Do you believe the Mormons and/or the Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult?

Question

And can they rightfully call themselves christians?

Answer 1

Trinitarians try to use the term "cult" like a sledgehammer to obliterate any thinking analysis of what the supposed "cultist" actually believes. Trinitarians embrace a bizarre, non-etymological, quite arbitrary definition of the term "cult" which includes anyone who does not believe that Jesus is God Himself, rather than the Son of God. Interestingly, pagans in the first century slandered Christ's followers with the insulting term "Atheist" (!) because the Christians had a somewhat different idea from the pagans about the nature of God.

Jehovah's Witnesses teach that no salvation occurs without Christ, that accepting Christ's sacrifice is a requirement for true worship, that every prayer must acknowledge Christ, that Christ is the King of God's Kingdom, that Christ is the head of the Christian congregation, that Christ is immortal and above every creature, even that Christ was the 'master worker' in creating the universe! Secular authorities in academia and government routinely acknowledge that Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian religion. With more than 16 million associating with Jehovah's Witnesses, the term "cult" seems very out of place in a fair discussion of Jehovah's Witnesses. Jehovah's Witnesses are Christians.

Sadly, Trinitarians seem more interested in perpetuating their human traditions, Greek philosophy, and Babylonish fetishes rather than reasonably examining the Scriptural definition of "Christian". In fact, the bible most closely associates being "Christian" with preaching about Christ and Christ's teachings. Review all the times the bible uses the term "Christian" and note that the context connects the term with:
"declaring the good news"
'teaching quite a crowd'
'open eyes, turn from dark to light'
"uttering sayings of truth"
"persuade"
"keep on glorifying"

(Acts 11:20-26) [The early disciples of Jesus] began talking to the Greek-speaking people, declaring the good news of the Lord Jesus... and taught quite a crowd, and it was first in Antioch that the disciples were by divine providence called Christians.

(Acts 26:17-28) [Jesus said to Paul] I am sending you, to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God... Paul said: “I am not going mad, Your Excellency Festus, but I am uttering sayings of truth and of soundness of mind. ...Do you, King Agrippa, believe the Prophets? I know you believe.” But Agrippa said to Paul: “In a short time you would persuade me to become a Christian.”

(1 Peter 4:14-16) If you are being reproached for the name of Christ, you are happy... But if he suffers as a Christian, let him not feel shame, but let him keep on glorifying God in this name


So why do anti-Witnesses try to hijack the term "Christian" and hide its Scriptural implications? Because anti-Witnesses recognize that it is the preaching work that makes it clear that the relatively small religion of Jehovah's Witnesses are by far the most prominent followers of Christ:

(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


Learn more!
http://watchtower.org
http://watchtower.org/library/ti/index.htm

Answer 2

If Christianity itself is a cult, than Mormons and JWs are a cult. They basically started similarly enough to other religions. They just proselyte, like the apostles of Christ did after he died.
I believe they both believe in forgiveness. Excommunication is just a step in the fogiveness process. It is a way of letting people know that what they did was really wrong (like suspending a child from school), and that they need to take extra steps to come back. And that person is still allowed in church even if they are excommunicated.
As far as the extra books. They use the bible and rely on that, too. They have that as much as everyone else. Plus they have more. Is God only alowed to speak through the bible? Is it the only word of God out there? Did he only love the Jews and nobody else? Could he have actually spoken to more people than just the Jews? I don't recall either being a supremacy church, either.
Death the only way out? Come on. I think it is easy enough to leave their church. Doesn't this contradict the excommunication thing? Which is it?

Answer 3

I will let a Mormon cover the questions about them. We Witnesses are not cultists. A Christian is a follower of the teachings. We strive to follow Jesus' teachings. Jesus in turn served and followed Jehovah. We feel the Bible is a gift from Jehovah, and thus work hard to follow it.

I thought Mya's copy/paste comment was funny. For one thing I often see people saying how Witnesses have no minds of our own and only cut/paste. I say she cut/pasted because I have seen these same "Beliefs" listed many times before.

Not sure what the person talking about Weddings is refering to. Sounds like someone did not have her as a Bride's maid. I know some get offended when others decide to have a private ceremony.

One last comment/question. Are you writing a thesis or what?? You have posted several questions about Witnesses, mostly asking from a negative slant,. Jest wondering.

Answer 4

In considering whether Jehovah’s Witnesses are a cult, consider that the same things were said about the first Christians of nearly 2000 years ago.

They were people who went door to door, telling their Jewish brethren that their rituals, beliefs, and holidays, dating back hundreds of years, were no longer valid.

Highly educated individuals in the religious arts, such as Saul of Tarsus, could prove that this new Jewish Sect was a cult.

It was made up of low class individuals, like a Fisherman (Peter) and a Tax Collector (Matthew) who lacked any education, let alone one in religion. And worse, they were following the teaching of a Carpenter (Jesus).

They were writing their own scriptures (Bible) and not sticking with the ones that had sustained the Jews for nearly 2000 years. It was a Bible that matched their beliefs and not those of their brethren Jews.

Any of this sound familiar?

With all his education, Saul could not see that the Truth was being taught house to house. It took the appearance of Christ, blinding him, for him to see the light. We now know him as the Apostle Paul. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_of_Tarsus

This is what Jehovah’s Witnesses represent.

Every witness becomes a legal minister and not just the elite who get paid to do it. A simple window washer can grow to become a Congregation Overseer, a Circuit or District Servant, or sit on the Governing Board. No, they will not have their names enshrined on building, a church, or in some book, nor will they get paid, but they will be do something to benefit all mankind.

Answer 5

I definately thing the Jehovah's Witnesses are a form of a cult, there beliefs are bizzare to say the least.

You cannot be a police officier
Only 144,000 jehovah's witnesses will go to heaven the rest will just die?
You may not support charities, only give money to Jehovah's Witnesses.
The doctrine of the Trinity is inspired by Satan
You are discouraged from attending college
All pastors are the Antichirst
All churches are of Satan
All governments are controlled by Satan
You cannot take a blood transfusion
You cannot buy girl Scout cookies
You cannot be a cheerleader
You cannot vote in any political campaign
A child abuser is reported to Watchtower elders and not the police
Women cannot pray in the presence of men without a hat
Only officially approved sexual practices are allowed in marriage
you cannon join any clubs or sports teams
Women must submit to Watchtower elders
You cannot support your country
You cannot celebrate Mothers or Fathers day (it may produce pride)
God only speaks through the "Governing Body" in Brooklyn, New York
Only Jehovah's Witness prayers are heard by God

These are just some of the things they believe

This seems more like a way of controlling every aspect of there lives more so than a religion

Answer 6

There are people who call themselves Christians who do not believe in God or Satan, yet study from the Bible. They are called New Thought Christians. It's all part of what we're told would happen in the last days. People will make their own religions and interpretations of scripture.

I think Mormoms and Jehovah Witnesses are the most deceptive because they hide behind friendly and kind demeanors which make them appear Christlike, but they aggressively teach contrary to the Bible. Most witnesses are very religous in terms of study and book knowledge, but I don't hear many talk about having a relationship with God. It's all very business like.

SOME Witnesses can also become very persistent almost to the point where it resembles stalking and harassment. Anytime you tell someone you are not interested in their beliefs, but they continue to ask if you've changed your mind when they see you in the neighborhood, or return to your address after a certain amount of months checking to see if you've moved, they've crossed the line. There are apartment communities which will not allow them on the property at all. Once you've shared your beliefs, and told someone where to find you if they change their minds, leave it at that.

Answer 7

I believe all religions are cults because they require their followers to finance the religious structure and for the most part insist that the followers suspend their natural thought processes in order to take on those prescribed by that religious structure.

Christianity is conspicuously missing from your question so I have to assume that you are a member of that cult and only asking this question because you are on a "let's bash the other cults" mission.

Answer 8

I am a Mormon and no I do not think either of those religions are "cults". They are groups of people following a certain way of life and belief system.
And Yes, most positively, we Mormons are Christians.

Answer 9

The definition of a cult is a group who worships a personality. Do the Mormons and JWs worship a personality?

Note: Some people think all of Christianity is a cult for worshipping Jesus.

Answer 10

No more so then the 1st century Christians were a cult. They both teach and seek to convert others door to door, just like Jesus and his disciples (and as he commanded ALL his followers to do)
New International Version
Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

They both believe in a monotheistic god who is the God and father of Jesus.
(New International Version)John 20: 17Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "

I really like 'Papa Bear's' answer also.