Are people who are Jehovah Witnesses living in a cult?

Question

My husband grew up with this religion and has since left. He believes now that this orginazition is a brain washing its congregation. What do you think?

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses are Christians who respect the bible above any human authority.

Anti-Witnesses 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 (for example) 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/e/ti/index.htm?article=article_04.htm

Answer 2

I have been involved as a worshipper with them and other religious groups for research purposes. They appear this way because of their highly organised teaching methods. They are very evangelical, but all religious groups teach followers some things which a matter of Bibical interpretation. In the UK they will not repeatedly call if requested not to. One area that causes ill feeling is that they are encouraged to avoid anything with pagan roots or other religious groups that compromise on Bibical teachings. Also the elders will privately counsel those who are seriously dishonest or immoral. Some of the above contributions indicate personal extremism which goes way beyond their current teachings. That is always a big risk with faith. Look at the actions of some Muslim extremists. As for the rubbishers, just remember, no scientist completely rejects anything they cannot disprove.

Answer 3

My Wife and I were baptized in Aug. 1996 as Jehovah's Witnesses. We are not living in a cult. Our meetings are open to anyone who would like to come and see for themselves. We have District Conventions throughout the summer all over the world and people that are not Jehovah's Witnesses really enjoy the Bible program. The City of Long Beach Ca has even given Jehovah's Witnesses the key to the City for the good that they have brought to the City by having their Conventions at the Long Beach Arena. Do you think the City would really give the key to the City to a cult?
I know for a fact that Jehovah's Witnesses have the truth. The best thing that ever happened to me was having a Jehovah's Witness knock on my door. My Wife and I and new born Son have a beautiful relationship with our Creator Jehovah God.
It's sad that people are so quick to believe what they hear without doing research for themselves by asking a active Jehovah's Witness about our Bible based beliefs.
Jesus said in prayer to his Father in John 17 that people do not know his Father. That's sad that people want to live in darkness and deny the truth.

Answer 4

My Mother is a Adherent of the Jw religon. The fact that he (your husband) left is just that, his *personal* decision. Though im not a JW i can honestly say they are not a cult they try to live a real high norm type of living. Although i feel they ( WT) at times ask to much of their devotees and say its Yahweh/Jehovah that really asks this, others take things exagerratedly serious. But im no one to judge they try hard being good people. Thats it.

Answer 5

ALL religions are cults, by definition!

"Cult - 1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP"*

P.S. For the folks having trouble with the Witnesses visiting your home, the easiest way to blow their minds so they'll never come back is ask them to define "God" for you. When they can't , then point out that something which can't be defined does not exist and point out to them how they are wasting their lives.

Answer 6

Yes, I think so. When you ask people week after week to stop ringing your doorbell (the same people) and they absolutely won't, that starts to get scary. I mean, I explained that it was my one day off, that I worked over 50 hours a week and they were waking me up, that I had a religion and didn't need another or want to change. I was nice to them, until they got on my nerves and told them I worshiped satan. That only made my soul up for grabs, so I threatened to call the police (had no effect). I finally moved from there but they really did rattle my cage.

Answer 7

I agree with your husband. I have a friends who has become a witness since I have known her and she has changed (not for the better). Witnesses believe that gay people are evil, that other religions promote child abuse (I have seen this on some of their literature) and that anyone who doesnt follow their beliefs has been touched by demons. They don't allow family celebrations such as birthdays or christmas, which cuts followers (and their children) off from their extended families. I think it's a sick religion.

Answer 8

JW's are indeed a cult.
I would be inclined more to agree than disagree. Mind control is certainly more the word to use, but it happens.

Answer 9

That's one of the funniest screen names I have ever seen.

Answer 10

I was a witness for over 20 years. I KNOW they use brainwashing and terror tactics to keep the ignorant sheeple in check. Even though I lost my entire family to that cult ,it is still the best move i ever did to get away from it.