why do people hate Jehovah's Witnesses?

Answer 1

Ignorance. Most of the answers I've seen on Y!A contain misinformation. And its that Mis-information that makes people hate or dislike JW's. I think if a person has questions about JW's they need to go directly to the source. Go to a kingdom Hall in your area or go to the OFFICIAL website www.watchtower.org

Answer 2

Interestingly, such "hatred" should be expected by true Christians in this time of the end, and it actually helps identify Jehovah's Witnesses as Christ's true disciples:

(John 15:19) If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on this account the world hates you.

(Luke 6:22) Happy are you whenever men hate you, and whenever they exclude you and reproach you and cast out your name as wicked for the sake of the Son of man.

(1 Peter 4:4) Because you do not continue running with them in this course to the same low sink of debauchery, they are puzzled and go on speaking abusively of you.

(2 Timothy 4:3-5) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.

It seems signficant that the relatively small religion of Jehovah's Witnesses are the ones best known for their worldwide preaching work. Yet Jesus commanded that ALL who would call themselves "Christian" perform this public work:

(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 you. And, look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/library/jt/index.htm
http://watchtower.org/library/w/2003/3/1/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/library/w/2002/4/1/article_01.htm

Answer 3

I could tell you a bit why.

1. Invasion of privacy.

I'm an atheist. If I were to come at a Jehovah's Witness' door, tell them the fallacies of believing in a god that communicates with you unidirectionally, even after they tell me they're Jehovah's Witnesses and I refuse to get off their porch, they would get extremly offended and ask me to leave their house. Folks, that's how it feels when JW's come to your door.

2. Holier than thou, arrogant attitude, accompanied by dubious science and dubious renderings Greek and Hebrew, especially during discussions.

Every JW I've talked to says they have the truth and act as though they alone, yet none of them defend it in a logical manner.

And when they do make an attempt to defend it, it's accompanied with dubious archeology and theology. If Jesus actually lived in ancient Judea, odds are, he would have been crucified. Crux simplexes were simply not used in ancient Rome around that time, and their argument for an upright cross is based on a misrendering of the Greek word "Xylon" as "tree" rather than "wood".

Tell a JW that in a discussion and they act as though you're Satan incarnate. They even think you're an ex-member, or "Apostate" (Which is a jingoistic method of demonizing a person who disagrees with you.)

3. Exclusivistic association.

JW's claim that they associate with everybody freely, but in reality, associating with people who are out of the church is looked down upon, and only non-clergy members have non witness friends. You can't be a member of their clergy and openly have a non witness friend or get married to a non witness.

4. Delusions of persecution.

When people give a critique about the religion that isn't favorable and doesn't include insults, Witnesses act as though they're being attacked.

They're not being attacked, but rather, most of them aren't familliar with the concept of civil discource.

Look at the JW's that post here. A prime example is Atchung_Heiss. He fits every description I posted.

Answer 4

People that think their religion is the only true and right religion are annoying especially when they try to ram it down your throat, and 99% of the time they them self have no real idea of what their faith really says. Take Christians for example they quote the bible yet they don't listen. How many long hair Christians have you seen preaching? Corinthians 11:14 or trying to make kid pray in school Matthew 6:5 or have women pastors and ministers Corinthians 14:34 if your going to talk the talk you need to walk the walk ;-)

Answer 5

Hate is to strong a word.

I think people are annoyed by them knocking on doors and sounding delusional when talking with them. They even have tables set up at the colleges in my town and spend the day behind a spread out of propaganda.

To me (and I've actually known some well) they are mostly pathetic. One got on my last nerve at work with his holier than thou attitude and it took every bit of restraint in me that I didn't punch him in the face. Years later that witness became a drug addict and criminal.

Another girl I knew was disowned by her family completely when they found out she had been using cocaine. Instead of trying to get her some help, or put her in treatment they and everyone else in that community shun her.

When she got off the cocain and tried to go back home they still wouldn't have anything to do with her because she was now pregnant. I don't know what ever happened to her after that.

Another friend who was a witness found his wife in bed with another man.... and was more concerned about how the other witnesses would think. He was trying to figure out how he could divorce her and save face with his and her family.... he didn't want anyone else to know what happened and I think he only told me because I am not a witness.

Answer 6

Because they don't understand the religion. Ignorant people have the tendency to hate what they don't understand. Jehovah's Witnesses are all about love and family.

Answer 7

1, Evangelism by door knocking is like telephone cold calling, which everyone seems to hate as well; especially when they get you out of bed / the bath / dinner etc.

2, The initial concept for any potential 'victim' to grasp is that they are an evil sinner in need of salvation. Most people don't like being told they are evil / a sinner / having their bad points pointed out / put on a guilt trip / made to feel bad about themselves.

3, Christianity is supposed to be about a loving / friendly relationship with Jesus, and most Christians share that relationship with the friends and family they already have a good relationship with. JWs are know for sharing their faith with people they have no relationship with, and thus modelling a non-existent relationship with God, indicating that they have clearly got the fundamentals seriously wrong.

Answer 8

I dont hate Jehovah's Witnesses I feel sory for them! As a Born Again Christian I would like you to ask me some questions and I would like to ask you some! I will keep an open mind but I do think Jehovah's Witnesseses are lost sheep. Sorry

Answer 9

I dont hate them one of the Jehovah's Witnesses is my friend she a sweet little old lady i do not believe the same as she does but we are still friends. I dont realy like that they dont call before they come to your door but they do seem to be nice folks.

Answer 10

I actually have converted a Jehovah's witness person to rational Aethist not Agnostic..

They tried to impress me and bug me. In the end I had them my way... Heheheh