i had bible study with tem and i learned alot. i think they have misunderstood somethings in the bible such as a women cant even conduct a bible study unless she is wearing a head covering in the presence of a babtized male. the head covering was only supose to be to show submissiveness to the husband not all males! there are alot of things i did not agree with but i still dont understand the cult thing.
2006-12-15 08:07:36 · 15 answers · asked by JustMe 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The enemies of Jehovah's Witnesses use the term "cult" as a sledgehammer to avoid real discussion about the Scriptural merits of Witness beliefs. Witness ideas about head-covering are not from a man but from the bible.
Many modern Christians are uncomfortable implementing the clear Scriptural counsel regarding the appropriate use of head-covering for men and women involved in worship, even among Jehovah's Witnesses. However, truly devout Christians recognize that their cultural sensibilities are less important than God's will and explicit direction on the matter.
(1 Corinthians 11:4,5) Every man that [publicly] prays or prophesies [or "teaches"] having something on his head shames his head; 5 but every woman that [publicly] prays or prophesies [or "teaches"] with her head uncovered shames her head, for it is one and the same as if she were a woman with a shaved head.
Jehovah's Witnesses always handle this matter with dignity and honor; no "head-covering" should hide the face or even the hair, and it need not interfere with the Christian sister's sense of style during her day-to-day affairs. Typically, a Christian woman will simply rearrange a neck-scarf over her head for the few minutes she represents some Christian group in prayer.
Besides such public prayer, a Christian woman would don some dignified head-covering only when teaching in the presence of her own husband (baptized or not), or congregationally in the place of a baptized male Christian. If the head-covering were simply the hair, that would imply that Christian men must shave their heads before teaching and praying publicly.
(1 Corinthians 11:7,10) For a man ought not to have his head covered [while praying or teaching publicly]
(1 Corinthians 11:13-15) Is it fitting for a woman to pray [publicly] uncovered to God? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him; 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her?
Really, the larger principle is one of subjection to Jehovah God. A Christian wife is subject to her husband ("believer" or not), except where secular and bible law conflict. The bible authorizes only males to serve as congregation elders and ministerial servants ("deacons"). Even the angels and human Christians recognize their subjection to Christ. In turn, Christ recognizes his subjection to Jehovah God.
http://watchtower.org/e/ti/article_06.htm
(1 Corinthians 11:10) That is why the woman ought to have a sign of authority upon her head because of the angels.
(Ephesians 5:21-23) Be in subjection to one another in fear of Christ. 22 Let wives be in subjection to their husbands as to the Lord, 23 because a husband is head of his wife as the Christ also is head of the congregation
(1 Corinthians 11:3) the head of every man is the Christ; in turn the head of a woman is the man; in turn the head of the Christ is God
As was mentioned, the Scriptures are relatively clear regarding the importance of subjection, and how head-coverings can help demonstrate a godly view of subjection. Christians do not believe that the bible indicates any superiority of one gender over the over, but simply an orderliness and a pattern which they must repect. Jehovah's Witnesses note that a substantial number of women must be among the humans resurrected to heavenly life to rule beside Jesus as kings and priests forever.
http://watchtower.org/e/20001001/article_02.htm
Especially in so-called "egalitarian" societies, even devout Christians such as Jehovah's Witnesses are sometimes not perfectly diligent to the bible's direction on head-coverings. Thanks for the reminders!
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/19980408/
http://watchtower.org/e/20020808a/
http://watchtower.org/e/20020101/
2006-12-15 08:46:34 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 5⤊ 2⤋
They think they are a cult because they believe it impossible to achieve the accomplishments of the JWs in such a short period of time.
Setting aside any Bible issues, they believe in obeying the law, even the inconvenient ones, such as speed limits when late for work.
They believe in paying taxes, even though there are many ways they could avoid them, as many religions do.
They believe in keeping their word, such as to the IRS that they will not promote politics in the church, and they actually mean it.
They teach their youth that waiting until marriage is preferable to using protection, and for the most part, the youths actually believe it. As a result, they have the lowest rates of out-of-wedlock births and STDs.
They treat their youth with respect, not just "do what you're told!"
Youths are taught side by side with the adults, the Bible as a whole, and not just Bible stories. The very young may not understand what they are being taught, but by the time they reach the age of understanding, they have a good basic knowledge of the scriptures.
The church never gets so large that the individual gets lost in the crowd.
Everyone is taught the same, so starting a new congregation, with its own set of elders is easy.
Everyone knows everyone, whether in their congregation, or in their city, so that when a disaster like Katrina happens, every member has gotten out.
Their congregations compliment neighborhoods, and not overwhelm them, without a lot of expensive decorative features.
Finally, they can easy answer these questions:
WHAT DAY DO YOU OBSERVE THE MEMORIAL ON?
WHAT DAY DO YOU OBSERVE THE BIRTH OF CHRIST ON?
Those in Christendom will mostly answer to the first one is a day in May, while the answer to the second is December 25th. This ignores what Christ said to observe, which is Niacin 14, on the first full moon after the vernal equinox. The memorial of the Last Supper.
Over the last century, Christendom and even Islam, has repeated tried to achieve what has been achieved in the Jehovah’s Witnesses, without success. As such, they believe JWs are a cult, because only a cult, where the very thoughts of the members are control by the overwhelming personality of the leader. The problem with this is the Watchtower has not such leadership. The individuals are all leaders. Leaders in the teachings of Christ.
2006-12-15 09:03:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
people say alot of thigns due to misrepresentation, or listening to what other people say instead of finding out for themselves. Alot of people say, witnesses dont beleive in Jesus, which is infact not true! If they didnt beleive in Jesus then they would not keep the command to go and preach. I think what most people are misinformed. Maybe the people in Noah's day that he was a nut for building a huge Ark that took him some 40 years, people thought Jesus was a fraud. JESUS CHRIST was accused of being a drunkard, a glutton, a Sabbath breaker, a false witness, a blasphemer of God, and a messenger of Satan. He was also accused of being subversive.—Matthew 9:34; 11:19; 12:24; 26:65; John 8:13; 9:16; 19:12.But genuine people who wanted to know the truth listened to him. After all Jesus said that his followers would be persecuted, it is expected. “In the last days there will come ridiculers with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires.”—2 Peter 3:3.
Jehovah’s Witnesses do not hold ritualistic meetings, nor is their worship cloaked in secrecy. Non-Witness author Julia Mitchell Corbett notes: “When they meet, usually more than once a week, in Kingdom Halls (their meeting sites are not called churches), most of their time is spent in Bible study and discussion.” Their meeting places are clearly marked with a sign. The meetings are open, and the general public is invited to attend. Unannounced guests are more than welcome.
The director of news and special projects for a television station in the United States wrote to Jehovah’s Witnesses in response to a biased report about the Witnesses on the TV news show 60 Minutes. He said: “If more people lived the way your faith does, this nation wouldn’t be in the shape it is in. I am one newsman who knows that your organization is founded on love and a strong faith in the Creator. I want you to know that not all News people are as biased.”
2006-12-15 08:33:07 · answer #3 · answered by Emma 3 · 7⤊ 1⤋
The first Christians were considered a cult until they achieved par with non-Christian religions by adopting many of their rituals, observances, and holidays. One day it may be the same with JWs, when they realize that to be accepted by a majority of the world they should also accepting adopt non-Bible based rituals, observances, and holidays, just as Christendom did. Certainly they need to stop teaching all their members the Bible as a whole because only the select who have a calling from God should learn the Bible to that extent. It is far too complicated for regular Christian to understand. That is why God provides their Pastors and such, to tell them what they need to know and not what is unnecessary to their salvation.
2006-12-15 13:06:50 · answer #4 · answered by The Papa B 1 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Dear JustMe,
The jws are nice people BUT they are following an eternal dead end.
Check out what Deuteronomy 18:20-22 says. It is not just a matter of misunderstanding somethings in the Bible. They have made false prophecies about things that would happen. Those things have NOT happened. God is making it abundantly clear that jws are NOT speaking for Him.
When I bring up the false prophecies with jws they always say they made "mistakes in their zeal" BUT God does NOT make mistakes.
Jws have distorted scripture repeatedly. They APPEAR to know the Bible very well but they only know what the Watchtower tells them the Bible says - not what the Bible as a whole says. Matt, Rockin Ron and Mibanddibe gave you excellent answers. Listen to them.
2006-12-18 09:22:50 · answer #5 · answered by JOYfilled - Romans 8:28 7 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses are NOT a cult and anyone who has actually done any kind of research concerning Jehovah's Witnesses knows this. People who oppose Jehovah's Witnesses like to use the word 'cult' because this word has a general negative connotation. They are counting on people who are not familiar with Jehovah's Witnesses to simply accept this false label and then ignorantly repeat what they have been told.
The following shows how this label is completely untrue:
Cults are regarded as being small, local groups. In contrast, Jehovah's Witnesses currently number over 7,ooo,ooo and can be found in almost every country of the world.
http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/
The World Headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses is in New York. Located there is the Governing Body, a central group of experienced elders who oversee the worldwide congregation.
Jehovah's Witnesses - Their Worldwide Organization and Work
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/good-news-from-god/jehovahs-witnesses-organization/
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Cults are also regarded as encouraging their adherents to live in groups apart from the rest of society. Many also think of cults as being secretive about their activities or having something to hide.
In contrast, Jehovah's Witnesses live and work in the midst of other people. They have nothing to hide. In fact, they desire to tell anyone who is willing to listen about everything that they believe.
Their book Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom correctly notes: "Jehovah's Witnesses are in no sense a secret society. Their Bible-based beliefs are fully explained in publications that are available to anyone. Additionally, they put forth special effort to invite the public to attend meetings to see and hear for themselves what takes place."
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Cult members are also associated with following living human leaders.
Yet Jehovah's Witnesses do not look to any human, but rather to Jesus Christ, as their leader. Jehovah’s Witnesses follow what Jesus taught and put it into practice:
See: "Who is Jesus Christ?"
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/good-news-from-god/who-is-jesus-christ/
That is what it means to be a Christian. Accordingly, Jehovah’s Witnesses strive to adhere strictly to the precepts established by the first Christians.
Jehovah's Witnesses base all of their beliefs, their standards for conduct, and organizational procedures on the Bible. Their worship is a way of life, not a ritual devotion.
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Rather than relying solely on hearsay and running the risk of parroting bad information, Jehovah's Witnesses encourage people to investigate this further FOR THEMSELVES. This way, one will be in a position to be properly informed as to the true faith and beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses.
The best way to find out more about Jehovah's Witnesses via the Internet is through the pages of their official website:
Jehovah’s Witnesses—What Do They Believe?
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/g201008/what-do-jehovahs-witnesses-believe/
Recommended Related Articles:
Are Jehovah’s Witnesses a Cult?
http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/are-jehovahs-witnesses-a-cult/
Are Jehovah's Witnesses Really a Cult? - Showing How This Label is Incorrect
http://defendingjehovahswitnesses.blogspot.com/2011/08/are-jehovahs-witnesses-really-cult.html
2013-11-01 05:02:23 · answer #6 · answered by Moto 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Basically every religion is a cult until it becomes tolerated. Usually this takes about one hundred years. There's no better evidence for Jehovah's Witnesses than for Catholissm
2006-12-15 08:59:13 · answer #7 · answered by adphllps 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Well for one, they believe only THEY are going to heaven and that they are the 144,000 that the Bible speaks of, which it is not speaking of them at all...it is speaking of 144,000 pure MEN who are the first fruits. Not just the saints of God...for ALL who believe and put their faith in Jesus Christ will be saved, JUST as the Bible says SEVERAL times. And they base their relegion on works- not faith. They need to really start studying the Bible and not skip over important scriptures...anyone who does, is going to be led astray into false doctrine, and just as the Bible says:
1 Timothy 6:3-5
3If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound[a] words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
2006-12-15 08:21:08 · answer #8 · answered by Mandolyn Monkey Munch 6 · 2⤊ 5⤋
They say that because it is true. This group is at variance with the doctrines of historic Christianity. 2 places I can think of for further information are:
www.bcmmin.org
http://www.macgregorministries.org/jehovahs_witnesses/jehovah_witness_index.html
2006-12-18 20:28:47 · answer #9 · answered by Buzz s 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The JWs deny the trinity and do not believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son Of God, (John 3:16,17)
The writings of their Watchtower Publications take pre-eminence over the Bible. Their beliefs are contrary to the bible. Cults believe that they attain salvation through good works. The bible teaches that salvation is a free gift from God, made available to us through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ ,who took upon Himself the sin of you and I and paid the penalty for it on the cross over 2000yrs ago
2006-12-15 09:08:56 · answer #10 · answered by Rockin' Ron 2 · 1⤊ 6⤋