The Watchtower Files: Dialogue With a Jehovah's Witness ebook

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!

Love it!

The danger of Jehovah's Witnesses (even from a simply moral non religious perspective) is not their interpretation of the Bible. Interpretation is one thing, but straight out lies, misquotes, and additions with the attempt to decisive is another thing all together.

I have already done some research and study on this topic as I frequently speak with Jehovah's Witnesses, and so I was recommended this book by a friend and thought it might be another tool in the box. I am not sure there was anything new or different in this book that I had not already studied or heard about. The main thing I liked about it, which many others mentioned is the documents to back up what you are saying. The only failure with that is that anything over 10 years ago is simply brushed off as "receiving new light." JW's are slippery fish, and it is hard to corner them.

When Jehovah's Witnesses first started they had to use the Bibles that were available and just tell all their people that they couldn't understand them, or that verses were translated wrong. That left their people helpless to understand the Bible without the Watchtower's aid. Just read this quote, “A person would go into darkness after two years of reading the Bible alone; would be in the light reading the Studies in the Scriptures alone.” (Watchtower 9/15/1910, p. 4685) Now they have written their own Bible and given it to their faithful. In their previous version of the New World Translation they had parenthesis around all the added words, like "Son" at the end of Acts 20:28 and many times throughout Colossians chapter 1 (this version used to be visual and comparable directly from the website, it appears that it has been taken down now.) In the new 2013 version all the added words are now a part of God's words. The simple danger of this can be seen in Colossians 1. If I say, "All cows are white," Those words mean something, they convey a thought. If I say, "All other cows are white." That conveys a totally different thought. It signifies that now there is something I have which is not like all the others, whereas the other statement is all inclusive. Did Jesus create all things, or all [other] things. Read John 1:3, Isaiah 44:24. Leave God's words and then if you interpret them differently than I do, we can discuss that, but by changing the words you are deceiving people.

Some of this book at hand seemed to lack in research as well. There are some wonderful quotes from the Watchtower about worshiping Christ which were missed, like this one from the 1949 yearbook, "Those who do worship him as the slain Lamb of God whose death provided a sin-offering are the only ones entitled to any hope of surviving and passing alive into the new world.” All the yearbooks from 1927-1961 and awake! issues from 1946-1963 and much more are downloadable for free from the Watchtower Archive (wtarchive) site.

As far as straight out lies, here is just one example from their website. On an article titled "Myth 4: God Is a Trinity" they say, "FACT: The trinitarian dogma is a late fourth-century invention." Pick up a copy of Ante-Nicene Fathers: Volume 1-9 from Amazon and you will see that many people taught the trinity before the fourth century. It is either a straight lie, a very poorly worded phrase, just unfortunate ignorance, or a slyly worded phrase with intent to deceive. Do the research and you be the judge.

You don't have to be a Christian to understand that it is morally wrong to lie, and deceive people. Sure go ahead and teach your interpretation, I am one for liberty so I will give you the freedom of interpretation, and I willing to put my interpretation to the test. But at least be honest enough to tell the truth and give the facts to the people, before you add your interpretation and deceive a multitude of people.

All-in-all for the book being written in the 1980's without the vast expanse of the internet it is a decent book for what it is and when it was written. Even some of these documents are hard to find online today. I just don't see it convincing JW's against their ideas, which I think is the overall objective of the book.

I gave this 5 stars but must clarify that rating. The first of 3 parts is vital to show the arrogance of Russell and Rutherford in particular, as well as the idiots that followed. Magnani copies entire pages of old Watchtowers and other Society publications over the years, showing the context of a part underlined. Rutherford in particular made really strong bold predictions that completely failed. One has to wonder why they would speak with such guarantees and convictions and not leave a little bit of room to wiggle out later. Such arrogance, to me, indicates they do not fear the people leaving and that the leaders can do almost anything without consequences and history does tend to bear that out. This first part is wonderful stuff if one wants to discredit JW history.

On the other hand, the majority of this book, the 2nd and 3rd parts, deal with doctrine, finding favor in typical born-again doctrine and traditional pagan Christians tradition, which as I see it, is no better and no improvement on Watchtower doctrine. One set is as bad as the other. I detest them both. so 2 thirds of this book is a waste. But for the 1st part alone, I say this book is 5 stars and worth the purchase since it is extremely cheap and affordable. Get it if you want to embarrass JWs. But also learn from it because this problem is not that of JWs alone. Every denomination suffers from the same arrogance and stupidity, never in short supply. Enjoy!

Have only read a chapter or two. To me it is a very hard read.