Why is it that people call Jehovah's Witnesses a cult????

Question

I mean really, we're not. I don't understand how people can keep calling us that!

Andy H I appreciate you answer! Thank you.

I am a Witness. I don't care what people call me, i was just wondering. Isn't that what ANY question is all about. Just realize that you obviously don't know anything about me. Believe what you want to but just because you believe it doesn't make it true!

Andy H, again thank you for your EDIT. I am younger. Maybe more naive if you wanna call me that.

Answer 1

Many people don’t know a lot about us and our beliefs. They have only seen and heard of the stereo types the media likes to popularize. This world lives on stereo types of every sort.
Just realizes they are ignorant, not evil.

A cult follows people – we do not. We don’t hold the Governing Body up as holy men, people think we do though.

The Bible should be our only guide, and the Magazines can help us, but they are NO Bible substitute. They are also not infallible.

[EDIT]

As for those claiming he is not a member just because he asks a question you wouldn’t, stop judging. He or she may be younger. Head the Bibles counsel: Do not judge for with the portion you judge you yourself will be judged.

Answer 2

i spotted that folk who're throwing dirt around yet nevertheless not answering the question why Catholics and protestants that stick to a human chief refrain from calling themselves a cult. Theocratic perception on my own isn't a cult definition. they are hoping that by ability of not answering the question and throwing accusations at Jehovah's Witnesses will distract people from the subject remember of this question.

Answer 3

It's fascinating to meditate on the fact that few persons at the time knew the prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures better than the Sadducees and Pharisees, especially related to the Messiah. Yet, they apparently were unable to help themselves from working to fulfill many of those prophecies and thus prove that Jesus was indeed the Christ, the Messiah.

Were Christ's enemies motivated by self-importance? Yes.
...(John 11:47-48) Consequently the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Sanhedrin together and began to say: “What are we to do, because this man performs many signs? If we let him alone this way, they will all put faith in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

Were Christ's enemies motivated by some unseen force of evil? Yes.
...(John 8:42-44) Jesus said to them: “...Why is it you do not know what I am speaking? Because you cannot listen to my word. You are from your father the Devil, and you wish to do the desires of your father.

Yet, the bible makes it clear that at least some of those Jewish persecutors of Christ and Christianity actually had pure motives, misguided because they needed to learn the truth (see 1 Timothy 1:12-14). Jehovah's Witnesses hope that the enemies of God and Christ are merely misguided, and hope that these enemies recognize that true Christianity is about "good news" rather than arguments and attacks, or bitterness and venom.

It is true that Jehovah's Witnesses are not loved by everyone.
http://jw-media.org/newsroom/human_rights.htm
Some people hate Jehovah's Witnesses out of ignorance, or over some misunderstanding. A few may have had a bad personal experience with an individual who claimed to be a Jehovah's Witness, and prejudicially extended their animus to this entire Christian religion.

However, it seems that the majority of anti-Witness hatred is motivated by religious intolerance and bigotry. A few may even be motivated against their Christian worship by the unseen 'god of this system of things', Satan the Devil.

(2 Corinthians 4:4) the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers

Interestingly, such "hatred" should be expected by true Christians in this time of the end, and it actually helps identify Jehovah's Witnesses as Christ's true disciples:

(John 15:19) If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on this account the world hates you.

(Luke 6:22) Happy are you whenever men hate you, and whenever they exclude you and reproach you and cast out your name as wicked for the sake of the Son of man.

(1 Peter 4:4) Because you do not continue running with them in this course to the same low sink of debauchery, they are puzzled and go on speaking abusively of you.

(2 Timothy 4:3-5) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.

It seems signficant that the relatively small religion of Jehovah's Witnesses are the ones best known for their worldwide preaching work. Yet Jesus commanded that ALL who would call themselves "Christian" perform this public work:

(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 you. And, look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.


Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20030301/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20020401/article_01.htm

Answer 4

This is just something we have to get used to and live with as long as this system of things continues.

We have always been called a sect or a cult by others. For example, consider what "the principle men of the Jews" said to the apostle Paul, as recorded in Acts 28:22 -

"But we think it proper to hear from you what your thoughts are, for truly as regards this sect it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against."

As for those who use the definition that a religion that is not "orthodox" is a cult: Who is to say what is or is not orthodox? Is it not Jehovah himself, and the orthodoxiness of true religion being defined in Scripture?

Answer 5

Webester's dictionary gives the athoritative definition, which reads in part, "A system of religious beliefs and ritual; a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; great devotion to a person, idea, or thing"

A cult is any religious group which differs significantly in some one or more respectes as to belief and practice from those religious groups which are regarded as the normative expressions of religion in our total culture.

A psuedo-Christian cult is one that adheres to doctrines which are pointedly contradictory to orthodox Christianity and which yet claim the distinction or either tracing their origin to orthodox sources or of being in essential harmony with those resources.

The Jehovah's Witnesses movement is a Pseudo-Christian cult by the very definition of a cult. Why contest this fact?

Answer 6

Jehovah's Witnesses are NOT a cult and anyone who has actually done any kind of research concerning Jehovah's Witnesses knows this. People who oppose Jehovah's Witnesses like to use the word 'cult' because this word has a general negative connotation. They are counting on people who are not familiar with Jehovah's Witnesses to simply accept this false label and then ignorantly repeat what they have been told.

The following shows how this label is completely untrue:

Cults are regarded as being small, local groups. In contrast, Jehovah's Witnesses currently number over 7,ooo,ooo and can be found in almost every country of the world.
http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/

The World Headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses is in New York. Located there is the Governing Body, a central group of experienced elders who oversee the worldwide congregation.

Jehovah's Witnesses - Their Worldwide Organization and Work
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/good-news-from-god/jehovahs-witnesses-organization/
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Cults are also regarded as encouraging their adherents to live in groups apart from the rest of society. Many also think of cults as being secretive about their activities or having something to hide.

In contrast, Jehovah's Witnesses live and work in the midst of other people. They have nothing to hide. In fact, they desire to tell anyone who is willing to listen about everything that they believe.

Their book Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom correctly notes: "Jehovah's Witnesses are in no sense a secret society. Their Bible-based beliefs are fully explained in publications that are available to anyone. Additionally, they put forth special effort to invite the public to attend meetings to see and hear for themselves what takes place."
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Cult members are also associated with following living human leaders.

Yet Jehovah's Witnesses do not look to any human, but rather to Jesus Christ, as their leader. Jehovah’s Witnesses follow what Jesus taught and put it into practice:

See: "Who is Jesus Christ?"
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/good-news-from-god/who-is-jesus-christ/

That is what it means to be a Christian. Accordingly, Jehovah’s Witnesses strive to adhere strictly to the precepts established by the first Christians.

Jehovah's Witnesses base all of their beliefs, their standards for conduct, and organizational procedures on the Bible. Their worship is a way of life, not a ritual devotion.
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Rather than relying solely on hearsay and running the risk of parroting bad information, Jehovah's Witnesses encourage people to investigate this further FOR THEMSELVES. This way, one will be in a position to be properly informed as to the true faith and beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses.

The best way to find out more about Jehovah's Witnesses via the Internet is through the pages of their official website:

Jehovah’s Witnesses—What Do They Believe?
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/g201008/what-do-jehovahs-witnesses-believe/

Recommended Related Articles:

Are Jehovah’s Witnesses a Cult?
http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/are-jehovahs-witnesses-a-cult/

Are Jehovah's Witnesses Really a Cult? - Showing How This Label is Incorrect
http://defendingjehovahswitnesses.blogspot.com/2011/08/are-jehovahs-witnesses-really-cult.html

Answer 7

john 15:17-27
17 “These things I command YOU, that YOU love one another. 18 If the world hates YOU, YOU know that it has hated me before it hated YOU. 19 If YOU were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because YOU are no part of the world, but I have chosen YOU out of the world, on this account the world hates YOU. 20 Bear in mind the word I said to YOU, A slave is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute YOU also; if they have observed my word, they will observe YOURS also. 21 But they will do all these things against YOU on account of my name, because they do not know him that sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He that hates me hates also my Father. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have both seen and hated me as well as my Father. 25 But it is that the word written in their Law may be fulfilled, ‘They hated me without cause.’ 26 When the helper arrives that I will send YOU from the Father, the spirit of the truth, which proceeds from the Father, that one will bear witness about me; 27 and YOU, in turn, are to bear witness, because YOU have been with me from when I began.

Answer 8

Mainly because they are misinformed.
But if they really wanted to know the truth, they would seek out a witness and ask them.

For some people, it's easier to believe a liar!

Answer 9

This is why. Here are a couple articles illustrating how Robert J. Lifton's classic "Eight Criteria for Mind Control" are used within the Jehovah's Witnesses.

If you folks want to stop being called a cult, stop using the tactics described in the articles. It's that simple.

(Re: thumbs down: You asked why, I'm showing you why. Take it or leave it.)

Answer 10

well its simple...... for one- you let your own people die all the time, and blame that on Relgion- what about Blood Transfusions? You rather let your people, friends, and family die rather than let God save them through modern Medicine-

2) We all know that the Watch Tower Society is a cult, and has been documented to do some really werid and sick things.

3) The founder of the "Bible" or as I call it "Book" was not God, but some guy named Charles Taze Russell, born in 1852 in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, he even DIED in 1916. So here you have some random guy, that wrote a book that you worship and live by....... ummm ok.

4)the PURPOSE- To usher in the Kingdom age of Millennium and join Jehovah's forces who will trimph at Armageddon. Only faithful witnesses will survive the battle. Since the 144, 000 already sealed will remain in Heaven with Christ, most current day witnesses look forward to living eternally on the perfected earth. OK so here you have no eternal salvation, and only 144000 will ONLY see God??? and you think thats ok? my God promises everyone eternal salvation once born again!

5) what about the erros in your so called Bible?Faulty biblical scholarship and out of context interpertations allow witnesses to discard most orthodox doctrines. the 144000 cited in Johns Revelations obviously refers to 12000 Jews out of each tribe of Israel. not a sealed company of Heavenly "spirit brothers" as witnesses contend. The Death of Christ is not seen as a ransom for sin but rather as the procurement of a second chance to be offerred in the Millennium.

6) You deny the Trinity- when you do that you are denying GOD.

7) ever wonder why that funny castle shape "watch tower" that apperats on almost all your Literrature is there???? Seems like you are worshiping a building rather than God to me.