http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Are_the_Jehovah's_Witnesses_a_cult
2007-11-12 02:06:24 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I found this link interesting because it provides both sides to the arguement.
2007-11-12 02:08:30 · update #1
I was raised in that religion and I left at age 27 (I'm now 33). I didn't think it was a cult when I was in. Now that I am out... I now realize that the JW's keep you in their religion by mind control, which I consider a cult.
When you are in that religion, you are not even allowed to read literature of other religions or question anything about the JW beliefs.
If they believe they have the only "true" religion... they wouldn't be afraid to let their members read literature outside of their own?
My family is still in the religion and since I left, they are not allowed to talk to me or even smile at me because they might become contaminated with my thinking. If that isn't a cult, I don't know what is!
2007-11-12 02:55:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 5⤋
Yes they are a cult. I saw the claims above me that their bible is similar to other Bibles. And that they read the same. This is a bald faced lie. Any verse attributing divinity to Jesus the changed. They do not believe in the Jesus of the Bible. Thus they are not Christians.
2007-11-12 23:54:30 · answer #2 · answered by Bible warrior 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses are merely another religion trying to get it right. I don't appreciate their practice of disassociating with those that are not Witnesses and (worse yet) disfellowshipping members that fall to the temptations of this world. Seriously, what would have happened to the prodigal son if his dad had that attitude?
2007-11-12 10:19:15 · answer #3 · answered by RT 66 6 · 4⤊ 3⤋
Listen, I believe that any religion, that does not cultivate getting along with all people regardless of their color, race or creed, is not a good religion. Especially those who do not teach you how to respect other religious opinions and customs. A good religion, embraces all mankind no matter flavor they are dressed in.
peace out
2007-11-12 10:17:12 · answer #4 · answered by Remy 4 · 9⤊ 1⤋
Yes JW's are a cult.
Often in our minds we think of a cult as a group that worships Satan, sacrifices animals, and takes part in evil, bizarre, and pagan rituals. In reality, though, most cults appear much more innocent. The specific Christian definition of a cult is a religious group that denies one or more of the fundamentals of Biblical truth. Or, in more simple terms, a cult is a group that teaches something that will cause a person to not be saved if they believe it. In distinction from a religion, a cult is a group that claims to be Christian, yet denies an essential truth of Biblical Christianity.
The two most common teachings of cults are that Jesus was not God and that salvation is not by faith alone. A denial of the deity of Christ results in Jesus’ death not being a sufficient payment for our sins. A denial of salvation by faith alone results in salvation being achieved by our own works – something the Bible vehemently and consistently denies. The two most well-known examples of cults are the Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons. Both groups claim to be Christian, yet both deny the two key doctrines mentioned above. Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons believe many things that are in agreement with and/or similar to what the Bible teaches. However, the fact that they deny the deity of Christ and salvation by faith alone qualifies them as a cult. Many Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and members of other cults are “good people” who are genuinely seeking God and genuinely believe they hold the truth. Our hope and prayer is that many people involved in the “Christian” cults will see through the lies and will be drawn to the truth of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Recommended Resource: The Kingdom of the Cults, revised and updated edition.
2007-11-12 10:44:44 · answer #5 · answered by Freedom 7 · 4⤊ 6⤋
Jehovah's witnesses use the bible to back up EVERTHING they believe. I'd be curious to know how many of you have have actually read your bible and know what the bible really teaches, rather than what your parents or priests or ministers or whomever have drilled into your heads. Your bible says the same thing a witnesses bible does. Read it.
I can almost guarantee that none of you have even seen a Jehovah's Witness bible let alone READ one. Yes, it was written by Jehovah's Witnesses, but pick any scripture from YOUR "bible" and compare it to the scripture in a witnesses bible. Says the same thing. My only advice, know what you are talking about before you judge. The truth is, you have preconceived notions as to what Jehovah's witnesses are like because from the time you were a child, you were told these people are "evil" and "cult." And I am sure we all know how everything we read online is so true. It's fine to have your opinions, but if you are going to state "facts" make sure the facts are indeed facts.
If a witness makes a choice not to associate with people outside of their religion, which many witnesses do and many do not, it is their own personal choice. There are no "leaders" making those decisions for them. They decide on their own, depending on what their own conscience will allow them to do.
When witnesses conduct bible studies with people wanting to learn of the religion, they encourage these people to read their own version of the bible(King James, etc), showing that the bible DOES read the same.
Example of this:
From the Jehovah's witness bible, proving God and Jesus are NOT one in the same:
1Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus,"
From the King James Version Bible
1Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"
also from Jehovah's witnesses bible:
John 1:18 "No man has seen God at any time; the only-begotten god who is in the bosom [position] with the Father is the one that has explained him."
King James Bible:
John 1:18 "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him."
Sounds like it's saying the same exact thing to me. Both versions clearly state that no man has ever seen God. So Jesus could not have been God in a physical form. The bible says so.
Anyone who doubts the bibles read the same, this especially includes anyone who has never even seen the bible and are just speaking out of ignorance, should check out the online bible on these two sites. Indisputible proof the bible reads the same.
www.watchtower.org
http://quod.lib.umich.edu/k/kjv/browse.html - King James Version
Again, it's fine to have your opinions, but if you are going to state "facts" make sure the facts are indeed facts.
2007-11-12 10:16:12 · answer #6 · answered by niteswimr2 2 · 6⤊ 6⤋
They are a Christian cult. Their beliefs come from The Watchtower and Tract Society, not from the Bible. They'll believe the WTS over the Bible any day. Even if they are wrong. Oh, that's right, they HAVE been wrong. SEVERAL times! Their light "gets brighter" everytime they are "corrected". How do they know the "corrections" aren't wrong?
2007-11-12 12:31:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 5⤋
Yes!
2007-11-12 23:40:13 · answer #8 · answered by Nina, BaC 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Definitely a cult! we are told in the Bible that if any one delivers unto you a gospel which is other than the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, let them be accursed and if any one receives a gospel which is other than the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, let them be accursed also. The J.W. movement is really bad news and they refuse to believe that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh and they just down grade Him to the status of an angel. Where they get these ideas from is any ones guess. My advice; avoid them at all cost!
2007-11-12 10:35:49 · answer #9 · answered by mandbturner3699 5 · 2⤊ 6⤋
Go to http://www.sixscreensofthewatchtower.com
This provides all the information you'll ever need to understand and agree without a doubt that the JW's are in fact, a cult.
To niteswimr2 - the JW bible is NOT the same as the Christian Bible. It is altered to fit what the JW's need it to say to back up their false beliefs.
2007-11-12 10:19:02 · answer #10 · answered by Linnie 4 · 2⤊ 6⤋