Why do Jehovah's Witness church buildings never have any windows?

Question

Is there a reason for this? I have always been curious.

Answer 1

The Kingdom Hall I went to in Oklahoma had big windows all across the front. Some do and some don't. There are several reasons why some don't. Cost could be one, convenience could be another...All the meetings at the Kingdom Halls are open to the public and we encourage everyone to come and see for themselves what wonderful and spiritually fulfilling meetings we have. Why don't you go to a meeting and find out personally? You would be very warmly welcomed by some of the nicest people that you could ever meet!

This question has been asked many times, you might want to run through all the answers to those.

Why do lots of churches have stained glass windows that you can't see through? Does that make you curious as well? I can't remember ever being able to see directly into a church.

Answer 2

Why do Jehovah's Witness church buildings never have any windows? Or Standard question number three.

On the off chance that this is a serious question there are several reasons most halls do not have windows.

One, most newer halls have been built under the "Quick Build" process. The window installation process is a little time consuming and starts right at the framing stage. Window openings have to be laid out from the start.

Two, windows represents a potential security risk as well as a target for vandalism.

Three windows are expensive to originally install and to repair or replace. One nearby congregation had to replace one window three times due to vandalism. While there was insurance coverage, repeated claims drive rates up.

Also, note that not all halls are windowless. There are areas where building codes require windows.

Answer 3

I remember someone mentioning this to me a few years ago, and I had never really thought about it before. I've tried really hard to remember the Kingdom Hall we attended when I was a kid, which the congregation built themselves, and I don't remember there being any windows. I think that the building we were in before that, might have had windows, but I can't remember for sure. That place does now, because it's an apartment house now, so I'm not sure if I just think it had windows then because it does now.

I think that some people assume that there are some strange rituals going on inside that they don't want someone to see, but that's not the case. The services are very normal. They sing a song, say a prayer, have their sermon, sing a song, say a prayer, do their question and answers from the Watchtower article for that day, sing a song, say a prayer, visit with each other for a little while, and leave. No strange initiation rituals or anything like that.

I rather think that, if there are no windows, it's more to cut down on outside distractions, so that people are paying attention to what they are there to pay attention to and not day dreaming out the windows.

Answer 4

I've always thought it was for safety reasons. The Witnesses were persecuted in past years. You never know when things are going to get bad again. When Armageddon comes, it would be nice I think, to just go into the Kingdom Hall and let what ever is happening outside happen. Kind of like Lot's wife looking back at Sodom and Gomorrah and then turning to a pillar of salt. No windows, no see, no salt!,

It's probably quieter with less distractions w/o windows also.

Answer 5

Some do some don't. Many are built in what is called a "quick build" where they build it in just 3-4 days. Windows then are not included so that the build gets completed on time and brings cost down.

Does it make more since to spend lavishly on one building when you can have two or three modest buildings where people need them? Or when all the money comes from volunteers why drain peoples pockets?

Answer 6

Generally, a Kingdom Hall is built without windows only in areas which tend toward hate crimes and vandalism against houses of worship. Sadly, it seems that the questioner is from such an area, and perhaps even more sad that such religious intolerance occurs worldwide.
http://jw-media.org/newsroom/human_rights.htm

Perhaps these anti-Witness bigots fail to understand that their vandalism and persecution actually work to help prove that Jehovah's Witnesses are true Christians.

(2 Timothy 4:3-5) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20030301/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20020401/article_01.htm

Answer 7

to control energy costs..and to keep the price of the buildings down...another reason is our Kingdom Halls go up in 3 days...it is easier to not have the bother of installing windows.
But there are 2 doors..One in the front .....and a large door in the rear.
The inside is a large auditorium with a stage..On the stage is a speakers podium...To one side is usually a comfortable stuffed chair and the other side a wooden table and 2 chairs.

As you enter the hall there is a large foyer and ahead is the bathrooms...you turn and there is the auditorium with between 100 and 200 chairs. One one side of the stage there is a small room for supplies ( like extra chairs, a slide projector, a small table for snacks, boxes of literature.) and the other side is the book room.

In the rear of the hall there is a library .

It is an efficient non flamboyant building used to worship Jehovah. We keep our building clean and well kept. We do not pass a basket or plate...you give if you want to , to pay for the utilities and the land and building costs.
No Witnesses are paid to preach and teach. We have a body of elders that rotates. No man is the presiding overseer for long. We have traveling overseers that visit and we have speakers that come from other halls to give talks.
We have picnics and get-togethers. We are like a family.

Jesus said you would know his followers by the love they showed one another.

Answer 8

1.) To save costs (heating, cooling, vandalism, etc.)
2.) Most Kingdom Halls are quick build projects. We complete them over a weekend, and windows would take quite a bit more time.
Just a couple of reasons.

Answer 9

I think it's to save money. They put their buildings together really fast, and from what I've seen, it's like a big barn raising with the Amish. They all get together and help build it. Windows are hard to put in, and can cut down on the effiecancy of heating and air conditioning. I think their buildings are left somewhat unadorned so that worship services are about God more then about the building they worship in.

They really are committed to their religion, and they live it! Others could take a good lesson from them! I really respect their conviction and their love of the Lord.

Answer 10

I don't know why people are always asking us this question, because it's not true. I've been to and seen lots of Kingdom Halls with windows. In fact, the one that I attend was recently built and it has windows.