Jehovah's Witnesses, is there biblical support for the folding of hands during prayer?

Question

Let's be clear here, I'm asking multiple questions in this one initial question concerning one topic: "the folding of hands during prayer".

Is there biblical support for the folding of hands during prayer like they way you depict these Jehovah's Witnesses on your web site?

http://www.watchtower.org/e/19960715/article_02.htm

http://www.watchtower.org/e/20040915/article_02.htm

http://www.watchtower.org/e/rq/article_07.htm

The Bible gives us examples of men of God who, when they prayed, fell prostrate on the ground, knelt on their knees, lifted up their hands and beat their chests. Is there a reason why you think we should pray with our hands folded?

Shouldn't our body language depict what we're feeling when we're praying? that's exactly what we see in the Bible, so why don't we see on your web site people lying prostrate on the ground or beating their chests?

It also seems like a mechanical act. According to your web site you frown upon mechanical prayers and unnecessary aids during prayer.

"Accordingly, the Bible does not contain a single reference to a faithful servant of the true God ever using rosaries, prayer wheels, or other such objects in worship."

http://www.watchtower.org/e/200811a/article_01.htm

Also, did you know most religions around the world fold or clasp their hands when they pray? For example, take the prayer of Ardas of the Sika religion. They believe that if you fold your hands when you pray you'll be able to pray correctly from your heart. According to Islamic scholars folding hands during prayer is the correct way for Sunnis to pray. In Japan the correct way for people of the Shinto religion to pray is to clasp the hands together in front of the chest.

So, these pagan religions cling to folding or clasping hands during prayer. Why do you still do it if you believe in shunning that which has pagan or "christendom" influences? Pagans used to decorate pine trees right? Well, you shun that act, so why don't you shun the folding of hands during prayer even when multiple pagan religions do the exact same act?

"Do you find it acceptable that a religious leader would give a seemingly Christian meaning to events and symbols whose roots go back to ancient paganism? As to the proper course, the Scriptures admonish true Christians: “What fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness?”—2 Corinthians 6:14-17."

http://www.watchtower.org/e/20071215/article_01.htm

So, in conclusion...

I wish to know what biblical support you have for SPECIFICALLY folding hands during prayer.

Also, despite all the examples of emotion in body language of the men in the Bible during prayer, why do you depict people having to fold their hands during prayer instead?

Are you aware of all the religions around the world that believe folding or clasping or doing hand gestures during prayer actually has a literal "mystical" meaning?

After reviewing these questions why then do you shun other pagan traditions and still cling to folding hands during prayer?

Answer 1

The Bible seems to indicate that there is no position that is required for prayer - it shows men prostrating, but others not taking any position at all - yet all types of prayers were acceptable to God.



Prostration and such was a cultural thing in Bible times - folding hands is also cultural. JWs do not believe the exact culture of Bible times should be practiced today, especially since the various cultures in the Bible changed with time.



Most JWs that I know do not fold their hands when they pray. I think Rick G is right: the photos are that way to explicitly show they are engaged in prayer.



You seem to not understand JWs fundamentally when it comes to refraining from things that are pagan. Just because pagans did something doesn't mean it is wrong. For something to be wrong because of paganism, it has to be shown to *originate* in *false* religious practices, and it still has to have false religious overtones today. Even at that, this is a *general* rule of thumb.



As for following the Bible, again JWs do not feel the need to practice specific cultural acts like prostration. JWs are not ritualistic in their beliefs - the only rituals followed are those explicitly mentioned in the Bible, such as baptism and the Lord's Evening Meal.



It seems to me that you see JWs to be contradicting themselves in this instance. You are either mentioning this as a "gotcha!" type question (they're a dime a dozen on R&S), or you genuinely seek an answer from JWs about this apparent contradiction. However, the issue seems to be your understanding of how JWs view paganism and biblical culture, and not an actual contradiction on JW's part.

Answer 2

Folded Hands In Prayer

Answer 3

If you do a little research, you would see that 1st century Christians as well as the fiathful Jews did not celebrate birthdays. You would also see that birthday celebrations has its origin in pagan tradition and the worship of other gods. Ancient pagans attributed special significance to birthdates because they believed a special mystical connection existed between an individual and the god on whose birthday he was born. From this comes the tradition of refering to people as Aries, Capricorn, Cancer etc depending on the time of their birth, and the use of horoscopes. Since there is no fellowship between light and darkness Christians cannot participate in such festivities that are blatantly pagan in origin. In obedience to direction in God's word, they touch nothing unclean. (2 Corinthians 6:14-17) True Christians, motivated by love, seek to discern what is pleasing and displeasing to God (Ephesians 5:10). They do not need an exhaustive list of LAWS from the Bible spelling out specific dos and donts (1Timothy 1:8-9). They are able to discern from the PRINCIPLES in the Bible what is acceptable and what is not. (Hebrews 5:14) .

Answer 4

Wow, you typed all that out for what? You already asked this question, a couple times now if i am correct. Where those answers not satisfactory?





I believe that this scripture is applicable right about now:

2 Timothy 2:23= Further, turn down foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing they produce fights.





Why do you put so much thought and study into us, to try and accuse us of anything you can get a hold of?



You remind me of a thread i saw on one of the numerous apostate websites. In the spanish language version of the watchtower the governing body was written with the G and B capitalized. But in the english, it was not, so he had a big conspiracy theory how we downplay the role of the GB in the states, or something like that. So strange.



So, why do you do it? Don't you think that your efforts are better spent on other pursuits? What really are you accomplishing? Every single Witness can see that you do not want a real answer from a mile off.





You are truly a strange fellow.

Answer 5

I pray in many different postures. I prayed a minute ago over my meal with my hands simply sitting on the table next to my plate. When I pray with my wife I hold hands with her. Your making something out of nothing. The point of our pictures in our publications is to expound upon a certain point being made. The folding of hands and bowing of the head is universally recognized as someone praying. In this way the picture is understood by everyone. Which is a good thing since our mags are distributed all over the world. The only specifics in prayer is taking a position that shows humility.



I like the fact that you spend so much time at our website researching our literature. It's a start.

Answer 6

It is all a matter of personal preference. Would you suggest that I put my hands in my pockets?



As for the nitpicking of pictures, you mention that many religions practice folding their hands. Since the art work is for the public more than for us Jehovah's Witnesses, when they see a man bowing his head and with his hands folded, the visual image is understood as a man praying.



Most of my prayers, I don't fold my hands. It is MY preference and that is the same with everyone. You will not hear a brother at a meeting TELL the audience "please fold your hands for prayer".



If you could research other pictures, you might find David laying on his bed or couch, crying and praying, as done by many heart broken people do when in prayer.



Next, you will be telling us that BOWING our heads is also a pagan practice........ sigh.

Answer 7

And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer

and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD,

from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.

1Ki.8:54

Answer 8

Thank You for posting 5 links about prayer from our Web Site

We all learned something new

Answer 9

Make believe is still make believe no matter what you call it.

Answer 10

Adherent of many religions are at times blinded to such a point that they fail to apply logic or reason to their faith or beliefs. For example, Saint Thomas Aquinas, the most rational of Christian theologians, stopped the use of reason when it came to the basic fundamentals of Christian faith. He then tried to justify faith. So to ask "why Christianity?" is an illegitimate question. However, Allah invites the question as to "why Islam?"“We have certainly made clear to you the signs, if you will use reason.”3:118

Islam is a rational system which not only allows questions but raises knowledge to a new level of dignity and respect. No other religion has exalted knowledge and its pursuit, as has Islam. In fact, for the first time in human history, a religious book invited people to question the creation of the universe and stated that in it (the universe) were signs for people of understanding. ‘In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, there are Signs for people of intelligence.’(The Final Testament,i.e.Quran,3:190-191) “He directs the whole affair. He makes the Signs clear so that hopefully you will be certain about the meeting with your Lord.”(13: 2)



Everything in Islam is subject to rational pursuit.

Islam is an intellectual and historical religion. There are no secrets and no mysteries which cannot be understood by an ordinary person.

We should, therefore, refrain from forming particular ideology or opinion prior to witnessing clear evidence-just as Islam advises us.



The Qur'an, this extraordinary book which was revealed to the Seal of the Prophets,Muhammad (peace and blessings of Almighty be upon him), is a source of inspiration and true knowledge. “Allah Himself is witness that there is no God save Him. And the angels and the men of learning too are witness…There is no God save Him, the Almighty, the Wise.”3:18.The book of Islam-no matter what subject it refers to-is being proved as Allah's Word as each new piece of historical, scientific or archaeological information comes to light. Facts about scientific subjects and the news delivered to us about the past and future, facts that no being could have known at the time of the Qur'an's revelation, are announced in its verses. It is impossible for this information to have been known with the level of knowledge and technology available in 7th century Arabia. With this in mind, may we allow our common sense to speak on behalf of us awhile?

Could anyone in 7th century Arabia have known the precise date of the lunar landings?

Could anyone in 7th century Arabia have known the atomic number every single element?

Could anyone in 7th century Arabia have known that the word "Pharaoh" was only used from the 14th century B.C. and not before, as the Old Testament erroneously claims?

“If the sea were ink for (writing) the Words of my Lord, surely the sea would be exhausted before the Words of my Lord would be finished, even if We brought (another sea) like it for its aid.”(Quran-18:109)

Could anyone in 7th century Arabia have known the genetic code of many living organisms?

Could anyone in 7th century Arabia have known that the star ‘Sirius’ is the brightest star in the night sky?

Could anyone in 7th century Arabia have known that the universe is "steadily expanding," as the Qur'an puts it, when modern scientists have only in recent decades put forward the idea of the "Big Bang"?

“And He shows you His signs. So, which of the signs of Allah do you deny?” 40:81

Could anyone in 7th century Arabia have known about the fact that each individual's fingertips are absolutely unique, when we have only discovered this fact recently, using modern technology and modern scientific equipment?

Could anyone in 7th century Arabia have known about black holes, Pulsars, the Rosette Nebula, sub-atomic particles, quantum physics, fossilization and iron content, the layers of Earth, the weight of clouds, the relativity of Time, the Force of Gravity, the Orbital Movements, the sun’s trajectory, the programming in genes, the sun’s hydrogen and helium content, or many other facts scientists of our day are only just beginning to discover?

The only answer to these questions is thus: the Qur'an is the Word of the Almighty Creator,God. the Originator of everything and the One Who encompasses everything with His knowledge. In one verse, Allah says, "If it had been from other than Allah, they would have found many inconsistencies in it." (Qur'an, 4:82) Every piece of information the Glorious Qur'an contains reveals the secret miracles of this divine book.