2006-10-25 21:38:10 · 14 answers · asked by proscunio 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Jehova Witnessess do not follow the bible closely, they don't even believe in the divinity of Christ...thats just enough hairs off the mark to be considered a cult.
There is only one true God friends, he doesn't share space with cults.
2006-10-25 21:56:39 · answer #1 · answered by eliteflycaster 2 · 2⤊ 5⤋
A cult requires a small overall number of people believing. They have over 6 million active members.
A cult requires a single individual, who sets his or herself aside and above anyone else, who says they are the authority. JWs don't have such a person.
A cult forbids its members from reading other books or Bibles, not of their creation. JWs do not.
A cult does not encourage their followers to learn the Bible as a whole, teaching them that they don't have the calling to fully understand it. JWs encourage even children to read the Bible as a whole.
Actually, most of these sounds more like organized religion, in general.
Though a religion may be large, their members are not encourage to frequently associate with members of the same religion from other congregations, in the same city, state, country, or from other countries. Only the elite attend national conferences.
Other churches has a pastor or priest who sets him or herself aside and above the members, requiring to be paid for the privilege of their preaching. Elders are most often chosen, not because of their knowledge, but by how much they contribute.
Other churches discourage their members from reading books from other religions, such as JWs and Mormons.
Other churches discourage their followers from learning the whole Bible on their own, teaching them that they don't have the "CALLING" to fully understand it.
So, whose more of a cult?
One last thing, cults don't last for more than a few decades, JWs are over 100 years old.
Also remember, the original congregations were also considered a cult, by a very learned man, Saul, who later became the Apostle Paul. So what you need to ask yourself, are you more like Saul or Paul?
2006-10-26 05:06:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I guess the answer would depend on who you ask that question, and what, your definition of cult is. If you consider a cult to be a faith that follows the Bible as closely as possible, and worships Jehovah God, in spirit and truth, then the answer would be yes,but if you consider a cult to be a faith that makes up its own rules, and goes by man's rules, ignoring God's rules, and going by their own oppinions, in that case, your answert, then, would be, no. Jehovah's Witnesses are the closest followers of the Bible that I have ever met, and I have researched that, finding, well, they have the truth, that is the only reason I have become one of them,and it's also the reason that shows us up as not being a cult at all,because we worship in spirit and truth (John4:23,24) But my advice to you. would be, don't believe, the opinions, of others, but, do, research, for your self, and find out for yourself. You might be glad, you did, you might even learn ,some truths, for yourself! I wish you the blessings from the true God for your efforts to find his truth!
2006-10-26 04:55:33 · answer #3 · answered by I speak Truth 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A belief with a group of followers is the definition of a cult as per the Dictionary. All religions are cults. They are all based on "Belief". No religion can produce or prove that there is a man living in a cloud. They are all cults . They claim that they are not but the dictionary proves them wrong.
2006-10-26 04:50:26 · answer #4 · answered by The professor 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is interesting to note that the early Christians were also considered a sect. Remember Jesus said his disciple were no part of the world, and because of this they would be hated by the world.(John 15:19,17:16) This would actually be an identifying mark of his true disciples. Just like the early Christians they are often misrepresented. Upon further research you will find that Jehovah's Witnesses adhere to God's word the Bible, and are fulfilling bible prophesy regarding the preaching of the good news.(Matt.24:14)This being another identifying mark of Jesus' true disciples.
2006-10-26 12:12:13 · answer #5 · answered by nicky 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Phil D, you're misguided-- The Witnesses do NOT BELIEVE that Jesus is the son of Lucifer, WHERE do you get your info??CERTAINLY NOT THE TRUTH!
No, the JWs are not a cult. LOL Where would you get that idea?
No, they are another religion, just like Baptist or Buddists or Catholics.
However, we are drastically different than most "christian" churches in that we follow the Bible's principles to the letter and this most markedly includes Jesus' telling the disciples to go out and make more disciples out of the peoples of the nations. So , we go out and we knock on doors, talk to people in laundry mats, parks, bus stops, or anywhere We get an opportunity. We spread the truth of the Bible whenever we get a chance. We are hated for this and our beliefs , but we know this is going to happen because Jesus said since people hated him, they would hate us also. Hey, we speak the truth and to those that don't want to hear it, the truth hurts!
We don't condone such sins as fornication, adultury, idolatry, pornography,homosexuality, theft, lying, cheating, abusive speech, violence ( this includes going to war, we do not participate in war.).
We believe in strong family ties, honesty in all practices, leading clean spiritual lives, loving our neighbors and our enemies.
We are hated and ridiculed because we go door to door and preach about the Kingdom of God that Jesus promised during his ministry on the Earth. He told his disciples to go forth and make more disciples and that includes us to this date. We are out to get people to look in their Bibles, READ them, see the great promise that we have and how soooon it is coming upon us and to make steps to be a part of it. We don't want to convert the world, just open up more peoples' eyes to the promise and help them to be able to be there - the more people that learn of the promise and gain it, the less that Satan can chalk up to his side!( doesn't he have ENOUGH people?? ) Anyway, if you have more questions about Jehovah's Witnesses, drop me a line at
heatherlovespansies@yahoo.com
and I will be more than happy to answer them for you!
2006-10-26 05:08:18 · answer #6 · answered by heatherlovespansies 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
No. Some uninformed people say they are a cult because they do not believe in the trinity and that Jesus is God. And why should they? The Bible does not support those distorted views of God. Instead, it CLEARLY shows that Jehovah is the only true God. See Ps. 83:18 and John 17:3.
Those who say Jesus is God will point to John 10:30 where Jesus said: "I and the Father are one." But how were they one? In verse 29, Jesus told his enemies that his Father had given him charge of the sheep ( his followers) and that he would protect them. By saying that he and his Father were one then meant that he and his Father were in total agreement concerning the care Jesus' followers. Just 7 chapters later, in verse 22, Jesus prayed to God that his followers would be in agreement just as Father and son were in accord. Jesus said: "Also, I have given them the glory that you have given me, in order that they be one JUST AS YOU AND I ARE ONE."
One verse that trinitarians will use as "proof" of the trinity is John 1:1, where it says in some Bibles, but not all: "the Word was God." But where in this verse does it explicitly say that God is made up of three co-equal, co-eternal persons? It doesn't. Besides, this verse is talking about two persons , not three.
How about Matt. 28:19, where the Father, the Son, and the holy spirit are mentioned in the same verse? Does that prove the trinity? Again, I ask, where in this verse does it even remotely IMPLY that God is made up of three co-equal persons? It doesn't.
The trinity doctrine is of pagan design that is not in harmony with Scripture.
Jehovah's Witnesses have also been labeled a cult for their refusal to partcipate in holidays like Christmas, Easter, and Halloween--observances that are CLEARLY of pagan beginnings.
So, if you call Jehovah's Witnesses a cult for these reasons, I'm sure they can live with it.
2006-10-26 04:40:31 · answer #7 · answered by LineDancer 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
well, depends on how you define a cult? If you mean that it's a sect of religion then's it true cause it's a part of Christianity. And they're not really that scary. They jsut follow the bible closely. So in case if anyone says that they are scary then what would the call the Bible itself?-,
2006-10-26 04:50:45 · answer #8 · answered by Yersh 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
What is the definition of a cult ?
2006-10-26 09:35:36 · answer #9 · answered by djfjedi1976 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes thaey are, stay away friend!
The Bible never said anything about Jesus being the son of lucifer. Followe Jesus not a cult.
Jesus is the son of God (aka God in the flesh)
Thanks for the question
(-:
2006-10-26 04:53:23 · answer #10 · answered by Dr. Phil 3 · 1⤊ 4⤋