Customer Reviews

The Watchtower Files: Dialogue With a Jehovah's Witness

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In "The Watchtower Files" Dialogue with a Jehovah's Witness" Duane Magnani offers an excellent work on this door-to-door cultic group. The author provides compelling information on the JWs in a conversation formulation. He provides many of the JWs arguments against the Christian faith as he gives powerful answers that refute their arguments. The form makes for a stirring and breezy read.

With the price Amazon offers this book, it is a wonderful addition to an apologist's library.

Dr. Walter Martin endorsed this volume and this book gives the Bible student practical assistance in understanding JW theology and presenting the true Gospel to the lost men and women of the Watchtower.

The author presents:
- Over 150 documents from the JW's publications
- A list of false JW prophecies
- A refutation of the JW's denial of the Trinity and deity of Christ
- A refutation of the JW's prohibition of birthday and Christmas celebrations and blood transfusions.

Easy to read, powerful presentation. Great resource if you desire to witness to JWs.
One Way to God: Christian Philosophy and Presuppositional Apologetics Examine World Religions

Duane Magnani "was a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses for eighteen years. After he became a Christian in 1974, he founded Witness, Inc., an organization dedicated to bringing Jehovah's Witnesses to Christ."

The Introduction to this 1985 book states, "if a prophet is false, the Christian's duty is to expose that fact (Eph 5:11). The material in this book will help you do just that... This book... contains many suggested dialogues with Jehovah's Witnesses. The dialogues examine many different subjects, ranging from major doctrinal differences to points of Watchtower policies and prophetic schemes... supporting photo-documentation follows each dialogue... The major value of 'The Watchtower Files' is in the definitive answers provided to Jehovah's Witnesses on a great variety of subjects."

Here are some quotations from the book:

"Yes, Joseph Rutherford was the 'Judge'---the judge of all things Jehovah's Witnesses were to believe. Then came Nathan Knorr. Watchtower leader Fred Franz, under oath in a Scotland trial, stated that all biblical interpretation was personally approved by President Knorr... In 1977 Fred Franz became Watchtower president. (He is the one who said that Rutherford had all power, yet later stated that Nathan Knorr determined what Jehovah's Witnesses believed." (Pg. 58)
"Seeking to set itself apart from the traditions of 'Christendom,' the Watchtower declares the cross to be a pagan symbol, and teaches that Christ was put to death on an upright stake. Interestingly, early publications of the Watchtower bore the image of the cross... While the use of a cross can be abused, it reminds the Christian of the shame and the suffering of Christ on his behalf." (Pg. 257)
"CHRIS:... So, Jay, how many nails does the Bible (in Jn 20:25) say were in the hands of Jesus?
JAY: Well, it says 'nails.' I've never noticed this scripture before!
CHRIS: That's because if there is more than one nail, as this scripture shows, then the Watchtower would be wrong when it shows that there was only one nail in the hands of Jesus." (Pg. 260)

One of the toughest things to do when in dialogue with a Jehovah's Witness is to document your claims. For example, it does very little good to attempt to argue against the false prophecies of 1914 and 1975 without actual documentation. Even if you have the quotes, the JW might think that you somehow took them out of context. This is why Art Barrett's book is so valuable. He provides actual photocopies for the JW to see the errors for himself.

One of the problems many of us have in witnessing to JW's is to get them to think for themselves. With the Watchtower as their authority (they won't admit this, of course), they will most likely not be persuaded by biblical arguments. That is why many have such difficulties. But if you can demonstrate that the Watchtower is unreliable, then you can actually engage the JW in a two way conversation and allow them to think things through without the WT.

Even though this documentation is available in this book, it must be handled with discernment. Attempting to argue against the false prophecies on your first meeting with a particular JW might just ruin an opportunity for a second meeting. Remember, the JW's aren't interested in people who are just out to disprove the WT. They want people who are seeking answers. That is why a relationship should first be built with the JW. And when they find that they can trust you as a genuine person, then you can lovingly and firmly expose the WT errors.

Over all, this is an extremely valuable book. Not only does it provide documentation, but it is written in a dialogue format between a JW and a Christian. This allows the reader to see both sides and be prepared for many of the rebuttals that a JW might offer in a conversation. The material is very easy to read and will provide the beginning apologist to have a good foundational grasp on the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses. Besides the documentation, I wouldn't recommend this work for those who have been studying the JW's in depth. Excellent work though!

Excellent Book! One of the only ways to show "proof" of contradictions to those lost in a "one and only" paradigm (the Jehovah Witnesses and Watchtower Bible and Tract Society) in thier dualistic world is to show it from the "source," coming from those accepted and entrusted with leadership, in this case, divine authority, the biblically appointed "slave class." So the book is entirely made up of copies of pages of Watchtowers. Can't get better "proof" than that.

This book helps to explain the current views and past views of Jehovah's Witnesses. It uses their own material to show how the Watchtower Society's views have radically changed over the years. It also presents another view of their questionable habit of only partially citing non-Watchtower authors.

Many of the things that Jehovah's Witnesses hold most dear are not what the Watchtower Society taught just a few years ago. The Watchtower Society used to participate in Christmas, military service and many other things that it now disfellowships people for.

It is good information for anyone who has family members who are associated with Jehovah's witnesses or whom may be thinking about agreeing to that free home bible study with them.

..after having read it it proved to be nothing more than one cult,that being mainstream christianity(in this particular case the protestant version)calling another cult liars and falsifiers..
Sure,the JWs come to your door every now and then,being annoying,trying to con the homeowner into taking thier publications or,better yet(for them at least)getting the homeowner to agree to what they call a personal bible study,but in the end all that one need do is say"No"if one isn't interested...They'll go away if one does so..They won't put a gun to one's head and force you to believe thier stuff,or even listen to it..
So what's the big deal..Everyone's"truth'has merit,and everyone is,afterall,entitled to belive what they want to believe.
A lot is made,in this book,about"refuting"the"errors" alledgedly contained in the JW view of things...But these"errors' are only such if one thinks that one's own faith,whatever it is,is somehow the"only"truth,and that any creed that disagrees with it is "in error"
I was particularly repulsed by the way the book went on and on nit-picking some of the more bizarre JW notions,claiming,as know-it-all types always do,that the biblical references cited to support these nutty notions don't do so...
Nonsense!
The bible,or any other"holy"book will support whatever notions,nutty or otherwise that the believer wants,and this is because the bible and most other old religious documents are subject to interpretation..Clearly the author of this book,and/or the audience for which it is intended are not particularly secure in thier own interpretations if they require a guidebook to trash other interpretations that might present themselves.Just as clearly,religion is_or should be_a subject left up to the individual,and not an absolutist thing that cannot withstand contrary suggestuions by those who may view God or faith in another light.
If I were a JW I'd feel pretty darn good about myself and my faith,however nutty or bizarre others may find it if my competition is reduced to publishing stuff like this in an effort to counteract what I am offering...

This book is beyond beleif. The authors do more than quote old sources. They actually give it to you. When a Jehova's Witness says "We never taught that," you will have the documented proof in your hands. The book contains photostated articles from their organizations early days to the present which show how dramatically their beleifs have changed, and the lengths that their leaders will go through to keep their members fooled. Get this book. Read it, and share it with your Jehovah's Witness freind or relative.