I was just wondering...?

Question

Are Jehovah's Witnesses considered fundamentalists? They don't believe that the earth is 6,000 years old or that the creative days were 24 hours each.

What, in your opionion, defines a fundamentalist? (I know the definition. I'm looking for opinions here.)

I've been looking in to their beliefs recently and it's raised a few questions in my mind.

evilpoo: Thank you for your clear, well-thought out answer.

believer: I asked for your opinion on what constitutes a fundamentalist, not a cult.

Answer 1

The official website of Jehovah's Witnesses explains why they do not consider themselves to be fundamentalists.
http://www.jw-media.org/beliefs/beliefsfaq.htm

[quote]
Are you fundamentalists?
While we have strong religious convictions, we are not fundamentalists in the sense that the term has come to be used. We do not believe that every passage in the Bible is to be interpreted literally. We do not pressure political leaders to promote a certain point of view, nor do we resort to demonstrations and violence against those who disagree with us. The Bible teaches Christians to be kind, good, mild, and reasonable—qualities that do not allow for the kind of fanaticism that is sometimes associated with fundamentalism.—James 3:17.
[unquote]

Answer 2

No Jehovah Witnessess are not fundamentalists. There is alot more than believing that the earth is 6,000 years old and creative days are 24 hours each of the creative days. Fundamental in anything sports, work, or even religion is simply going by the book. In this case the book is the Bible. Do you think when the Bible says in the last days there will be 144,000 jews to witness to the lost during the 7 year tribulation means that only those 144,000 will go to heaven is what it is! No cause if that was the case then every one else would have to go to hell.

Also a fundamentalist lives by the Bible. The Bible tell him(her) how to dress, talk, act, date, live right, everything.

Simply a Fundamentalist is someone who lives their life by the Bible.

Answer 3

I would say that they are properly considered as cultists. Their most basic beliefs are at variance with that of historical Christianity.
A fundamentalist is a person who believes the most basic things in any religion.
The opposite would be a liberal. These people tend to doubt things - like the divinity of Jesus.

Answer 4

A fundamentalist is one who views everything that is written in their particular scriptures in this case the Bible as the literal truth instead of as symbolically or metaphorically speaking.

Answer 5

A cult is any group which teaches doctrines or beliefs that deviate from the biblical message of the Christian faith. It is very important that we recognize cults and avoid any involvement with them. Cults often teach some Christian truth mixed with error, which may be difficult to detect. There are some features common to most cults:
They do not adhere solely to the sixty-six books of the Bible as the inspired Word of God. They add their "special revelations" to the Bible as equally authoritative.

They do not accept that our relationship to Jesus Christ is a reality "by grace through faith" alone, but practice instead a salvation by works.

They do not give Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, full recognition as the second Person of the Trinity, composed of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Some of these groups are Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, the Unification Church, Unitarians, Spiritists, Scientologists, and others.

Answer 6

As I understand it fundamentalists believe every thing in the Bible to be literal, ie, no illustrations, etc. (If not please let me know) On this basis no we are not fundamentalists. Also WE are not CULTISTS.

Answer 7

They are flipping ca-razzzzzzzy