What do you think of Jehovah's Witnesses?

Question

I posted a question earlier about how to get rid of them and I got such great responses I thought I would ask a more general and open question.

Look forward to your answers!

I never answered my own question...

I am sure they aren't bad people but I do think a lot of what they practice is bad. I don't think much of their beliefs but then I can say that of a lot of religions. I believe that if you are causing no harm to others then live and let live. The problem is if you are polite to a JW then they will harass you till the end of time. I have also noticed that they never come right out with it. It's all very sly. They don't turn up at my door and say... 'Hi we are Jehovah's Witnesses and we would like to convert you' They turn up and show me a crappy picture (always with a panda in it for some reason) and ask me what I think of it. Then they tell me its the kingdom of heaven or something and that I could be there one day. They NEVER say what they are... The only way you know is from the dodgey literature they give you. It's like door to door sales combined with brain washing. I don't like this approach which is why I asked the question!Thanks

Answer 1

Most of them seem fairy decent people, but I think some of their teachings and suggestions are very negative indeed. I mean, what use is a thoughtform going along the lines of " the world is going to hell in a handbasket. " Not a lot of use at all. All those teachings do is scare people, yet they try and legitimise them by saying that they are mentioned in a scripture of some kind.

Any text which is repeated often enough will become a scripture. I could take Bernard Manning's joke book; and if I repeated IT often enough it would become a scripture of some kind. Their religion is the power of suggestion at work, though maybe not in the right way.

I also find them quite intolerant of religions and cultures which aren't their own. Surely, a TRUE religion would accept other religions, cultures and spiritualities as they are, and not condemn them.

I don't begrudge them for trying to create a new, peaceful world, but think they often go about it in the wrong way.

Answer 2

You ask a ??? pertaining to Jehovah's Witnesses, unless a Witness answers your ???, all you receive is a bunch of utter nonsense, lies, they know very little about JW's, they just like to toot their horn.

Who are most of these people? Some just hate the teaching of JW's, but many are disfellowshipped, apostates, a disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion. Why did they leave or were disfellowshipped, here are some reasons:

Let's take a "poll" and get the opinions (of people) by asking specific questions.

1. Were any of you ever a Jehovah's Witness?

2. Did you just decide to leave without a reason?

3. Was there a reason?

4. Were you disfellowshipped?

5. If you were disfellowshipped, for what reason?
Here are some reasons one can be removed from
the Congregation, please choose one or more.

Some of the offenses that could merit disfellowshipping from the Christian congregation are fornication, adultery, homosexuality, greed, extortion, thievery, lying, drunkenness, reviling, spiritism, murder, idolatry, apostasy, and the causing of divisions in the congregation.

6. Or is it just because you hate what we believe?

JW's are in 235 lands & islands, we respect the flag of each country unlike most christian religions, Why do you think, the prisons are full of so-called Christians, why is it that so-called Christians are the ones that "burn, spit, step on the "flag" and show disrespect not only to the flag but to the country they live in?
Is it because of people that could care less about
God's rules that are layed out in the Bible?

Why don't you people wise up and start acting like a
Christian, isn't that what most of you claim to be?

Answer 3

Watch the PBS Special Knocking.
They are the only religion where the members have the equal of a Bible College education, from 12 years of age on up. Where there is no discrimination against women being ministers, as all active members are legal ministers. Everyone speaks before the congregation, not just a chosen elite.

They are the source of most every civil rights decision made by the U.S. Supreme Court, including the freedom of worship, and the freedom from interference of the government.

When Jane Fonda and Charlton Heston was on the Tonight Show, Fonda talked about how many movie stars used JWs as maid, drivers, etc. because they can be trusted not to be bought off. Heston said to her that if she liked them so much, why doesn't she become one, to which she said that she didn't think she could be as dedicated to God and Christ as they are, and neither could he (Heston).

Answer 4

A common misconception is that Jehovah's Witnesses go from door-to-door because they feel it is their duty to get a householder to "convert". That simply is not true.

In fact, Jehovah's Witnesses would go from door-to-door even if there were no hope that anyone would change their religion, or even if no one would listen to them! That is because Jesus Christ specifically assigned the house-to-house ministry to the Christian congregation, with no regard for specific results.

(Luke 10:1,2) After these things the Lord designated seventy others and sent them forth by twos in advance of him into every city and place to which he himself was going to come. 2 Then he began to say to them: “The harvest, indeed, is great, but the workers are few. Therefore beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.

Jehovah's Witnesses are trained to direct attention to the bible, and move on when their message is unwanted. Since each congregation in the United States tries to call at every home in its territory at least twice each year, there is strong motivation for them to move on where little interest is shown. Also, the Scriptures help the Witnesses to expect little interest from most:

(2 Timothy 4:3-5) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching ...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.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/library/jt/index.htm
http://jw-media.org/people/ministry.htm

Answer 5

Your direct approach (from your other question) of simply telling them not to come back is the honest method and will likely obtain the result you want.

Jehovah's Witnesses are individuals sincerely committed to their beliefs. While their beliefs are not mine I cannot fault them for their sincerity or commitment. For me their world is very narrow and without variation, but so too are members of many other conservative religions.

For many people that is not an acceptable way to live, but for some it may be the best thing that can happen to them. One person I knew beat his family, drank to excess, and chased other women. When he joined the JW he totally changed and for him it worked.

"Every sect is a moral check on its neighbor. Competition is as wholesome in religion as in commerce." W. S. Landor: Imaginary Conversations, I, 1824.

Answer 6

Everyone sells religion, in some way or the other. Jehovah's Witnesses are a form of religion that believe that there are more than on religion and they accept that fact, however their viewpoint is that all is equall. They do not charge as far as I know, but they open your mind to options that make you think.

I feel, unlike other religions they respected my family religion, and they could see the simarlarities in the same.

I do not see evil in other religions as certain people do, and they do not either.

Answer 7

The one thing you have to give to both the Jehovah's' and the Latter Day Saints Of Jesus Christ is that they are not afraid to evangelise and take to the streets to spread the good news.
I'm a RC and have had them in my home many times for discussions, they generally are good people and harmless.

Answer 8

Are you that easily influenced by what other people think?

You should talk to them if you're interested in them or their beliefs. And if you're not, then why ask questions that are only intended to get a negative response?

Either listen to them directly (in order to get an unbiased view) or find yourself something else to do

Answer 9

The Witnesses that I am friends with are wonderful people. I can only base my opinions on what I have been shown and the way I have been treated. I do let not let their theology be an obstacle and they show me the same respect.

Blessings )O(

Answer 10

Oh, man, I need to go read the answers to your other question! Because they're a pain in the behind! Geez! Not only do they come bug at the house but now some have taken to hanging out in the grocery store parking lot where I buy my groceries. It's easier to get rid of mold in the shower!