Can Jehovah Witnesses have open discussions with other Jehovah Witnesses?

Question

about opinions that differ from orthodox Watchtower teachings?

Answer 1

yes as long as you don't challenge their teachings.

Answer 2

Yes, what do you think we talk about with our fellow believers? The weather?

I can remember when I was 16, I didn't agree with the "city of refuge". I thought Jehovah was being too harsh, if it was an accident that caused someones death, I felt that they should not be killed or have to run to the city of refuge and stay until the high priest died. Even after the person studying with me explained it, I still didn't personally think it was fair. It wasn't until over 10 years later, that we were studying about it again and it just clicked in my head, how important life is to Jehovah and that it was actually a loving provision of Jehovah to have the city of refuge. So sometimes we might not fully understand something at the time, it doesn't mean it's wrong, and that we should question Jehovah or his organization. You just have to give it sometime and meditate on it and usually you will come to an understanding.

I was talking with another brother recently about tatoos, we didn't agree on the subject, didn't mean either of us were wrong or right. We all have our opinions.

Now if someone is trying to cause division and contentions in the congregation, that is a different matter and the elders would most likely try to reason with them on the matter. There are some people though, who have to always be right and there is no reasoning with such persons.

We all have opinions. It's the questioning of basic truths. If you are a babtized witness and you are questioning basic truths, then something is wrong.

Answer 3

Yes of course. Orthodox? What is that? Jehovah's Witnesses speak in agreement in faith. There is a lot of discussions about specific teachings and insights.

I have heard of legendary probing questions asked by teachers at the headquarters in New York. Legendary at least in my mind. Questions prompted by material covered very slightly in a meeting posed to younger brothers who had to scramble to find the answer.

I have been in a few, though not nearly enough for my taste. At my age, my numbers get mixed in my head but, I remember where on the page it is and hopefully highlighted.

You must remember this though, the Watchtower is only a tool like a hoe or shovel. What we value is the Bible. Everything we believe is from there, not any publication from anywhere else.

Answer 4

There is no schismatics.

You can travel to the other side of the planet and find when speaking to another JW the same teaching as right here in the U.S.

Can the Catholics in Rome say the same thing when they travel to the U.S. Churches?

Answer 5

Not sure now, but there use to be a place in the back of the Watchtower magazine called "questions from readers"
ok, this is a misnomer as the questions are actually developed by the governing body or other "anointed" and answered by the governing body, anyway I digress.

I asked an elder something about signs of the last days something very innocent like the increase of hurricanes and other natural disasters that the Bible writers would have direct knowledge of being included in some of the other natural disasters listed as signs of the last days, and he sternly "cautioned" me not to jump ahead of the society as they had not written anything on this. Then I said, we'll I'll just write to the society and maybe they'll answer it in the back of the WT. OH MY! He got upset and went from cautioning me to chastising me that questioning the governing body and society in general was cause judicial committee action.

So, yes they can have open discussions as long as the discussion does not indicate a questioning of the elders, society, governing body etc.

Answer 6

JWs are not to mention any viewpoint that contradicts "current" Watchtower truth. To do so is apostasy and a reason for being disfellowshipped.

Lifton in his research on cult mind control claims that in mind control groups Sacred Science requires a follower to accept the group's perspective is absolutely true and completely adequate to explain EVERYTHING. The doctrine is not subject to amendments or question. ABSOLUTE conformity to the doctrine is required.

Compare that with the following quote from the Watchtower 2001 August 1 p.14

“First, since “oneness” is to be observed, a mature Christian must be in unity and full harmony with fellow believers as far as faith and knowledge are concerned. He does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding.”

Answer 7

Peter said about Paul, that he taught things hard to understand in which the weak were twisting.

2 Pet 3:14 Hence, beloved ones, since YOU are awaiting these things, do YOUR utmost to be found finally by him spotless and unblemished and in peace. 15 Furthermore, consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul according to the wisdom given him also wrote YOU, 16 speaking about these things as he does also in all [his] letters. In them, however, are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unsteady are twisting, as [they do] also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

No one should go beyond what is written.

Jesus said I am God's Son.
Paul said Jesus is God's Firstborn.
Jehovah said Jesus is my Son.

It is one thing to discuss teachings, It is another to twist the truth to make God's word say what you want it to say.

Peter said we can bring about our own destruction.

I have many fine open discussions with not only my brothers and sisters, but even with many non witnesses.

The key to your questions is 'opinions'. The beauty about opinions is that they don't have to be right or wrong, because they are ours.

Instead of leaning upon our own understandings (opinions) we should always strive to learn God's truth.

Answer 8

yes, because each witness is an individual and has opinions of things. we do not however discuss who should be in office. our government is in the heavens with Jesus Christ as king. so we will obay the laws of a land as long as it does not interfere with God's laws and principles as set out in God's Word the Bible. we also do not bear arms against anyone. we must love our neighbors to please God and Jesus.

Answer 9

we can talk about whatever we want

Anna, I'm saying i CHOSE not to talk to some people. But i CHOSE to talk about whatever i want.

oh and by the way fokkerball, this is so of the subject but, GO SPURS GO!!!!

Answer 10

Of course.

Such conversations are widely tolerated when the opinions are sincere, respectful, and unambiguously personal.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/19980722/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20050515a/article_01.htm

Answer 11

yes they can and usually council from the bible will resolve the conflict/disagreement