Why makes you think Jehovah's Witnesses is a cult?

Answer 1

Most reasonable people do not believe that Witnesses are a cult.

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

Dictionary definition of Cult: A specific system of religious worship especially with reference to its rites and deity; a sect devoted to the beliefs of a religious or other cult. Social - a group having an exclusive ideology and ritual practices centred on sacred symbols, especially one characterised by lack of organisational stucture; intense interest in and devotion to a person, idea or activity, e.g. the cult of yoga.

A modern-day definition is: A group of individuals who share a set of religious or quasi-religious beliefs, often imposed by a charismatic leader, which tend not to conform to society's norms, and may be considered fanatical. Has become linked with brainwashing, mass suicide and even murder.

Organisations that fit these descriptions include Charles Manson and the Family, Church of the Lamb of God, Nation of Yahweh, the Ku Klux Klan, Satanism and Voodoo. Others are the Order of the Solar Temple, Aum Supreme Truth, the Branch Dividians, the People's Temple, Children of God. There are many others. I do not believe Jehovah's Witnesses bear any resemblance to the above named examples.

However, the term Pseudo (false, pretending or inauthentic, or having a close resemblance to) or the term Quasi (almost but not really, seemingly, resembling but not actually being) could be applied. They have a close resemblance to main-stream Christianity, but their doctrines are quite different. Pseudo-Christian groups have their own emphasis on what identifies true Christianity. A classic hallmark of Pseudo-Christianity is the belief that they alone have God's approval.

Joyfilled was absolutely correct to say it does not matter what we think. Our standard should be the Bible, and not the opinions of people. Name-calling turns people away from the Gospel and does nothing to bring glory to God. Each and every one of us should be pointing to, and living in, Christ. On the day of judgement, we will be called to answer for OUR actions, not the actions of others. Let God take care of the judging.

Answer 3

Having been in a similar church, a long time ago, I would say that there are certain characteristics that can make a group a cult.
Does the leadership tell you what to believe?
Are you allowed to check out contradictory material?
Does the church insist on fellowship with other members almost exclusively, and prefer that your family members are less important?
Do you check your brain at the door, and follow blindly, without Biblical proof, things your church tells your group?
Do you prove to yourself, all things you are told, or do you just accept them?
Are you told that others who are not in this religion, have no chance of being saved?
Does this religion take over your life?
Does a religion take all the joy out of your life?
Does it cause disputes within the family?
Your family gets together for a Holiday dinner, for ex. and you are not allowed to attend, how does that make you more righteous?
Is brainwashing used here?
I could go on; there are alot more signs that it is a very controlling religion, Each must weigh the cost, and prove whether it's necessary to Salvation ( which I believe that accepting Christ and following His truth, is necessary in accepting Christ's sacrifice for us to be saved)
So, is it a cult? One doesn't know they are brainwashed, when they are brainwashed!

Answer 4

I'm so pleased JW Achtung agrees with me on this - I don't believe they are a cult either!

The term is much misused and maligned these days. It's not appropriate. A much more accurate description would be that they are a pseudo-Christian group. (And here Achtung and I part company.) A pseudonym is a fictitious name, especially one assumed by an author (and we all use them here on this site, don't we?) Nothing wrong with that - just so long as everybody KNOWS the assumed name is not the real one. We don't have to know what the real name is, just that the assumed one is... well, assumed. And JW leader Judge Rutherford assumed the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" for his band of followers on July 26, 1931. He lifted God's statement to the nation of Israel where HE called THEM his witnesses, and said it should apply to the former Bible Students en masse.

Of course, JWs long to be known, simply, as Christians. And they do try very hard. If salvation was based on effort and sincerity, most of them would pass. But Christians know that only faith in what Christ did at Calvary saves anyone, and that those who say they do, but who then go on to demonstrate faith in additional things to save them, are being pseudo-Christians. Of course, that can be seen right across the religious board. All denominations have members who fail the test of being Christians (Christ indwelling them), which does not necessarily make the denomination pseudo-Christian, but when a denomination preaches and teaches a salvation by works system ("You must believe in Jesus, and be baptised, and go door-to-door, and not take blood, and not smoke cigarettes.....") then the religion is not the genuine article. It's not what it claims to be. But God judges us as individuals, and there may be individual JWs who will be saved. I cannot say or judge any more than they can. But they do make a meal out of condemning other religions! They insist they are the only religion pleasing God today! So perhaps they should be asking themselves whom they label as false, and why (due to something Jesus said about straws and planks.)

Answer 5

Jehovah's Witnesses are not a cult no matter how much a lot of people wish it to be that way, Karen o3 We are nothing like Jim Jones whatsoever, we do not follow a manWe worship God alone through Jesus Christ as the mediator between God and mankind(1Timothy2:5).
and Sisterzeal we do not serve the Watchtower organization or it's leaders we worship and serve God, and FYI our work is producing fine fruit because it is backed by God, this is why there are 5,000 new Witnesses baptized every weekend worldwide, now that is some fruit, we could not do this without the support of God.if any other religion had God's support they would be producing such fruit not us.

Answer 6

Jehovah's Witness, The Church of Mormon or Scientology is no more or less a cult than any other religion. Don't let anyone else convince you numbers changes what the definition of the word cult. All religions fall under the definition of "cult"

Answer 7

I know that they are NOT a cult in the sense that the world thinks of a cult. I'm sure the Jews felt that Jesus and his followers were a cult.

Jehovah's Witnesses are worldwide in 236 lands with close to 7 million active members. There are almost 100,000 congregations in the world. Yes, we all have the same beliefs, that are bible based. We all share in the preaching of the Good News that Jesus commanded to be preached at Matt. 24: 14. "This good news of the kingdom will be preached, in all the inhabited earth, to all nations, then the end will come."

We have a true brotherhood. I can go anywhere in the world and instantly have a spiritual family of brothers and sisters whom welcome me in their homes. I have personally experienced this. There is no prejudice due to race or nationality. As Jesus said, "By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves." John 13: 35

We follow only the bible, not traditions or doctrines of men. As Jesus said we should not do at Matt 15: 8 & 9 "This people honors me with their lips, yet their heart is far removed from me. It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach commands of men as doctrines."
That is why after intense study, research and prayer, we do not belief that the trinity, hellfire, immortality of the soul doctrines are bible based, but man made doctrines.

Every religion has it's "spiritual leaders" most churches have only one preacher, reverend, etc... We do have a group of men who have faithfully served and devoted their whole life to service to God. They have unselfishly given their life to help others, not for material gain, but for spiritual gain. Matt 6: 20 "Store up treasures in heaven.." As a group they give us spiritual food, and guidence in this troubled world we live in. All bible based. This is not telling us what to do, although God does consider certain things wrong, and we can not practice these things i.e. fornication, drunkeness, homosexuality etc.. and be in good standing in the congregation, unless we stop doing those things and are repentant. Giving guidelines based on bible principals is not tellings someone what to do. Such as what the bible says about picking a marriage mate, how husbands and wives should treat each other, what is wholesome entertainment. We are not policed, but we all what to train our conscience to be in line with what the bible says. We want to hate what God hates and imitate his righteous ways.

Jehovah's Witnesses are just striving to live their life as a true Christain in a world that doesn't have much morals left. As a result, we are critized and branded a cult. I actually have a book on the History of Religion. Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormans are not listed under Cults, but modern religions.
Now Jim Jones is listed under Cults and the Moonies. I don't remember about Scientology....

To magic ey...Jehovah's Witnesses to not believe that the earth is only 6000 years old. The bible says that "in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" it goes on to says that the earth was already here on the first creative day..so who knows how old the planet earth is??? Man was not created until the end of the sixth creative day. We do believe that Adam was created a little over 6000 years ago according to bible dates. We are in the 7th creative day, which has lasted over 6000 years, so we don't know foresure how long each creative day was, but at least 6000 years. So that would be at least 42,000 years ago that the 1st creative day started, so the earth is a lot older than that.

Answer 8

They are not anymore a cult than any other organized religion. The signs that you may have been approached by a cult are very similar to the traits of Christianity, Islam, etc.


http://www.conservativebookstore.com/creview/features/cult.htm

Answer 9

From Meriam-Webster's Online Dictionary:
CULT: a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents

Yep, their religion is unorthodox and spurious

spurious: of illegitimate birth/bastard

Yep this that one fits. Their religion was formed by C.T. Russell. It did not exist prior to him.

Spurious: of falsified or erroneously attributed origin : FORGED b : of a deceitful nature or quality

Yep that one SURELY fits. Their own history testifies to that. They have changed their doctrines, prophecies on the end of time, beliefs, code of conduct, etc more often than I care to list here as there have been many questions and website specializing in this.

SPURIOUS: outwardly similar or corresponding to something without having its genuine qualities

Yep, they appear to be Christian, but a deep research into all aspects of their faith shows they are without genuine qualities (for the record, some of the people who are JW are great people, but nonetheless that alone does not make their denomination right)

CULT: great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : the object of such devotion c : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion

Yep that one fits. Their devotion is to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (they refer to it as "the society" as in "the society says we shouldn't do that" or "the society through it's publications warn against this") Their devotion to a "literary" work could be thought of as to their own literary work of translating their NWT of THEIR bible or even the magazines which they live by as in "the watchtower warns against practicing this" or "I read in the watchtower that God's TRUE people should want to see that movie or read that book"

FOR PAPA BEAR: Remember when we use to "sell" the magazines and books for 10 cents but "bought" them at the KH for 8 cents??? THEN, in order to manauver around the sales tax rules we were taught to say the books and magazines are free, but we will gladly accept a donation from them but it was for the work not the magzines?? I do, so if you want to preach about avoiding taxes, you just chalked one up for your opponents side.
If you venerate the organization so much, why not get re instated, I'm sure they'd be glad to have you back.
And I personally would NOT buy that book that a publisher wants you to write that you keep telling everyone on R/S about.

About the immorality: silencelamb.org try that on for size and see the truth about your beloved elders and society.
I for one am glad I am out.

Answer 10

Dear Arihaz,

What I think of them does not matter.
What the Bible declares them to be does matter immensely.

Deuteronomy 18:20-22 makes it very clear that Watchtower Witnesses are FALSE prophets and we are not to be "afraid of" them. We certainly should not be listening to them.

The Watchtower has on more than one occasion given a specific date for Armageddon. But those specific dates have come and gone without Armageddon taking place. When I discuss the subject with jws they say "We made a mistake" and "Everybody makes mistakes."

I say to them God does not make mistakes. Ever.

For His glory,
JOYfilled