Jehovah’s Witnesses keep their beliefs in separate categories. Think of them as boxes. Each belief is in its own separate box. And this is key: They never compare or contrast boxes. Thus, when beliefs contradict each other, a JW will never notice. If you show them, cognitive dissonance takes place. You might notice this as silence or a frown as they attempt to process this information. This is a good sign.
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Ever wonder what to say to a Jehovah’s Witness? Ever want to engage them in a conversation but they just say, “We are not here to argue”? Why not ask the question they love to be asked? Why not encourage them to do the talking, and just sit back and wait while they hang themselves? Warning: it will take a bit of patience to listen to their spiel first.
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The Watchtower was creating a lot of excitement leading up to the 1970’s, as can be seen from the cover of this Awake! magazine from October 8, 1968.
There are some topics Jehovah’s Witnesses would rather not discuss. One of them is 1975.
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This is the third question in the “Top Ten Questions to Ask Jehovah’s Witnesses” series. This series is based on twelve years of discussions with Jehovah’s Witnesses as well as recommendations from scholars, researchers, and authors. New to this series? Start with Part One and Part Two before continuing.
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Have you ever gotten into a discussion with Jehovah’s Witnesses only to have them deny what you thought they believed? You may have been a subject of “Theocratic War Strategy” without realizing it. When a Jehovah’s Witness feels cornered, they often resort to this to defend what they believe. They feel it is imperative to defend the Watchtower Organization because they have been taught that it is Jehovah God’s Organization.
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Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Really Disagree with the Bible?
If you have ever tried to have a Biblical discussion with a Jehovah’s Witness then I am sure you are aware of the often-endless go-rounds that can occur, otherwise known as the game of Bible ping-pong. One way I have found to avert this is by presenting a Bible verse and asking them how they understand it. I’ve found this method to be one of the simplest ways of engaging with them and have found they are far less likely to become combative. I ask a question, present a scripture, and then end with a follow-up question. This is the first of a series of articles entitled “Scriptures Jehovah’s Witnesses Disagree With”.
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This is part of a series on “The Top Ten Questions to Ask Jehovah’s Witnesses.” This series is based partly on what I have successfully used during the past twelve years in discussions with Jehovah’s Witnesses and partly on what scholars and researchers suggest. Each question will be fully explained for those unfamiliar with Watchtower teachings and who wish to learn more.
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What Is a Cult?
When most people hear the word cult, they picture a group of fanatics living on a remote compound somewhere, waiting for aliens to arrive or stockpiling weapons for the end of the world.
The reality is usually far less obvious.
Most cults don’t look like cults.
They have normal-looking people, normal jobs, normal families, and normal lives. Cult members shop at the same stores, live in the same neighborhoods, and work alongside everyone else. Many cult members are intelligent, sincere, and genuinely believe they are part of something good.
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The Watchtower has claimed to have been “chosen by God” for over one hundred years. This is accepted without question by Jehovah’s Witnesses, who also claim to “only believe what’s in the Bible.” If you ask them, “Where can this be found in the Bible?” you will be met with answers like, “Are you an apostate?” or “Are you interested in learning or are you only here to argue?” or a long host of similar questions. The Watchtower organization so heavily discouraged questions that Jehovah’s Witnesses instinctively know better than to ask them. What happens if they do? The elders may haul them into the back room and “counsel them.” Think of it as a verbal spanking with a warning never to do it again. It could go so far as disfellowshipping, throwing someone out of the organization, and shunning them.
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If you ask a Jehovah’s Witness, ‘How many Gods do you believe in?’, they will answer and say “One. We believe in the One true God, Jehovah.” And by that, they mean the Father. However, it quickly becomes apparent, once you start asking questions, that they actually believe in many gods. They don’t realize this because everything they believe is compartmentalized and they don’t compare and contrast what they believe. This is how they can believe contradictory ideas. When you show them this, it causes cognitive dissonance. Let me explain.
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JW Inform 