Jehovah's Witnesess: Truly if the "light gets brighter" then open debate and discussion would be encouraged ..

Question

is open debate and discussion encouraged in the Kingdom Hall ????

I am asking this again as I am looking for an answer from a JW

please explain "become a riot at a meeting" ?? I'm unclear as to your meaning

Answer 1

Wandering faith.: You can not apply logic and reason to Blind brainwashing

Answer 2

I took debate class in High School and even with good intentions to bring out your issues, in the end, it will turn out into an ugly discussion.

With that said, debates are not encouraged at all either inside the Kingdom Halls or at the door to door preaching work. I love to debate especially when i know i have the source to win the discussions but being a Witness myself, i had a lot of "self-control"-ing to-do when i can feel a debate is coming up... and i just simply smile and say thank you and cut the conversation. Not because i do not know the answer or cannot defend my beliefs but because i know it will just turn out into an ugly discussion. What will that accomplish? Surely, nothing.

I surely do not want to throw "pearls" before swines (Matt 7:6)

Answer 3

Yes and no. I will give you an example

When I was in school we had some classes where we were encouraged to have open debates. There were other classes, where if for no other reason than size of class, we were asked to save questions for after, same principles apply.

Answer 4

No... most of the talks and reasoning still revolve around the "teachings" of the seven elders at the Watchtower Society in New York, and the books made to "explain" the Bible.

I left JW, but my brother still is. He won't even step foot into another church now, so learning/debating various topics is off limits. He only listens to things about other religions in order to try and save or convert people. (Our family members are "Atheist", "Seventh Day Adventist", "Baptist", "Pentacostal", "Muslim", etc.) It is still taught that you are either a Jehovah's Witness or "worldly". And JWs shouldn't hang around "worldly" people (so not like Jesus!)

Like if I say, "Yeah, we Muslims believe in Jesus too." Then he's trained to say, "See, you believe in Jesus too. Shouldn't we all try to be like Jesus. Which means we should be Christian." He just repeats these "practiced" and "trained" responses taught in theocratic ministry school.

I love him, and really wish he was open to the idea that God allows us to seek the truth for ourselves. But I remember the fear they put in me.. that if I went to another church the bad spirits might possess me. Or if the world ended, and I was sitting in the wrong church, I was doomed. So I know he's just doing what he's told in an effort to "protect" himself.

But when he invites me to the Kingdom Hall, I'm more than willing to go - with my headscarf and all. I think we still have more in common as human beings, than different.

Answer 5

If your Mom gave you food at dinner, do you and your sibling debate about the food, and only after a lengthy discussion that you will or will not eat the food? Normally, the Mom already thought about that, if the food she is serving is good or not. We are in the Christian meeting to encourage one another, incite to love and fine works and praise and appreciate Jehovah and Jesus’ loving kindness. Jesus even told the Christians to be one, just like Jesus and his Father, Jehovah who are one.

A debate is defined as “a formal contest in which the affirmative and negative sides of a proposition are ADVOCATED by OPPOSING speakers” www.dictionary.com

Now during a debate, is there unity? Notice the definition of the word, debate. One advocates another and the other, advocates another. They are not one.

Christ Jesus is recommended as “leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely.” The methods he used to preach did not include debates. When in the course of events he was in the presence of the opposing religious leaders of his time he did enter into discussions with them, refuting their falsehoods and defending and preaching the truth of Jehovah’s Word. But he did not prearrange such meetings or formally assemble for such. In fact, relative to dealing with the false religious leaders he instructed his disciples: “Let them be. Blind guides is what they are. If, then, a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” Jesus set an example of preaching to assembled groups in public places, but the principal instruction he gave his disciples pertained to preaching at the doors of the people. Taking this as the model, Jehovah’s witnesses today concentrate on this method of preaching, at the same time using the additional methods of Jesus and the apostles.—1 Pet. 2:21; Matt. 15:14; 10:5-15; Acts 5:42; 20:20, NW. – W54

Further, turn down foolish and speculative questionings, knowing they produce fights. - Rom 16

Answer 6

No.

The bible specifically condemns the notion of "debating" in connection with true Christianity. The Scriptures quite plain teach that contentious debate has no place in true worship, and those who insist upon it have no connection with the truth.

(1 Timothy 2:8) In every place the men carry on prayer, lifting up loyal hands, apart from wrath and debates.

(1 Corinthians 1:19-21) [God] will make the wisdom of the wise men perish, and the intelligence of the intellectual men I will shove aside.” Where is the wise man? Where the scribe? Where the debater of this system of things? Did not God make the wisdom of the world foolish? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not get to know God, God saw good through the foolishness of what is preached to save those believing.

(1 Timothy 6:4-5) Being mentally diseased over questionings and debates about words. From these things spring envy, strife, abusive speeches, wicked suspicions, violent disputes about trifles on the part of men corrupted in mind and despoiled of the truth


More than a century ago, Jehovah's Witnesses recognized the bible truths that hell is not hot, that the soul is not immortal, that God has a personal name, that Jesus is not Jehovah, that most humans will be resurrected as humans, and that God's Messianic Kingdom will restore paradise to earth and end the suffering of humankind.
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_03.htm

Amazingly, those ideas remain tightly and uniquely identified with Jehovah's Witnesses. Some enlightening regarding details has emerged in 130 years, but it is a silly exaggeration to pretend that significant teachings (such as those mentioned above) have been "changed". When someone comes to the brotherhood to promote some personal idea, the Scriptures give plain instruction.

(Titus 3:10) As for a man that promotes a sect, reject him after a first and a second admonition

(Romans 16:17) Now I exhort you, brothers, to keep your eye on those who cause divisions and occasions for stumbling contrary to the teaching that you have learned, and avoid them.

(2 Thessalonians 3:6) Now we are giving you orders, brothers, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw from every brother walking disorderly and not according to the tradition you received from us.

(2 John 10) If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, never receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him.

(Matthew 18:17) If he does not listen to them, speak to the congregation. If he does not listen even to the congregation, let him be to you just as a man of the nations

Becoming baptized as a Jehovah's Witnesses is not a trivial step. At a minimum, a student must demonstrate months of regular meeting attendance and public ministry, then must himself express the desire to be baptized. The candidate then spends hours answering hundreds of bible questions wherein he expresses both a clear understanding and personal conviction regarding Jehovah's Witness teachings in at least three separate interviews with three different elders. The candidate must vocally agree to be baptized in front of hundreds or thousands of eyewitnesses, and must be publicly immersed in water. This is not a momentary emotional decision by an unreasoning child. Dedication as a Witness required hard work and determination at the time.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/19880415/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/19970101/article_01.htm

Answer 7

Here's the simple answer to your question: NO.

We are only allowed to give answers (to questions asked in the publications) at the meetings, not ask questions.

Questions are to be asked in private of elders or other "mature" Christians in the Congregation.

Answer 8

well debate can often lead to arguments. so asking questions would be better.
I am a Witness. If you get aggressive most likely who ever is talking to you will excuse him self. Not because they are scared to answer you question but so they don't get worked up, we are all human and imperfect.

Salina- Jesus hung out with poeple to preach to them.(just like Witnesses)

Answer 9

The functionality of the sheeple in touch with the JW business enterprise is to flow door to door to garner "donations" for his or her mag business enterprise. Is their open debate in any business enterprise? hardly ever. the commonplace sheeple have faith in spite of the fact that the mag business enterprise tells them as they have faith the watchtower business enterprise is God's spokesperson on earth. could you question God? in case you question something--you're below the prospect of being thrown out, being completely ostracized by using each individual who's additionally in touch--in spite of the fact that if or no longer they're your little ones, marriage substantial different, discern or chum. they're going to publically shun and shame you until eventually you concede which you have been incorrect to question them and beg their forgiveness for even permitting such recommendations to come again on your recommendations, no longer to indicate to be voiced aloud. all of them stay below this danger and worry. the only source of "easy" of their business enterprise is from the business enterprise that they serve--the watchtower. i stumble on it exciting that the "easy bearer" in the bible is often called lucifer.

Answer 10

you are encouraged to answer at the kingdom hall, yet, if you are looking to become a riot at a meeting then, your answers are best kept after the meeting, and an elder or any one you wish to speak to would love to talk to you.,

Answer 11

A very good and fair question. I await a rational answer from a JW.