What To Do When Jehova's Or Mormons Come To The Door?

[Basilisa Marie]

Love love love talking to Mormon missionaries!!! We have quite a few Mormon friends, and over the summer spent a couple months chatting with the missionaries around once a week for a couple hours. Incredibly fascinating; we learned a lot about what they actually believe (the Catholic apologetic websites which describe their beliefs are not wrong...their theology is VERY different from ours) and we stumped them with a bunch of questions. They try to be all things to all people, though. So when we objected to their allowing the use of artificial contraceptives, they explained their church's position but said, basically, "But what you say makes a lot of sense, great points," as in, "See, you can be a Mormon and still believe some of the things you believe." So....once it started getting nowhere we stopped the conversations.

It was funny, because they had a lot of the adults from the local ward (some of them buddies) come to "monitor" the missionaries to see what we were discussing during our meetings. Not sure why, really, but seriously, it was a lot of fun and I think we all learned a lot about each other.

After our conversations with the missionaries, one of my husband's coworkers who quite shamelessly (in a funny way, not an anger-inducing one) had been trying to get us to convert all of a sudden stopped. So, at the very least we got across the point that we are devout and loyal Catholics.

Anyway, I think conversing with them, respectfully, can be a beneficial thing, provided you're prepared some and know a little bit what you're getting into.

 

 

That might be partly because you need a certain number of meetings before you're basically invited to be baptized.  A good friend of mine found this out the hard way. She thought she was just talking, but apparently it was a little more official than she expected.  That'd be my guess as to why you were being "monitored," haha.  

 

 

 

any links or books for this that you'd recommend?  I don't know anything about the JW's and if there would be a good way to nicely create some doubt, then I'd be interested and would read it.

 

 

Not off the top of my head, but I usually like what Catholic Answers puts out on issues like these, so I'd try there, as a starting point.  I have a fair amount of Mormon friends (going to public high school meant that I bonded with whomever was serious about their religion, even if we were wildly different).  With Jehovah's Witnesses they're almost always experienced adults, so I don't mind doing whatever it takes to make them go away.  But the Mormon missionaries are usually just big kids, so in deference to my friends I try to be nice. :)  But just taking a look at some JW material might give you some ideas, too. It's a weird way of reading the Bible, for sure. 

[Basilisa Marie]

Basically as long as the wandering missionary isn't trying to shove Chick Tracts in my face, I don't mind entertaining conversation. :)   

 

[NotreDame]

One tact I thought I could take would be the one Bishop Sheen used regarding Jesus being the only religious founder to be pre-announced.  For instance, when was Joseph Smith (or any of the mormon beliefs) pre-saged or pre-announced?  Jesus is all over the old testament.  Where was Mr Smith in the old testament or even the new?  What prophecy did he fulfill?   Ultimately, what real credibility does he have?  Even their re-write of the bible is from the KJV, not Greek or Hebrew, so what basis was there for that?

I think I'd like the above approach because you are just asking questions.  that's always a better position to argue from.  I also think this approach would work with Muslims as well.  Anyone have thoughts on this? 

 

If I wanted to hammer some beliefs I could talk about the divinity of Christ (which apparently neither the Mormons or JW's believe.) There's numerous places in the old testament, the gospels, and act/epistles where Jesus says he is God, others say he is God, or no explanation except him being God makes sense.  The problem here is that it would be harder to take the Socratic approach of just asking questions.  And I'm not a good bible-memorizer. 

[cruciatacara]

I love these guys. A few days ago I was walking down the street, just putting my earphones in to listen to some music when I noticed two Mormons passing by. They looked nicer than usual - better shirts and ties or something - not quite so old fashioned. Anyway, I smiled as they walked by and they smiled at me but didn't try to stop me, probably cause they saw that I was putting gin the earphones. I was a bit disappointed because I do have fun chatting with them

 

One guy came to my door (funny that he was alone, come to think of it) and he wanted to talk to me about LDS. We chatted about their version of the Bible and he didn't know lots of things. I think he might have been some new guy to the faith who just wanted to be a missionary because he really didn't know much and seemed very unsure about himself. He visited me twice and both times we had a nice chat and he seemed happy that he learned a lot more about the Bible. Then he never came back.

 

The JWs are a little harder to talk to but I just focus on the fact that we all love Jesus and that I'm happy with my faith. I never try to convert them (just not who I am) - just listen to them and share what I feel but eventually they all give up and accept that I'm not going to change my faith and they stop coming around. But I do love talking to them - it just seems like fun for some reason.

[Kateri89]

I really don't mind JWs talking to me.  I see it as an opportunity for me to evangelize right from my own home!  Of course, I live in my own apartment now and I guess JWs don't believe in evangelizing to people who live in apartments because in the two years I've lived here, they've never shown up.  I've never been approached by Mormons though.  Although one time last year, my friend and I were walking in the city and not once but twice (by different people) were approached by evangelizers from a religion I'd never heard of.  They asked if we ever gave consideration to "Mother God" as well as God the Father because in Genesis 1:26 it says "Then God said, “Let us make humankind^[c] in our image, according to our likeness".  It was weird.  The first time, we politely declined to talk about it but when we were approached again just 10 minutes later, we decided to take advantage of the opportunity and catechized them a bit.  This is the Wikipedia link to the religion they were promoting.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Mission_Society_Church_of_God

[BarbTherese]

I tell them that I am a practising Catholic and thank them very much for calling and then slowly close the door as graciously as possible.  I am fortunate in that I can open my front door and converse with a wire screen security door still in between us and locked (have had one experience where I invited them inside for a drink as it was very hot - they just would not leave until about an hour or so down the line).  They are always very polite, if distaste for Catholicism does show at times.  I did have one experience when I was very ill and it must have been showing, and they (JWs) asked was there anything at all that they could do for me and I really appreciated their very real concern.  I do admire young Mormon missionaries here in Australia for leaving their home country and for missionary purposes and I tell them so.

 

 

 

[NotreDame]

I do admire young Mormon missionaries here in Australia for leaving their home country and for missionary purposes and I tell them so.

 

Yeah, I admire them and am a bit envious.  In two years they learn a language, are sent to a foreign country, get intensive training, then go around the country-side selling their product... and when they come home at night it's to a disciplined environment.  There's no boozing or anything.  Oh... And they don't have to pay for it.

 

It's a very successful training program that matures them quickly (at least in some ways.)  I'd more or less agree with this.

 

If I have kids I'd very much like to send them abroad for a year or two doing something like this at Catholic missionaries.
 

[HisChildForever]

I really don't mind JWs talking to me.  I see it as an opportunity for me to evangelize right from my own home!  Of course, I live in my own apartment now and I guess JWs don't believe in evangelizing to people who live in apartments because in the two years I've lived here, they've never shown up.  I've never been approached by Mormons though.  Although one time last year, my friend and I were walking in the city and not once but twice (by different people) were approached by evangelizers from a religion I'd never heard of.  They asked if we ever gave consideration to "Mother God" as well as God the Father because in Genesis 1:26 it says "Then God said, “Let us make humankind^[c] in our image, according to our likeness".  It was weird.  The first time, we politely declined to talk about it but when we were approached again just 10 minutes later, we decided to take advantage of the opportunity and catechized them a bit.  This is the Wikipedia link to the religion they were promoting.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Mission_Society_Church_of_God

 

Oh goodness. I made a thread about this group quite some time ago. When I was an undergrad student I worked part-time in a mall department store. Occasionally I would go to the food court for lunch on Saturdays and this is when I would be approached by the "Mother of God" group. 2-3 years ago I was shopping in one store and was approached by two of them (hence the birth of the thread I mentioned). I was taken off guard because I'd never been approached in an actual store, just the main body of the mall. I barely acknowledged them and they eventually left. I wanted to inform the store manager but after like 30 seconds of them leaving me they were no where to be found. Made me wonder if they spotted me and followed me in? I wear a decent-sized, but not obnoxious, St. Benedict's crucifix. With this group it makes you a bulls-eye because it means you're receptive to religious chat.

 

Anyway, long story short, I made mention of the group to a co-worker (sorry, jumping back in time -- when I was the department store sales associate) and she knew all about the group because one of her cousins got involved...so in turn she accepted an invite to visit with them one Saturday and it turned into like an 8 hour affair. And she was at their mercy because they offered to drive her. They had a lot of nasty things to say about Catholics (my co-worker was more culturally Catholic) that they'd never say to my face in the mall. She also said that they believe "Mother God" is a Korean woman who leads their church and they often make pilgrimages to worship her. I see though that she passed in 2008, according to Wikipedia -- I believe I worked at that store from 2008-2011 too. I wonder how they explain away her death? I was actually surprised when I found out the church is based in Korea, because of the 3 or 4 encounters I've had with their members, all of them were 18-20 year old white American women.

[Norseman82]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgHxFNFWlZc

Edited January 12, 2014 by Norseman82

[NotreDame]

Regarding the "World Mission Society Church of God" (quite the name, btw) that's pretty sad.  Strange they are korean, the moonies were korean too.  Who'd a thunk that Korea would have two cults make their way over here.

 

On the subject of cults, they are real and anybody could get suckered in.  Scientology is a cult and it has so many huge celebrities.  I even read this article this week about one of the biggest male models (versace, etc.) being in a cult the whole time:

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2537459/Fabio-saved-life-Male-supermodel-reveals-brainwashed-doomsday-cult-20-years-support-romances-biggest-star.html

 

This is a guy that went to Princeton and made Millions...

 

Cults are real, they are in the catholic church too, like it or not.  There will always be that guy/gal who succumbs to the temptation to use charismatic gifts the wrong way and it can surprise who can get sucked in. 

 

It's sad how much damage they do to peoples lives, which is why I felt bad about turning away the JW's in a way.  One was an older guy, but one was a kid.  I'd like to be able to converse with them and at least place some seeds of doubt. 

[Lilllabettt]

I had an LDS roommate for a few months ... she told me God told her in prayer to move to a different part of Boston though, so ... but I go to her church on Saturday's for dance classes. It's fun, people are super nice. When people ask me about LDS I say that I am a person who would rather take the red pill (matrix reference). I mention my investigation into the different religions, and how I noticed that LDS is an affective religion. Whereas Christianity, Judaism and the ancient history of Islam have a rigorous intellectual traditions, LDS does not put a priority on synergy between faith and reason. Rather reality is discovered through an emotional episode or spiritual experience. You read the Book of Mormon and feel a stirring in your heart, for example. Or God tells you in prayer to move to a different part of Boston. That kind of epistemology is not satisfying to me as someone who would always rather take the red pill.

[NotreDame]

I had an LDS roommate for a few months ... she told me God told her in prayer to move to a different part of Boston though, so ... but I go to her church on Saturday's for dance classes. It's fun, people are super nice. When people ask me about LDS I say that I am a person who would rather take the red pill (matrix reference). I mention my investigation into the different religions, and how I noticed that LDS is an affective religion. Whereas Christianity, Judaism and the ancient history of Islam have a rigorous intellectual traditions, LDS does not put a priority on synergy between faith and reason. Rather reality is discovered through an emotional episode or spiritual experience. You read the Book of Mormon and feel a stirring in your heart, for example. Or God tells you in prayer to move to a different part of Boston. That kind of epistemology is not satisfying to me as someone who would always rather take the red pill.

 

I bet they want to go back to dancing after you tell them all that, huh?
 

[Lil Red]

I find it beest NOT to engage them. I simply say, "I'm Catholic. I know why I'm Catholic. I intend to remain Catholic. Thank you for your interest, but I'm not interested." Simple. Honest. Firm.

 

yup. done that with Baptists, JW, Mormons, etc that come to my door. 

[Eilish]

Please, if they're Mormon Missionaries, feed them! The church gives them starvation food allowances, and at age 19 they're still growing.

[ploomf]

Yeah, I admire them and am a bit envious.  In two years they learn a language, are sent to a foreign country, get intensive training, then go around the country-side selling their product... and when they come home at night it's to a disciplined environment.  There's no boozing or anything.  Oh... And they don't have to pay for it.

 

It's a very successful training program that matures them quickly (at least in some ways.)  I'd more or less agree with this.

 

If I have kids I'd very much like to send them abroad for a year or two doing something like this at Catholic missionaries.
 

 

Actually LDS missionaries do pay their own way, although help is available from the ward (local LDS congregation) if they need it. When I was a member I think it was around $400 a month or so to serve, this was almost 10 years ago though so it might have changed. Most LDS families start saving money for their sons missions from the day they are born, much like most people save for college. It is a good experience for many young men and women, and while it is technically completely voluntary (as in, the church won't excommunicate you if you don't go) there is a lot of social pressure on young men to serve. If you are an LDS man and you don't serve a mission, good luck finding a Mormon wife. LDS girls are taught from a very early age that the number one thing to look for in a man is a returned missionary and current temple recommend holder. Everything else is secondary.

Edited January 12, 2014 by ploomf