Why exactly do Jehovah's Witnesses evangelize?

[Kirran]

You have no idea do you ?.

Maybe. Maybe not. Nobody does, really. I'm not sure why you feel you can freely assert that you do and I don't.

 

[psychoslice]

Maybe. Maybe not. Nobody does, really. I'm not sure why you feel you can freely assert that you do and I don't.

Well you haven't given any reason for me to think any different than what I have already, like don't stand up for something that you don't know about.

 

[Kirran]

Well you haven't given any reason for me to think any different than what I have already, like don't stand up for something that you don't know about.

I'm not trying to make you think differently about things.

I didn't quite get the part about standing up for things I don't know about, do you mean to say that you disagree with me standing up for Christianity when you don't think I know about it? If so, I wouldn't say I am standing up for it, just trying to clarify. I AM standing up for my disbelief in Absolute Truth.

 

[psychoslice]

I'm not trying to make you think differently about things.

I didn't quite get the part about standing up for things I don't know about, do you mean to say that you disagree with me standing up for Christianity when you don't think I know about it? If so, I wouldn't say I am standing up for it, just trying to clarify. I AM standing up for my disbelief in Absolute Truth.

So, what is your thoughts about disbeliefs ?, and what do you believe ?.

 

[Kirran]

So, what is your thoughts about disbeliefs ?, and what do you believe ?.

I've just realised we've really derailed this thread. I'll answer in PM

 

[psychoslice]

The whole thing is, no religion has the truth, none at all. The truth is only found within each one of us, any religion that tells you indifferently is noting but a liar. Organized religion is just that, organized, it only kills the sprit, and makes you a beggar, while your a beggar you will never know of your inner Being, your Divine Being, all your beliefs keep you away from this realization.

 

[psychoslice]

I've just realised we've really derailed this thread. I'll answer in PM

So what ?, sometimes threads need to be derailed.

 

[Sunstone]

Actually this is incorrect. Right now there are over 8 million Witnesses with almost 19 million who attend the memorial of Christs death. This growth is accordsing to bible prophecy.

Actually my statement stands. Jehovah's Witnesses have the lowest retention rate of any religious tradition in the United States. Only 37% of people raised in the tradition will retain their faith into adulthood. So it seems to me it's quite reasonable to suppose that a major reason Witnesses proselytize is because, if they didn't, they would lose over half their numbers with each passing generation.
Source.

 

[Kirran]

Actually my statement stands. Jehovah's Witnesses have the lowest retention rate of any religious tradition in the United States. Only 37% of people raised in the tradition will retain their faith into adulthood. So it seems to me it's quite reasonable to suppose that a major reason Witnesses proselytize is because, if they didn't, they would lose over half their numbers with each passing generation.
Source.

This may be less of a reason in the sense of a thought-out process as in the sense of natural selection, or some other evolutionary process. i.e. those religious traditions with low retention rates who do proselytise are far more likely to grow and continue on than those which don't.

 

[psychoslice]

To me personally, any religion that states that it is the true religion, is differently the wrong religion, the arrogance of stating that you are the true religion is nothing but egocentrically thinking.

 

[Sunstone]

This may be less of a reason in the sense of a thought-out process as in the sense of natural selection, or some other evolutionary process. i.e. those religious traditions with low retention rates who do proselytise are far more likely to grow and continue on than those which don't.

Good point. I assume some leaders look at the numbers and realize they'd better proselytize, but even if they did not, the religion would pretty much select itself by effectively proselytizing.

On a side note, a lot of people seek to explain early Christianity's success in various ways that ignore the fact early Christianity was one of only a very few proselytizing religions in Grecco-Roman world, and perhaps the most aggressive of those.

 

[Kirran]

On a side note, a lot of people seek to explain early Christianity's success in various ways that ignore the fact early Christianity was one of only a very few proselytizing religions in Grecco-Roman world, and perhaps the most aggressive of those.

Were there any others during this period that you know of?

 

[Baladas]

To me personally, any religion that states that it is the true religion, is differently the wrong religion, the arrogance of stating that you are the true religion is nothing but egocentrically thinking.

I agree. At least, it was when originally stated. Also though, many people simply do not feel free to question, and to look within.
To me, this is possibly the greatest and most recurring tragedy resulting from dogmas claiming the infallibility of scripture.

 

[Sunstone]

Were there any others during this period that you know of?

I get the sense the Cult of Mithra was about as aggressive as the Christians in proselytizing, but mainly to soldiers. The Cult of Isis also did some proselytizing. But I don't know of any others that did it to the degree those three did, and of those three, Christianity seems to have been the broadest, most aggressive proselytizer. I'm no scholar though. It's just stuff I picked up back when I was drinking...umm....I mean studying at university.

EDIT: Offhand, if I recall, the religions that did the proselytizing had one thing in common: None of them were the native Greek or Roman religions. But I could be wrong about that -- it's been thirty five years since I read a bit about the subject.

EDIT AGAIN: I just now recalled that the Cult of Isis generally proselytized only to the upper class Romans. It was kind of snobbish in that way. Again, I could be wrong about that.

 

[Kirran]

I get the sense the Cult of Mithra was about as aggressive as the Christians in proselytizing, but mainly to soldiers. The Cult of Isis also did some proselytizing. But I don't know of any others that did it to the degree those three did, and of those three, Christianity seems to have been the broadest, most aggressive proselytizer. I'm no scholar though. It's just stuff I picked up back when I was drinking...umm....I mean studying at university.

That's interesting stuff. I'm sure there've been lots of studies done on why Christianity came to the fore. Maybe some alternate history writers have written some stuff in the area. I'm also a member of an Alternate History forum, although I don't go there much anymore. Maybe I'll swing by and throw this out there.

I feel I'm letting down the uni student stereotype

 

[Sunstone]

That's interesting stuff. I'm sure there've been lots of studies done on why Christianity came to the fore. Maybe some alternate history writers have written some stuff in the area. I'm also a member of an Alternate History forum, although I don't go there much anymore. Maybe I'll swing by and throw this out there.

I feel I'm letting down the uni student stereotype

If you do toss out the idea on the Alternate History Forum, please let me know if there are any interesting responses. PM me, if you will.

 

[Kirran]

If you do toss out the idea on the Alternate History Forum, please let me know if there are any interesting responses. PM me, if you will.

Making the thread there as we speak And sure, will do.

 

[Kolibri]

Actually my statement stands. Jehovah's Witnesses have the lowest retention rate of any religious tradition in the United States. Only 37% of people raised in the tradition will retain their faith into adulthood. So it seems to me it's quite reasonable to suppose that a major reason Witnesses proselytize is because, if they didn't, they would lose over half their numbers with each passing generation.
Source.

I won't deny that choosing to become one of Jehovah's Witnesses is not a step one can take lightly. We are not an organization that will tolerate a practice of certain sins, and our youth know that. (1 Cor 6:9,10) Always the door is open them to return if they leave, just as the prodigal son returned in Jesus' parable. But often youth, who have not built their own personal relationship with God, want to find out for themselves - the hard way - that the restrictions for Christian living was always in their best interest.

 

[lockyfan]

Actually my statement stands. Jehovah's Witnesses have the lowest retention rate of any religious tradition in the United States. Only 37% of people raised in the tradition will retain their faith into adulthood. So it seems to me it's quite reasonable to suppose that a major reason Witnesses proselytize is because, if they didn't, they would lose over half their numbers with each passing generation.
Source.

Jehovahs witnesses preach and teach because it is a command from God in the bible to do so.

Also you need to remember that jehovahs witnesses are world wide, not just in the us, in my congregation we have four generations of one family, three of another and two of many others. This is the same all over australia, in fact all over the world.

 

[lockyfan]

God is a spirit that has a residing place in heaven.
He is not in all of us, if this was true then would you say he was in people lie hitler, hussein and stalin? No he wasnt.
God is love and he is not evil, nor does he try anyone with evil. Satan does.