Why do Christians fall for fake teachings like what the Jehovah Withness teach?

Question

People are like lambs to the slaughter house. They get into these cults never even looking into their long histories of false
prophecy. For example 1914, 1915, 1918, 1925, 1941, 1975
and even 1994. All of these are years in which this group said
that Jesus would come. Why are people so dense?
There is so much more. Please look at youtube and watch some of the videos.

Answer 1

Personally, I'd rather use the term "Believers" instead of "Christians," because many claim to be "Christian," even Jehovah's Witlesses. Plus, I do think the phrasing of your question is a bit inflammatory and shows strong bias.

Having said that, the years you quoted are mostly, but not all, accurate. And, I'm still waiting on Wink Winkler to admit that he slandered and falsely accused Askala Maryam on a recent question where he accused her of outright lies, but never offered any evidence of a lie or innaccuracy.

I've found that the J-Witlesses are good at throwing out accusations and being angry at anyone who questions or doubts them, but not very good at offering proof outside of their own literature.

Usually their defense is something like this: 'Jehovah's Witnesses are recognized universally as the only true religion, and the only ones to use God's name.' They then cite a Watchtower publication as proof. In academics that's known as 'circular reasoning.' In other words, 'my theory is right because it says so in this book I wrote.'

I just wish they would be intellectually honest and be willing to admit publicly when they falsely trash someone as Wink Winkler did Askala Maryam, then run and hide when they are called to task.

Iehova Dumnezeu, above, asked a few rhetorical questions I'd like to answer:
1) would it be accurate to refer to JW's as a small fringe group?
A: No, they are no longer small.
2) Do JW's isolate themself from friends, family, and society in general?
A: Absolutely. As for friends, the WrongTower has stated that JW's cannot call "worldly associates" as friends, but as acquaintances. Only other JW's are considered "friends." Most JW's have little contact with 'worldly' family members; and little interaction in local society in general.
3) Do they use deceptive and unethical techniques?
A: Absolutely. Not being fully up front while recruiting, using trickery of words to 'technically' tell truth, but use deceptive meanings. Even the WT says that telling a falsehood to an unbeliever is not lying, but is "Theocratic Warfare."
4) Do JW leaders use manipulative means of control?
A: Absolutely. Cutting off of friends and family, insinuating that one can be disfellowshipped for charging an elder with lying. Insinuating that one would be unspiritual to get a college education. Other insinuations that SUGGEST that one is dishonoring God if they don't do as demanded.
5) Cloaked in secrecy?
A: 100% Absolutely! When I was an elder, we were instructed not to reproduce some materials, not to keep written notes on child abuse investigations, not to even acknowledge the existence of the Paying Attention to the Flock book. Secrecy is the WickedTower's best friend!
6) Are they following a venerated human leader?
A: Yes, times seven. Even though they don't "follow" a single leader, they consider the words and instructions from their Governing Body as the same as coming from God. So they are following a venerated "composite man" (to use their own description of 'the faithful and discreet slave class'). It is very bad to disagree with or question the GuvBod, almost sacreligious. Even off-the-record comments by their Circuit Overseers, District Overseers and GuvBod members are quoted as if it was god's mouth to their ears.
7) Why look at YouTube?
A: You tube is as accurate as the WrongTower. Not very.

Answer 2

Dear Goof,

I believe that you misused the name Christians in your question. I'll go along with what View from a Horse says and refer to Believers.

I believe that you've gotten some good answers from View and Buzz and Schneb and Anna. I would like to add a bit.
I would like to point out that people have been falling for lies since Adam and Eve were in the Garden.

From what I've seen amongst my own relatives is that it started with loneliness. My own mother became a Watchtower Witness during WWII. My dad was stationed in the States so Mom was able to be with him. They had 2 young children and Mom was very lonely. She had had questions for her hometown minister but didn't get satisfactory answers. So when the jws hovered around the military base Mom talked to them and thought she was getting the answers to her questions. Then she went to work on her family. Most of them fell for it but some only gave in after being pressured. One person was told that her child was born with a large birthmark BECAUSE she had not become a jw.

I praise my heavenly Father that my dad did not give in to the pressure. He raised me in his church which gave me an interest in reading the Bible for myself. It was several years before I actually did so but it was and continues to be the best thing I've ever done!

Yes, people are like lambs to the slaughter but I do not despair because I know that my heavenly Father does not want a single person to be eternally separated from Him. A few years ago one of my cousins informed me that she left the jws after she learned the truth about the sexual abuse within the organization. She was appalled to learn that victims were twice victimized for reporting incidents. On Yahoo Answers there have been several people who left the organization and their stories are quite thrilling to hear!

P.S. I didn't watch the videos because through the years I've read so much of the Watchtower literature and I know more about the false prophecies they make than I really want to know.

Answer 3

Your question should be: Why do Christians fall for false teachings of all the denominations?

Why don't the churches that are part of those denominations strictly follow what the Bible says? There is no salvation in any denomination, no church that has built by man can offer salvation, but Christ is the Saviour of His church, to which He adds the saved. We are commanded to have no divisions among us (I Corinthians 1:10). You just cannot be a liberal when it comes with the Word of God (Revelation 3:16).

Answer 4

All religions are false, including Christianity, and based on the ancient beliefs of uneducated peoples and liars. So don't spew out hate on people who simply have a different faith to yourself.

Answer 5

Why dont you get your facts straight first before you go and rubbish the only true religion?
Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in a second coming of Christ.
Christ is ruling in heaven as King of God's Kingdom and has been doing so since 1914.
A cult has a human leader.Jehovah's Witnesses follow the teachings of Jesus Christ.
The question should really be why are you so dense??

Answer 6

I'm not going to say that we have not been wrong. Because we have. Yet we have made the changes that needed to be done. How is it that people are so bothered by this? How many times have you been wrong in your life? We are still imperfect humans. We still make mistakes. I'm sorry if this bugs you so much.
P.S some of the dates you are wright on. But not all.

Answer 7

Just by you specifically stating "Witnesses" shows that Satan is clearly using you to turn people against the true God. I'd bet $100 you are an apostate who has nothing better to do than smear lies. Wy not tell the truth? Stop fighting dirty & consider other religions, Judas.

Answer 8

Jesus was enthroned in the heavens in 1914, just as Bible prophecy showed he would be. JWs then thought that Armageddon wouild happen right away, too. They were wrong about that. As for the other dates this 'questioner' mentions, JWs teachings are that "No one knows the day nor the hour", just as the Bible says. In fact, further warnings have been given right along about jumping to such conclusions.

Should You Believe Everything You Hear? :
- Propaganda Can Be Deadly
- The Manipulation of Information
- Do Not Be a Victim of Propaganda!
- Is the Work of Jehovah's Witnesses Propagandistic?
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20000622/article_01.htm

Do You Know the Truth About Armageddon?
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20051201/article_01.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/e/kn37/article_01.htm

Answer 9

The term “cult” is used loosely by many who may not be fully aware of its connotations.

The World Book Encyclopedia explains that “traditionally, the term cult referred to any form of worship or ritual observance.” By that criterion, all religious organizations could be classified as cults. However, in general usage today, the word “cult” has a different meaning. The same encyclopedia notes that “since the mid-1900’s, publicity about cults has altered the meaning of the term. Today, the term is applied to groups that follow a living leader who promotes new and unorthodox doctrines and practices.”

Endorsing the popular usage of the term, Newsweek magazine explains that cults “are normally small, fringe groups whose members derive their identity and purpose from a single, charismatic individual.” Similarly, Asiaweek magazine notes that “the term [cult] itself is vague, but it usually denotes a new religious creed built around a charismatic leader, who often proclaims himself to be the personification of God.”

Occasionally, anticult organizations and the media have referred to Jehovah’s Witnesses as a cult. A number of recent newspaper articles lump the Witnesses with religious groups known for their questionable practices. But would it be accurate to refer to Jehovah’s Witnesses as a small fringe religious group? Cult members often isolate themselves from friends, family, and even society in general. Is that the case with Jehovah’s Witnesses? Are the Witnesses using deceptive and unethical techniques to recruit members?

Cult leaders are known to use manipulative methods to control the minds of their followers. Is there any evidence that Jehovah’s Witnesses do this? Is their worship cloaked in secrecy? Are they following and venerating a human leader? Pointedly, are Jehovah’s Witnesses a cult? Definitively not.

Why should I look at youtube? There are many apostates (also here) who tell lies about us. You should do more research concerning us. The 'information' that you know is incorrect.

Answer 10

You are the sheep. Is Youtube your source of info. If so, I shouldn't be surprised by two things, your bigotry and your ignorance.
Why does anyone fall for fake teachings and claims? Remember the Korean scientist who recently made grand claims about cloning? Yea, everyone fell for his crap and the rest is history. He was full of it. How about whole societies which fell for the fake teachings of men who said they would cleanse their society of religion and usher in a grand society where all were equal. Those same leaders proceeded to outlaw religion and then murdered tens of millions of their own people. Their names are Stalin, Pol Pot and Mao. All types of people fall for fake and evil teachings. You just get your info from youtube, so you think only religious people do. I pity you.

Answer 11

Christians don't fall for the fake teachings of any other religion -- it is those without a strong faith background that fall for the cults and false prophets.