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06-16-2016, 01:37 AM
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Location: California USA
1,698 posts, read 1,023,609 times
Reputation: 455
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Cult means different things to different people but based on characteristics of a cult JWs are not a cult
Cults are usually regarded as small local groups.
There are over 8 million JWs in about 230 different lands
Cults usually encourage members to live apart in groups from general society or are secretive
JWs work and live with others. There are no communes. They seek to engage people often times through door to door activity. Meetings are free and open to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend. There are tons of literature available free and accessible to the public.
Cults usually are devoted to one living human leader
The head of JWs is Christ
Cults usually pressure their members for monetary contributions.
There are no collection plates, tithing, etc among JWs. All financial contributions are voluntary.
From the PBS website - Independent Lens . KNOCKING . Myths and Realities | PBS
Myths and Realities
Controversies and misunderstandings affect common perceptions of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Are the following statements fact or fiction? Read on to learn more about the myths and realities regarding Witnesses, their practices and beliefs.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are a sect and not a valid religion.
Myth or Reality?
MYTH
Jehovah's Witnesses have a 130-year history, are in 230 lands and have seven million members. The dictionary definition of sect is “a small group that has broken away from an established Church.” Jehovah's Witnesses are not small, nor have they broken away from another religion. “Sect” is often used as code to negatively imply the Witnesses are a cult. But Jehovah's Witnesses do not fit the definition of a cult, either. |
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06-16-2016, 01:13 PM
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6,366 posts, read 2,560,099 times
Reputation: 416
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Quote:
Originally Posted by L8Gr8Apost8
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What mortal men think is usually error to fit self false reasonings.
How does God view a cult--that is what Matters--Mark 3:24-26-- a house divided( 33,000 trinity based religions) will not stand.
A mark of the one single true religion = 1Cor 1:10-- unity of thought-no division-
Trinitarians cannot even understand this simple bible milk. They will find out, God wasn't kidding about being a divided house--its not his house. |
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06-17-2016, 05:54 PM
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1,458 posts, read 2,553,420 times
Reputation: 3139
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I struggle with this. I grew up JW and left. Yes, they have and have always had that weakness of making grandiose predictions, they don't come true, and then they just say that the light gets brighter.
There are the doctrinal issues like the Trinity that I've learned about as an adult, also.
But they hold fast to black and white biblical principles and day to day Christian living like no other Christian denomination. What do I mean? I mean enforcing sexual morality - I know promiscuous Baptists who are involved in church leadership/outreach, Catholics don't hold to their own rules so flagrantly I don't need to list anything, MOST churches will allow remarriage after unbiblical divorce. Marriage itself - egalitarian orgs are straight up delusional ignoring Pauline headship and submission. Mainline churches ordain women and gays, and you have to tie yourself in knots to justify that biblically.
The JWs hold the lifestyle rules like no one else.
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06-17-2016, 06:09 PM
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Location: minnesota
14,069 posts, read 4,968,775 times
Reputation: 4466
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rohirette
I struggle with this. I grew up JW and left. Yes, they have and have always had that weakness of making grandiose predictions, they don't come true, and then they just say that the light gets brighter.
There are the doctrinal issues like the Trinity that I've learned about as an adult, also.
But they hold fast to black and white biblical principles and day to day Christian living like no other Christian denomination. What do I mean? I mean enforcing sexual morality - I know promiscuous Baptists who are involved in church leadership/outreach, Catholics don't hold to their own rules so flagrantly I don't need to list anything, MOST churches will allow remarriage after unbiblical divorce. Marriage itself - egalitarian orgs are straight up delusional ignoring Pauline headship and submission. Mainline churches ordain women and gays, and you have to tie yourself in knots to justify that biblically.
The JWs hold the lifestyle rules like no one else.
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Don't you think some of those rules are harmful? One that comes to mind for me is that the only reason for a scriptural divorce is in the case of adultery. I think if a man is beating his wife and children the woman should be allowed to remarry if she divorces. Telling a woman to be a better wife so he doesn't beat her may or may not have scriptural backing but even if it does I think most people can recognize that as bad advise. The same goes for men because wives can abuse their husbands too. |
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06-17-2016, 06:31 PM
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1,458 posts, read 2,553,420 times
Reputation: 3139
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Quote:
Originally Posted by L8Gr8Apost8
Don't you think some of those rules are harmful? One that comes to mind for me is that the only reason for a scriptural divorce is in the case of adultery. I think if a man is beating his wife and children the woman should be allowed to remarry if she divorces. Telling a woman to be a better wife so he doesn't beat her may or may not have scriptural backing but even if it does I think most people can recognize that as bad advise. The same goes for men because wives can abuse their husbands too.
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That is a separate question.
(1) Is it biblical, yes/no
(2) Is biblical the most important thing, yes/no
I'm just talking about the first question. |
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06-17-2016, 06:48 PM
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18,174 posts, read 14,833,195 times
Reputation: 9313
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rohirette
I struggle with this. I grew up JW and left. Yes, they have and have always had that weakness of making grandiose predictions, they don't come true, and then they just say that the light gets brighter.
There are the doctrinal issues like the Trinity that I've learned about as an adult, also.
But they hold fast to black and white biblical principles and day to day Christian living like no other Christian denomination. What do I mean? I mean enforcing sexual morality - I know promiscuous Baptists who are involved in church leadership/outreach, Catholics don't hold to their own rules so flagrantly I don't need to list anything, MOST churches will allow remarriage after unbiblical divorce. Marriage itself - egalitarian orgs are straight up delusional ignoring Pauline headship and submission. Mainline churches ordain women and gays, and you have to tie yourself in knots to justify that biblically.
The JWs hold the lifestyle rules like no one else.
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The weakness is common to all churches that listen to Jesus. I posted a small list of predictions from many churches.
Even Jesus said words that implied his listeners would see the End.
All Epistles writers did and John even wrote it was the "last hour".
Jesus said we would know his disciples by their love for one another, the way they treat each other and also by their fruit. Pointing out individual imperfections is valueless as all humans have this problem. How they are dealt with is the major issue and as you note Jehovah's Witness hold to the rules like no one else. Kinda indicative of following Christ very closely, not very loosely.
As to the Trinity, it is a false man made doctrine as can be seen by any decent study of their own scholars studies. |
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06-17-2016, 07:38 PM
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Location: minnesota
14,069 posts, read 4,968,775 times
Reputation: 4466
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rohirette
That is a separate question.
(1) Is it biblical, yes/no
(2) Is biblical the most important thing, yes/no
I'm just talking about the first question.
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Are you aware of the biblical rule that there must be 2 witnesses to the sexual assault of a child or the matter is left in Jehovah's hands? Unless the pedophile admits to it of course. If he doesn't then the child and the accused are usually brought together so the child can make the accusation directly to the man and maybe then he will confess. |
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06-19-2016, 03:47 AM
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Location: Missouri
661 posts, read 1,154,018 times
Reputation: 306
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kjw47
In which world is this? the world of darkness? Every JW I know, uses their free will to listen to the JW teachers. There is no mind control, except in the doing of Gods will. Yes we are slaves to God and his will. The JW,s do not destroy families--certain family members that choose sin, destroy it--- You should try believing Jesus- Matt 10:34-36) instead of bigots who have no truth in them.
NO the JW,s are not told to abandon parents if not a JW,, that is pure lie.
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Jehovah's Witnesses are slaves to the Governing Body. They cannot question it and are labeled as spiritually weak or murmurer or apostates if they do. There have been people disfellowshipped, cut off from their families for questioning a belief that was believed at the time by JWs and then discarded or changed. These people were branded as apostates and given a living death sentence, but when the belief was changed, they were not allowed back in to the organization. It's pathetic that men educated only to high school standard, mostly window cleaners and janitors, have the power to inflict such misery upon others, because they had the temerity to question something that came to be viewed later, in actual fact, as a falsehood by the JWs themselves. They were RIGHT, but were severely punished because they 'ran ahead' of the men in Brooklyn, who dictate what to believe and when to believe it. |
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06-19-2016, 03:56 PM
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6,366 posts, read 2,560,099 times
Reputation: 416
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ringwielder
Jehovah's Witnesses are slaves to the Governing Body. They cannot question it and are labeled as spiritually weak or murmurer or apostates if they do. There have been people disfellowshipped, cut off from their families for questioning a belief that was believed at the time by JWs and then discarded or changed. These people were branded as apostates and given a living death sentence, but when the belief was changed, they were not allowed back in to the organization. It's pathetic that men educated only to high school standard, mostly window cleaners and janitors, have the power to inflict such misery upon others, because they had the temerity to question something that came to be viewed later, in actual fact, as a falsehood by the JWs themselves. They were RIGHT, but were severely punished because they 'ran ahead' of the men in Brooklyn, who dictate what to believe and when to believe it.
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Here is Gods council on listening to the real teachers of Jesus= Luke 10:16--- if one rejects his teachers they are as well rejecting Jesus and God. So the JW,s then are wise to listen to Jesus' real teachers. as well Hebrews 13:17
No domestic is ever ahead of the faithful and discreet slave on teaching matters. Jesus appointed the FDS over all of his belongings. When one takes a stand against Jesus teachers--see Luke 10:16--its their own fault not the GB,s fault. The elders give them every opportunity with loving wise council. |
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