It's Christmas Eve and I shut the door on a Jehovah's Witness

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   Disappearingheadposted 13 years ago

   Actually two of them as they always come in pairs.
   
   Just what are they trying to achieve here? Go round telling everyone that Jesus was not really the son of God and we can't celebrate His birthday because birthday parties are evil? OK so this time of year is pretty joyless for them all (their choice of course) but why try to suck the joy out of everyone else's Christmas?
   
   They tried to start a conversation, but when I saw they came armed with the Watchtower, I said no thankyou and shut the door. Some here on Hubpages might call me a Christian and say I should have stopped to share the love of Jesus. But what's the point, they've been brainwashed? I'm just one more to fuel the fires of hell. I've got kids mucking about too and so I really can't be arsed. Besides which, they've got a well rehearsed sales patter, and I've not googled any "Jehovah's Witness for Dummies -Counter arguments" recently.
   
   I can't win anyway because now the fundies are going to tell me I let Jesus down, that the JWs are going to hell and their blood is on my hands.

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      Cassie Smithposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I think you should have referred them to the Jews.  They can probably keep each other company and occupied at this time of year.

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         ReuVeraposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         This comment shows that you have no idea what Judaism is about. Jews would close their doors to JW even sooner than you. Also, JW are polite and not persistent. If you tell them that you are not interested (or better, I tell them that I am Jewish) they just leave, they don't try to tell you that you are blinded.

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      calpol25posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      This thread has inspired me
      
      http://calpol25.hubpages.com/hub/How-To … -Witnesses

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      habeeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I'll see your Christmas Eve visit and raise you one: They came to my house one year at 12 noon on Thanksgiving Day, and we had lots of cars parked in our yard, making it obvious that we had guests for dinner.

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         Disappearingheadposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Ah they saw the cars and thought "bonus points! We can leapfrog our elders onto the 144,000-up list".

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            habeeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            

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      Titen-Sxullposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      And the atheists are going to tell you that a Christian arguing with a Jehovah's Witness is reminiscent of people having an argument about whether the Great Unicorn of Heaven has a pink or purple coat of fur
      
      The point is that from someone else's perspective YOU might as well be the brainwashed one. I have people tell me that I'm an atheist because I was brainwashed by Richard Dawkins, when I became an atheist without ever having heard of Richard Dawkins and have never read any of the man's books (even to this day). Throwing around the "you're just brainwashed" thing is silly for adults to do, after all most adult believers have at some point had a 'crisis of faith' right? Most believers doubt and plenty of atheists hold doubts and don't express any certainties about the non-existence of God.
      
      Now to be fair the Jehovah's witnesses is a bit more cult-like than most more mainstream religions but I don't think just calling them brainwashed and walking away is the best thing to do. Not that I blame you for turning them away. Hell it's Christmas Eve, you have every right to being left alone on a holiday or any day in your own home; but don't count all JWs as just being brainwashed lost causes.
      
      Where would the world be if everyone with a different perspective or view just left others as lost causes who are too brainwashed to bother with? I see this happen with all sorts of views, from politics to climate change, people accuse the other side of being brainwashed or being "sheeple" and then any rational intelligent discussion on the issue becomes impossible. Even in the case of people too emotionally invested in their viewpoints to currently over turn them debate and discussion can still serve a purpose in eventually loosening the bonds that those viewpoints have on them.
      
      Lastly, Happy Holidays DH and may your new year be Jehovah's Witness free

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         Disappearingheadposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         TS I used the term "brainwashed" out exasperation. It's Christmas Eve, they know that, so are on a mission.
         
         You only need to do a few google searches, look up a few sites, and you'd see they meet the qualifications for a cult: exclusivity, tight central control, a making a social pariah of those who question the authority or disobey, a long list of rules and things that are forbidden, etc etc. "Brainwashed" may be a little harsh, "locked in, trapped, forbidden to think for themselves" may be better.

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      A Troubled Manposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      The exact same thing Christians want to achieve when they evangelize the Gospel: Conversions.
      
      
      
      The very same reason Christians want to suck the joy out of everyone else life when they tell us we will burn for an eternity: Brainwashed.
      
      
      
      Yes, THEY'VE been brainwashed.

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   calpol25posted 13 years ago

   I know what you mean, sometimes they can be the worst for extremism and spreading hatred of any one. Arent they the ones that cant have blood transfusions?
   
   

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      habeeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Yes. A friend of mine died of leukemia at the age of 31, leaving behind 2 small children. Her parents were devout JWs, and they wouldn't allow her to have blood transfusions. That was the worst funeral I've ever attended - 5 minutes about Kim, with 2 hours about why we should all be JWs.

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         EmpressFelicityposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         

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         Disappearingheadposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         :mad

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   calpol25posted 13 years ago

   

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      waynetposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hahahahaha

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   Emile Rposted 13 years ago

   Yep. They are party poopers when it comes to a celebration. I used to have an arsenal of rebuttal. My favorite was what the word Jehovah literally means if translated syllable by syllable. It made their blood boil when they couldn't refute it.
   
   But, they are simply delicate people who are honestly striving to do what they believe is right. No matter how misguided we think they are. I try to remember that, but I admit it is hard when they start up with the  childish bs.

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   calpol25posted 13 years ago

   How to get rid of a Jehovas witness in 3 minutes lol
   
   Best thing to do when they knock on the door is as follows:
   
   1 take a carving knife and cover it in tomato ketchup
   
   2 Answer the door
   
   3 Get some one to scream in the background
   
   4 When the witness talks to you, turn and tell the person screaming "Get back on that alter, I need to sacrifice you for the future happiness of my life"
   
   5 Witness runs away
   
   6 Close door.
   
   7 Celebrate....
   
   Works every time

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      habeeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      This works for us:
      
      
      
      
      Seriously. When they come up on the front porch and hear a thundering bark, and they glance through the picture window and see from whence the bark cometh, they can't leave quickly enough - without knocking or ringing the bell!

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   EmpressFelicityposted 13 years ago

   I find that not answering the door to them works a treat for me!

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   aguasilverposted 13 years ago

   Look manically at them and say, "Come in, we are just about to start the coven meeting for the mid winter solecist, drop your clothes over there and grab a cup of blood"
   
   OK, it's not Christian either, but hey, let's have some fun!
   
   

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   Michele Travisposted 13 years ago

   Then you have never listened to them.
   They do not believe in Hell.
   They are only trying obey Jesus when he told his Apostles to spread the word to all
   the lands.
   They are not a cult. They don't make the little girls marry the leader of a cult.
   They go to other countries and and do more then just try to make people listen to them.  They feed them, help build homes.  They did that after hurricain Katrina.
   They do not judge people because they believe only God can judge.
   They were one of the people Hitler killed because many of them spoke out against him.
   I could go on and on but will stop here.

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      Cassie Smithposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      They're still a pest.

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      calpol25posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      They did suffer under the Nazis I wrote a hub about it
      
      Its just awful when your watching the tele and it gets to a good bit and "KNOCK KNOCK" on the door
      
      

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         Michele Travisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I do understand about that.  But, they will go away when you ask them to.

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            Michele Travisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            And thank you for writting a hub about it.  I am going to read it.  By the way, I am not a Jehovah' s Witness.  But, I do study with them.

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               Michele Travisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Oh,  one more thing,  has nothing to do with them,  I am going out to ride horses in a few minutes.  Yay!!!

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                  mom101posted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  My aunt was a jw for several years. Very very dedicated. It came about when she lost her husband to a car crash and they showed her compassion and care.
                  
                  I agree with some of what they do, as the members, the ones I know, are good people in search of a relationship with the Creator. That I admire in anyone.
                  
                  Their belief is one that I have a problem with as it does not match up to His Word. Here are just a few examples.
                  
                  They do not believe in Hell. Be it literal or physical, there is a Hell. Denying that fact is dangerous.
                  
                  They, like Habee said earlier, do not believe in accepting blood transfusions, even in life threatening cases.  When in reality, Jesus came  as a replacement for those laws, He became the sacrifice. Same applies for the dietary laws. We are no longer under those laws.
                  
                  The one that upsets me most is they are forbidden to interact with people of their faith even immediate family members.  Doing so would place them in danger of becoming disfellowshipped. This is not of the Creator as He is Love. Throughout the Bible, this message is loudly proclaimed.
                  
                  They believe only their elect will go to Heaven. This in its self makes the Bible a total lie.
                  
                  My family live in Tn, and my aunt, lived in Ar. She would come in once or twice a year to spend time with us. She was a beautiful person, inside out. By her faith, she was not allowed to stay with family members while she was here and had to rent an apartment for the length of her visit. Why? Because of the fact we were not jws and she risked the possibility of us talking her out of her faith. I can assure you, when she came to visit, we had fun with her. We built doll furniture, made corn shuck dolls and so so much more.
                  
                  The day she die, she called and she and I were talking, she told me, baby girl, I gotta go, armageddon is on me. I didn't know what that meant, still don't but I know enough to know she sounded scared.
                  
                  The people themselves are more or less honest sincere folks who by a society have been misguided.
                  
                  Some may think they aint in it for the money. I read somewhere that they have recently filed for 501c 3 status which goes against one of their own teachings. They teach that they can't be involved with the government, and they are do not want to be called a church.

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               lobobrandonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               I have to learn a bit more about them... Hmm

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               Disappearingheadposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               I didn't think they we allowed to study in the absence of the watchtower let alone with anyone who wasn't a JW.

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      Disappearingheadposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      But they are not permitted to:
      - study the bible by themselves or without the watchtower to interpret it for them
      - question their leadership
      - study for higher university degrees because Jesus is coming back soon and time should be spent on door knocking.
      - receive or give blood (I've never had an explanation of why)
      - celebrate birthdays
      - gamble
      - play chess
      - socialise with anyone who is not a JW
      
      They must:
      - fill out a monthly report on their door knocking statistics.
      
      Oh and everyone else in the world is sucking satan's toes unawares.

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         Jeff Berndtposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I don't know why the blood thing either, but my guess is that there's no way of telling where that blood has been. It might be unclean in the eyes of the Lord or something.
         
         They're not allowed to play chess!? I never heard that rule before. Why on Earth not?

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      Emile Rposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I have listened to them and they are a cult. Nothing wrong with that, for them. It is difficult on children forced to believe that at a young age. I'm afraid no one would believe, if they didn't have such a well developed sales pitch. I've watched them suck the old and the grieving in. It's a calculated move and I would advocate making it illegal except for the fact that it would go against my resolve to support freedom of religion at every turn.

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   waynetposted 13 years ago

   We had some come on Boxing Day and I said I was carving me up a body from the freezer and sacrificing another later that day, they left swiftly and have not returned as yet! We'll see this year!

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      calpol25posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      hahahahahah!!! I do that too never seen them again and I do so love visitors

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    amymarie_5posted 13 years ago

    My aunt is a Jehovas Witness.  She used to always come to our house because everyone else would slam the door in her face. I always felt sorry for my cousin.  She was always dragged along.  She converted to Lutheran after she turned 18.

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    habeeposted 13 years ago

    Actually, I have talked to them before - or tried to. I told them I'd listen to them about JW if they'd listen to me about being Presbyterian. They weren't interested.

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    Jeff Berndtposted 13 years ago

    I've had the JWs come to my door. I listened to their interpretations of scripture, and even went to some Bible studies with them. They're nice folks; or at least, the ones I met and spoke with at length are nice folks.
    
    I'm not going to join the church, as I recognize earthly authorities elected by the people, and enjoy celebrating stuff like Christmas, Halloween, and Independence Day.
    
    Sometimes they stop by when I'm in the middle of something, and I tell them, "Sorry, now isn't a good time to talk," and they say "Okay, we'll come back another time," and they go away. Simple.
    
    They aren't monsters. They're just trying to do me a good turn, as they see it.
    
    Same with the pairs of Mormon missionaries that stop by every so often. By the way, the last time a couple of Mormon guys knocked on my door, my buddy Joe Smith (no foolin'!) was having coffee with me. "It's funny you stopped by. I was just talking with Joseph Smith." They thought I was having them on, but I called Joe over to the door and introduced him. We shared a laugh and they left.
    
    The only time a missionary ever talked down to me or tried to guilt me into joining his church was when I was in Dublin  trying to find work. He offered to show me around the city and introduce me to some folks who might need someone to work for them, but only if I came to his church. I don't have time for that kind of missionary.

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       habeeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       I agree that most JWs are good people. The experience I had with my friend's death, however, left a bad taste in my mouth. Also, we've had some very pushy JWs come to our door - before we had 2 Great Danes.

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    wildernessposted 13 years ago

    I have a cousin that is a JW - really nice guy and we used to have a lot of fun with him and his family.  Even had a big family reunion at his place one year.
    
    But then he got deeper and deeper into the whole thing and just gradually shut out his extended family - I don't know if he really associates with anyone but his mother any more.  I haven't seen or heard from him in years now - quite sad.

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    Starmom41posted 13 years ago

    Well, I had a distant relative whose in-laws became Jehovah's Witnesses, and from what I heard on the topic you brought up it's only a matter of being kinda extreme with the "have no other Gods before me" commandment--  that's why they don't observe holidays that celebrate famous people, don't observe birthdays, etc.

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       lobobrandonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Ok I'm going to google about them now!! I want to learn more

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    IzzyMposted 13 years ago

    just relating to relatively recent events, when I had the bar we used to have this woman JW as a regular, and she was lovely. She only ever bought one glass of red wine but she used to come in at the same time every day, and was so friendly and chatty.
    She knew at that time that one of my adult daughters was giving us a little bit of trouble, and one day left us a watchtower help book.
    I read it, and was frankly shocked at their advice, which sadly I can't remember now but which will do nothing to help families in crisis.
    I would have liked to have debated the issues with her, but unfortunately one of my staff smeared the outside cover of the book with blood/red wine, before it was returned to her.
    I knew nothing about this, but missed her presence until one day I bumped into her in the street and she told me the cover of the booklet had been stained with blood and that she would never again return to my bar.
    When I approached the staff, they giggled.
    That bar was doomed to failure with such idiots working for me, and some of them were my own.
    We don't need to agree with other people, but the customer is always right.

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    mega1posted 13 years ago

    I guess just about everyone I know has a similar story about being rude to JWs and after feeling bad - There were a couple who came to my door almost every day for awhile because I had been so polite, standing there talking with them, untl one day I went to the door nude!  No lie!  that took care of that - they high-tailed it out of there!   

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       jandeeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       I am an Atheist. My best,best friends are J.W. They are terrific,we go to each others houses for meals ,we all drink,we argue until the early hours,we 'attempt to learn languages at the local college. I often tell them they are being used! Taken! I tell them they are too intelligent for the rubbish they say they are committed to.,
       jandee-p.s my husband almost faints at my outspoken comments !

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    Muldaniaposted 13 years ago

    I was once a Jehovah's Witness, but not a very good one, as I secretly enjoyed Christmas.  Somehow, I just couldn't not put up a tree, as I love everything that Christmas brings.  However, I still open the door the them, as I believe they are good people and really do believe they are doing good by bringing their message to people.  It is just necessary to politely tell Jehovah's Witnesses that you do not share their beliefs and have no intention of being converted.

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    paradigmsearchposted 13 years ago

    One of my neighbors across the street is a JW. I'm going to ask her about the chess and some other things said here.
    
    And then I'm going to direct her to this thread.

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       rbe0posted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Merry christmas to you too.

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          paradigmsearchposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          

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    davidkalugeposted 13 years ago

    JW is not the problem because we are all involved. We are the problem and even when people like I try to bring unity we are condemned and the various religious group use doctrines and scriptures to support their claim. That is why I write hubs against such claims. JW think, just like all other Christains, that they know the truth. I have as friends and they tell me that others dn't understand the bible moreover they have their own bible.But we cnt be completely sure that Jesus was born on 25th we only beli

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    Druid Dudeposted 13 years ago

    Next thing you know, Jacob Marley's ghost (Bob Marley's dad) will be rattlin' his chains and callin' up the spirits of Christmases past, present and future. Your parents must be so proud!

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