looks. Pole dancing can require a great deal of strength as well.

GMan wrote:I can see B.H. inviting them in for coffee and discussion then when the conversation is really intense, out come the belly dancers.

They came over one time and asked if I knew the personal name of God. I said I already knew, it was Jehovah. I then said that if they were the true church then they would tell me who the greatest president of the United States was and not just what the personal name of God is. Even Satan knows god's name so whoop dee doo. When they said they did not know I told them it was Jimmy Carter and unpacked the reasons why and how the election of 1980 was like the election between choosing Jesus and Barrabbas. Their eyes both got red and their faces turned angry and they started cussing me and pissing over themselves. They both shook the dust off their feet and told me to F---- off and that they would never be back. They also told me they would NOT give me any of their literature ! I told them their reaction was only proof of the truth of what I said and they were in the gall of presidential error. I personally was shocked at their ignorance. I mean they did not know that Dwight Eisenhower was raised Jehovah Witness either of all things.

Needless to say, I refuted them that day.

ena wrote:

GMan wrote:I can see B.H. inviting them in for coffee and discussion then when the conversation is really intense, out come the belly dancers.

I like belly dancers. They get quite warm after with all the muscle movement. Stand close and their bodies radiate heat. They supply the entertainent. It is an art form and tougher than it looks. Pole dancing can require a great deal of strength as well.

I wonder if belly dancers really like being belly dancers or they do it because there are no other job opportunities.

I had another run in today at the grocery store. A lady approached me and asked if she could share some literature with me. Had a similar conversation as the one I described above, but In addition to the coc I also lumped them in with Adventists, Mormons, and Christadelphians as being a one true church and the holders of "the truth" and anyone outside of them is lost. Also as KLP mentioned above, I asked about their view of Jesus and Michael. She danced around those things (big surpise ) but that was expected. What I noticed is they will talk about shunning/kicking people out, only if you are using an extreme example such as adultery. I asked if a witness decided they no longer believe in their teachings, is not committing any sin know to the church (adultery, murder etc), and leaves to join a community church, they will be shunned. She went right to giving an example of someone who commits adultery, but I stopped her and reset the question. She said that they do not force anyone to stay, and then took me out into left field with more scriptures and statements in a way to not be trapped into answering the question directly. They talk fast and ask questions (questions asked in a way that only favors them) to keep control of the conversation. Somehow this is fascinating to me, I guess in part because they react just like the coc. I'm going to look more into their loopholes.