Why is it .... Jehovah's Witnesses?

Question

Why is it that Jehovah's Witnesses encourage people of other faiths to question their religions and be critical of it, but as soon as someone questions them about their faith and is critical about it, it is a closed book, end of discussion? Why can you be disfellowshipped for daring to question what is taught in their publications, yet that is exactly what they are doing when going door to door? Why is reading any literature critical of the group discouraged?

To cbooth. You have no personal opinions. That says a lot. Are you not allowed to have personal opinions, or are you told what you can think?

I heard about the disfellowshipping for questioning the religion from Korah. He was murmuring. It's the same thing.

Answer 1

It is a cult. Run away!

Answer 2

I am afraid your question is deeply flawed. Many people form their opinions about the religions of others through hear-say. No doubt a disgruntled person who is no longer affiliated with the Jeohvahs Witnesses (through disfellowshipping or their own choice) has told you that is what happens in the Christian Congregation.
A person would never be disfellowshipped for asking questions. At our weekly meetings we hold question and answer sessions where questions relating to the topic at hand would be gladly answered. Most people, however, endeavour to find their answers on their own, or by asking a mature Christian brother or sister.
We do encourage people of other faiths to examine the doctrines of their faith in the light of Bible truths.
In return any true Witness of Jehovah would be happy to answer any question you may have about our faith

Answer 3

You can't be disfellowshipped for questioning the beliefs, people just claim that because people like you believe it without question, and since the witnesses don't release disfellowshipping records, their claims cannot be proven otherwise.

I was disfellowshipped by the Corning, CA Congregation in 1982 for cause. An elder, while on vacation, saw my semi truck and came up to the door and knocked to see if I was inside. Without looking out to see who it was, I said I was busy in there with two women and to go away. I was young, foolish, and had a lot more energy in those days.

I could have appealed the decision, but didn't. I still talk to my mother, on a regular basis.

I've been approached a number of times over the years by people who think they need to destroy the witnesses. They act just like atheists who think they need to destroy Christianity. They tell me that I don't need to tell people why I was disfellowshipped, that all I had to say that they I didn't agree with their teachings, or found them to be false, and I would be believed without question. Also just like an atheist talking to another non-believer about Christianity.

As for witnesses questioning their beliefs, how do you think they have grown so much, both in knowledge of the Bible and in membership. As time passed and more people were encouraged to read the Bible, as a whole, people recognized things witnesses were doing wrong or needed to be doing differently. In the beginning, they celebrated Christmas, got involved in politics, and so many of the other things churches do today that is not in keeping with the teaching of Christ. Someone in a congregation would make note of something in the Bible and would point it out to the society or their elders. It would be evaluated by the society as a whole and adopted if found to be valid.

After a hundred years and tens of millions of Jehovah's Witnesses who have lived and died in that time, each reading the Bible as whole, repeatedly, there is not much left to draw from it, but they still try. The society has survived on questions about the faith, and learned from it. But, the one thing they don't do is put anyone on a pedestal who claims to have a new insight into something. There is no announcement, no name on paper, or in a book, that a person in a congregation or at the society, has come up with a new insight into something. That can irritate a person, who thinks they need to be recognized for their work.

Answer 4

Witnesses can back up everything they teach with the Bible. You seem to misunderstand their religion. In the Bible sects were not allowed and think about the nation of Israel. The murmurrers were repeatedly wiped out by their God. The religion is not about the group, but any witness of Jehovah will tell you that it is about their relationship with Jehovah God. (Also, consider what the Bible says about god's people being slandered.) I hope that was a real question. The witnesses really try to stick as closely as they can to Jehovah's judicial example. And they're the most loving people you'll ever meet.

Answer 5

Where did you hear that if one of Jehovah's Witnesses questions something in the organization's publications then they are disfellowshipped? That is simply not true. I have been in the organization for over 30 years, and there are things that I don't understand. So, do you know what I do? I ask questions.

Jehovah's Witnesses do encourage people to question their religion if their doctrines are not in harmony with the Bible. They also help people to understand what the Bible really says, and how to apply it. If people have questions about our beliefs, we are more than happy to give Bible-based answers. For instance: If someone asks me why I don't believe the trinity, I will show them Bible scriptures like Ps. 83:18 where it says that Jehovah is the Most High. Or I will mention John 17:3 where Jesus called his Father the ONLY true God.

We are not afraid to give answers when questioned by others. We have no personal opinions; our answers are based strictly on Scripture.

Answer 6

The bible says "let every man be proved a liar, while God is found true"

So personal opinions are worthless.

Every time I knock on a person's door I put my faith and understanding of the bible to the test.

The Watchtower has many "Questions from Readers" articles.

A good friend of mine just got a letter back from the Watchtower with an answer to a question they had.

I have found that most people want to argue the bible, and not discuss it.

The time remaining between now and the judgement day, as Paul said is closing fast, and why would I want to waste my time learning untruths, or argue with someone who is rejecting Jehovah's holy spirit.

If people won't believe Jesus, Paul, John, or Peter, why would I expect them to listen to me?

If you have a specific question please email me.
If you want to argue, then please don't.

Answer 7

Your question contains some erroneous assumptions.

We do encourage others, as you say, to question their religion. We do not encourage them to be critical of it.

We are encouraged to "make sure of all things" and to "examine the Scriptures daily" to assure our own beliefs are in harmony with the Bible.

Sometimes there are articles discouraging our questioning of our beliefs, BUT these are not talking about asking sincere questions to better understand; these are questions that some pose for the express purpose of creating doubts.

For example, consider this: If the serpant had asked Eve: "Why does God not want you to eat the fruit?" that would be an entirely different question than "Is it REALLY so that God said you must not eat it?"
The first one would glean information; the second one designed to cause doubt.

The Bible strongly warns against those who cause divisions: Romans 16:17-18; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Jude 19

ADDITIONAL DETAILS: Cbooth stated that we have no personal opinions, that our beliefs are based upon the Bible. benandgavinsmomma replied: "That says a lot. Are you not allowed to have personal opinions, or are you told what you can think?"

I will address that. We are told what to think about Scriptural matters by God, by the words he had inspired to be written in the Bible. Do you think that a human has the authority to over ride what God has said? That is why there are so many different religions today ALL CLAIMING TO FOLLOW THE BIBLE, because they are basing their beliefs upon men's opinion!

Answer 8

I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses and I don't have a clue who or what you are talking about. We do ask that you check carefully what your religion teaches in order to make sure of what is acceptable to God.

John 4:23 & 24: "Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth.”

Acts 17:11: "Now the latter were more noble-minded than those in Thes·sa·lo·ni´ca, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so."

Ephesians 5:10: 'Keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord;"

As for not wanting to be questioned about our faith or beliefs, that is far from true, we very much invite any one and everyone to ask us questions and we are more than happy to share that information with you. Of course we will use the Bible for our answers.

Hebrews 4:12: " For the word of God is alive and exerts power and is sharper than any two-edged sword and pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints and [their] marrow, and [is] able to discern thoughts and intentions of [the] heart."

As for reading any literature critical of our group, we look at the source of the literature...we don't try to please men, but rather we try to please God.

Answer 9

You have asked an excellent question and I haven't come up with an answer for it yet.

One of my aunts was disfellowshipped not for questioning the publications but for questioning the expense of a new kingdom hall. I only learned of this from a cousin who chose to leave the jws after learning they were victimizing witnesses who claimed they were sexually abused by other jws. Since 2 witnesses are required and the abuser would not testify against himself it came down to she said he said.

Answer 10

The Watchtower gains control over their people by training them not to read any literature critical of the Watchtower or JWs.

However you still can talk to a JW from their own material. In their booklet Why you Should not believe in the Trinity - they have many quotes that r taken out of context. Show them the full context.. and ask them questions.

Answer 11

Basically,don't bother me with the truth,I already know what I believe.

years ago when the late Dr. Walter Martin ( cult expert and bible scholar)offered the top Jehovah Witnessess biblical scholars from the Watchtower Bible and Tract society a prime time tv debate on their questionable doctrines-...they declined.