Jehovah’s Witnesses: Does the Watchtower have rules against reading non-JW literature?

I'm surprised at the JWs who say "apostate" literature is not a part of non-JW literature. Sure we see lots of literature that are non-Trinitarian, but apostate literature is amongst them, a part of non-Trinitarian literature. I did read all the apostate material from the Watchtower.org and JehovahsJudgment websites among other apostate JW websites, these are all non-Trinitarian sites. Nothing keeps me from reading the apostate magazines that the JWs bring to my door, again they are non-Trinitarian magazines. So how can the JWs possibly say apostate materials is not a part of non-JW materials???

I gave them some of my own printed literature one time, but they never read it. I asked them some questions about my literature two weeks later on their next visit, and they were blank-faced, they couldn't answer.

To answer the question, the Watchtower does have rules against reading apostate materials, and this is part of non-JW materials which can never be separated.

With consistency the next thing you know, they will be saying their apostates are not a part of the non-JW population of worldly inhabitants, this is false.

Oh and Rev Kip is correct, right on the dot, and no JW can take away the literature being discussed. Here is more...

Watchtower 1986 3/15 p. 13-14

"13 But suppose we are preaching the good news and people raise questions or objections similar to those raised by opposers? Of course, if a person is not sincere and merely wishes to argue, usually it is best to excuse ourselves and go to the next door. But if someone sincerely asks about certain claims of apostates, what can be done? First, we can ask what, exactly, has caused the concern. It may be only one or two points. Then we can stick to these and answer from the Scriptures, from the Society’s publications, and from what we truthfully know about the subject. We need not conclude that we have to read a book or a pamphlet that is filled with slander and half-truths in order to refute the false claims and teachings of opposers."

Kingdom Ministry 1/03 p.1

"Christians are admonished that they “cannot be partaking of ‘the table of Jehovah’ and the table of demons.” (1 Cor. 10:21) This requires that we guard against unwholesome entertainment, bad associations, and dangers on the Internet. It also calls for our shunning apostate material. Being alert to these and other tactics of Satan will help us to live up to our dedication."

Kingdom Ministry 5/92 p.2

"15 min: Protect Yourself From Apostasy. Discussion between an elder and a publisher seated at a table. Publisher explains that he met someone in service who has been reading apostate literature. Publisher tells elder he feels householder was sincere in questions he raised. Publisher refused householder’s offer of apostate publication but would like to try to answer householder’s questions. Elder commends publisher for his good attitude and actions. Rather than discuss what apostates have written or said, it is wise to concentrate on Scriptural viewpoint of matters as set forth in Reasoning book. Elder invites publisher to open his Reasoning book, and together they review pages 34-7. Discussion should be warm and encouraging as they consider definition of apostasy, each bold subhead, and selected key texts as time permits. Conclude discussion with positive comments on all the upbuilding and encouraging material we have available for study. Share upbuilding message with householder. If he is sincere, he will see difference between the positive approach of truth and the negative, critical approach of apostates. By our rejecting apostate thinking and material, we display our loyalty to Jehovah and to his visible organization."

That is a funny one, because the "Reasoning" book is apostate material against our side. I really had to laugh so hard at this last quote, this proves how hypocritical these JWs of the Org really can get!

This is a good question, I haven't a clue which it is and I'd like to see a straight yes or no answer. I get the same mixed messages as the asker whenever I hear about it.

Everyone above seems to basically say 'we can but I don't' and then gives you their reasoning.

All I really have to go off is that you don't see many JWs who read points of view that contrast with their own (aka apostate literature), so I get the impression it might be discouraged even if it's not against their rules (correct me if I'm wrong and there is absolutely no official JW stance on looking into opposing views).

You say that "all Jehovah's Witnesses" are forbidden to have a beard. Actually that isn't true at all. It is a cultural thing. In the West where we live, our elders do not wear beards. This isn't always true in other countries. In countries where it is common for men to wear beards and it has always been common, our men there wear beards. The reason they don't in this country is to avoid having any reason for our ministry to be found fault with. We don't want ANYONE to turn away from the message because our appearance isn't clean, professional and neat. Most professional people in the west do not wear beards. This may not be true in other countries, but it is true here. You are right that "times change". As far as birthdays? I personally don't care one way or another about them, but I follow the guidance of the faithful and discreet slave class. While it is true that in the Bible they are portrayed in a negative light, there are other principles involved too. One of which is that "let no one thing more of himself than it is necessary to think". Romans 12:3 I've never celebrated birthdays or spent much time around people who do, but I've heard of people getting all offended and causing big rifts in relationships because someone else hasn't honored his or her birthday. Don't you think that is a little excessive? Don't you agree that when someone views themselves as THAT important that they are giving honor to the wrong person rather than to God? Beyond that whatever people do "today" or whatever reason they may have for doing it or not doing it, don't you agree that God has been around a LONG LONG time and that HE has seen the origins and all the reasons why people started all the various pagan customs. Don't you think HE knows where they came from? If it weren't a big deal, if it didn't involve false worship, if "times have changed" then wouldn't this be true of ALL pagan customs? Couldn't you make the same argument for Christmas or Easter or Halloween? If you DID make that argument would you be fooling God? After all he was around when people worshipped the Sun God (Saturnalia) or Ashtoreth, Baal and Molech (Easter) and certainly he knows how much honor you give to the wicked ones when you celebrate halloween... The "Day of the Dead" (some have said) goes all the way back to honoring the Nephilim, the sons of the wicked Demons which sons were executed by Jehovah at the flood. When you think of what a LONG history ancient pagan customs have, and what a dishonorable beginning they had, how they started as a way to honor false gods, and how Satanism itself teaches that "everyone" can be a "god", and how most of theser practices honor Jehovah's ENEMY rather than Jehovah, Does it seem reasonable that WE who call ourselves HIS people would participate in such God dishonoring things?

They are both correct, there is no formal rules on the "non-JW material". It's more of an understanding, with a twist and that twist is the threat of thier salvation that this type of material brings with it. They put the fear of Satan upon all material that is not endorsed by the Watchtower. This is inbread into them at their birth of believeing in the Watchtower concept. That once they start with the JW's they are in the truth and Satan will start attacking them. Any influence outside the Watchtower that is contrary to their teaching is considered to be influence from Satan. They are even warned about family members that may try to influnce them are being guided by Satan. So all this is for their protection.

Jehovah's Witnesses are trained into believing that they can only get the truth through the Watchtower Organization. Instead of reading the scriptures to seek truth, they are brainwashed by the watchtower magazines, which control their thoughts. They simply confirm the scripture verse referenced by the magazine. Many of their false doctrines can be proven false simply by reading the verse in context with the rest of the paragraph or book of the Bible they are referencing.

They are taught that all other study material is “propaganda” or “apostate” literature and this frame of thought prevents them from ever reading other literature by which their doctrine will be proved false. They are taught that they cannot even trust the undefiled Word of God (Bible) alone without their magazine studies to discern truth! In fact, they claim in one of their articles, if the JW were to stop reading their magazine studies and read the Bible ALONE, after two years the JW would go into utter “darkness”! The truth be told, the Word of God alone, would bring them to the TRUE light… ”Jesus Christ!”

So why they are told this is for thier protection, it is quite clear to the free thinking christians that this is a control technique used to keep them in their fold.

One of the very first rules of a cult is to control information, control that which is learned and allow no outside influence. This is done so the only belief is their belief and by anyone who trys to influence them as being used by Satan. They also use this as evidence that they must be in the truth as Satan is always trying to get them away from these truths. Not that they could, in any way, be wrong. I have seen so much that I know if the sky open up and a very loud voice came calling in a very bright white light and that Voice said "Jesus is God" They would go scrambling all over the place to yell back as say "no he is not, because the Watchtower says he is not. They are told to believe all things just as the bible tells themn to believe all things the Watchtower brings out.

Poto is funny as heck. In every one of his answers he rants, name calls and throws out wild accusations. I have never seen him answer one question like an adult or provide any proof for his claims against Reverend K or silenced lions. Anyone can clearly see Reverend K is in fact who he says he is and has the education to back it up. We can all see Silenced lions is an Ex Jw.

My wife is an Ex Jw and she was told exactly what Reverend K says on the matter. In fact her mother is still in the cult and I saw her rip up a Joyce Meyer magazine I had on my coffee table because she said it was written by Satan.

One time My wife picked up her mother to get lunch. In the car my Wife keeps a NIT Bible. Well my Mother In law tried to throw the Bible out the Window because she said it was Satans Bible.

Of course the Jw will say I am wrong. They practice a thing called theocratic warfare. They won't tell you what really goes on inside a Kingdom hall unless you commit to become a JW. Ask any Ex Jw who was kicked out for reading Non Watchtower material if you don't believe me.

Currently I know 42 Ex Jw who go the boot for reading or mentioning "Apostate Material". Of these 3 were Elders.

Lastly let me clear some things up

1. I am not a self professed expert in the Jw....I am a college trained and certified one. I have a M.A in Theological and administrative studies with a minor in Jewish history and culture. I also obtained an education and certification as a Cult intervention specialist.

2. I did debate via Email with several JW but when you try circular reasoning and refuse to answer my questions then I stop talking. Jesus said to dust off your sandals when people refuse to listen.

God Bless!

Does anyone really believe or care what Poto ever has to say? We can see he doesn't have a mature mentality.

Other religious material isn't necessarily apostate material.

We do avoid apostate material like the plague... after all, it's insidiously designed to tear down & destroy our faith.

Other religious material is different. Please take the time to look at things from our perspective & listen to our comments with an open mind as if you're really interested... many of us have been in other religions before becoming Jehovah's Witnesses. We've read all those before & have now rejected the Trinitarian ideals that those promote... so why would we take the time to reread such things?

Have you heard of the musical "Oliver"? ... when he asked for more gruel?

Well, if you liken us to Oliver before we came to know what real good food tasted like (what we have now) .. we feel that other religions are still feeding on gruel.

If Oliver knew what a good steak dinner tasted like, would he want to go back to gruel? .... Certainly not.

REv. Kip is spot on about the Witnesses every time and they don't like it. Truth hurts but it should be taken at face value and examined.

Reverend Kip is correct in saying JWs are prohibited in reading material that disagree and EVEN QUESTION Watchtower doctrine. I know this for a fact because it was told to me 4 months ago when I was struggling and wanting to know some answers to their false prophecies. Their refusal to do this with me woke me up. I'm thankful. I started doing my research, talked to a number of people (current JWs, ex-Jehovahs Witnesses, theologians) I've been told to just walk away and not engage them in conversation because they are taught from childhood how to answer. I have attended their Monday service where I witnessed an elder tell a young man that when he goes door to door make sure you speak "as if" its from your heart...work on the inflections in your voice, etc. So many stories to share so little time.

**My answer will quickly get many "thumbs down" which happens every time I speak out so read quickly!**

I am Jehovah's witness and I have the right to choose to read anything i want. When i was in prison i went to their church so that i could get a bible and literature. Anything that quotes scripture as it is hard to get a study with the jws unless you are a long term resident and not just 40 days here 90 days there. I can and do read anything because i know i have the truth! No one can sway me with their words and i avoid toxic banter on Jw's because i hate those lying opposers!!! There is a saying "You are what you eat" and spiritual food comes in the form of words. What have you eaten spiritually lately?