# New Jehovah's Witness proselytizing method? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 3, 2015, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jehovahs-witness-proselytizing-method/711676 "2015-02-03T04:14:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jehovahs-witness-proselytizing-method/711676/121 "2015-02-19T21:45:49Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > First, I rely on the last two verses of the 28th chapter of Matthew, and Acts 1:8, whether those who disagree with me here like it or not. You’re one of the Apostles? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jehovahs-witness-proselytizing-method/711676/122 "2015-02-19T22:55:44Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > **dougie\_monty** , why does believing your religion is the right one mean you have to convince everyone else it’s the right one? You’re part of a religion that believes itself to be the One True Way and that everyone except adherents to the OTW will suffer untold agony in the Hereafter? _Of course_ you’re going to try to convince people. > [@Skywatcher](#): > > You’re one of the Apostles? :dubious: For a particular interpretation, yeah, they pretty much think so. . ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jehovahs-witness-proselytizing-method/711676/123 "2015-02-20T04:55:33Z")
> [@andros](#): > > You’re part of a religion that believes itself to be the One True Way and that everyone except adherents to the OTW will suffer untold agony in the Hereafter? _Of course_ you’re going to try to convince people. > > For a particular interpretation, yeah, they pretty much think so. > . I know that the Eighth Commandment makes it an offense to steal, and a passage in the 12th chapter of Romans exhorts Christians not to ‘return evil for evil.’ I dare you to make some “interpretation” (i.e. non-literal) of that. ---
**Author:** ![Latro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@Latro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latro)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jehovahs-witness-proselytizing-method/711676/124 "2015-02-20T12:59:05Z")
> [@andros](#): > > You’re part of a religion that believes itself to be the One True Way and that everyone except adherents to the OTW will suffer untold agony in the Hereafter? _Of course_ you’re going to try to convince people. > . I don’t think that is correct. The witnesses don’t believe all the adherants of their religion are going to heaven. Only a select few are. Their job is just to bear witness to the greatness of God, no reward. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jehovahs-witness-proselytizing-method/711676/125 "2015-02-20T13:03:49Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Are you sure you don’t mean _kindling_ wood? I find that small children don’t burn well. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jehovahs-witness-proselytizing-method/711676/126 "2015-02-20T16:49:11Z")
> [@Latro](#): > > I don’t think that is correct. > The witnesses don’t believe all the adherants of their religion are going to heaven. > Only a select few are. > Their job is just to bear witness to the greatness of God, no reward. No reward? I refer you to John 10:10. 🙂 And humans were supposed to be on earth in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jehovahs-witness-proselytizing-method/711676/127 "2015-02-20T16:50:26Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I find that small children don’t burn well. Good pun. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Latro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@Latro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latro)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jehovahs-witness-proselytizing-method/711676/128 "2015-02-20T19:32:18Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > No reward? I refer you to John 10:10. 🙂 > And humans were supposed to be on earth in the first place. That sounds pretty much like a confirmation. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jehovahs-witness-proselytizing-method/711676/129 "2015-02-20T19:41:21Z")
> [@Latro](#): > > I don’t think that is correct. > The witnesses don’t believe all the adherants of their religion are going to heaven. > Only a select few are. And most of those are dead. (My great-aunt, in her late 90s, is one of the ones destined for heaven.) One of the saddest stories my mother tells is growing up knowing that there was a heaven, and that while a lot of the congregation would be going there as a part of the 144,000, it was full when she was born so she never would. Imagine burdening a little child with that belief. “Mommy and daddy are going to heaven some day, but you won’t.” ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jehovahs-witness-proselytizing-method/711676/130 "2015-02-20T19:46:16Z")
> [@Latro](#): > > That sounds pretty much like a confirmation. [Shrug] Call it what you like. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jehovahs-witness-proselytizing-method/711676/131 "2015-02-20T19:51:00Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > And most of those are dead. (My great-aunt, in her late 90s, is one of the ones destined for heaven.) One of the saddest stories my mother tells is growing up knowing that there was a heaven, and that while a lot of the congregation would be going there as a part of the 144,000, it was full when she was born so she never would. Imagine burdening a little child with that belief. “Mommy and daddy are going to heaven some day, but you won’t.” While it may have been badly explained to her as a child, you & I know that is not really the entire truth about Witness doctrine. That while “the little flock” have the Heavenly Hope, the “other sheep” have the promise of Paradise Earth, which is not too shabby. Now, I will admit that I don’t know if the JW organization teaches about Visitation between the groups. I’d see no reason to believe that the Celestials can’t stop down & visit the Terrestrials (yeah, that sounds kinda Mormon, I know.) I just saw the d\_m/latro exchange. Eternal Life on Paradise Earth sounds like a pretty cool reward to me. Btw, I’m a Trinitarian Christian who differs with the JWs on A LOT (if I were inclined to their teachings, I’d seek out a Russellite Bible Students group) and despise whatever CYA policy the Org may have in protecting pedophiles (they should learn by how well that worked for the RCC). But I do believe in a fair portrayal of a groups teachings. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jehovahs-witness-proselytizing-method/711676/132 "2015-02-20T19:51:16Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > And most of those are dead. (My great-aunt, in her late 90s, is one of the ones destined for heaven.) One of the saddest stories my mother tells is growing up knowing that there was a heaven, and that while a lot of the congregation would be going there as a part of the 144,000, it was full when she was born so she never would. Imagine burdening a little child with that belief. “Mommy and daddy are going to heaven some day, but you won’t.” I think k the problem here is a mistaken impression of heaven among people of Christendom, especially those who ever read Psalm 115:16. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jehovahs-witness-proselytizing-method/711676/133 "2015-02-20T19:58:17Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > While it may have been badly explained to her as a child, you & I know that is not really the entire truth about Witness doctrine. Well, it probably wasn’t the biggest trauma endured at the hands of that set of people, and I know plenty of other kids traumatized by aspects of more mainstream religions, so yeah, it’s probably not that big a deal. “You get the second-best afterlife, which is still pretty good!” ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jehovahs-witness-proselytizing-method/711676/134 "2015-02-20T20:52:45Z")
Surest antidote to JW proselytizing, tell them you’re a Mormon and start trying to convert them. Scientologist will work equally well if not better. They’ll be out the door before you can say Joseph Smith or L Ron Hubbard! ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jehovahs-witness-proselytizing-method/711676/135 "2015-02-20T20:57:01Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Well, it probably wasn’t the biggest trauma endured at the hands of that set of people, and I know plenty of other kids traumatized by aspects of more mainstream religions, so yeah, it’s probably not that big a deal. “You get the second-best afterlife, which is still pretty good!” “That set of people”… cf. “Them people” (Archie Bunker)! ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jehovahs-witness-proselytizing-method/711676/136 "2015-02-21T00:03:40Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > First, I rely on the last two verses of the 28th chapter of Matthew, and Acts 1:8, whether those who disagree with me here like it or not. Rebuttal - Luke 21:8 Q.E.D. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jehovahs-witness-proselytizing-method/711676/137 "2015-02-21T01:58:58Z")
The point of that verse is that there are imposters. Your assumption is that anyone who says ‘the due time has come’ is an imposter. This does not mean there is not a Genuine Article. When you assume you make an ass of u and me. I guess the only exercise you get is jumping to conclusions. You’re trying to chop down a redwood tree with a razor blade. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jehovahs-witness-proselytizing-method/711676/138 "2015-02-21T02:58:18Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > The point of that verse is that there are imposters. > Your assumption is that anyone who says ‘the due time has come’ is an imposter. > This does not mean there is not a Genuine Article. > When you assume you make an ass of u and me. > I guess the only exercise you get is jumping to conclusions. > You’re trying to chop down a redwood tree with a razor blade. I assume nothing - we’ve [been here before](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=13943616#post13943616) and you couldn’t answer it then - and again [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16746374&postcount=82%5B) You;ve yet to rebut it or come up with any evidence that would show that there was “a genuine article”, how the Wathctower org fills it, or even if Jesus cared. Q.E.D. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jehovahs-witness-proselytizing-method/711676/139 "2015-02-21T03:23:40Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > The point of that verse is that there are imposters. > Your assumption is that anyone who says ‘the due time has come’ is an imposter. > This does not mean there is not a Genuine Article. > When you assume you make an ass of u and me. > I guess the only exercise you get is jumping to conclusions. > You’re trying to chop down a redwood tree with a razor blade. You are letting your frustration or anger take you too close to the realm of personal attacks. Back off. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jehovahs-witness-proselytizing-method/711676/140 "2015-02-21T05:24:18Z")
> [@simster](#): > > You’ve yet to rebut it or come up with any evidence that would show that there was “a genuine article”, how the Wathctower org fills it, or even if Jesus cared. > Q.E.D. Specifically: Refer to Matthew 24:14. I submit that this implies a Genuine Article. (I will take up your other issues in a later thread.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jehovahs-witness-proselytizing-method/711676.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jehovahs-witness-proselytizing-method/711676.md?page=8)