Since 1872, when Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916) founded the Jehovah's Witnesses, millions of Roman Catholics have left the Church to become Jehovah's Witnesses. More Catholics over that time frame have increased the ranks of the Jehovah's Witnesses than any other Christian tradition. Why are Catholics so vulnerable to this non-Christian faith? They simply do not know nor understand the fullness of God's truth that is only available to them in their Catholic faith; so they are susceptible to the aggressive evangelization techniques of this non-Christian group.

A Christian is one who not only believes in Jesus Christ, but one who believes that He is both God and man and is the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus Christ lived, but they do not believe that He is God. Jehovah's Witnesses teach that He is really Michael the Archangel. In addition, they do not believe that the Holy Spirit is God, but that He is only the active force of Jehovah god. They teach that hell is not permanent and that the human soul is not immortal. They teach that only 144,000 people will go to heaven. Jehovah's Witnesses teach that Jesus' Second Coming occurred when World War I began in 1914. They have predicted the end of the world multiple times; and have, obviously, been wrong every time. Jehovah's Witnesses may not vote, celebrate a holiday, or anyone's birthday. They are not to receive blood transfusions.

Jehovah's Witnesses work hard to present a family oriented environment to their potential converts. This is attractive and persuasive to many Catholics who do not see their parish as a cordial, friendly, sociable, and family oriented place. I admit, some parishes fail to offer a caring environment; but I find it interesting to note one of the social strengths of the Catholic Church is one of the weaknesses of the Jehovah's Witnesses. They do not run children's hospitals, orphanages, food banks, shelters, or homes for the dying. Since they believe that Armageddon (the end time) is in sight, they preach on the coming of the kingdom, where there will be no pain, suffering, or sorrow: caring for those in a world that is about to end serves no purpose. They need to read Mt 25:42-46 to understand the Christian teaching that Jesus calls every man, woman, and child to care for those in need until the end of time.

When Jehovah's Witnesses knock on your door, they will not immediately divulge these facts about their faith. You need to challenge them with questions that will quickly bring their heresy teachings out into the open. If you're not sure who is at your door when they open their Bible, ask them their faith tradition. If they respond that they believe in Jehovah god, let them finish reading one or two Bible passages then ask them about some of their beliefs. Use the following Bible passages to cast doubt into their religious teachings.

(Jesus is not God, but only Michael the Archangel.) In Is 43:11 we are told there is no savior besides God. In Tit 3:4-7, Jesus is called the Savior and "our Savior, God." Thomas in Jn 20:28-29 calls Jesus, "my Lord and my God." In Rev 1:8 God is called "the Alpha and the Omega." In Rev 22:13, Jesus is called "the Alpha and the Omega." In Deut 10:17, God is called Lord of lords. In Rev 19:16, Jesus is called Lord of lords. Therefore, Jesus is equal to God.

(Hell is not permanent and the soul is not immortal.) Mk 9:43 tells us that the fire of Gehenna cannot be put out, and in Rev 20:10 we are told that the devil and his evil followers are tormented day and night forever and ever. In Mt 18:8, hell is called an "everlasting fire." Jehovah's Witnesses believe that when a person dies, his soul is annihilated and he ceases to exist. Ask them to read Lk 23:42-43, where Jesus tells the good thief that, today he will be with Him in paradise. If at death our soul ceases to exist, what part of the good thief went to paradise with Jesus? [It is important to note that the New World Translation, the only Bible used by Jehovah's Witnesses, mistranslates this passage. Instead of placing the comma before the word today in verse 43, as every other Christian Bible translation does, the New World Translation places the comma after the word today. Read Lk 23:43 both ways: with the comma before "today" and with the comma after "today." If the comma appears before "today," then it disproves the Jehovah's Witnesses belief that the soul is mortal and ceases to exist at death. This mistranslation is only one of many found in their Bible. Its worse mistranslated verse is Jn 1:1, where the Jehovah's Witnesses Bible reads, "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with god, and the word was a god." Every other Christian Bible translation finishes this verse with, "…and the Word was God." Remember, all Christians believe that the "Word" is Jesus.]

(Only 144,000 people will go to heaven.) If only 144,000 people go to heaven and only those who died by 1935 are included in the 144,000, what are those still living today seeking? According to the Jehovah's Witnesses, man is seeking to enter an earthly paradise. No where in the Bible or Christian tradition is this idea preached or supported. It is unique to the Jehovah's Witnesses. Read Rev 7:1-8 and 14:1-5 where the 144,000 is mentioned. They need to read all of Rev 7 to fully comprehend the meeting of the 144,000. Read Rev 7 multiple times. Then cross reference it to the Catechism.

Other faith traditions, in addition to Jehovah's Witnesses, will knock on your door. Please be cordial when they do; but do not be pulled into their false belief system because you do not fully know and understand your Catholic faith. No faith is easier to support and defend than the Catholic faith; for it was established nearly 2000 years ago by God Himself; and its teachings on faith and morals are guided and protected infallibly by the Holy Spirit. Spend time each day in prayer to the Holy Trinity, read and study Sacred Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, read the writings of the Early Church Fathers, and make your Catholic faith the number one priority in your life. Your eternal life and the eternal life of your family depend on your faithful commitment to God and His Church.

For more insight read CCC paragraphs 83, 537, 1010, 1229-1230, 1241, 1266, 1271-1274, 1289, 1392, 1997, 2030. Also, pull out your "Catholic" Bible and reference Is 9:5; Mt 1:23; 25:42-46; Jn 14:9; Acts 11:26; Col 2:9. For more insight on Jehovah's Witnesses, I recommend that you read Jason Evert's book, Answering Jehovah's Witnesses. It's published by Catholic Answers. You can also visit the Catholic Answers web-site (www.catholic.com) for more information on this topic.