I recommend responding when "opportunity knocks" on your door. The first rule is "turn about is fair play". I'm now black listed by any more knocking Jehovah's Witnesses because the last time they stopped by I let them know facts like: their founder was in jail for fraud, they have had many false predictions, many children have died following their "no transfusions" directive, they don't really know greek, etc. At some time, I want to make up and sell "counter-tracks" that people can keep on hand to give to different groups that knock on your door. Many of these knockers have deep inner doubts that you can use to have a little fun and maybe free up a mind in bondage at the same time. The sooner you slam the door, the more time they have to find and exploit weaker minded people. Under regular conditions, I consider it inappropriate to attack one religion - but, if they show up on my door to refute my religion, they are fair game whether or not they expect someone familiar with both sides. The following site: http://www.shassan.com/links.htm has good information for combating cults and check out: http://www.carm.org/jwbible.htm ==================================== home.beseen.com/support/rmgreen The following is a response - I haven't yet had time to really double check: Eric, Don't know if you're still around maintaining this site but I want to correct some misinformation in your "cults" section - you have a post concerning Jehovah's Witnesses which is all misinformation - I know this because I am one. The fact that I am willing to read a skeptical web page should tip you off that I am not a member of a brainwashing cult. At any rate, these are the facts as opposed to the fiction posted on your site: The "founder" of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society [Charles Taze Russel] is not in jail for fraud or anything else - he's been dead for almost a century. He was never in jail for anything. The second president of the WB&TS, JF Rutherford, along with seven other members of the Governing Body, were put in jail - but they were aquitted and let out. The present President of the WB&TS is not in jail. He lives in Brooklyn NY at the world headquarters. Many people have died after surgical procedure. Personally, I know quite a few Witnesses who have survived NON-BLOOD surgical treatment - this means that while blood was not used, one of the many non-blood methods were. Children of Jehovah's Witnesses receive the best non-blood medical treatment a vailable to them - in fact the WB&TS has a Hospital Liaison committee devoted to getting the highest quality non-blood medical treatment available to Witnesses. Many of my Witness friends work in hospitals as caregivers or RN's and several of them are doctors. Predictions: we don't make any. ONE prediction was made based on old calculations - that 1914 would mark the end of this "system of things". This announcement was made at a Convention - the very next day it was retracted. The Governing Body at that time ate their words & apologized for making such a prediction - since then NO OTHER prediction has EVER been made. There is a book out called "The Last Days Are Here Again" in which eight or nine dates are attributed to us as being "the end of the world" - these dates are false. After 1914 no other predictions were ever made. We do, however, believe in the predictions made in the Gospels and the book of Revelation - there is a HUGE difference between this and MAKING our own predictions. I think it is wrong to have a posting advocating that people torment sincerely religious missionaries "for a little fun" and to exploit their doubts - everyone has doubts - how many times have you heard a devout atheist admit that they prayed before a major operation or during a battle? Yes, we Witnesses give out religious literature - and yes we have in the past had to amend some statements - who hasn't? But most of our time is spent in simply helping people - usually underprivelaged folk who have no one else to look after them. We believe that the Bible is a source of comfort and that Christian fellowship is as well. If we can get a depressed person to read the Bible or come to a bible meeting we think we've done well. No one ever mentions that - they just round up the unhappy ex-Witnesses and drum up false information - most of it very old and out of date - and clobber us for things we have not done. Every organization has its faults - we acknowledge that we do - but we are honest about this and are realistic about life. The Governing Body tries very hard to educate through their literature and we try to keep up with the times and pressures of the world we are living in. These are the facts. Anyway, I can send you some more detailed information - most of it from NON-WITNESS sources backing up these statements if you please - but do correct the statements made on that posting - they are very antagonistic. It is frightening enough to go to a stranger's door - simply out of concern for your neighbor's welfare - without thinking that some unbalanced person may be inspired to strike out at you because of something they read on the Internet. VA - this person also sent: Eric, I would be happy for you to post my letter - but do not include my e-mail address: simply state that if one is curious they should simply ask honest questions when one of Jehovah's Witnesses shows up at their door. Also, if they know someone who claims to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses but acts in an un-Christian way, this person is probably not a baptized Witness and should not be gone to for answers. I will make you a list of non-Watchtower books and articles that are fair and accurate which you can post as reference for those who are curious about the nuts-and-bolts aspect of our life without the religious message found in our own literature. Thank you for your positive response. VA ================================ More of Eric's writings can be found from: http://www.phact.org/e/rants.htm