Why are there no windows in the Kingdom Hall?

[John_Dove]

I believe that the answer to their not being windows in many (not all) Kingdom Halls is because of vandelism. I used to study with witnesses and have attended several Kingdom Halls here in the south as well as in Michigan. Some had windows and others didn’t. They do worship in their services. They are not in there counting money and the numbers of people to convert all the time either. My understanding is that Jehovah’s Witnesses are vandelized alot because they upset so many people with their witnessing and with their doctrines. I know of people who have thrown (literally) witnesses out of their homes and off of their porches. I knew one man who shot at them when they came around his home. Of course he wasn’t actually aiming at them but he got his point across. They do not have bizarre acts of worship like some cults are implied to have. Anyone is welcome and encouraged to come to their meetings. I would discourage any true christian or even anyone who is wondering about them from setting foot inside any of their services. They teach false doctrine and their is nothing of worth to be found in their meetings. John D.

 

[carol_marie]

I wouldn’t really call what we did “worship” - it was certainly alot of study and discussion of our beliefs - but I don’t recall ever thinking of any of it being “worship.”

I think the answer I got when I asked about the no windows thing (because even the few small windows a Kingdom Hall might have are covered in closed curtains) - I was told that because we were to be “no part of the world,” the Kingdom Hall was a place where we could be totally seperate. Apparently the windows would “let the world in.”

I’m not saying that makes any sense - it’s just what I remember.

 

[adventistnomore]

carol marie:

I was told that because we were to be “no part of the world,” the Kingdom Hall was a place where we could be totally seperate. Apparently the windows would “let the world in.”

Hm… Fascinating!

 

[flameburns623]

I’m going to contact a couple of friends about the issue. I think it’s largely bogus. Many Kingdom Halls have windows, in my experience. They just don’t have STAINED-GLASS windows, partly because of the cost and partly because they believe in relatively simple worship. I sat in on a Bible study in a Kingdom Hall once and watched a couple of birds outside the windows of the little classroom. Kingdom Halls are quite well lighted and airy, so whoever suggested they don’t like light is mistaken. No one should feel ‘claustrophobic’ inside a Kingdom Hall. Local Witnesses often paint murals on the walls based upon whatever the current theme is for their annual conferences, and the rooms are fairly nicely decorated–rather utilitarina by Catholic standards, but still attractive.

By the way–Kingdom Halls are open to the public. Nothing is going on inside that anyone who wanted to couldn’t attend. (Except private conferences between elders and individuals in need of spiritual counseling, of course; and probably also internal business meetings–the sorts of things usually not open to the public in any church).

Here are some photo galleries I found of Kingdom Halls:

community.webshots.com/album/145950033LuxuEn

If I can get more info I will post it.

If there is any reason at all for the paucity of windows, the two most reasonable explanations I have seen posted here are that the JW’s have had frequent experience with vandalism AND since Kingdom Halls are often constructed very quickly, it is easier to limit the numbers of windows installed. But I’m not certain that it is even a true observation

 

[Evan]

So a followup question might be why do all ancient churches have no windows and many eastern churches (like those built in washington state in the last decades) have no windows?

Why did the church not allow clear glass in the windows till recently?

Answer: During the mass (or Divine Liturgy) we are transported from this place to heaven to sing praises with the angles before the thrown of the lamb of God. and it would be better not to see the earth when we are in heaven. We will see the earth again at the end of the liturgy.

Eastern churchs are filled with icons (images of saints in heaven).
Western churchs are filled with stained glass (images of saints in heaven) but, until recently, none had clear glass, etched galss, or sandblasted glass.