What does the watchtower society say about spending time on the internet?

Question

If you are a JW that chats, witnesses, whatever on the internet...Is this encouraged or discouraged by the society and do you, or should you count the time spent on the internet as a way to make your monthly hours quota instead of going door to door if physically able to? Most of the witnesses that I personally know are very fearful to research, dicuss, or even read any other religious or clergy viewpoints. I am not against this, I think it's great!....just curious as I hear so much from witnesses about the evils of the internet. Most witnesses would never read a tract, or accept any other religious denominations materials So Is it okay for some and not for all?

A few of these answers give the impression (Achtung being 1) that all religion but JW's is false and "worldly".. therefore they would not waste any time in reading of another religions literature, debate them etc, And yet, they go door to door, stand on corners, wanting everyone to read Watchtower books, and tracts and hopefully come to their kingdom hall etc. To me that seems very impartial and judgemental of others. I can understand about wickedness and evil in the world....but there are also a LOT (Billions) of good people in the world, who are not JW's and never will be... These people are going to be destroyed because they don't agree with JW teachings? Could it be JW's are a false religion, and why would I want to waste my time looking into what they offer if they can't read my tracts, or come to my church?

Answer 1

A recent demonstration at the JW District Convention illustrated for every good JW who knows how to read between the lines that the Internet is a place of danger as apostate ideas are present.

JWs are afraid of those who criticise them.

Very Fearful and will not let current JWs interact with them in any way.

Answer 2

As usual, some do not know what they are talking about, take "buzz" He says we cannot read any book or any other literature Gilead workers and Teaching elders are one of the few that can look at Christian books and watchtower books printed before1950. The rank and file member would be disfellowshipped if they read anything printed by the Watchtower before 1950.

Never heard of this "lie" before, I have Watchtower bound volumes, also Awake bound volumes, many books that go back to 1950 and beyond, each Kingdom Hall has a Library, there are many books, 1950 and before.

If you want to know about Jehovah's Witnesses, ask one, these negative answers you receive, many of them are from disfellowshipped or Apostates.

As far as the Internet is concerned, there is good and bad, we pick the good, if you believe you have the Truth, why would one want to read or accept literature that they consider false, and you and others have that choice also, myself I make it a point to know what other religions teach, so I can have a conversation with just about anyone, if that is very wish.

Answer 3

The society says that the internet is a wasteland and it is filled with pornography and blasphemy. Their followers are not encouraged to spend a lot of time there. I don't know how much time on the internet is counted.
When you look at cults, you see one law for some and a different one for the rest.
Joseph Smith forbad drinking yet the latest revelation in the D&C was a revelation that didn't make it in the D&C originally. It came while the prophet was having a beer at [Moesser's] pub.
Mrs. White ordered her followers to keep kosher. Yet she asked a friend to bring cans of smoked oysters etc. back from the coast when she came. (Shellfish is not kosher and some pople in the church were scandalized by this!)
Gilead workers and Teaching elders are one of the few that can look at Christian books and watchtower books printed before1950. The rank and file member would be disfellowshipped if they read anything printed by the Watchtower before 1950

Answer 4

Each Christian must decide for himself and his family how much of a distraction they will allow the internet (and television, et al) to become.

Jehovah's Witnesses consider the internet, like television, to be a part of the present "system of things" that generally works to discourage and depress, and to move mankind away from Jehovah God.

(1 John 5:19) The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.


Jehovah's Witnesses tend to maintain a healthy skepticism about this world's offerings. Although Witnesses do not remove themselves from this Satan-controlled world, Witnesses make every effort not to 'use it to the full':

(1 Corinthians 7:29-31) Brothers, the time left is reduced. Henceforth let those ...making use of the world as those not using it to the full; for the scene of this world is changing


While Jehovah's Witnesses thrive on bible reading and personal bible study, their research tends to avoid material from false religion. When an internet page seems to be clearly affiliated with false worship, a Witness would tend to move on to a more scholarly website instead.

Jehovah's Witnesses recognize the Scripture's message that Christians MUST be preachers of the Good News, which is why there are more than 6 million Witnesses active in the ministry each month (more than 12 million associate themselves with Jehovah's Witnesses). Endless debates and arguings in internet chat rooms are clearly NOT the kind of meaningful personal ministry Christ Jesus commissioned:

(Luke 10:1-5) Lord [Jesus] designated seventy others and sent them forth by twos... “The harvest, indeed, is great, but the workers are few. Therefore beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest. ...Wherever you enter into a house say first, ‘May this house have peace.’


Do the Scriptures share any advice about getting involved with endless debates and argument with so-called intellectuals?

(1 Corinthians 1:19-21) Where the debater of this system of things? Did not God make the wisdom of the world foolish? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not get to know God

(1 Corinthians 2:6-8) Now we speak wisdom among those who are mature, but not the wisdom of this system of things... This wisdom not one of the rulers of this system of things came to know


Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/library/g/2000/6/8/diagram_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/library/g/2000/6/8/article_03.htm

Answer 5

I am a Christian, and KNOW Jesus Christ Personally and as my Saviour. And I can assure you, the the JWs are as far away from "truth" as you can get, concerning the things of God and of Christ and of eternal life and of heaven or of ANYTHING that is "spiritual". Jehovahs' Witnesses would be better titled, "Satans' Salesmen". I won't get into it unless directly ask on the internet...but I can with all my heart, assure you, that the JWs are the "Enemies Of The Cross Of Christ", and will fill a considerably large area in the fires of Hell. They are a wicked breed, and have nothing to do with the True and Living God. I didn't spend years in the Seminary and Bible College to be decieved by those like the so-called "Jehovahs'" Witnesses. There is NOTHING wrong with the internet, if not used for evil or simply "wrong" purposes. JWs are a "danger" for your very soul.

Answer 6

I cannot directly answer your question. I am not a Jehovah's Witness. However, I have encountered none to my knowledge on Yahoo! Answers. I have had encounters with Mormons, however. Jehovah's Witnesses seem to foster a "them - us" polarized type of mentality, and might be expected to meet up with far too many of the "them" for their liking. What I am writing is only a guess.

If they ever do make forays on the Internet, they might be advised to go to the following web site:

http://www.ylana.com/newsicke.htm

It is a web site I would recommend that others give to them "in exchange" for the printed material they give out to others.

Answer 7

Not jw but as much as we need to be careful about what we take in there are alot of benefits to the internet. You can reach far more people than going door to door. I have also learned about other cultures and beliefs that has caused me to brush up on my missionary skills. But, you still can't beat one to one friendships, and alot of people aren't computer literate. Hey, whatever you do, as long as your doing it and spreading the gospel don't worry about the details so much.

Answer 8

I'm not a J.W. but I think they would consider it "associating"
with "worldly" people which they claim they should not do...and they would not be encouraged to do it.....that's my guess..
Yet Jesus associated with all types to preach his message, teach
love and help those in need....hmm not so Christian to me in alot
of ways..yet I can see how they wouldn't want their young ones
given bad associations...