Are members of the Jehovah's Witnesses brainwashed into thinking their religion and their beliefs are the only and absolute "truths"?
Do members receive anything when they find someone who agrees to do a "Bible Study"?
Why do they pressure someone to "convert"? Do members receive something when someone they "brought in" "converts"?
2006-11-23 03:15:49 · 16 answers · asked by drgolfmd 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
One of my brothers was a Baptist minister, and he spent three hours trying to tell me how to be a good Christian and to stay away from Jehovah’s Witnesses. My father said that the Witnesses would brainwash me, to which I replied that my brain needed a good washing, since I had been taught so many untruths for so many years.
Pressuring people to change their religion is wrong. Certainly, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not act in such a way. Hence, they do not proselytize in the modern meaning of the word. Rather, like the first-century Christians, they preach the good news to everyone. Any who respond voluntarily are invited to take in more knowledge by means of a Bible study. Such interested ones learn to put faith, solidly based on accurate Bible knowledge, in God and his purposes. As a result, they call on God’s name, Jehovah, for salvation. (Romans 10:13, 14, 17) Whether they will accept the good news or not is a matter of personal choice. There is no compulsion. If there were, conversion would be meaningless. To be acceptable to God, worship must come from the heart.—Deuteronomy 6:4, 5; 10:12.
The worldwide work of Jehovah's Witnesses is supported by voluntary donations. Jehovah's Witnesses are un-paid volunteers who donate their time and other resources to share the good news of God's Kingdom with others. --- Matthew 24:14.
They follow Jesus' instructions: "You received free, give free." (Matthew 10:8.) The meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses are free and open to the public. No collections are ever taken.
If you would like further information or a FREE home Bible study, please contact Jehovah's Witnesses at the local Kingdom Hall. Or visit http://www.watchtower.org
2006-11-23 05:38:39 · answer #1 · answered by Jeremy Callahan 4 · 4⤊ 7⤋
Jehovah Witness Brainwashing
2016-11-04 23:48:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No we are not brainwashed. We are taught what the Bible says and the rest is up to us to accept it or not accept it. Just because we do an indepth study in the Bible, it doesnt mean we are brainwashed. All our beliefs are supported by scriptures. And the Bible is true and inspired of God. Therefore we believe that our beliefs are true.
We do not receive anything when anyone agrees for a Bible study. Because we love people and desire them to know the truth about what the Bible says, we spend so much of our time, energy and money preaching. So it's not that we get anything... it's the other way round.
We do not pressure people to convert nor do we receive anything when people become JWs. It is up to the person.
2006-11-23 04:43:30 · answer #3 · answered by Joy 2 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the common Christian interpretations of Scripture are the result of apostasy, and that their interpretation of the bible is the only correct one. I have only experienced that the JW door-to-door & every-day life people (I've never met any JW in leadership of that religion) are very loving, kind, & fun individuals. Whether or not they are brain-washed I haven't yet been able to determine. They do seem to believe that their faith is the only 'correct' one. For this reason, they are heavy proselytisers--they believe that by spreading their message & gaining converts, they are winning people over to Jehovah's side, and into an after-life of paradise on earth. I don't think they receive anything when they win converts--selfishness is not a characteristic of their religion. What concerns me about this religion is not whether or not they are brain-washed, but rather what happens to them if they choose to leave their religion. It can be very damaging to the emotions & psyche.
2006-11-23 03:27:39 · answer #4 · answered by Blooming Sufi 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The vast majority of Jehovah's Witnesses have thoroughly studied their bibles and meticulously compared each Witness teaching with the bible. How many among Christendom's adherents have done that? Which of the two approaches sounds more like brainwashing to a reasonable person?
Each Jehovah's Witness, before becoming one, must have decided for himself that each "truth" is a truth in his own mind and heart. No baptism candidate is every encouraged to ignore his own misgivings, and no one is rushed to baptism.
"Members" of Jehovah's Witnesses do not receive anything but joy when they find someone who agrees to a bible study. There is no pressure to "convert", and "members" do not receive anything but joy when someone they have "brought in" "converts".
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 "change his mind". 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/e/jt/
2006-11-23 10:02:14 · answer #5 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 3⤊ 4⤋
The same question can be put to the first Jewish Christians, who were trying to convert their Jewish brethren to what was considered a cult, started by an itinerant preacher who was crucified for cause by the government.
Jehovah's Witnesses use the exact same methods, so you must also think the Apostles were brainwashing people, and/or perhaps paid them to convert.
The question to ask yourself is are yo like Jews who didn't want to listen to this new cult, or like the Apostles and early Christian Jews. If it is the Apostles and early Christians, than are you following their example, or do you think it isn't worth the trouble?
2006-11-23 08:20:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Theres really no need to call anybody brainwashed. I think with the way people use that word lately it implies people are forced into believing and that simply isnt the case with churches. Im not a fan of JW's, I dont agree with their theology and I believe it is an anti-Christ but I dont consider their members brainwashed. They go there of their own freewill and choose to believe on their own accord. Calling them brainwashed solves nothing and attempts to absolve people of spiritual responsibility.
2006-11-23 03:34:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
To answer your question...
Was Noah brainwashed into thinking that his religion was the only and absolute truth?
How many arks survived the flood?
2006-11-23 18:05:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
They do have their own way of believing. If you get a chance, read this book called Kingdom of the Cults by Walter Ralston Martin. It's awesome you will be amazed about their practices, who started the entire cult, scams etc... Other cults are also studied in this great book such as scientology etc..
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
2006-11-23 05:05:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
i'm agnostic, but not afraid to die, pray to all the Gods you want, if I dont see you in this world, I'll see you on the next one and dont be late
2015-06-07 17:46:39 · answer #10 · answered by dean wormer 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋