Do you think this helps to prove the point Jehovas Witness are a cult?
When you study with the Jehovah’s Witness, you agree to attend five meetings a week where you are taught from Watchtower literature. You cannot be baptized until you have studied their material for at least six months and have answered numerous questions before a panel of elders. Men are not supposed have long hair or wear beards and women are to dress in modest apparel. They refuse to vote, salute the flag, sing the "Star Spangled Banner, celebrate birthdays or Christmas, won’t take blood transfusions, and they can’t join the armed forces. A schedule of door-to-door canvassing is required where you distribute the Watchtower literature, acquire donations, and forward all monies to the headquarters in Brooklyn, New York.
If you ever leave the Jehovah’s Witness organization, you are considered an apostate and are to be shunned.
does anyone notice that the Jw are trying to say that all religons are cults and in effect there is no such thing as organised religon? The Jw are the only ones who can’t accept they are a cult.
20 Responses
Rev. Kip
31 Aug 2010
athenaty
31 Aug 2010
That sounds very much like a cult. It basically means: Do what we say and when we say or you are an outcast and evil. Don’t be patriotic, pretty much don’t be happy. And what, pray tell, does one get in return?
theguy
31 Aug 2010
I believe that all organized religions are just organized cults really. so yes. Yes, God and Heaven are normal now, but not when originally conceived. So now just cults that have become the norm.
thegreatwhitehyp
31 Aug 2010
NO
glow1989
31 Aug 2010
That’s definite proof.
Kim
31 Aug 2010
Well, maybe that sums it up
tjnw79
31 Aug 2010
Do me a favor go to http://WWW.DICTIONARY.COM and type in the word cult. Short version says: ANY Organized RELIGION
momof2preciousan
31 Aug 2010
Yes, it is a cult. I won’t have anything to do with them. They kept coming to my door and I let them in to talk with me, and one of the first things that they said contradicted with the bible. I told them thanks but no thanks and please don’t come back again!
quantrill37
31 Aug 2010
Sounds like it.
Fervent Dove
31 Aug 2010
The concept of a cult is beliefs very diffrent from mainstream society. The believe in God, Heaven, very normal concepts.
vallie025
31 Aug 2010
YES IT SOUNDS LIKE A CULT NOT A RELIGION
AMERICAN_YANKEE3
31 Aug 2010
WELL I AM JEWISH. I DON’T NOW AND I DON’T CARE BUT THOSE DAM JEHOVAH’S WITNESS LIKE HIDE AND WAIT FOR ME WHEN I STEP OUT ON MY FRONT PORCH IN THE MORNINGS THEN JUMP OUT AND TRY TO CONVERT ME INTO A CHRISTIAN.. OH HOW I HATE THAT SO MUCH
Aslan
31 Aug 2010
Yes they are a cult.
a group that claims to be christian and yet adopts teachings that are far from the commonly accepted christian teachings
the mind control that systematically cuts off their people from having an outside support network and then threatens them with exclusion for any minor infraction of their numerous ‘rules’ also would classify them as a cult
and the question as to how the HQ in Brooklyn actually DO with their millions they acquire from across the globe – did you know that the Jws dont have a single charity to their name?
another thing is their own ‘version’ of the bible which contains many flaws, the new world translation. did you know the current version is one of many they have used since the first one came out in the 1960′s? each version has alterations since the first one which if it were truely as inspired as they say would not need that great degree of alterations surely? also they keep it very quiet as to how actually was involved in doing these ‘translations’ on the grounds that they ought not to be receiving the credit for handling (mishandling) God’s word – in actualility it means that it is difficult to check their credentials.
If anyone is thinking of doing bible studies with the jws i would urge you to please, PLEASE think again as once in a group like that there isnt an honourable way out again afterwards.
nursesr4evr
31 Aug 2010
The stripped down definition of a cult is people who follow a charismatic leader, who interprets what God wants you to do rather than having you decide for yourself what God wants for your life. Many churches have dress codes and ‘rules’ to follow. You will have to decide for yourself whether or not the Jehovah’s Witnesses are right for you.
b_vencill420
31 Aug 2010
A cult is an organization that is characterized by an eccentric devotion to a particular person or ritual. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not fit that description.
I am not a Jehovah’s Witness btw, in case you’re wondering.
Some will point to the fact that they follow the teachings of Charles Taze Russell, but they do not revere him and, in fact, do not agree completely with his beliefs. Another man by the name of Rutherford lead the organization for a while after Russell died, but likewise, he is not revered.
They also do not observe ANY rituals except for the Pasch (the Passover observance) and it would be difficult to argue that their observance of the Pasch is "excentric" since it is only once a year and not central to their beliefs.
So, despite what you think about their beliefs, they can not be rightly called a "cult".
brianna_the_judg
31 Aug 2010
according to the dictionary all religions are cults. i know you will not vote me as best answer because i can already tell youre a biased person but heres the dictionary definition
cult Audio pronunciation of "cult" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (klt)
n.
1.
1. A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.
2. The followers of such a religion or sect.
2. A system or community of religious worship and ritual.
3. The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.
4. A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.
5.
1. Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.
2. The object of such devotion.
6. An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.
according to the dictionary ALL religions are cults christianity included(this is why the fundies call themselves not a religion to try to escape judgement from the Gods.)
oh to add salt on an open wound here is the root word of christian:
cre·tin Audio pronunciation of "cretin" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (krtn)
n.
1. A person afflicted with cretinism.
2. Slang. An idiot.
[French crétin, from French dialectal, deformed and mentally retarded person found in certain Alpine valleys, from Vulgar Latin *christinus, Christian, human being, poor fellow, from Latin Chrstinus, Christian. See Christian.]
basically the dictionary says christians are idiots. have a nice day stupid!!!
quotationdujour
31 Aug 2010
I have known people who belonged to this group, and they were good neighbors. I never discussed religion or the Bible with them though.
My only comment is that they only accept their own translation of the Bible, which I don’t quite understand. Current translations such as the Revised Standard Version and the New Revised Standard Version are widely accepted and based on sound translation principles. (I understand a cult to mean a group totally out of the "mainstream," totally counter-cultural.)
as to the etymology of the word "cretin"–to apply this word to Christians (in particular) is inaccurate, intellectually dishonest & contrary to an understanding of etymology & word origins. it is derived from the French, yes, but in the context of the population in general, gentiles if you will. in medicine, it refers to somebody with a thyroid deficiency who might be thought of as retarded or mentally handicapped, "a Christian (a person) mentally challenged"–
HannahJPaul
31 Aug 2010
Many use the term “cult” loosely without fully being aware of its connotations. Some theologians avoid using the term altogether.
The World Book Encyclopedia explains that “traditionally, the term cult referred to any form of worship or ritual observance.” By that criterion, all religious groups could be classified as cults. Generally, though, the general usage today implies a different understanding. The same encyclopedia notes that in our day, the term is used to describe groups that follow a living leader who promotes new and unorthodox doctrines and practices.”
Newsweek magazine endorses this usage explaining that cults “are normally small, fringe groups whose members derive their identity and purpose from a single, charismatic individual.” Another reference work, Asiaweek magazine notes that “the term [cult] itself is vague, but it usually denotes a new religious creed built around a charismatic leader, who often proclaims himself to be the personification of God.” Manifestly, cults are, for the most part, understood to be religious groups with radical views and practices that clash with what is accepted today as normal social behavior. Their religious activities are usually conducted in secrecy. Many of these cultic groups live in isolation and are usually exclusively and unconditionally devoted to a self-proclaimed human leader.
Jehovah’s Witnesses do not meet these definitions of a cult. In connection with having radical views and practices that clash with what is accepted today as normal social behavior, several activities that are views as “normal social behavior” is condemned in God’s word the Bible. As to following the promotion of unorthodox doctrines and practices, as mentioned in The World Book Encyclopedia, shouldn’t God be the one to determine what is orthodox or accepted? And don’t professed Christians accept his word the Bible as the touchstone of orthodox and accepted behavior?
The original poster mentioned various beliefs and practices of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, including, for example, women dressing in modest apparel. It was the apostle Peter, for instance, who taught that women should be modest in their dress. As for the other practices, the real question is: how do they measure up to the standard of God’s word the Bible? To a Jewish person, a Christian believing Jesus is the Messiah is unacceptable. But WHY do Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah? To some living in the first century, belief in a resurrection was positively ridiculous. But WHY did Christians believe in the resurrection?
Really, rather than saying people believe in such and such a thing and that thing is stupid, the real question is why do people believe what they believe?
Bill
31 Aug 2010
the rev has sure got them out tonight
I guess there are lot’s of people that enjoy being in a cult as you say we are because
Last year 2005, we "brainwashed" as you like to say, 247,631, that became Jehovah’s Witnesses and everyone of these had to change their minds pertaining to the false teachings that they had been taught, these were people that used their own Bible, King James, etc., 28,384 were from the United States.
How many did you & the rev "brainwash" last year into your cult?
"nasusnna2003" my quotes are mild, compared to others about kip, and most of them are from people that are not Jehovah’s Witnesses, to bad you cannot take a little Truth along with the crap you people put out.
nasusnna20032000
31 Aug 2010
Yes it is a cult. To be shunned or in the witness eyes to be disfellowshiped you can’t smoke or ever leave the religion.
Yes they acquire donations so they can pay their own lawyers. They pay their own lawyers because they think from the sidewalks to your own door is public access even if it is gated and you tell them to leave your property or you will sue them or call the police. They have been sued before because of this and that is why they need lawyers.
Bill: Since you are a witness it says in the bible not to Slander. Well you are slandering Rev. Kip and all the other people that have left being a witness like myself!!!
Praise the lord praise god if that is what you wish to SELL their is no Heaven without a HELL!!! A quote from SLAYER!!!
groups like the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses object to the label "cult" because it often gets an emotional reaction as well as is a label they want to avoid.
The definition I use (and other Christian ministries and theologians use as well) for "non-Christian cult" or "non-Christian religion" is a group that may or may not include the Bible in its set of authoritative scriptures. If it does include the Bible, it distorts the true biblical doctrines that effect salvation sufficiently so as to void salvation.1 If it doesn’t use the Bible, it is a non-Christian religion and does not participate in the benefit of divine revelation.
In Christian bookstores, there are almost always ‘cult’ sections which include the Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc.