Just tell her you are a Catholic.
Yesterday, after Confession, I was walking in downtown. A lady approached me and asked me if I would like an Awake magazine. I replied "No, thank you. I am Catholic". Boy, she immediately stepped away quickly and said. "Okay, thank you".
This isn't the first time that has happened. In fact, my brother's Southern Baptist father-in-law, will tell JWs he is a Catholic, so they will leave him alone.
Does that happen to anyone else?
I heard that if you show them your scapular that will get them to leave too. ;)
ReplyDeleteOf course last time they came to the door I just took their pamphlet and blogged about it. Doing so seemed to bug some JWs though because they started commenting on the post (and nobody ever comments on my posts LOL).
I used to have a pet JW who would knock on my door every so often - she knew I was Catholic and never tried to convert me, but she still wanted to have "discussions" about the Bible. The great thing was that whenever another JW would come to the door (which happened at least once a month where I lived before), I would give her name and say she was a regular visitor, and that made them go away soon enough.
ReplyDeleteLOL Sunny! I will have to try that.
ReplyDeleteNewhouse: I used to tell them my cousin was one of the higher ups in the Watchtower (which unfortunately he is) and they would leave me alone.
I think I will carry Holy cards with me so when they offer me one of theirs, I may just pull one of mine out.
I don't know...sometimes it is more of a challenge to some of them. I had some JW's (or Mormons?) come to my door this past winter. They had to know I was Catholic by the statue of the BVM in my garden, right?
ReplyDeleteWhen they told me that they were bringing the good news that the Gospel had been restored, I said, "Really? Was it ever broken? I wasn't aware of that."
When they went on to explain that, sure, there was a great apostacy, I said, "So when Jesus said He would be with us always, He wasn't telling the truth?"
They finally gave up, but I prayed hard for them when they left.
I think that if you don't know how to talk to these people based on lack of knowledge about their faith then it is fine to brush them off with "I'm Catholic". But if we have studied then I think it would be appropriate and indeed our calling to witness to these sheep which are lost. Of course prayer is the ultimate tool of conversion, we must let the Holy Spirit work through us, and witnessing to the Faith is such a good thing! God Bless!
ReplyDeleteHuh. Every JW I've ever talked too all USED to be Catholic. Every single one. I thought they were taught to say that in their classes.
ReplyDeleteI always take their literature, though, figure it's better off with me than with someone who might actually read and believe it!
Once an old man who was a JW approached me at a hotel and saw my necklace (a cross) and gave me a lecture saying it was just like if I had a friend commit suicide, would I wear a image of a gun around my neck? It was very bizarre.
I get rid of Mormons by confronting them on their church's abortion policy. They are always caught off guard.
Never thought of that tactic. Though I enjoy my conversations with JW!
ReplyDeleteMilehimama,
ReplyDeleteThat's funny! The one time I rememeber talking to JWs the one said she used to be Catholic.
Chris: Maybe so...
ReplyDeletePB: I wasn't brushing her off. I was well prepared to discuss the truth of the Catholic faith but she walked away.
I agree to just say it as a way to get rid of them is the easy way out when it could in fact be a chance to evangelize. In the late 80's I read a book by a Catholic who in essence was telling her readers that if you are not well prepared apologetically, don't even attempt to evangelize a JW because they have been brainwashed.
Mama: What do you mean Mormon's stance on abortion? I thought Mormon's were prolife.
ReplyDeleteTito, when I first moved here I didn't know a soul buy my husband. I would welcome JWs into my home just to have a friendly person to speak with.
Sorry Esther, I didn't mean to say you were "brushing her off". I was just saying this in general for anyone. It's interesting that so many people are open to discussing religion but---NOT CATHOLIC. I've heard it called the ABCs (Anything But Catholic). And I agree with you that it is good not to have many discussions with JWs/Mormons unless you know where they are coming from and are able to defend the truth. Otherwise, one could become easily confused and perhaps led astray. I think I have before (it's hard to remember because the Mormons have come so many times.) just told them plain out "I'm Catholic and not interested in that." Though on the other hand when I was around 12 I had a very lenghty debate with a couple of Mormon missionaries (interesting a 12 year old could hold them for so long :-)). I wish I could witness to them better, though prayer is the ultimate source of conversion.
ReplyDeletePB, sorry, I didn't get an email that you had replied. I admire you doing that at such an early age! BTW, I have an uncle who likes to discuss religion with different people and once he engaged a couple of young Mormon missionaries. Well, before he knew it they were back so that could schedule a date for my uncle's baptism into the Mormon religion. ha ha.
ReplyDeleteI have a little sign by my door that says I am Catholic and do not require literature of other religions. It is in Spanish and English, lol. We can see the top of the Mormon temple from our backyard, so we used to get a lot of visitors. There were piles and piles of the Watchtower on our doorstep when we moved in!!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I guess, perhaps I am brushing them off. Once in awhile they come to my door and I just point kindly to the sign and tell them to have a nice day.
Funny thing is a very dear friend of mine is a Mormon. I don't know much about their faith, in fact I had really wanted to see the thing they had on PBS about them, but I only caught small parts of it. Anyway, despite the BIG differences there are some things we have in common. I really look to my Mormon friend with respect. She is an awesome person and mom. They value family and modesty among other things.
So, who knows. Maybe I should invite them in and figure out what it is they really believe, lol!
NO! I am not going to convert!!!!! LOL
From what I understand, Mormon's and Jehovah's Witnesses have little in common regarding their beliefs. And I would like to know how Jehovah's Witnesses have been brainwashed. I've never read anything that they teach that isn't straight from the Bible. Please explain.
ReplyDeleteA., it is my understanding that the scriptural wording has been altered. Check out this site for more info. http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2002/0211fea6.asp
ReplyDelete