jehovas witnesses

[kryptic]

Had a couple of JW's at the door today. One of them, an elderly lady, called a few weeks ago and we had a 'friendly' discusion then about the origins of the universe etc. However, not been scientifically minded, I wasnt entirely to refute what she was saying. Today, however, she (and her friend) started on the old 'evolution is just a theory' argument and the 'scientists think that we evolved from monkeys' argument, both of which I could quickly debunk. However, when I asked if they had ever read any Richard Dawkins material (I have) they asked who Richard Dawkins was??? The mind boggles. Probably the most famous creationist debunker on the planet and they had NEVER heard of him??...they asked if I meant HAWKINS???
No doubt they will be back again in the next week or so (particularly as I am always friendly to these self deluded folk... no need to be hostile towards the deluded).
Has anyone got any good questions that I could ask them (particularly re: evolution/creationism) that might make them think for themselves a little bit rather than reading the rubbish that they have to read in their magazines. (they gave me a magazine today, devoted to creationism)
It doesnt have to be the creation/evolution angle, anything that might make them think a little would be helpful.
(as I have a friend who is of the 'born again' variety, it could be usefull for him as well)
Thanks...

[leanne_1987]

not got any questions u can ask but would love to see what other people think, i can never get rid of them when they come here, tips and questions i could ask would be good! preferably something to put them off coming every week

[Answerprancer]

Just tell them that christianity and all branches of it (including Joboeism) are firmly based upon sexual guilt and taking the letter of the bible literally. That's what I do and that normally sends them packing.

[kryptic]

Thanks for quick reply leanne. I actually dont mind them coming, I enjoy the debate/ conversation with them. Im quite well read in the bible but when they start talking about evolution Im out of my depth.

[kryptic]

agreed AP.
Got to grab a quick bath now but looking foward to any replies left.

[Graham-W]

Doesn't matter what you tell them. Their response will be that it's the work of the Devil and he's doing it to confuse people and turn them from God.
eg. fossilised dinosaur bones were put there by the Devil. They never actually lived.

[kryptic]

//eg. fossilised dinosaur bones were put there by the Devil. They never actually lived.//
Believe that they put that down to carbon 14 dating to be innacurate. Funny how its accurate when dating pieces of Noahs ark allegedly found on mount Ararat.

[kryptic]

fender....except that they dont believe in an eternal pit of fire. Eternal Hell is a fundemental christian belief, not a JW belief.
But still, I take your point. Believe or die at Armaggedon etc...

[ll_billym]

The bottom line is they think that they HAVE thought about it and that they have the answer.

I have browsed through that creation magazine and the things that they trot out as facts are not facts. One thing that stuck out was that they claim that 'one species has never changed into another species via genetic mutation'. To refute this just takes an understanding of what constitutes a 'species', this being, simplistically, groups of organisms whose genetic codes are so similar that if they mated they would produce offspring. If a part of that species is geographically split from the main group then the natural genetic mutations that occur (both random and selected) in the offspring, given enough time, will result in the genetic codes being so different from the original group that if they met one and tried to mate then no offspring would be produced.

That is basic biology and if they can't get that right - and incidentally this has nothing to do with how the original species got there in the first place - then there is no hope of teaching them the beauty and complexity of evolution, and frankly they don't care anyway.

[keyplus90]

I just tell them that I am Muslim and they go away.

[wildwood]

lol at keyplus.

kryptic, All that's good is God's gift. All that's bad is to test us, so if you have a baby that dies of complications or has a syndrome/handicap you must be a terrible person - go figure!!.

You can't reason with someone who is deluded.

[saxy_jag]

My old clarinet teacher had a good one. He's a very dour Scot and a disillusioned Presbyterian to boot, so he knows what he's talking about. He would ask them to clarify that all non-believers would go to hell (or at least, not go to heaven), and whether that applied throughout history. Of course, they'd say that was right. So then he would ask about the souls of those who lived and died in pre-Christian times, who would never have had any concept whatsoever of the accepted notion of 'God' or of good and evil.

They soon left.

[anneasquith]

like all of us, they are entitled to have their own beliefs. i politely say i have my own beliefs and am quite happy thank you. i dont feel the need to discuss anything ,

[kryptic]

// like all of us, they are entitled to have their own beliefs.//
What? Like letting their own BABIES die for want of a blood transfusion?
I dont think so. I really dont.
keyplus....I dont think that they would believe me somehow if I said that I was a muslim, lol.

[Ankou]

i'm not really sure of the purpose of your thread, just appears to be a run of the mill lets have a poke at the jw's for a laugh thread, which whilst deserving in the main, has been done to death.

if you consider richard dawkins as "the most famous creationist debunker on theplanet" then surely you should already have all your debating collateral lined up ready.

[jno]

I would have thought Stephen Hawking was indeed a lot more famous than Richard Dawkins, so I'm with them on this.

[RATTER15]

jno, I think it really depends on your beliefs, I certainly know Richard Dawkins far better the Stephen Hawkins as I prefer to listen and read his material.

unfortunately I really cannot listen to Stephen for very long.

I also really enjoy a chat to JW. Im always amused that they very busy and need to leave after a few minutes chatting. Bless them :-)

[starone]

Having been caught a couple of times I can recognise them by their "look". I have not got the patience to even start an argument with them as they are totally focussed on what they believe and do not want to listen to anything else. So if I have the bad luck to answer the door, having not seen them coming I just say No thank you and shut the door. Rude I know, but I do not even give them a chance to start their spiel. If you do, you will never get away and you could even find them giving you bible readings and selling you the Watchtower.

[Ellipsis]

I always find it very rude when somebody knocks at my door trying to sell me something ...

[McMouse]

I usually ask the JW's if they would like double glazing or their gutters cleared.