they seem like a different religion to me. but I really do not know
2006-07-20 10:11:23 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The link below will take you to a brochure about Jehovah's Witnesses entitled "Jehovah's Witnesses—Who Are They? What Do They Believe?" The brochure will answer many of your questions.
If you know a Witnesses, and many do, then ask one. They will be happy to help you. If you do not know a Witness then the second link will allow you to request a visit from one.
I hope you enjoy the brochure. Have a good day and "Read your Bible Daily"
2006-07-20 10:19:38 · answer #1 · answered by .*. 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
JW's are Christians and not a cult or anything that a lot of people say. They say that because they simply do not know and don't even bother to listen to what we have to say. And like some that have said that we believe that Jesus is just a prophet to us or what ever that is also false information. We believe and know that he is God's son.
John 3:16 "For God loved the world so much that he gave his only begotten son in order everyone excercising faith in him may not perish but have everlasting life."
(Scripture saying about Jesus's death)
Nor do we change the bible or use a different one like other poeple were saying. And we also don't believe in the Trinity so yes, we are Christians and we don't hate other Christians of a different religion. And another thing, no one is going to Hell.
2006-07-21 13:12:43 · answer #2 · answered by Don't worry be happy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since others have already explained & posted links to articles that directly answer your questions --and
in response to all the 'negative press' that this question has generated-- I've chosen to post a link to:
Should You Believe Everything You Hear? :
-- Propaganda Can Be Deadly
-- The Manipulation of Information
-- Do Not Be a Victim of Propaganda!
-- Is the Work of Jehovah's Witnesses Propagandistic?
http://www.watchtower.org/library/g/2000/6/22/article_01.htm
It shows how dangerous it can be to believe misguided comments &/or slanderous gossip about others, giving examples of what has happened to various groups & individuals in history who were innocent of the accusations against them ...
"Make sure of all things; hold fast to what is fine!" 1Th5:21
2006-07-21 18:44:26 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses are considered a Christian cult. Their main point of departure from Christian orthodoxy is their denial of the deity of Christ. They believe that Jesus was only a man.
They prefer to use their own version of the Bible called the New World Translation which diffuses some passages of Scripture which clearly teach that Jesus Christ was God incarnate.
They were sent to concentration camps by the Nazis during World War II.
Their zeal for evangelism is commendable!
Hope this helped.
2006-07-20 17:25:56 · answer #4 · answered by Kidd! 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I used to be one. They are a Christian based faith and believe that when judgment day come, I.e. the Great Tribulation and Armageddon, only those who are part of God's true organization will be saved. Of course, they think they are that organization. They have some beliefs that are out of the mainstream, like not accepting transfusion, celebrating holidays, voting, military service, but I think they do that to set themselves apart.
They are a cult and if you have any thoughts about getting involved with them do some research first because once you are in there you are discouraged from reading any other material.
My suggestion is to stay away.
2006-07-20 17:17:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian religion based solely on the Holy Scriptures.
Sadly, anti-Witnesses work to spread misinformation and outright lies about them. For example, Trinitarians repeatedly pretend that Jehovah's Witnesses are not Christian. Trinitarians use an artificial, trinity-specific definition of the term "Christian" which excludes anyone who does not believe that Jesus is God Himself, rather than the Son of God. Interestingly, pagans in the first century pretended that Christ's followers were Atheists(!) because the Christians had a somewhat different idea from the pagans about the nature of God.
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that no salvation occurs without Christ, that accepting Christ's sacrifice is a requirement for true worship, that every prayer must acknowledge Christ, that Christ is the King of God's Kingdom, that Christ is the head of the Christian congregation, that Christ is immortal and above every creature, even that Christ was the 'master worker' in creating the universe! Both secular dictionaries and disinterested theologians acknowledge that Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian religion.
The Trinitarian arguments are intended to insult and demean Jehovah's Witnesses, rather than to give a Scripturally accurate understanding of the term "Christian".
In fact, the bible most closely associates being "Christian" with preaching about Christ and Christ's teachings. Review all the times the bible uses the term "Christian" and note that the context connects the term with:
"declaring the good news"
'teaching quite a crowd'
'open eyes, turn from dark to light'
"uttering sayings of truth"
"persuade"
"keep on glorifying"
(Acts 11:20-26) [The early disciples of Jesus] began talking to the Greek-speaking people, declaring the good news of the Lord Jesus... and taught quite a crowd, and it was first in Antioch that the disciples were by divine providence called Christians.
(Acts 26:17-28) [Jesus said to Paul] I am sending you, to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God... Paul said: “I am not going mad, Your Excellency Festus, but I am uttering sayings of truth and of soundness of mind. ...Do you, King Agrippa, believe the Prophets? I know you believe.” But Agrippa said to Paul: “In a short time you would persuade me to become a Christian.”
(1 Peter 4:14-16) If you are being reproached for the name of Christ, you are happy... But if he suffers as a Christian, let him not feel shame, but let him keep on glorifying God in this name
So why do anti-Witnesses try to hijack the term "Christian" and hide its Scriptural implications? Because anti-Witnesses recognize that it is the preaching work that makes it clear that the relatively small religion of Jehovah's Witnesses are by far the most prominent followers of Christ:
(Matthew 28:19,20) Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded
Learn more!
http://watchtower.org
2006-07-21 07:40:59 · answer #6 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That which determines a Christian is not adherence to the popularly accepted beliefs of orthodox religious organizations or participation in popular religious practices and religious holidays. Conforming to the popular concept of a Christian does not make a person a Christian. What does is meeting Scriptural qualifications. The apostle Peter said: “Christ suffered for you, leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely.” (1 Pet. 2:21) One must follow the example Christ set. Jehovah’s Witnesses are the only ones today who do this.
Jesus Christ made himself thoroughly familiar with the Scriptures and lived by its right principles. He also bore witness to the name and purposes of his heavenly Father. “I have made your name known to them and will make it known.” (John 17:26) He stated that his purpose in coming was to bear witness to the truth. (John 18:37)
Christians of the first century followed Christ’s example by bearing witness to the truth, although this conflicted with the traditional teachings that were popularly accepted in those days. Early followers of Christ refused to adopt any of the philosophical beliefs or religious formalisms of the pagan Greeks and Romans. They knew that a Christian’s worship must be pure, undefiled by pagan influence. “Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?”—2 Cor. 6:14
Because Jehovah’s witnesses are unlike orthodox church members in their beliefs and religious activities, some persons may claim that they are not Christians; but they do meet the Scriptural requirements that determine a Christian. This is what counts, not what is popular.
2006-07-20 22:44:17 · answer #7 · answered by Maia-Kine' 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes, they are christians. They believe that only 144,000 people will go to Heaven to be priests and kings over the earth. The rest of the "saved" people will live in paradise on earth. They do not celebrate holidays because it does not say in the bible to celebrate holidays. They refuse blood transfusions, refuse to serve in war. well if i think of anything else i will let ya know.
2006-07-20 17:30:24 · answer #8 · answered by Kellkat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses are people who have an odd interpretation of scripture, in some instances even re-writing it to suit their own beliefs.
No, I would not call them Christian. They, like the Mormons, have a skewered opinion of who Jesus is. They think He is the archangel, Michael. Mormons think Jesus is the spirit brother of satan.
Confused people.
2006-07-20 17:18:07 · answer #9 · answered by christian_lady_2001 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They are termed a Christian cult. I know that people don't like the term cult, but the changes that they have made to the Bible are heretical and are not consistant with the Greek and Hebrew or any other translations.
This is a great website about the differences.
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/j02.html
2006-07-20 17:27:59 · answer #10 · answered by bobm709 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋