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Would you consider the Jehovah's Religion as a Cult?
- Thread starter R34L1TY
- Start date
I know several JWs. I see no reason to look them differently from other Xians.
If they're a "cult" then so is dang near every other religion.
If they're a "cult" then so is dang near every other religion.
R34L1TY
Neurology Nerd.
Well except for the fact that JW's don't speak to their family members if they are disfellowshipped. JW's can't ask questions about their religion nor can they get Blood transfusions or Organ transplants and they are not allowed to associate with anybody outside of their Religion (if they do they will get marked).
tumbleweed41
Resident Liberal Hippie
Having some very good friends who were JW's, I did not find all of the above to be true.
While "cult" can be literally true of nearly all religions, the word is commonly used as a pejorative and therefore not something we normally use on RF when speaking of established religious.
Gjallarhorn
N'yog-Sothep
...so they're Amish, yet we don't call Amishmen cultists...do we?
No. Not in the sense of the criteria used to evaluate dangerous groups of people (religious or otherwise), which IMHO is the only fashion in which the word "cult" should be used when discussing religions.
Storm
ThrUU the Looking Glass
How is that an "ideology?"
Draka
Wonder Woman
My first husband was disfellowshipped and still had contact with his family, in fact, so did I and I certainly was never JW. Granted, I never got along with my ***** of a MIL, but the rest of his family was nice to me. Now, that's not to say that I don't think their beliefs and stances loony, especially in regards to transfusions and transplants, but the majority of what you said there is just wrong.
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R34L1TY
Neurology Nerd.
General ideas constituting the same thing. As in.. the Jehovah's religion to be a normal religion.
I am not bashing the Religion, I am stating that they have (apparently in my opinion) different ideas of how a Religion is constructed. I have nothing against the Religion, beliefs are beliefs. I was more so curious as to how people with more Religious Insight would view the Religion.
I am not bashing the Religion, I am stating that they have (apparently in my opinion) different ideas of how a Religion is constructed. I have nothing against the Religion, beliefs are beliefs. I was more so curious as to how people with more Religious Insight would view the Religion.
That hasn't happend to any of the JWs I know.
But would such things even define it as a "cult"?
Father Heathen
Veteran Member
What separates a cult from a religion is the size of membership.
R34L1TY
Neurology Nerd.
Interesting statement.
What the heck is a "normal religion?"
I don't think they are brainwashes which would qualify but a lot of denominations have a sort of indoctrination of children that rides the line. For other christians they have trouble with a few of the jw theologies that mainstream christians might find blasphemous. But then those same types might attack mormons or catholics as well depending on their particular gripe. All in all I don't feel that someones stance on particular issues as important as having a relationship with god.
One that lets you do what you want?
Hot damn. Really? That means Paganism (particularly the Neo variety) is the pinnacle of normal religion!
:sarcastic
Sorry, I know you were probably being serious there, but the phrase "normal religion" is subjectively-grounded nonsense to me.
LOL, my reply was a bit tongue-in-cheek to be honest, so your reply made me chuckle as Paganism is probably the most normal in that respect as you say. It means we can just be ourselves, face what happens through being ourselves. We wouldn't be limited by another person or book, unless we choose.... sounds great actually, I think I have convinced myself to join you!
All other religions make restrictions and the more restrictive the restriction the more cultish they appear.
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If by 'cult' you mean would the members do something bad because their leaders told them do it, then no! absolutely not.
If you mean cult because they take the lead of men then yes.
They are cultish because they trust the men who say 'believe us for everlasting life'. It is the main reason I left the organization. I am still a Jehovah's Witness in my (own) opinion. But I have left most of the doctrine of the Watchtower.
If you mean cult because they take the lead of men then yes.
They are cultish because they trust the men who say 'believe us for everlasting life'. It is the main reason I left the organization. I am still a Jehovah's Witness in my (own) opinion. But I have left most of the doctrine of the Watchtower.
Some Christians see them as a cult for many reasons: 1. They believe that Jesus is Michael the Archangel. 2. they don't believe in the trinity 3. They have no preachers- their members take turns leading their meetings.
The late Dr. Walter Martin had a book called Kingdom of the Cults- which included Mormons, JWs, Seventh Day Adventist, etc. He said he didn't believe they were evil or anything, but he didn't believe them to be real Christians.
I have believed for quite a long time that they are all Christians- Mormons, JWs, and all. I knew some JWs who didn't even call themselves Christians (it was two former Catholics who said this). I mistakenly believed this was true of all JWs but I realized recently I was wrong.
I almost became a Jehovah's Witness back in the early 80s, but ended up becoming a Baptist instead.