The Catholic Answer to the Jehovah's Witnesses: A Challenge Accepted [Paperback]

Louise D'Angelo (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 177 pages
• Publisher: Maryheart Pub Co (June 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 187888610X
• ISBN-13: 978-1878886101
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,936,427 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Former member of Jehovah's Witnesses re-enters the Catholic Chruch, February 4, 2008

By 

philipshelt "philipshelt" (cincinnati, ohio) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Catholic Answer to the Jehovah's Witnesses: A Challenge Accepted (Paperback)

This book is designed for Catholics who are thinking about leaving the Church to become Jehovah's Witnesses. The author does a good job in describing some of the beliefs and practices of the Jehovah's Witnesses, but primarily this book is not a in-depth examination of Jehovah's Witnesses theology. Other books such as Jason Evert's, "Answering Jehovah's Witnesses" isbn 1888992212 does a better job at that.

The key benefit of this book is its focus on what a Catholic gives up to become a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses. The author clearly describes what the life of a Jehovah's Witnesses is truly like and the impact that this will have on a persons spirituality and family relations. The main point of the author is that a person really gains nothing in leaving the Catholic Church to become a Jehovah's Witness.

Although the Witnesses think that their religion is "better" that any other, they are looking at the matter from a very distorted viewpoint. I speak from personal experience. I left the Catholic Church and joined the Jehovah's Witnesses at the age of 16 and served as a pioneer (full-time preacher), ministerial servant (deacon) and elder for many years. I was not disfellowshipped by the Jehovah's Witnesses but through my own personal study of their history and doctrinal changes, I came to realize that the leaders of the Watchtower are not the 'faithful and discreet slave' (Matthew 24:45) as they claim to be. I resigned in 1997 (at the age of 41) and began an intense study of all major religions and their histories. During this time I associated with many evangelical churches and enjoyed fellowship with many fine Christians. I read and studied continuously and eventually, in 2004 I re-entered the Catholic Church.

In retrospect, I realize that the fundamental reason that I left the Catholic Church in the first place is that I really never understood what the Catholic Church taught or believed. We were not strong Catholics, (I was never even taught how to pray the rosary) I did not go to Catholic schools and never really learned the catechism. When my father converted to the Jehovah's Witnesses, I was easy prey for their ideas. After returning to the faith, I found many excellent books that were written and published at the time that I converted to the Jehovah's Witnesses, that if I had known about them, would have cleared up many problems that I had with Catholic doctrine.

In conclusion, I would say this to any Catholic who is thinking about leaving the Church to join the Jehovah's Witnesses: Please read this book! The author does not in any way misrepresent the beliefs or practices or culture of the Jehovah's Witnesses. Learn about your own faith! Don't think that by joining the Jehovah's Witnesses you are going to solve your problems. The Catholic Church is not perfect, but neither are the Jehovah's Witnesses. Also I would recommend Karl Keating's book, "Catholicism and Fundamentalism" isbn 0898701775. In addition, there is a series of 8 books entitled "Beginning Apologetics" that are excellent. They are relatively inexpensive (about $5.00) each. They clear up any doubts about the Catholic doctrines of the Trinity, The Eucharist, Mary and many others. The first book is the series is entitled, "Beginning Apologetics: How to Explain and Defend the Catholic Faith" isbn 1930084005.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great tool in discussion with the JW's, November 6, 2005

By 

Laurence A. Gonzaga (Colton, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Catholic Answer to the Jehovah's Witnesses: A Challenge Accepted (Paperback)

Considering that this book is from 1981, I doubt that many of the points in this book still do apply. The Jehovah's Witnesses come by my house on the weekends. I think they have been here, for me to respond to them that is, about 5-6 times now. I am not quite sure if reading this book helped me to respond to the Witnesses' claims, but I learned a lot of basic information from it. For one, they believe that Jesus is the Archangel Michael. They deny the Trinity; hence they cease to be "Christian" since a basic tenet of Christianity is the Trinity. They believe that only 144,000 people will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven and the rest, all official JW's, will live forever on an Earthly paradise.

Personally, I have found that the best way to handle discussions with the "door to door evangelists" is to learn one's own faith first. Not just the basics, know the ins and outs of it. Once you get a familiar hang of Scripture and the Scripture that supports our beliefs, it makes it easier to respond to their contentions. Very often they take little snippets of the Bible and absolutize them into some dogma, like Jesus not being God, but only "a god". I had the most success with the Mormons than with the JW's since the JW's are trained scriptural acrobats that like to jump around scripture and twist it to their own interpretation.

The book also outlines the inconsistencies of the JW doctrine. They are best known for their failed attempts to predict the Parousia, the second coming of Christ. The mere notion that they could know when Christ will return (their first prediction was that the Parousia was to be in the year 1914) is contrary to the Holy Scriptures.

Matthew 24:36 ESV "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Alot of judgemental language used., April 30, 2009

By 

Jessica M. Breaux "jmb" (okinawa, japan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Catholic Answer to the Jehovah's Witnesses: A Challenge Accepted (Paperback)

I bought this book to educate myself, a catholic, about my friend's religion, jehevah's wittness. I was unable to finish the book, as it seemed to be an attack on the people of the faith instead useful factual information that can be used when talking with them. I find it hard to believe a "christian" wrote this book. The author lacks humility and tolerence when speaking of another faith.