Jehovah's Witnesses: Do you Actually Ban Individual Study Groups?
I pose this query because I have read questions here which strongly contend that you do. Of course, when a Jehovah's Witness answers the question, he or she is blocked so that not only can we NOT read responses from Jehovah's Witnesses concerning Jehovah's Witnesses, but the answer of the one who initially DOES respond cannot be seen. So I wanted to hear from Jehovah's Witnesses who perhaps were blocked as well. Are you banned from having individual study groups? Are you prohibited from getting together and doing research? Thanks for your help.
2013-08-13T11:46:05Z
Thank you very much, Mimi. But the terms “endorse” and “ban” are not coterminous. One can be spoken of as not endorsing a thing; yet it cannot be said that this same one is ‘banning’ the thing. My question specifically asks whether Jehovah's Witnesses ‘ban’ individuals studying in groups.
2013-08-13T11:48:34Z
Thank you Matthew. That is most interesting. Can you help us out by providing the direct quote from the magazine as well as the 1980 magazine from which it came? I would like to look it up.
2013-08-14T04:36:13Z
Thanks, nohglf, for providing a full citation. Thanks also for pointing out that the slave class neither condemns nor bans Bible study and research.
2013-08-14T04:36:40Z
Thanks Tim in 66. Exactly! How indeed would you ban?
2013-08-14T04:37:05Z
Thanks Suzy, for pointing out the obvious: Jehovah's Witnesses have family night worship, usually Tuesday. Clearly, group studying and research are not banned.
2013-08-14T04:37:56Z
Thanks, Zebra. Even on the Internet, groups are studying and researching. Patently, not banned.
2013-08-14T04:39:13Z
So . . . “The 1981 Watchtower ‘could be’ the August 15, 1981." “COULD BE?” A 1980 Watchtower was referenced, not 1981. But I will have to look up both when I get home. Thanks for the possible source. In the interim, if the contention is that the slave class ‘bans’ study groups and research, why would I seek out evidence from someone who ceased being one of Jehovah's Witnesses decades ago? Surely evidence can be provided from Jehovah's Witnesses’ own literature, yes?
2013-08-15T04:16:03Z
Nohglf: Thanks so much for the quote in its entirety from the August 15, 1981Watchtower! I just looked it up! Clearly, it was taken out of context as is often the case. Not always, but often enough to give one pause. The slave class is speaking of those who - like the oppressive wolves Paul described at Acts 20:29 - speak twisted things to ‘draw away the disciples after themselves.’ “From among the ranks of Jehovah’s people, they arise with one object in mind: to pull the disciples away from Jehovah’s table.
2013-08-15T04:17:37Z
Guy Withagrin: Wow! Just wow! Thanks!
2013-08-16T04:21:06Z
I am reminded somewhat of John 5:39: “You are searching the scriptures because you think that by means of them you will have everlasting life and these are the very ones that bear witness about me.”
Some are searching the literature because they think by means of information contained therein, they will have proof that Jehovah's Witnesses ban study groups and yet the information they cite – when quoted in its entirety - is the very thing that proves otherwise.
≈ nohglf2013-08-13T20:52:19Z
Favorite Answer
The article entitled "“Beloved Ones, . . . Keep Yourselves in God’s Love” from the September 1st 1982 Watchtower (paragraph 6) says the following:
"6 Whereas God, by his spirit, assured the unity of those loving him, those ungodly ridiculers tried to “make separations,” or “distinctions,” endeavoring to carry on a separating work among Jehovah’s people. (Jude 19, New World Translation, 1950 edition, footnote; Psalm 133:1-3; 1 Corinthians 1:10)
Although the ridiculers spoke against faithful responsible men in the congregation, the ungodly ones expressed admiration for individuals who could benefit them. (Jude 8, 16) Like the Pharisees, they looked down on the humble, godly members of the congregation. Rather than gathering with the Lord, they tried to scatter. Even today some try to draw the unsteady away into private groups, supposedly for “Bible study.” This could never promote love for God, Christ and the Christian congregation.—Luke 11:23."
The quote above is not saying that you cannot study the publications or bible with other Witnesses. The article is speaking about not dealing with those that are teaching what is contrary to the scriptures. It is saying that some may say things against the bible and pretend that they want to have a genuine bible study with you, but really all they want to do is twist the scriptures and teach their own philosophy.
It seems that Matthew and others have misread older magazines or have deliberately taken them out of context.
It is fine if you want to study the bible or publications with others.
Edit: This is from pg. 25 of the August 15th 1981 Watchtower:
“From time to time, there have arisen from among the ranks of Jehovah’s people those who, like the original Satan, have adopted an independent, faultfinding attitude. They do not want to serve “shoulder to shoulder” with the worldwide brotherhood. (Compare Ephesians 2:19-22.) Rather, they present a “stubborn shoulder” to Jehovah’s words. (Zech. 7:11, 12)
Reviling the pattern of the “pure language” that Jehovah has so graciously taught his people over the past century, these haughty ones try to draw the “sheep” away from the one international “flock” that Jesus has gathered in the earth. (John 10:7-10, 16) They try to sow doubts and to separate unsuspecting ones from the bounteous “table” of spiritual food spread at the Kingdom Halls of Jehovah’s Witnesses, where truly there is ‘nothing lacking.’ (Ps. 23:1-6)
They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such ‘Bible reading,’ they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom’s clergy were teaching 100 years ago, and some have even returned to celebrating Christendom’s festivals again, such as the Roman Saturnalia of December 25! Jesus and his apostles warned against such lawless ones."
The quote above is talking about those that are trying to draw people (the same as the 1982 Watchtower I discussed above). As it says above in the 1981 article, the article is taking about those that are actively trying to "sow doubts and to separate unsuspecting ones".
Again, studying with others is acceptable as I mentioned earlier and this 1981 article does not suggest that studying with others is wrong.
I should have done this today, but really wasn't feeling in the mood - having woken up with a headache and feeling sick - but anyway, my spiritual niece and I are going to study: Imitate their Faith. I have already read this amazing book and keen to read it again and so via skype, we are studying together.
My good friend also goes to another sister's house and studies the watchtower together.
When we are in such harmony, there is great pleasure in studying and exchanging ideas on what the new world is going to be like and Armageddon.
And yep I have been blocked by a few apostates which makes me laugh because they still pose questions to us and yet won't let us answer, which is just inane!
No, rather we are encouraged to have a family study evening at least once a week, and are encouraged to have others join in on that family study. Many times it is just some single people getting together to study and other times it is families with other families or single people who join us. We do not have a study program assigned by the faithful and discreet slave, it is up to each group leader to decide what to study and of course they take suggestions and 99% of the time use those suggestions. It is nice to have others over and enjoy each others company. It is also nice to make up some dinner and have some recreation time after the study. I know we like to play Scrabble and cards.
Edit: I noticed one of the apostates claims we can not use any material outside of the "Watchtower", I know we our group doesn't even use the NWT very often. We like to see all the other translations. Why? Because where we live at, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, the people in our field ministry are Bible readers. When you go door to door here, and you pull out your Bible, they pull out there's, and more often than not, their Bibles are very well used. I know we do a lot of business territory. Now you would think if a person is working they wouldn't have time for reading something as deep as the Bible, and you would also be wrong. I have watched welders pull out their Bibles from their lock boxes, I have watched bus drivers pull out their Bibles from underneath their seats, I have watched clerks pull their Bibles from under the counter. What is most amazing to me, is these are Spanish people reading both Spanish and English Bibles, their Spanish Bibles, which are usually a Spanish form of Catholic Bible still has Jehovah's name in them. It was not taken out the way it was out of the English ones. The English Bibles they use is various translations, NIV, NJB, and the least likely one to be seen is the King James. Why? I asked this a few times, and the answer is always the same. "The King James Bible took God's name, Jehova, out of it". I left the h off the end of Jehovah because they always pronounce it as it is pronounced in Spanish. These people know God's name and they use it. And though this is a Catholic country, the trinity is not believed in here. I have not met a single person from this part of Mexico who believes in the trinity.
So, to the apostate's claim, it holds no truth. We use many types of research including other Bibles. Without the research how can we be effective teachers? Without the research we would lose our faith just as these apostates have lost theirs.
that's an exceedingly good question and thank you for offering the links to help your declare...The Witnesses are a Cult and any questioning that's break free the training is rapidly and carefully squashed. i become a Witness for over 20 years and that i knew of no one which examine the bible with out between the Watchtower aides. questions such simply by fact the single you have published will effect in you being questioned in the back of doors via a least 2 Elders.
Hannah, wow! I've learned a new word today. Coterminous: "1. having the same border or covering the same area. 2. being the same in extent; coextensive in range or scope."
No, individual study groups, such as for family study nights, are not "banned." I frequently hear of families getting together for their family study. If it is any help, the information provided at:
provides possible topics for discussion, but that is left entirely up to the families involved.
Insofar as "banning" goes, how would it be possible to ban anything, let alone individual study groups?
Rather than being "prohibited from getting together and doing research," the opposite is the case.
Edit: @ Guy Withagrin: Loved your personal experience. Big thumbs up from me! [Unfortunately, I can't say the same for the typically irreverent Aussie, most of whom would never be seen with a Bible. There are still teachable ones among them, tho']
Edit# 2: Unlike what Mimi has falsely asserted, I have even had discussions with elders at get togethers in my home, for example, as to what they think might precipitate the prophesy at 1 Thessalonians 5:2,3 concerning the cry of "peace and security." That isn't something where we think, as Mimi suggests, "Oh, we'd better watch what we say because we don't want to get into trouble with the Governing Body."
JWs are naturally interested in the future, and what is wrong with an exchange of views as to the possible detail of how prophesy might be fulfilled, taking into account things we see happening around the earth today? Nothing whatsoever.