Why is the Jehovah Witnesses' Religion considered a cult?

Question

I have heard a lot of things about them but can't decide if it's rumor or fact.

Answer 1

Main Entry: cult
Pronunciation: 'k<
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate -- more at WHEEL
1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents

*ALL* religions are essentially cults, that's why. Just pick up a dictionary and look it up.

Answer 2

It is not a cult by any means. I was raised Baptist and became one of Jehovah's Witnesses about 9 years ago, it is wonderful to study the bible and live by the principals taught there.
Some of the things that initially jumped out to me when I began my study with the witness's is that there is not one person leading the congregation (like a preacher or priest) We have a different speaker each week that has attended the ministry school and been approved by the governing body to prepare the public talk (1 hr) He is given an outline and once he has prepared a talk it is submitted to be scrutinized for accuracy then once it is approved he is assigned to give the talk at different Kingdom Halls in the district.
So there is never the chance of being mislead by any one certain individuals spin on things.
We have the 1 hr public talk then 1 hr Watchtower study on Sundays.
Also, I found it very cool that there are close to 7 million witnesses attending meetings in over 235 lands worldwide and yet if I were to go on vacation (China, Australia, Africa...where-ever) I could walk into the Kingdom Hall with my watchtower and know they are doing the same thing back home. Talk about united in worship.
Another thing that was so different from when I was Baptist was the money plate.
They do not ever pass a collection plate or ask for money during meetings. There is a private box located in the Hall that if you want to donate you can, we all understand that there are certain costs like electricity and water but it is never a competition or pushed on you to "dig deeper" and give. I would see people looking in the offering dish as it was passed on like "oh, someone put a $50 in"
Jehovah's people live strictly by what is actually in the scriptures and if it is unpleasing to God then we do not make excuses and think that it will be overlooked and acceptable or forgiven.
If we know it is wrong and practice it anyway, there is no excuse.
People want to change things like fornication (sex without being married to the person) is ok or homosexuality but Jehovah is very clear on the matter and has never changed his position.
They will not inherit the Kingdom.
As a Baptist, I didn't even know what that Kingdom was. You know, the Lord's prayer...Let your Kingdom come, let your will be done ...
Good luck in your personal search for the truth.
You can tell a tree by the fruit it bears. If the religion allows things to go on that are wrong, then it is not truly God's people.
I've seen churches in my area actually have Halloween parties.
I would be very happy to talk with you more at length.

Answer 3

Any religious group that does not accept that Jesus Christ is the ETERNAL God is a cult. The JW's fall into this belief. They believe that Jesus Christ was created by God the Father. In reality the Bible says of Jesus, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God; Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made;The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (John 1:1, 3, 14). And again, "He is before all things" (Colossians 1:17).
The JW's have rewritten in their own Bible almost all the verses I just quoted because the text the way it is in the original Greek contradicts their beliefs.
Even the Bible says that any person or group that denies Jesus Christ the way the Bible portrays Him is to be avoided(but of course, we are to still love them and pray for them):"Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him" (2nd John 1:9-10)
Don't let Satan deceive you! Trust the real and only Christ as your personal Savior. Get into a Bible teaching church. Read and study your Bible everyday, particulary the New Testament. This will best help you grow in your relationship with the eternal God--Jesus Christ.

Answer 4

They would put themselved in a unique position claiming all other demonimnations are false.

To be honest I would have a healthy skeptisism of a group that had a translation of the Bible done anonymously, usually that means the transaltors are unqualified and wont accept criticism

Generally orthodox Christians are careful with two questions
1) who is Jesus and they, as I do, say Jesus is fully God and fully man. JW say Jesus is a created angel, Michael the archangel and not fully God It is a problem that the only places that discuss Michael and Jesus in the new testament which are Jude and Revelation mention both on the same page and do not connect them, leaning away from the JW position
Jesus said 'tear down this body and in three days I will raise it again" Jesus was human enough to die and divine enough to raise himself, fully unfallen man and fully God.

2) how do you come to God
JW's believe Jesus was not raised in the orthodox sense, They feel God destrpoyed Jesus body and recreated him anew and orthodox people say every example of resurection in the bible the dead body became alove and this does not appear to be what happened in their view Addiitonally it does not appear that JW have a developed concept of saving grace and appear to be more salvation by works oriented, instead of putting God in the blazing center of salvation human effort seems to be

Additionally some ideas JW pick really eccentric positions like their name, the actual workd Jehovah is not Biblical but a mix of the vowels of lord (adonai) and the consonants of Yahweh (simila to I AM) a mistaken german to english translation made Jehovah and this is the concensus of almost everyone but JW since its in their name and they insist wrongly that its the propper name of God

I do not mean to sound overly critical, but I think these are alot of the issues. I thnk they are very sincere, but you want to be sincerely right not sincerely wrong

Answer 5

Some may think they are cult like because
they differ from orthodox Christianity in rejecting the doctrines of the Trinity and Hellfire in favor of Unitarianism and the soul not surviving death. Though not strictly pacifists, Jehovah's Witnesses refuse to become involved in conflicts, and as a result have been victims of governmental persecution, notably by the Nazi government during World War II. They are well known for their rejection of blood transfusions. Their stand regarding blood transfusions has garnered criticism from some medical and legal sources. Members who are judged to be unrepentant sinners are excommunicated from the congregation and shunned, until such time as they demonstrate repentance if they so choose, a practice that critics have called cruel and arbitrary.

Answer 6

It isa cult because it was only started in the early 1900s by a man who was scared of hell. The witnesses change the bible just by a very little and they misinterpret an awful lot. They have only had about 5 leaders since theystarted. One was imprisoned I think for embezelling. Thereis a history of them and several other cults by Fritz Ridenhour, the book is called "So What's the Difference" it's pretty fair, very informative.

Answer 7

The JWs are considered as a cult by some, and a sect by some.

--
what are the doctrines of the jehovah's witnesses ...
--

The Jehovah's Witnesses are a sect that believes that

(a) Jesus Christ is a created being;
(b) Jesus was and is Michael the Archangel;
(c) Jesus is not God;
(d) Jesus was created by God;

(e) We do not have an immortal soul;

(f) when we die, we cease to exist, until we are re-created by God at the Resurrection, in time for the Judgment;

(g) only 144,000 Jehovah's Witnesses will make it to heaven;

(h) the rest of the Jehovah's Witnesses who were faithful to the Jehovah's Witness gospel and leaders will live for ever on earth (not in heaven).

For articles that evaluate the teachings of the Jehovah's Witnesses, see http://www.godsci.org/gs/sect/jw/jw00.html

Cordially,
John

Answer 8

Many organized religions are based on membership. As such, many religions (as well as fraternal societies, unions, hobby clubs, etc.) have cult-like ceremonies and activites built into thier routines. On of the more prevelent of these activities of the Jehovah's is recruitment. One of the tenets of being a good Christian is 'speading the word and winning converts'. But only the Jehovah's walk through neighborhood, ringing doorbells. Becasue of this they are branded more cult-like than other sects of Christianity.

Hope this helps.

Answer 9

The guy above that said women are dominated by men thats a lie. and its not a cult its a rumor honestly of all churches Ive been to thats the best and most honest choice of religion u could go for ..

Answer 10

Become grounded in your faith...first.

I would strongly recommend reading the Holy Bible first. Start in the New Testament with John...

The New Testament explains the Old Testament too.

There's an awesome book to read up on "Religions A - Z" by James Beverley...Great insight!

They don't celebrate Easter because they don't believe in the resurrection the way Orthodox Christians do. They don't celebrate Christmas because they think that in the Bible only the evil Kings / Caesars birthdays are mentioned.

Also...they believe that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are satanic. That alone told me they are a false religion.

Oh and they (JW) believe that Jesus died on a stake, not the Cross...

They also believed at one time that only 144,000 Jehovah's Witnesses were getting into heaven. Then their membership went above 144,000...and they backed off that. They also have predicted (and gave the specific years) over the last century that the end of the world was coming...

I read up on different religions out of interest...and I'm glad I did. It reinforced what I knew to be true before I read up on them. That my relationship with Jesus Christ is right on the money. Religion is just that...religion.

Religion is man's way of trying to reach God.

Relationship is God's way of reaching us, through Jesus Christ.

Grace to you and God Bless!

Answer 11

All religious organizations are cults.

Here is the Webster's entry for the word cult:
Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate
1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents
3 : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents


The ones that I have met are some of the nicest people I've ever spoken to. One afternoon when I was in high school, some Witnesses came to my door. I invited them in and we had a nice chat. We ended up meeting in my kitchen every Wednesday afternoon for about a year. I don't believe in God, but we still talked about the Bible and the religious undertones of current events at the time. Never once did they ask me to change my beliefs - nor did they ever ask me to join their denomination. Just excellent religious based conversations every Wednesday. Very nice people!