Strategies of the Jehovah's Witnesses
There may be no religious organization that engages
in more publishing, proportionately to its membership, than the Watch Tower
Bible and Tract Society (Watch Tower Society or WTS for short)—the publishing
arm of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Each month Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs) distribute
millions of books, magazines, and pamphlets, in dozens of languages. Many
of these are intended for non-Witnesses to try to convert them, but others
are intended for Witnesses themselves.
One of the handbooks used by missionaries in the
field is entitled Reasoning From the Scriptures, which first came
out in 1985. The handbook covers seventy-six topics, ranging from abortion
and ancestor worship, to paradise and philosophy, to women and the world.
Each topic is devoted a few pages, and several questions are devoted to
each topic. The book clearly centers around WTS theology, and this point
is evident in part from the fact that some of the specific subjects treated
in the book are identified as "Not a Bible teaching" (e.g. Apostolic Succession,
Trinity) or "Not a Biblical practice" (e.g. Birthday).
The publication is intended to enable the average
Witness going door-to-door to accomplish two basic purposes. First, the
Reasoning book provides many Scripture references which seemingly
support the WTS’s belief system. Second, the book "arms" the JW with a
variety of responses to statements and questions which are likely to surface
in nearly any typical encounter at the home of a non-Witness.
Some topics clearly have been selected because
they concern beliefs peculiar to Witnesses. Others have been included because
they are held by those of other faiths, mostly of mainline Christian denominations.
This is especially true of Catholic doctrines. (A side note here: The Witnesses
believe that all Christian denominations are demonic in origin, and they
maintain Christianity as a whole went apostate—that is, entirely abandoned
the true faith—starting all the way back in the latter portion of the first
century A.D. From their perspective, this alleged apostasy actually fulfills
predictions in the New Testament that a mass falling-away will occur. The
main problem with this reasoning is that while the New Testament does speak
of an apostasy, it refers to the falling away of large number of believers
near the end times, not to the defection of the Church as an
institution at any time.)
Catholic doctrines discussed include apostolic
succession; baptism as a sacrament bestowing grace (as opposed to a merely
symbolic ordinance); confession; holidays and holy days, such as Christmas,
Easter, and St. Valentine’s Day; the use of images; Marian doctrines; the
Mass; and purgatory. These alone constitute more than a tenth of the book
and—coupled with the fact that the book attempts in a number of cases to
specifically refute Catholic doctrine—give an indication that the Witnesses
see the Catholic Church as a main target.
Reasoning From the Scriptures begins with
two how-to chapters, "Introductions for Use in the Field Ministry" and
"How You Might Respond to Potential Conversation Stoppers." The first of
these gives suggested opening lines. "If the introductions you are now
using seldom open the way for conversations, try some of these suggestions.
When you do so, you will no doubt want to put them in your own words."
Sample Openings
Five openings are given under the heading "Bible/
God." The first reads this way: "Hello. I’m making just a brief call to
share an important message with you. Please note what it says here in the
Bible. (Read Scripture, such as Revelation 21:3-4.) What do you think about
that? Does it sound good to you?"
Notice the hook: "an important message." It works
for the advertising industry; why not in this context? Then come the Bible
verses, followed by questions. The missionaries don’t tell their listener
what to think—at least not at this point. Instead, they elicit his views.
Once he gives them, it’s awkward for him to back out of the conversation.
They can toss out a few more questions, then make their point.
Notice also in this example and in many of the
ones which follow, JWs typically ask prospective converts for their own
opinion or feeling on a theological matter. The advantage this approach
has for JWs is that virtually everyone has some
kind of opinion on the subject matter presented, so this approach practically
guarantees that JWs can successfully engage a person in a dialogue. Once
the dialogue has been established, the JW is then on his way to potentially
making a convert. Fortunately for the JW, the average person fails to realize
that theological or religious truth does not depend on one’s mere opinion
or feeling.
Another opening line under this section is this
one: "We’re encouraging folks to read their Bible. The answers that it
gives to important questions often surprise people. For example: . . .
(Ps. 104:5; or Dan. 2:44; or some other)." Again, here the listener is
told he’ll be let in on a secret. He reads the passages, is asked his opinion,
and then the Witnesses steer the conversation their way.
The leads given under the heading "Employment/
Housing" are more down-to-earth: "We’ve been talking with your neighbors
about what can be done to assure that there will be employment and housing
for everyone. Do you believe that it is reasonable to expect that human
governments will accomplish this? . . . But there is someone who knows
how to solve these problems; that is mankind’s Creator (Is. 65:21-23)."
This sounds rather compelling, doesn’t it? Another
approach is: "We are sharing with our neighbors a thought about good government.
Most people would like to have the kind of government that is free from
corruption, one that provides employment and good housing for everyone.
What kind of government do you think can do all of
that? . . . (Ps. 97:1-2; Is. 65:21-23)."
These last two examples show another typical approach
for Witnesses: they often target universal needs and concerns. Who, for
instance, is not worried about the future? Or about raising their family?
Or about providing for their child? Or living in a world free from pollution,
poverty, and crime? After all, no sane person would deny being concerned
about these issues. So the "opening" for Witnesses often begins by focusing
on these universal concerns, then continues by establishing a certain level
of rapport, and finally turns to conversation which is more specifically
religious or theological in nature.
Other introductions are grouped under headings
such as "Crime/Safety," "Current Events," "Family/Children," "Love/Kindness."
At the end of these introductions are what might be called introduction
continuers, lines to use when missionaries are about to have a door slammed
in their faces.
When many people in the area say, "I have my own
religion," it is recommended the missionaries use this opening: "Good morning.
We are visiting all the families on your block (or, in this area), and
we find that most of them have their own religion. No doubt you do too.
. . . But, regardless of our religion, we are affected by many of the same
problems—high cost of living, crime, illness—is that not so? . . . Do you
feel that there is any real solution to these things? . . . (2 Pet. 3:13;
etc.)."
Taking Cues
When many people say, "I’m busy," this opening
is used: "Hello. We’re visiting everyone in this neighborhood with an important
message. No doubt you are a busy person, so I’ll be brief." If the missionaries
find themselves in a territory that is often worked by other JWs, they
begin this way: "I’m glad to find you at home. We’re making our weekly
visit in the neighborhood, and we have something more to share with you
about the wonderful things that God’s Kingdom will do for mankind."
The second chapter of the Reasoning book
instructs missionaries in how to "respond to potential conversation stoppers."
The reader is told that "not everyone is willing to listen, and we do not
try to force them. But with discernment it is often possible to turn potential
conversation stoppers into opportunities for further discussion. Here are
examples of what some experienced Witnesses have used in their efforts
to search out deserving ones (Matt. 10:11)."
Missionaries are told not to memorize these lines,
but to master them and put them in their own words. The key is sincerity.
If the person who answers the door says, "I’m not interested," the JW is
to follow up with this: "May I ask, Do you mean that you are not interested
in the Bible, or is it religion in general that does not interest you?
I ask that because we have met many who at one time were religious but
no longer go to church because they see much hypocrisy in the churches
(or, they feel that religion is just another money-making business; or,
they do not approve of religion’s involvement in politics; etc.). The Bible
does not approve of such practices either and it provides the only basis
on which we can look to the future with confidence." Six other responses
to the "I’m not interested" line are given.
Keep in mind that the JW has been well-trained
and is well-versed in the "pre-packaged" responses he has been taught.
This fact adds to the appearance of the JW’s credibility and even
his bibical "knowledge." The reality, however, is that a given Witness
has merely become adept at repeating select Bible verses and responses
which he uses time and time again.
"Not Interested in Witnesses"
If the person is more specific still and says,
"I’m not interested in the Jehovah’s Witnesses," the missionaries give
this kind of response: "Many folks tell us that. Have you ever wondered
why people like me volunteer to make these calls even though we know that
the majority of householders may not welcome us? (Give the gist of Matt.
25:31-33, explaining that a separating of people of all nations is taking
place and that their response to the Kingdom message
is an important factor in this. Or state the gist
of Ezekiel 9:1-11, explaining that, on the basis of people’s reaction to
the Kingdom message, everyone is being ‘marked’ either for preservation
through the great tribulation or for destruction by God.)"
Here you see peeping out one of the Witnesses’
peculiar doctrines—they don’t believe in hell. They think the unsaved are
annihilated and simply cease to exist. Only the saved will live eternally.
If the person at the door says, "I have my own religion," he should be
asked, "Would you mind telling me, Does your religion teach that the time
will come when people who love what is right will live on earth forever?
... That is an appealing thought, isn’t it? ... It is right here in
the Bible (Ps. 37:29; Matt. 5:5; Rev. 21:4)."
Notice again the approach: the Witness ultimately
gets to a theological matter ("It is right here in the Bible. . . . ")
by means of an attraction to the emotions or one’s opinions ("That is an
appealing thought, isn’t it?") and not to revealed religious truth.
Also, this belief that the majority of believers
will reside on a paradise Earth is another doctrine peculiar to the Witnesses.
They think the saved will live forever on a regenerated Earth sometime
in the future, after the wicked have been destroyed by
Jehovah God at the Battle of Armageddon. But the "hook" they use is not
peculiar to them.
Like Fundamentalists
Fundamentalists, though their theology is vastly
better than that of the JWs, use a similar technique. On one hand, JWs
argue to the truth of their position by asking, "That is an appealing thought,
isn’t it?" Many people will conclude, "Yes, it is, and therefore it must
be true"—illogical, perhaps, but that’s how many people think.
On the other hand, Fundamentalists will ask, "Wouldn’t
you like an absolute assurance of salvation?" "Who wouldn’t?" is the reply,
and, having given that reply, many people will find themselves accepting
the Fundamentalists’ notion that one can have an absolute assurance of
salvation (a doctrine that arises from their belief that all one needs
to do to be saved is to "accept" Jesus as one’s "personal Lord and Savior").
If the person answering the door says, "I am already
well acquainted with your work" (a polite way of saying, "Get lost"), the
missionaries should say: "I am very glad to hear that. Do you have a close
relative or friend that is a Witness? . . . May I ask, Do you believe what
we teach from the Bible, namely, that we are living in ‘the last days,’
that soon God is going to destroy the wicked, and that this earth will
become a paradise in which people can live forever in perfect health among
neighbors who really love one another?" Notice that once again the Witness
has managed to turn around the conversation with this response and thus
at least "plant seeds" in the mind of the person at the door.
The Reasoning book next provides sample
responses to Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, and Muslims, and then ends this section.
The above examples show how JWs typically work
when they come knocking at your door. It is evident from the Reasoning
book that they are quite prepared for virtually every kind of response
they may face when going door-to-door. This preparation makes them relatively
effective at what they do. But while their "gospel" is false and their
presentation is carefully "pre-packaged," Catholics should at least take
note of the JWs’ willingness to promote what they believe. This is perhaps
one lesson we can learn from them.
NIHIL OBSTAT:
I have concluded that the materials
presented in this work are free of doctrinal or moral errors.
Bernadeane Carr, STL, Censor Librorum, August 10, 2004
IMPRIMATUR:
In accord with 1983 CIC 827
permission to publish this work is hereby granted.
+Robert H. Brom, Bishop of San Diego, August 10, 2004
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