When two of Jehovah's Witnesses knocked on our door in August, in the middle of the summer holidays, it was not me who opened it. I remember, as if it were yesterday, when my mother exchanged a few words with them as they entered, and when I showed up, they were ready to leave. I then took an interest in talking to them, and my mother left us alone, no doubt hoping that I myself would get rid of them alive.

Two boys, Edward and Augustine—I recognized their names at once—tried to hand me a magazine which I had no desire to take, for I was going to put Father Santos's theory into practice at once.

I told them that their Bible was false, but that I could not give them any Bible passage (for Father Santos had not given us any). Then one of the two "witnesses" asked me to clearly indicate which teachings of their Bible were false. I answered them by mentioning the Most Holy Trinity. The guy smiled with courtesy mixed with condescension and asked me to get my Bible.

Then I went into the dining room and took my Bible on the shelf. I was convinced that these guys were just braggarts, and that I would get rid of them very soon. At that moment, I could not even suspect that it was at these moments that a relationship was being established, which was to last for many years.

When I returned to them with the Bible in my hands, one of them asked me to read Mark 13:32. Scarcely had I read the passage when he said to me, "If Christ were God, He would have to know everything, but if He did not know the date of the end of the world, then He is not God, is He?" Without giving me a moment to think, the boy added, "Won't you read John 14:28 now?" And as soon as I finished reading, I heard again: "If Christ is less than the Father, He cannot be God, can he?" that I thought it would be worth listening to them again.

So I invited them to sit down and began to question them about the weak points of their doctrine.

A curious connection

Blood transfusions? It is enough to read Acts 15:28-29. It was forbidden to drink blood, no? It is enough just to read to find out.

The end of the world? Suffice it to turn to Matthew, ch. 24. Does it not speak of wars, of nations rebelling against other nations, of kingdoms fighting against other kingdoms? It is enough just to read.

Two hours later, I was seized by a daze. What Father Santos said turned out to be an endless series of completely groundless statements. I've seen it from the Catholic Bible. It contained the smallness of Jesus in comparison with the Father, the nearness of the end of the world, the need to abstain from blood. These people were slandered in the most obvious way, for they taught the Bible from house to house!

Then something else came to my mind and reminded me of a conversation with Father Santos. Jehovah's Witnesses attack religion. But in this case, it is not at all logical to preach some other:

"You attack other religions, so why do you preach another one?"