No. Edit - JW's are not only encouraged to ask questions they are encouraged to read the Bible at any time or place.

The Society does not have any teachings. All they do is direct attention to what the Bible says. with great accuracy. Nothing is taught that cannot be backed with scripture. To question the teachings is to question what the Bible says.

The Watchtower society in the Watchtower magazine ONLY re-affirm Bible scripture. NO teachings are printed that cannot be backed by scripture. Derogatory statements based on dislike of the Society do nothing to improve this forum. But J.W's are used to such treatment. It is not even original.

I see a correct answer but it needs to be.. extended or rather revised. If somebody has a question about an article in the Watchtower or Awake they have the provision of a mailing address to the watxhtower organization to ask about it or discuss it, you will find in the watchtower the "Questions from Readers" sections, it is based on bible and i have seen only bible questions there but if i were to say to an elder "I don't like how the watchtower pictured moses as having white hair" (as a non-provokative illustration) and i went and told everyone "Moses had brown hair!! moses had brown hair!! the watchtower must be wrong!!" (it would be pretty stupid i know but what else is there to bring up, i see nothing wrong with the wt) you would be seen as stupid saying something about the bible that you have just believed yourself for however many years you believed it. You will not get disfellowshipped for that but if you start doubting then you will not stand firm in the truth, the bible does say this also. If you know the bible then i don't need to tell you scriptures, if you don't then you shouldn't be here discussing it, correct? (well, not true in all cases)

To put it plainly no...and for all the false statement sumitted...Those who know Jehovah's Witnessess know these claims are false

In response to all those who feel that the Watchtower Society and its publications promote man-made rules different from the Bible. I would challenge those ones to give examples. I reiterate [ re-state] my original claim. That every statement and claim is backed by a scripture. No concepts or ideas are introduced that cannot be scripture backed.

This is all I can offer, if a baptized JW renounces the Truth, they are outcasted (as they put it) but other JWs will continue to try to help the person see The Truth, they don't give up on the outcast, I know, my upstairs neighbor was an ex-JW and got reinstated.

Yes, they can be. If someone merely writes to the Society for an answer, and waits for their reply, that is the "correct" thing to do. However, anyone who questions the teachings and then attempts to find the answers on one's own will be disfellowshipped for apostasy. This includes independent Bible study, going to another religion, reading alternate viewpoints on the Internet, or integrating personal experiences and other sources with the Bible (which, incidentally, would provide the best possible answer). And, once the answer appears in the Watchtower, further questioning will lead the "elders" to question that member. If the member sticks with his/her own view (which may in fact be more practical than that of a group of old men in seclusion), then they can get disfellowshipped.

The term ' outcasted 'is not used. In 15 years as a baptised J.W., I have never heard it used. The proper term for someone put out of the organisation for deliberate misbehaviour is " Disfellowshipping".

Of course not. Most issues of the Watchtower publish an article entitled “Questions From readers”. It is found in the back of the magazine, usually on pages 30 to 31. In the December 1st 2006 issue, the question asked the Watchtower is, “Was Jesus being disrespectful or unkind in the way he addressed his mother at the wedding feast in Cana? (John 2:4). Questions like these are welcome. They benefit us all. When a Jehovah’s Witness comes to your door in December, ask them to show you the December 1st 2006 issue. They will have a copy for you.

You would not necessarily be disfellowshipped for asking questions. However if you do no go along with their interpetation of the scriptures that they use to dispute your question and act on you disbelief of their answer you will be considered an an apostate if your questions become a public issue in the congregation I know this from experience an ex jw who could not get answers from elders on two issues that were satisfactory and scripture proven now I am a born again messianic Jew with the peace of the L-rd, in my mind soul and spirit and would not give it up for the world.

God's true servants study His word the Bible, and his standards are always discussed at Christian meetings, So Christians are in a position to know what Jehovah God requires of them. Disfellowshipping only takes place if a memeber of the congregation unrepentatly engages in gross sin. (1Corinthians 5:1-5) So if one is disfellowshipped it is not for "questioning" the teachings but rather for going against Jehovah God Himself and His STANDARDS. (This is how God himself keeps his congregation of people CLEAN and spearate from the world). Who are we to argue with God?

YES, memebers of the JW faith WILL BE DISFELLOWSHIPPED if they question the teachings of the Watchtower and are believed to be NOT repentant in their doubts. Independant thinkers are not allowed. Those doubting members are in this way identified as no longer being one of Jehovah's Witnesses. They are then shunned and viewed as "leaven" (or sin) which needed to be "dealt with" ie cut off and viewed as spritually dead. Jehovah's Witnesses then can no longer even say a greeting to them nor eat a meal with them. Faithful Jehovah's Witnesses as defined by the WT org are followers who will accept EVERY belief by the JW governing body. They encourage members to "wait on the organization" if they view it to be in violation of their Bible trained concience, and to keep their mouth shut of any doubts or else reap the consequances of being cut off...and shunned.

It all depends on the wording. I question -everything-... and I've done so for more than a decade as a JW. I've -openly- disagreed with quite a few WBTS viewpoints... for example, I haven't worn a tie in years because the tie originates with military uniforms and french aristocracy. The difference is I "ask questions." ... I have my opinion, and I may disagree. Where people go wrong is instead of "asking questions" ... they start getting upset and throwing around accusations. For example, I don't really "celebrate birthdays" because I think it makes a kid spoiled. But, I don't mind wishing a kid "happy birthday" as long as he's not being a twit. That's my reasoning. However, if I present the SAME thing in a different way by getting in a shouting match about how "JWS ARE DENYING ME BIRTHDAYS BECAUSE YOU'RE AN EVIL CULT!" ... yea... the problem isn't "questioning things" ... it's forming an opinion, being stuck in that opinion, and throwing around accusations at people who will not follow you.