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

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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.

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.

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.

Louise D'Angelo is the founder and president of an approved Catholic lay apostolate called 'The Maryheart Crusaders.' She has also written books such as The Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Too Busy for God? Think Again!, Come Home, the Door is Open: An Invitation to Reconciliation, and Come Climb the Ladder and Rejoice.

She wrote in the Introduction to this 1981 book, "if you or a loved one finds that you need to learn more about the Witnesses, then by all means confront yourself or your loved one or friend with the information contained in this book. The very best way to do that is to focus attention upon the Jehovah's Witness ORGANIZATION and not upon the Bible. You will get nowhere if you turn the discussion into what YOU find in the Bible as opposed to what THEY show you in the Bible. They will no doubt be able to 'prove' by the Bible just about any doctrine they wish to find there. So leave the discussion of doctrine and the Bible until later, until after you have won the person over."

Here are some additional quotations from the book:

"I will agree that the Jehovah's Witnesses seem to give us a wonderful example of religious zeal and effort. I will also agree that many Catholics do not have these same ambitions or determinations. It does appear that this group puts to shame the 'lazy' Catholics and some members of other churches." (Pg. 23)

"How was it possible for the Devil and his evil angels to remain in Heaven until Christ cast them out in the year 1914? That means that Heaven held the Devil and his evil angels throughout all the centuries of earth's history until the year 1914! ... how was it possible for the Devil to be present on earth when Christ was alive on earth?" (Pg. 51)

"Even the disclaimer made on page 14 of ('Awake,' October 8, 1968)... 'Does this mean that the above evidence positively points to the year 1975 as the time for the complete end of this system of things? No man can say'---could not take away the bitter disappointment of the Witnesses who did not believe that 1975 was the 'end' for Satan's evil world." (Pg. 90)

"In this same booklet (The Word who is He? according to John), the author even pits, one against the other, the Catholic Bible and a Biblical quotation written by 'a former Roman Catholic Priest'... The reader is then asked to believe the words written by the fallen-away Catholic priest instead of the words written in the Catholic Bible." (Pg. 118-119)

"Also the Witnesses forget that this story (Luke 16:19-31) deals with the immortal soul, something they claim does not exist. Both the rich man and the poor man had died. If Hell meant merely the 'common grave,' and if there were no souls, why would Christ even bother to tell the story of one soul in Heaven and one in Hell?" (Pg. 145)

"It is interesting to note that while the Witnesses refuse to accept the doctrine of the Trinity, they baptize in this manner:... 'in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,' they are putting the Son and the Holy Spirit on the very same level as God the Father." (Pg. 168)

This is an excellent book. This is maybe one of a few books written by a Catholic author on this subject.

Hopefully, there will be one written by a former J.W. who is now a Catholic, that would be quite a read.

D'Angelo's book is a basically good one. It is not as up-to-date, or smoothly written, as Jason Evert's recent book, but it covers the necessary ground well enough. I read it years ago and wish I had not given my copy away to a friend!

About some of the other reviews here. Notice that one reviewer, writing in the year 2000, can't spell "Marian" properly, but feels completely free to attack Marian beliefs or practices? How valid do you think that criticism is if the reviewer can't even spell the word properly? Also, the most recent reviewer makes the silly claim elsehwere that 90% of Catholic beliefs are from pagan sources (he lists none). Really? So is Biblical inerrancy part of that 90%? How about the eternity of heaven? The reviewer also posted a quote from Cardinal Newman which says that many things used by Christians are of pagan origin. That is true. None of the things listed, however, were teachings or beliefs. They were merely things. I suppose the reviewer believs that people are too dumb to catch that obvious point, but he's wrong.

This book provides a good introduction to JWs theology especially for Catholics. The material about JWs selling literature is a little dated. In 1992, one month after the US Supreme Court ruled that sales of religious material was not tax-exempt, the Watchtower Society determined that it would only accept donations for literature distributed in the United States. It is interesting to note that the sales-tax suit was originally brought forth by Jimmy "I have sinnnnnnnnned against youuuuuuuuu with a prostituuuuuuute" Swaggart with a friend-of-the-court brief filed by the Watchtower Society on behalf of Swaggart.

"The use of temples, and these dedicated to particular saints, and ornamented on occasions with branches of trees; incense, lamps, and candles; votive offerings on recovery from illness; holy water; asylums; holydays and seasons, use of calendars, processions, blessings on the fields; sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure, the ring in marriage, turning to the East, images at a later date, perhaps the ecclesiastical chant, and the Kyrie Eleison [the song "Lord, Have Mercy"], are all of pagan origin..." What??? Who would write such heresy? Surely those Jehovah's witnesses have gone too far this time. This quote is from "Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine" written by CARDINAL John Henry Newman.

This is where the hypocrisy of this book and others of its ilk come to the fore. The facts are that almost everything Jehovah's witnesses teach Catholics regarding the pagan origin of church teachings can be substantiated by the reference works of the Catholic Church. The problem is these reference works are not available to or are unknown to the average Catholic; not unlike the circumstances regarding the Bible itself for hundreds of years. All the witnesses need do is point these out and allow an individual's conscience to do the rest.

The author is right about one thing - there is an appalling lack of knowledge on the part of most Catholics regarding the Bible as well as the teachings of their church. In most cases, the individual believer is not to be faulted for this. The systemic design of the Church is one that does not encourage inquiry, nor is the backing of the Bible as the ultimate authority sought in the teaching of Church doctrine. When this is pointed out, and the person realizes for the first time in their lives that "they have been paying out money for what is not bread" (Isaiah 55:2) then the emotional reaction the author cites in the beginning of the book is understandable.

One final thing that can not be left unanswered is the accusation that Jehovah's witnesses are trained to view non-witness relatives as, in the words of the author, "evil and run by the Devil". I have been one of Jehovah's witnesses for over 20 years. Recently my sister converted to Catholicism. However, our family ties remain, and for that matter are closer now than in the past. Do I agree with my sister or the teachings of her religion? Of course not, nor shall I. Will this change my love for her? Never. Do not be taken in by what someone with an agenda says, find out what Jehovah's witnesses themselves teach. You may not agree, but you will be better for the experience.

I am a Catholic who is very troubled by her family's deep involvement over the years in Marion Cults within the Catholic Church and other Cult-like groups that have come and gone over the years. Other members of my family two generations ago reacted to the same fascination with supernatural visits from Mary, Jesus and a variety of other Saints at Shrines and while doing the laundry (no kidding) by becoming Jehovah's Witnesses. Therefore, I need to read this book to see what one Cult fostering organization has to say about another alleged Cult and see if as a Catholic, hanging on by her fingernails to her faith in the face of demands that I abandon the Bible and go away from Jesus towards this his mother not as who she is but as a newly reinstated Goddess, there is any hope for my Church in whether my Church even wants my simple faith which is based on the way the Church started and survived for hundreds if not thousands of years.

I am a little disturbed by some of the author's credntials which appear to make her another person into the Marion version of Catholicism, but I will give her a read and hope she has some insights for me. I expect this to be an interesting read either way. My hope is that her answers are based in scripture only and not mysterious apochryphal texts that most Catholics pull out when trying to demonstrate that they have better Truth than other Christians. I say this because, the JWs will only ever get down with you on Scripture and to understand the differences between Catholics and Witnesses, one has to stick to Scripture or you are talking Apples and Oranges since Witnesses don't read, value as divinely inspired like the Bible or preach the added-on writings of Saints that we have long accepted as extra wisdom. To truly face off with a Witness, I will need a Catholic Bible based Primer along the lines of the Catachism. I hope I find it here!