Jehovah's Witnesses a cult?

Question

This lady keeps coming to my house on the weekends...and talks to me about the bible. I am a Christian and what she tells me is totally different from I have learned. She hands out books with the link watchtower.org. What is this religion? It seems to be totally different from real Christianity.

Answer 1

The Jehovah's Witnesses have a belief system that has some Christian aspects to it, and is classified as a Christian religion.

I personally feel that they have some cult aspects to them--their lifestyle is heavily controlled by the church, they are expected to go and get converts (the woman showing up at your door on weekends), and have some beliefs that are out of the mainstream such as refusing blood transfusions to save their own or their kids' lives. They also discourage higher education, which I find very odd and very much against my own personal beliefs.

I am not Christian, but I don't really consider Jehovah's Witnesses to be part of what I would call mainstream Christianity.

I wouldn't let them try to change your beliefs...if you are comfortable in your current religion or moral beliefs, then your current religion is right for you.

Answer 2

Dear Answerseeker,

"Cult" is not exactly a PC word on Yahoo Answers.
Pseudo-Christian might be a better name. You are absolutely correct in saying that what they teach is totally different from real Christianity.

I'm glad to hear that you are a Christian.
If you want to compare what the Watchtower says to real Christianity a good book to check is Walter Martin's Kingdom of the Cults.

There is also an excellent chart called One Truth Exposes a Thousand Lies - Traits Shared Between Jehovah and Jesus which can be found at http://www.soulright.com

For His glory,
JOYfilled

Answer 3

no,
Are Jehovah’s Witnesses a Cult?

JESUS CHRIST was accused of being a drunkard, a glutton, a Sabbath breaker, a false witness, a blasphemer of God, and a messenger of Satan. He was also accused of being subversive.—Matthew 9:34; 11:19; 12:24; 26:65; John 8:13; 9:16; 19:12.

After Jesus’ death and resurrection, his disciples were likewise the target of serious accusations. One group of first-century Christians were dragged to the city rulers by people crying out: ‘These men have overturned the inhabited earth.’ (Acts 17:6) On another occasion the apostle Paul and his companion Silas were taken to the authorities and charged with greatly disturbing the city of Philippi.—Acts 16:20.

Paul was later accused of being a “pestilent fellow and stirring up seditions among all the Jews throughout the inhabited earth” and of trying “to profane the temple.” (Acts 24:5, 6) The principal men of the Jews in Rome accurately described the situation of Jesus’ followers when they acknowledged: “For truly as regards this sect it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.”—Acts 28:22.

Evidently, this new group established by Jesus Christ was considered by some to be a religious group with radical views and practices that clashed with what was accepted in those days as normal social behavior. Undoubtedly, many today would have considered the Christians a destructive cult. The accusers were often prominent and respected members of the community, and this seems to have added weight to the allegations. Many believed the accusations against Jesus and his disciples. Yet, as you probably know, every one of these charges was false! The fact that people said these things did not make them true.

What about today? Would it be accurate to refer to Jehovah’s Witnesses as a religious group with radical views and practices that clash with what is accepted as normal social behavior? Are Jehovah’s Witnesses a cult?
Who Is Their Leader?

It is precisely because of this close adherence to Bible teachings that the veneration and idolization of human leaders so characteristic of cults today is not to be found among Jehovah’s Witnesses. They reject the concept of a clergy-laity distinction. The Encyclopedia of Religion aptly states about Jehovah’s Witnesses: “A clergy class and distinctive titles are prohibited.”

They follow Jesus Christ as their Leader and as Head of the Christian congregation. It was Jesus who said: “Do not you be called Rabbi, for one is your teacher, whereas all you are brothers. Moreover, do not call anyone your father on earth, for one is your Father, the heavenly One. Neither be called ‘leaders,’ for your Leader is one, the Christ.”—Matthew 23:8-12.

It is clear that Jehovah’s Witnesses are as far from being a cult as Jesus was from being a glutton and a drunkard. Admittedly, not everyone who was influenced by the false reports about Jesus and his disciples fell into the trap of slandering him. Some may simply have been misinformed. If you have questions about Jehovah’s Witnesses and their beliefs, why not get to know them better? The doors to their Kingdom Halls are wide open to all who seek truth.

You can also benefit from their careful search for accurate Bible knowledge and learn how to worship God in harmony with Jesus’ words: “The hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him.”—John 4:23.

Answer 4

My mum is one ,she joined after my dad died ,& I did not trust them. I could not talk her out of joining , so I when to their meetings so I could learn how evil they really are an prove them wrong and get my mother out.
You know My mother has never been happier , i can not find fault with them ,they are really genuine nice people and i think the cloest thing to what a true christian is.
If i ever decide to join a faith i think it maybe them.
I only have a few sticking points i like drinking and smokeing too much.

Answer 5

The Jews could claim that Catholicism or Christianity are cults. It is all interpretation. A cult is a derogatory term for a religion. It is wrong to dis someone's beliefs.

Answer 6

If the lady keeps coming and talking with you, why aren't you asking her what her religion is???

I am a Christian, one of Jehovah's Witnesses. If you are talking with someone about the Bible, you should be asking questions about the Bible, then see if the person answers you, and if it is from the Bible.

Answer 7

Jehovah's Witnesses interpret the Bible differrently from most other religions. They believe that only 144,000 people will go to heaven, and the rest of us have the chance to live on a paradise earth after Armageddon, which is coming "soon" according to them, but only if we become JWs, though they won't tell you that.

They have several other beliefs that are somewhat differrent from mainstream religion. I suggest you check them out on the internet, maybe through their own website, and also through freeminds (links below) for a balanced discussion.

http://www.watchtower.org/

http://www.freeminds.org/

There is a good film, entitled "Witnesses of Jehovah", at this link

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/2919/

Answer 8

No, they are sweet, and in their heart, they really care for you. Honestly. Just a teeny misguided about the blood law. I pray for them with all my heart and I KNOW God Almighty will guide them and bless them with His brightest light. I have hope in faith in YHVH God through Christ Jesus. So be it. Peace be upon them.

Answer 9

Are Jehovah’s Witnesses a sect or a cult?

Some define sect to mean a group that has broken away from an established religion. Others apply the term to a group that follows a particular human leader or teacher. The term is usually used in a derogatory way. Jehovah’s Witnesses are not an offshoot of some church but include persons from all walks of life and from many religious backgrounds. They do not look to any human, but rather to Jesus Christ, as their leader.

A cult is a religion that is said to be unorthodox or that emphasizes devotion according to prescribed ritual. Many cults follow a living human leader, and often their adherents live in groups apart from the rest of society. The standard for what is orthodox, however, should be God’s Word, and Jehovah’s Witnesses strictly adhere to the Bible. Their worship is a way of life, not a ritual devotion. They neither follow a human nor isolate themselves from the rest of society. They live and work in the midst of other people.
What beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses set them apart as different from other religions?

(1) Bible: Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God, and instead of adhering to a creed based on human tradition, they hold to the Bible as the standard for all their beliefs.

(2) God: They worship Jehovah as the only true God and freely speak to others about him and his loving purposes toward mankind. Anyone who publicly witnesses about Jehovah is usually identified as belonging to the one group—“Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

(3) Jesus Christ: They believe, not that Jesus Christ is part of a Trinity, but that, as the Bible says, he is the Son of God, the first of God’s creations; that he had a prehuman existence and that his life was transferred from heaven to the womb of a virgin, Mary; that his perfect human life laid down in sacrifice makes possible salvation to eternal life for those who exercise faith; that Christ is actively ruling as King, with God-given authority over all the earth since 1914.

(4) God’s Kingdom: They believe that God’s Kingdom is the only hope for mankind; that it is a real government; that it will soon destroy the present wicked system of things, including all human governments, and that it will produce a new system in which righteousness will prevail.

(5) Heavenly life: They believe that 144,000 spirit-anointed Christians will share with Christ in his heavenly Kingdom, ruling as kings with him. They do not believe that heaven is the reward for everyone who is “good.”

(6) The earth: They believe that God’s original purpose for the earth will be fulfilled; that the earth will be completely populated by worshipers of Jehovah and that these will be able to enjoy eternal life in human perfection; that even the dead will be raised to an opportunity to share in these blessings.

(7) Death: They believe that the dead are conscious of absolutely nothing; that they are experiencing neither pain nor pleasure in some spirit realm; that they do not exist except in God’s memory, so hope for their future life lies in a resurrection from the dead.

(8) Last days: They believe that we are living now, since 1914, in the last days of this wicked system of things; that some who saw the events of 1914 will also see the complete destruction of the present wicked world; that lovers of righteousness will survive into a cleansed earth.

(9) Separate from the world: They earnestly endeavor to be no part of the world, as Jesus said would be true of his followers. They show genuine Christian love for their neighbors, but they do not share in the politics or the wars of any nation. They provide for the material needs of their families but shun the world’s avid pursuit of material things and personal fame and its excessive indulgence in pleasure.

(10) Apply Bible counsel: They believe that it is important to apply the counsel of God’s Word in everyday life now—at home, in school, in business, in their congregation. Regardless of a person’s past way of life, he may become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses if he abandons practices condemned by God’s Word and applies its godly counsel. But if anyone thereafter makes a practice of adultery, fornication, homosexuality, drug abuse, drunkenness, lying, or stealing, he will be disfellowshipped from the organization.

(The above list briefly states some outstanding beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses but by no means all the points on which their beliefs are different from those of other groups.

Answer 10

we are a real religion. we are not a cult. a cult worships man. we worship Jehovah God