My ex friend was a JW and didn't believe Jesus was cruified on a cross, she said it was a tree. Where did they get that idea?
2007-06-02 20:20:43 · 17 answers · asked by ? 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It was a cross made from a tree.
They believe the cross is a pagan symbol. I am providing a link for you.
I don't know why they call themselves Christians, bc they certainly don't have Christian beliefs. Many claim the JWs are cultists using the covering of Christianity to spread their false doctrines and to make themselves appear more believable.
2007-06-02 20:28:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 5⤋
Is your question talking about Jehovah's Witness' and their belief and faith? Or perhaps you're asking about why your friend believed that Jesus may have been crucified on a tree instead of a cross.
I think it would be ironic to call yourself a Christian if you don't believe in the root of the word, which would be Christ. But it's not to say that they don't believe in Jesus as the Christ, they just don't believe in some aspects of "traditional" Christianity. So technically, they're still Christians.
As for the whole crucifixion thing, well I choose to believe that Jesus died for my sins, does it really matter where he was crucified?
And is she your ex-friend now because she said Jesus was crucified on a tree?
2007-06-02 20:37:48 · answer #2 · answered by Noel 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are several Christian religions that don't believe Jesus was God.
By definition, the word "Christian" means "Christ-like". Thus a Christian is a disciple of Christ. Therefore Jehovah's Witness do claim, and are considered, Christians.
The reason Jehovah's Witnesses don't believe that Jesus died on a cross is because the original Greek work (that most Bibles translate 'cross') is stauros, which literally means a tree or single piece of timber. For example, look at Acts 5:30 in your Bible.
Jehovah's Witnesses belive that Jesus died on an upright stake, or pole. This is what the Bible indicates. The cross was later adopted by the Roman Catholic Church.
2007-06-02 20:28:49 · answer #3 · answered by johnusmaximus1 6 · 4⤊ 3⤋
They beleave Jesus was an angel, a seperate entity to God and not the son of God. Jesus is part of the trinity, He is God.
They have change bits in the bible which I'm not going to explain right now due to lack of space, but God said that the bible should never be changed.
Also Jesus was cucified on a cross because the bible says so. To answer the question, to be a Christian they would have to follow Jesus, accept and beleave what He says
2007-06-02 20:37:09 · answer #4 · answered by tah75 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Those are the true Christians following true message of Jesus Christ in early days of Christianity until Constantine invented trinity which has no basis.
2007-06-02 22:02:02 · answer #5 · answered by Ismail Eliat 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jesus is believed to be God's first creation, and thus is considered to be an independent entity from God who was used by Him to create everything else. Jesus is literally the only begotten Son of God, and received his life from God. He is the only means by which to approach God in prayer, and is also the means of salvation for all worthy mankind
2007-06-02 20:44:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
They believe he died on a stake (like a telephone pole, with his arms directly above him), not a tree. The reason for it has to do with the specifc latin word used to describe what Jesus died on. In the end, it's really just semantics. They are considered to be Christians because they believe in Christ as their Lord and Savior, and that his death was a ransom sacrifice which allows the rest of us to be saved.
2007-06-02 20:26:13 · answer #7 · answered by tony c 3 · 2⤊ 3⤋
They can call themselves Martians if they want to.
Who cares?
It's funny, people take very seriously the christian fable made up 2,000 years ago - but if you suggested they believe other things from that far back - or even more recently (like, "you can use chemicals to make gold from lead" or "the sky is a dome with holes punched in it" or even the famous Caholic dogma "the universe revolves around the earth" - they'd think you were nuts.
Why the inconsistency?
Because as much as we'd like to think otherwise, people just aren't very bright.
So they divide themselves up into little tribes and call themselves things like "christian" or "jehovah witness" and then they argue about whether a 2000-year-old corpse was hung on a "tree" or a "cross" (or a Buick, for that matter).
Who is right?
You're both wrong.
2007-06-02 20:22:20 · answer #8 · answered by Bambi B 3 · 1⤊ 6⤋
Jehovah's witnesses are not Christians.
They do not claim to be (although they would love to convert one or two).
2K years ago, people were crucified routinely on trees since it was the most efficient way to do it (not too many people around with saws and hammers back then).
Saying Jesus was crucified on a "tree" is not totally incorrect.
2007-06-02 20:28:42 · answer #9 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 4⤋
Jesus wasn't God numpty - he was the son of God!
Even I know that one and I'm not even a God Botherer!
2007-06-02 20:25:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anchor Cranker 4 · 1⤊ 5⤋