To Jehovah's Wittnesses...please dont jump down my throat anyone!?

Question

Several years ago when I was involved with you guys, it wasnt considered a good idea to get involved in online religous discussions, post religous statements or corespond with anyone to discuss religious matters, unless you were certain of their identity &were using a relatively secure email service.
This was due to the fact that hackers can edit online content, thus twisting it to make it seem to be something its not, that it is easy for people misinterpret things & get wrong ideas in their heads about what JW's believe &also most importantly, that apostates pose online & if real JW's did not post content online, the appostates would stand out like sore thumbs.
So has the Society's viewpoint changed on this? Is online wittnessing now considered OK?
I know I already posted this, I'm just looking for more input. Please dont accuse me of trying to do away with free speech like someone did when I asked this last time...I'm just curious if your standing on this issue has changed
Thanks

Lula - Nice to get a genuine response, I was just confused as someone I know was reprimanded for doing this...maybe the circumstances were different.

Answer 1

Personal fellowship has an important role in true worship, but the internet is certainly *NOT* the place for true Christians to find good association.

(Hebrews 10:24,25) And let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you behold the day drawing near.


For most, Yahoo Answers is not a forum for socializing but for reference.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20000608/diagram_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20050922/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20041208a/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20050522a/article_01.htm

Answer 2

I have searched and found no references to this type of forum in any written publication. I never really considered the possibility of someone hacking into the web site and editing on-line content to make it seem as though we are saying something we are not. There are strong cautions against online dating services since obviously, becoming intimately involved with someone you don't know can lead to serious problems.
I have seen postings here by Jehovah's Witnesses who have sought the counsel of their congregation elders on this matter, and have decided not to continue. Strangely, I have seen postings by non-Witnesses reprimanding us for choosing to give a witness this way.
There have also been cautions in the past against chat rooms, where discussions are less organized.
Of course, all of us know that the most effective witness is given face to face, one on one.

Please accept Lula's invitation.
The theme of the district conventions this summer is Follow the Christ. The convention explains fascinating details on the principles Jesus Christ taught and the value of applying them in day-to-day life. This year's theme is based on what the Bible says at 1 Peter 2:21 about following closely the model that Jesus Christ left. I hope you will make the effort to come and rekindle your interest. just ask local Witnesses about the location and dates nearest you.

Answer 3

we are still very much cautioned as to association, whether it is online or in person. I think using Yahoo Answers can come down to a conscious matter, since there is nothing said specifically about answering questions, we can take the bible standards we have learned and apply them to this situation as well.

I would think if we are just answering bible based questions, and choose our questions wisely, and we aren't really going into a debate, then it would be okay. If someone felt like it wasn't the right thing to do, they wouldn't have to be a part of it and that would be their decision and that would be fine.
We do our best to refrain from debates, chat rooms, and different places on the net that could twist things as you said, being careful wherever we are is something all of us need to do.

We of course still don't want answering questions to interfere with our bible studies or have it replace us talking to people in person, but perhaps people that would normally not talk to us at all in person seem fine with talking to us in this matter. Our territories have expanded over the years and have gone from house to house, to informal, to letter writing, there are many out there that have really good questions and desire to learn what God and the Bible really have to offer us.

I'm kinda sad to hear you've left, we do have a really good Distrcit Convention coming up this summer, if you are able to attend any of the days we'd love for you to come.

Answer 4

i'm a Christian. yet I agree that, on many events, Christians do shove their faith down different persons's throats. each and every time somebody tells an atheist that they are going to hell through undeniable fact that they do no longer experience- it is persecution. The belongings you suggested approximately childrens getting suspended, that doesn't maximum ordinarily take place and that i agree that it is incorrect. regardless of the undeniable fact that as far as educating evolution... confident, i've got self belief that it is maximum appropriate that toddlers study evolution, somewhat than something their teachers take place to have self belief. Evolution is nearly a verified actuality (to no longer ingredient out, it does no longer conflict with faith the way all human beings seems to experience it does), mutually as religions are faith-based. aside from, if we are speaking approximately persecution and stereotypes, enable's look at your remark "If the human beings had it their ability we’d all be ineffective slaughtered like Hitler did to the Jews." you're of course merely claiming that all and sundry atheists desire all Christians ineffective. do no longer you assume it is slightly persecuting and stereotypical? look at it from all angles.

Answer 5

I remembered reading something about the dangers of the Internet and I've found the magazine. It's the 5/1/2000 Watchtower, page 10: "Some apostates are increasingly using various forms of mass communication, including the Internet, to spread false information about Jehovah's Witnesses. As a result, when sincere individuals do research on our beliefs, they may stumble across apostate propaganda. Even some Witnesses have unwittingly exposed themselves to this harmful material. In addition, apostates occasionally take part in television or radio programs. What is the wise course to follow...? Avoiding all contact with these opponents will protect us from their corrupt thinking. Exposing ourselves to apostate teachings through the various means of modern communication is just as harmful as receiving the apostate himself into our homes. Never should we allow curiosity to lure us into such a calamitous course!"

Dear me. Reading a view that contradicts the Watchtower is "a calamitous course, just as harmful as receiving the apostate himself into our homes"? Somebody is running scared. What will the Watchtower say next: 'Only read the Watchtower! Don't even think you can understand the Bible without it to hand!' Hang on a minute. I DID read that... "We all need help to understand the Bible, and we cannot find the Scriptural guidance we need outside the 'faithful and discreet slave' organization" (Watchtower 2/15/81 p19). "Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible. For this reason the Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah's visible organization in mind." (Watchtower 1/10/67 p587)

What was that you said about being accused of 'trying to do away with free speech like someone did when I asked this last time'? It's not YOU who is threatening free speech, my dear! Keep asking those questions! And don't settle for Watchtower answers until you've checked all the opposing ones out first!

Answer 6

I seriously doubt that hackers could do any worse than some people already do in here.

Answer 7

---Let The Games Begin...