a friend of mine has been a witness for about 2 years and says its the best thing thats ever happened to her,her father wont speak to her as he says its a cult.I dont understand this as i thought it was just a christian religion,and if its a cult then arn,t all religions a cult then.anyone with any experiences good or bad,muchly appreciated.
2007-05-08 23:38:45 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
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/e/20000622/
http://watchtower.org/library/ti/index.htm
2007-05-09 18:14:19 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I can answer all the questions you have with an open mind. You see, I was raised a Roman Catholic, been married in a Methodist Church and then was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. I was active in the congregation for a good two years before I disassociated myself and now am considered disfellowshipped.
While I was with the Watchtower organization they were the kindest and most loving people I had ever been a part of. They were willing to do anything for me but what I didn't understand is that the love from them was conditional. Once I stopped going to meetings and disassociated myself from them they stopped talking with me unless they are preaching to me. In their eyes I know "the truth" and am turning my back on Jehovah's organization as well as Jehovah God himself.
I went through some horrible times when I was active in the congregation and the Brothers and Sisters were there for me. I was in a horrible marriage to a man who blamed me for a miscarriage that I experienced while being a Sister at Kingdom Hall (the Witnesses' 'Church'). I also went through a birth of my second child and experienced serious post partum depression which they also helped me through.
The Witness' are Christian and try to follow in Jesus Christ's footsteps which is why they go out "in service" to spread the Good News. They believe that they have "the truth" and will easily site scriptures to justify their beliefs. They are strong on scriptural knowledge and public speaking as they continually educate the congregation with meetings - usually held on Tuesdays. On Thursdays they have bible study which is where they read and study a book of the Bible. On Sundays they have a worship type meeting.
The reason why they are strongly encourage not to associate with those who don't know "the truth" is that they believe that doing so will anger Jehovah and not earn them a place in the resurrection.
They don't believe in the after life. They believe that when you die you are sleeping awaiting resurrection (unless you are one of the 100,000). They believe that after the war of armaggedon the earth will be returned to a paradise state like that of the Garden of Eden and the righteous will be resurrected and be given the New Earth to live on forever.
If you look up the definition of cult you could apply that meaning to almost all religious organizations. I tend to think that a cult ends up hurting those who are a part of it but I don't see how the Witnesses hurt me. They actually helped me through a very difficult time in my life. It just saddens me that the people who meant so much to me then won't speak to me now.
2007-05-09 07:51:15 · answer #2 · answered by )0( Cricket Song 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well, Jehovah's Witnesses will (naturally) say their religion isn't a cult, while those who (for reasons that seem to be known only to them) are opposed to that faith will claim it's a cult (like your friend and her father). Yes, by some defenitions of the word "cult," it could indeed be applied to all organized religions (in fact, the very first definition Dictionary.com provides for the word is "a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies"!).
What contact I've had with members have been good ones.
The best place to find out about that church is to ask a member (and you've got a friend who's a member - how easy is that?!). Remember, you're under no obligation to actually join a church just because you ask about what they believe.
2007-05-09 06:51:21 · answer #3 · answered by Rynok 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
JWs belive in the entire bible and any bible.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God.
There is no Trinity or Duality in the Scriptures.
Mar 13:32 But of that day and [that] hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
JWs follow Jesus example of preaching about the good news of the kingdom.
Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
2007-05-12 11:25:00 · answer #4 · answered by keiichi 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i was raised as a Jehovah's witness but fell away from it in my youth as i thought it was to restrictive.....you will hear many bad things about them from people who don't relay know them..they are a Christean religion with a difference...they fully believe the bible and try to follow it to the letter....like you i don't know the difference between a cult and your every day run of the mill church..but you will not find a nicer,kinder,more loving religion than them..they are at ease in this uncertain world as they fully believe that a better time are soon at hand.writing this answer to you is making me realise how much i miss them.anyway go ask them your self everything they tell you they can back up with scriptures and if you lissen with an open mine you may at least understand what your friend sees in them....one last thing..the Bible says somewhere that you will be hated because of my name ,so it's to be expected from friends and family....i bet you your wittiness Friend even though stressed about her father has never been happier....PS i think you must be a true friend as by asking this question shows your true concern for your friend....
2007-05-09 07:13:44 · answer #5 · answered by pestie58 the spider hunter 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Our official website is: www.watchtower.org
The best thing whould be to get in touch with some of your local Jehovah's Witnesess and find out for yourself.
P.S You dont have to be one, if you dont want to. But they will answer all your questions.
2007-05-09 06:46:07 · answer #6 · answered by sxanthop 4 · 6⤊ 0⤋
For ACCURATE information about Jehovah's Witnesses, please visit watchtower.org. Go to the source, rather than asking random people that have biased opinions.
2007-05-09 10:58:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well they don't beleive in an afterlife, which is good I guess. They seem to interpret the bible correctly...
2007-05-09 06:45:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 2⤋
I would do a good research on JW before you make up your decision. Hear both sides & pray the Lord shows you His truth.
Here is Ex Jehovah Witnesses testimonies & why they left.
http://www.witforjesus.org/jehovahs_witness/testimonies/jw_ex-jw.php
2007-05-09 07:15:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 7⤋
My sister was involved with JW for a while. I think their activities are cult-like. They wanted her to distance herself from her family. They had these "sessions" to train her and her husband but they got irritated with her when she had questions. They didn't want her to do any of her own research.
JW beliefs are quite different from Christian churches. They are not really Christian.
2007-05-09 07:14:45 · answer #10 · answered by sparty035 3 · 0⤊ 8⤋