question about jehovahs witnesses and attending kingdom hall?

Question

I was invited by someone to go to their kingdom hall. What kind of things do they talk about? Is there any singing or anything I should know? How long does it last? and most importantly, what do I wear? I don't go to church or anything so I don't have business like attire or anything.

ps. i'm a 17 if that matters.

Answer 1

Hey Summerblues,

I'm not a Jehovah's Witness but I have recently attended a Kingdom Hall for the first time.

Here's what you can expect:
1) People will be kind—overly kind—to anyone they perceive as new. Their #1 goal is to get you to join their religion. Remember, that is why you have been invited.

2) Depending on the day of week, the format will be slightly different. I am used to attending a church that studies the Bible on Sundays, but at the Kingdom Hall you will notice something very peculiar: The text book is not the Bible, but the current issue of "Awake" Magazine.

3) There will be one or more articles from the Awake magazine that the members will read together. At the bottom of each page their are questions that they all read and answer together. A microphone may be passed around to let every one hear. IMPORTANT: The "answers" are simply recited from the paragraphs that were just read. NO THINKING INVOLVED on the part of those in attendance. They are simply reading and believing what they have been given. It's called brainwashing.

4) Be very careful of believing what you are being taught or told by the Jehovah's Witnesses. Like I said, they are very kind to those who they consider potential members. But they are utterly CRUEL to those who reject their religion as a false form of Christianity. Many, many former Jehovah's Witnesses have no contact with their families due to being "shunned" by those who once appeared to love them.

5) Do your homework on this religion. Visit it if you are curious, but be VERY CAREFUL about meeting with the Jehovah's Witnesses at your house. If you don't know what a real dollar bill looks like then you won't be able to recognize when they hand you a counterfeit.

6) If you want to know God, which I hope you do, then read your Bible—not the Awake or Watchtower magazines. Start with the book of John, in the New Testament. But don't read the JW version of the Bible (it's called the New World Translation). It's been modified to fit their new doctrines. Instead, read the King James Version or the New International Version. In fact, there are many, many good versions of the Bible that you can trust. But stay away from the JW's custom translation. THEN.... Pray, and ask God to reveal himself to you through his written word—the Bible itself.

7) Attend a church that teaches from the Bible, and one that doesn't require you to become a member in order to call yourself a Christian.

8) Do some research on the history of the Jehovah's Witness religion. I'll include an excellent link below to jump start your research. Try doing a google search for "JW 1914" ... you'll find a long history of falsely predicting the end of the world with this religion.

9) Ask yourself: Would God's only true religion (as the Jehovah's Witnesses claim they have) be one that wrongly predicted when Jesus would return, when the world's governments would end, when other religions would be wiped from the earth? The founder of this religion, Charles Taze Russell, said all of the above would happen in 1914. He was dead wrong over and over and over again.

10) Read #6 again!

11) I'd be happy to talk with you more if you'd like. Just email me.

Answer 2

In the United States, a typical congregation schedules meetings for Sunday morning (9:30 or 10:00), Tuesday evening (7:00 or 7:30), and Thursday evening (7:00 or 7:30). Meetings for field service are held seven days a week, typically at 9:00 or 9:30. All scheduling is a local matter, and varies according to local considerations.

Any respectful visitor can be assured that he will be assisted in finding a seat, obtaining a bible (which is used frequently in all meeting parts and which he is invited to keep), borrowing a song book (meetings begin and end with song and prayer), and sharing a copy of any publication or reference work that is being considered. Most men wear neckties and most women wear skirts or dresses at meetings in the United States, but these are not required and at times even a baptized Witness must attend in more casual clothing.

Each year the branch office of each land also schedules each congregation to attend an "Assembly Day", a "Circuit Assembly", and a "District Convention"; ideally these three events are spaced four months apart but that is not always possible. Special meetings or events are sometimes scheduled when a foreign missionary or other speaker visits an area, or to commemorate some special occasion, such as a Kingdom Hall dedication.

In some areas, a congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses schedules literacy or language classes. Individuals also plan social gatherings which may be largely or completely attended by Jehovah's Witnesses, but these are not connected specifically with the congregation.

Learn more:
http://jw-media.org/people/worship.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_14.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_08.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20000601/
http://watchtower.org/e/20020815/
http://watchtower.org/e/20040608/article_03.htm

Answer 3

Hi Summerblues_11.

Well, the talks are all bible based. You can bring your bible if you like to follow along. Or, you could just listen and enjoy.
Your attire: you don't have to go out and buy anything. But if you have a skirt or dress, that would be fine. If not, nice pants and a shirt will also do. As long as you are there, that's all that really matters.

I hope you enjoy it.

Answer 4

We talk about Jehovah & Jesus. And many other things pertaining to family life, business, school, as to our Christians attitude towards all.
Yes, we say opening & closing prayers, and songs.
We all sing together, either some1 will loan you their song book, or some1 will get 1 for you, from the book counter.
It lasts about 2 hours; 1st is a public talk, then we study the Watchtower, every1 participates, it's read aloud by paragraph, then we raise our hands, to be called on to answer.
Since you wouldn't have ur own, some1 will give you 1.
Dress; as tho you were going to court.
If u have something that's not hung low,
cut up to here, or see-thru. You'll be just fine.

Answer 5

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IS TO BE WARMLY WELCOMED AND FOR IT TO LAST ABOUT 2 HOURS AND A BIBLE DISCOURSE GIVEN USING YOUR BIBLE ON A PRE SELECTED BIBLE SUBJECT FOLLOWED BY A QUESTION AND ANSWER PART ON ANOTHER BIBLE TOPIC AND SINGING AT THE BEGINNIBNG MID BREAL AND CONCLUSION WITH PRAYES AT THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE MEETING AND THE BEST TIME YOU EVER HAD AND PEOPLE WHO ARE WARM LOVING CHRISTIANS WHO WANT TO MEET YOU WEAR SOMETHING MODEST THAT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH IS ALL FEEL FREE TO TAKE NOTE OR JUST LISTEN YOU WILL ENJOY IT VERY MUCH AS THIS IS DONE IN OVER 235 COUNTRIES WORLD WIDE LIKE ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY A WARM LOVING ATMOSPHERE AND NO COLLECTION IS EVER TAKEN AND NO ONE WILL ASK YOU FOR ANY MONEY JUST YOUR NAME SO THEY CAN GREET YOU

Answer 6

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah%27s_Witnesses

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_Hall