open minded people?

Question

why is Jehovah's witnesses hated so much?

Answer 1

It is true that Jehovah's Witnesses are not loved by everyone.
http://jw-media.org/newsroom/human_rights.htm
Some people hate Jehovah's Witnesses out of ignorance, or over some misunderstanding. A few may have had a bad personal experience with an individual who claimed to be a Jehovah's Witness, and prejudicially extended their animus to this entire Christian religion.

However, it seems that the majority of anti-Witness hatred is motivated by religious intolerance and bigotry. A few may even be motivated against their Christian worship by the unseen 'god of this system of things', Satan the Devil.

(2 Corinthians 4:4) the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers

Interestingly, such "hatred" should be expected by true Christians in this time of the end, and it actually helps identify Jehovah's Witnesses as Christ's true disciples:

(John 15:19) If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on this account the world hates you.

(Luke 6:22) Happy are you whenever men hate you, and whenever they exclude you and reproach you and cast out your name as wicked for the sake of the Son of man.

(1 Peter 4:4) Because you do not continue running with them in this course to the same low sink of debauchery, they are puzzled and go on speaking abusively of you.

(2 Timothy 4:3-5) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; 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.

It seems signficant that the relatively small religion of Jehovah's Witnesses are the ones best known for their worldwide preaching work. Yet Jesus commanded that ALL who would call themselves "Christian" perform this public work:

(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 you. And, look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.


Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20030301/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20020401/article_01.htm

Answer 2

I don't think "hated" is a good word for them. They do tend to be "pushy" in that when you become a Jehovah Witness, you have to spend so much time a day in missionary work. They like to go door to door, passing out the Watchtower magazine trying to get converts. Most of them are young and untrained and some of the tactics they use are less than desirable. This causes a lot of criticism.

Answer 3

While it at times hard to get along with others, and of course their are actions and decisions that are distasteful it is wrong to treat others badly or judge them without knowing them. Just because someone chooses to believe differently does not mean you have the right to hate them.

Religious hatred is nothing new people have treated each other badly for varying reasons for a VERY long time.
I think that for the most part people who hate a certain religion are either severly misinformed or at times they are just hateful people. I read some of the things people ask and answer about my beliefs as one of Jehovah's Witnesses and at times it makes me laugh. Some of the answers are funny they are so far off. Others are just down right hurtful.

Most people I know consider us to be part of a mainstream religion. I think when people refer to us as a cult or our beliefs as unchristian they do not know what the terms "Christian" and "Cult" mean. Then again some others are simply misinformed as to our beliefs. I have seen so many answers and questions on here that show that people either do not know what we believe or are just lying about our beliefs. Religion is a hot button issue. Those who are actually willing to listen to us( and not just believe rumors, lies, misinformation, and misunderstood info) I think probably consider us mainstream. Those who do not wish to see us for what we are (people striving to serve Jehovah and follow the principles in the Bible) may never be willing to see us as mainstream.

Answer 4

Because they did a lot of door knocking in the past. But I don't think they're that bad. It seems they interpret the bible much more accurately than the others. For instance, they say the soul dies with the body, and that hell was missinterpreted.
Its a good start in my view.

Answer 5

Perhaps because they are a copy of the Jewish Cult that separated themselves some 1900 years ago

Talking to one of my regular passengers, whose a Rabbi, I would say most Christians have much the same problem with JWs that ancient Jews had with the first Christians who they viewed as having been started by an uneducated ex-carpenter of the Jewish Lower Class who was executed for cause by the governing authority. The only education he had was by Mary and Joseph, in the view of the Jews, he made up most of what he said.

He recruited other uneducated, lower class individuals, such as a failed fisherman (Peter) and a hated tax collector (Matthew).

Lacking any formal education, they were easy to manipulate into believing he was the Messiah, something that was impossible, as he did not bring about the destruction (Armageddon) of the enemies of the Truly Blessed People of God, the Israelites, as was prophesied.

After his lawful execution, these clearly brainwashed followers began going door to door telling their brethren that the traditional beliefs, rituals, and observances (holidays), dating back hundreds of years, were no longer valid.

They began creating their own scriptures, to support their false beliefs, instead of relying on the Holy Torah, which had sustained God’s People for hundreds of years.

Finally, there were highly educated individuals, especially in the religious arts, such as Saul of Tarsus, who could clearly prove that they were a false cult, bent on leading God’s People down a false path to destruction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_of_Tarsus

What happened to them, as a result of their false teachings, and their door to door work, was only to be expected of people who have lost their way.

Clearly, what you may or may not think of JWs is reliant on your point of view, just as it was in those first years. Having an advanced education in religion does not mean that you are right, only that you sound that way.

JWs may have come from a simple, and some times, erratic beginnings, but at least they are making a valid effort to do better. You cannot say that for other religions who:

Continue to get involved in politics;

Lie to the IRS about not doing so in order to get their non-profit status;

Avoids paying taxes on retail sales within the church;

Allows immorality to creep into the church;

Immortalizes their founders through the observance of a birthday, death, and/or anniversary of the founding of the church;

Places a pictures of the founders in all their churches, so that all can see and pay obeisance;

Gives tacit approval to the Theory of Evolution; and

Doesn’t teach their followers to preach and teach the Bible, as Christ instructed.

Answer 6

Because they fail to understand that normal people are either too hungover or too sex-dry to answer the freaking door on a sunday morning.

Answer 7

We're not the only ones. Every belief has it's group of haters.
As Jesus said, "pick up your torture stake and follow me." We have to perservere in prayer.

Answer 8

I think it's because they never take 'no' for an answer, when they come to your house. And then there's the fact they're always ringing on your doorbell. Otherwise...?

Answer 9

the constant 9 am Saturday morning thing is just one of the many and consistent issues I have with them!

Answer 10

Because they come to peoples' doors and try convert them. I hate them.