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How Jehovah's Witnesses Differ From Cults
By John W. Scott 
John W. Scott
Level: Basic PLUS
John Scott is an educator in Newark, NJ, and works in Newark public schools. He is 46 and his certficate is in Early Childhood. Mr. ...
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Jehovah's Witnesses are sometimes labeled as being a cult. This might be a confusing definition for many, because cults can take on a wide variety of meanings. Usually this label is made by religious opposers. While not every definition of the term "cult" is the same, the first century Christians are sometimes described as a cult, which centered around the charismatic leader Jesus (actually, Jesus was more of a reformer of the existing established religion of Judaism), it usually carries a negative connotation, and has come to signify, in the mind of the public, as a religious (or other) group which has complete or extensive control over its members, using coercive and oppressive, most often times, unethical techniques and psychological pressure to obtain that control, in varying degrees, or micromanaging and making major decisions for its members.
The following examines those thoughts in a point by point comparison, taken from the book, Cults in Our Midst - the Hidden Menace in our Lives, by Margaret Thaler Singer, Ph.D., who is a clinical psychologist and adjunct professor at the University of California, Berkely, and who has counseled and interviewed more than 3,000 current of former cult members and their relatives and friends. She is an expert in cults and post-traumatic stress, and lectures widely in the U.S. and abroad on the subject. Jehovah's Witnesses are not mentioned or alluded to in her authoritative book, although she mentions by names dozens of existing and former cults. All of the forgoing points are based on the descriptions given to cults in Margaret Singer's book:
1. There are no secret stages to becoming a Jehovah's Witness. Everything is out in the open from the start. Jehovah's Witnesses generally study one book with persons, based on the Bible, and use the Bible as the authority in all matters. The Bible study aid, "What Does the Bible Really Teach" outlines all there is in becoming one of Jehovah's Witnesses, which is freely available to the public and to any who study with Jehovah's Witnesses from the start of one's studying the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that "All Scripture (that is - the Bible) is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for settings things straight". At the same time, they recognize that their literature and Bible study aids are not inspired of God, but rather, merely aids to understanding the Bible. This has been the position of Jehovah's Witnesses since their earliest years in modern history.
Jehovah's Witnesses have a second book for Bible study, Keep Yourselves in God's Love, which can be found at the website below for download.
2. Jehovah's Witnesses retain freedom of choice in the area of employment, where one chooses to live, and to what extent one wishes to associate with family who are not Jehovah's Witnesses. Reasonableness and balance is encouraged in Witness' publications in all areas of life. "Let your reasonableness become known to all men." Philippians 4:5. See 8/1/94 Watchtower, Cultivate Reasonableness, as one example. Reasonableness and balance is encouraged for Jehovah's Witnesses in applying the words of Jesus at John 17:16, where said, "You are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world."
Witnesses are not required to or encouraged to consult with elders or with anyone, before or when making personal decisions in life, but to use their own Bible-trained conscience.
In major decisions in life, Jehovah's Witnesses are encouraged to develop a strong personal relationship with God in prayer. Psalms 55:22. "So, if any one of YOU is lacking in wisdom, let him keep on asking God, for he gives generously to all and without reproaching; and it will be given him. But let him keep on asking in faith, not doubting at all, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and blown about. (James 1:5-8)
3. Witnesses are not encouraged to leave their mates who may not be Jehovah's Witnesses, but to stay with them and work hard towards a good marriage.
Following the Bible principles on family life, even when only one member is a Witness, generally improves family life and the marital bond. "If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and yet she is agreeable to dwelling with him, let him not leave her; and a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and yet he is agreeable to dwelling with her, let her not leave her husband." (1 Corinthians 7:12-16)
4. Participation in the activity of Jehovah's Witnesses is not all-or-nothing. People enjoy and benefit from contact with the Witness Bible education work on all levels. Some read the Witness literature and derive benefit from articles on family life, raising children, or health articles on depression, mental health, many different facets of life are covered by Witness literature. Other's occasionally visit the Kingdom Hall, others come only once a year. Many associate regularly, and some choose to serve as missionaries, or in other aspects of full-time ministry. All is voluntary, and persons can participate in the full-time ministry for as long or short a period of time that they want to. "Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:6-7.
Some participate in the full-time ministry, or public Bible education work, others do so on a very limited basis. But, all are encouraged to imitate Jesus example of sharing the Bible's message with others. There is no "punishment" for those who don't, there is no hour requirement.
5. All medical and dental care, including psychological services from non-Witness practitioners and doctors are in no way restricted. The Bible refers to the Bible writer Luke as "the beloved physician". There are no medical restrictions, except with regards to the Bible mandate to "abstain from blood." Acts 15:29. Witnesses have been vigorous in the promotion of non-blood medicine, which has proven to be safer and, in most cases, more effective in saving lives than the use of blood transfusions. There are literally hundreds of bloodless surgery centers in the United States, Englewood Hospital in Englewood, NJ, USA, being one.
Many matters of medical care, including many matters with regards to blood, are a matter of conscience, left up to the conscience of each individual Christian in cases where the Bible does not specifically mention such practices. Organ transplants are one example in the matter of individual conscience, and these come in a variety of magnitudes, such as a cornea transplant, to the rather serious transplant of the heart. Where Bible principles might be involved in such a decision, individuals must, and are encouraged to, make their own decisions on such matters.
6. The Witnesses teaching encourages each Christian to train their mental faculties to discern what is right and wrong and grow to Christian maturity so as to personally apply Bible principles, rather than to micro-control behavior. "But solid food belongs to mature people, to those who through use have their perceptive powers trained to distinguish both right and wrong. For this reason, now that we have left the primary doctrine about the Christ, let us press on to maturity." (Hebrews 5:14-6:1)
7. Training received by Witnesses through Bible study and at their meetings, also accrues in tangible benefits in terms of secular employment. Diligence, hard work, working hard in school, for children and youth, learning to read well and the acquiring of life and secular skills to support oneself and to be self sufficient are stressed. "The one working with a slack hand will be of little means, but the hand of the diligent one is what will make one rich. The son acting with insight is gathering during the summertime; the son acting shamefully is fast asleep during the harvest." (Proverbs 10:4-5). Jehovah's Witnesses are generally known as honest and hard workers.
Many Jehovah's Witnesses work as civil workers in government, although they do not run for political office,but do work as public school teacher and school principals, college professors, nurses, lawyers, doctors, psychologists, and other public walks of life.
8. The dogmas and structure of cults tends to be rigid and inflexible, unable to respond to outside criticism or to make adjustments. The doctrines that Jehovah's Witnesses subscribe to, as well as the organizational structure and policies, tend to be more fluid, able to respond and adjust to changes in society and to justified criticisms. Jehovah's Witnesses have made continual adjustments in doctrine from their earliest years, while maintaining the same basic framework of beliefs and doctrines, as well as adjustments in policies to fit with the times and to adhere more closely to the Bible's guidelines for true Christianity. Emphasis for the past 30 years in Jehovah's Witness' teachings has been on the godly qualities of modesty, humility, love, and reasonableness in the application of the Bible in a Christian's life.
As science has progressed, as one example, Jehovah's Witnesses have adjusted their viewpoint, in harmony with scientific realities, while never abandoning their core belief in the Bible as God's Word. As a result, Jehovah's Witnesses have stated in recent years in their literature, that they do subscribe to the idea of microevolution, as one example, while not embracing macroevolution, but continuing to hold to the Bible account of the creation of the first man and woman in Genesis. Adjustments also had been made in recent decades concerning their beliefs concerning the creative days of Genesis and their length of time.
Genesis 1. Jehovahs' Witnesses acknowledge that the age of the earth and of the universe, can be billions of years old, quoting Genesis 1:1, where it says simply, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."
Additionally, many criticisms from dissenting voices during the 1970s and early 1980s, had gradually been addressed in the coming decades by Jehovah's Witnesses, either, partly as a response to such criticism, or more likely as a natural course of development in efforts to refine the organizational structure and belief system, as time has progressed and in response to changes in society and organizational needs. Suggestions from various sources are considered, and this also has resulted in organizational changes.
9. Jehovah's Witnesses have decentralized much of their leadership and decision making in efforts towards simplification over the past twenty years, rather than increasing centralization.
Each country has a "branch committee," a separate entity from the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, which is composed of at least some members (most times the majority) of the country in which the branch is located. The branch committees have authority over many minor and major decisions for the work they supervise in each country. Meetings which used to be conducted three times weekly, are now conducted twice weekly. Families are encouraged to study the Bible together, one night a week, on whatever topic they choose.
Also, Kingdom Halls (where Witnesses meet for worship) are not owned by the headquarters or by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, but by the individual congregations, who have a great deal of autonomy in decisions of the congregation, including buying and selling of the Kingdom Hall itself, any improvements that will be made on the Kingdom Hall, times of meetings, etc. A democratic vote is taken in some decisions involving the Kingdom Hall and congregation expenses, along the lines of the aforementioned points and others, in many or most cases. Questions and comments involving such decisions are permitted by all members.
10. There is more than one avenue of appeal that can be sought by members if ever there are judicial decisions by local elders with which persons are not satisfied with. Compare 1 Corinthians 5:9-12.
11. There is nothing mystical or esoteric, occultish in the worship of Jehovah's Witnesses. These are things to be avoided, according to the Bible. There are not hidden levels of knowledge that one gradually attains to, or that are revealed at different stages of progress. The meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses are open to the public, to persons who are not Jehovah's Witnesses. Revelation 22:17.
12. Individual members can contribute ideas and suggestions directly to Brooklyn by letter, either by name or anonymously, which are read, often times responded to, and often times considered by the Branch Committee of that country, other appropriate departments, or by the Governing Body. Sometimes such ideas by members are communicated to regional overseers, who pass these ideas on to the appropriate channels.
13. Jehovah's Witnesses have no financial obligation to the local congregation or the central organization. All contributions are non-coercive and completely voluntary, as well as anonymous. 2 Corinthians 9:1-7. While members are encouraged to support the local congregation and the worldwide work of Jehovah's Witnesses, no record is kept of contributions by individual members, anywhere, and one can get baptized and remain a member in good standing, as well as have privileges in the congregation, without any financial commitment, obligation or history. There is on tithing. Money is not stressed at Christian meetings, Bible Studies or door-to-door and other avenues of ministry in harmony with Jesus' words, "You received free, give free."
No individual members of the Jehovah's Witness organization in any way personally benefits, including the Governing Body, from contributions. Those who serve at Bethel homes, the headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses, from those who clean the complex to the Governing Body live in the same modest rooms, each not so much different than the others, receiving a the same minimal allowance for living expenses. Any who volunteer to work at Bethel homes, headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses, are free to stay or leave at any time, with no penalties or loss of privileges.
Jehovah's Witnesses might then, more clearly be defined as an established religion, or as having resemblance to a Christian denomination, rather than a cult.
This is not an official source of Jehovah's Witnesses on Jehovah's Witnesses. Official information can be found at the public relations Jehovah's Witnesses website. Also, please see the Worldwide Association of Jehovah's Witnesses website Jehovah's Witnesses site for downloads.
The writer of this article is a public school educator, social science undergraduate, and writer, with a BA in Social Science from Thomas Edison State College, who is one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Also please see Jehovah's Witnesses Headlines for further information concerning sociological definitions of Jehovah's Witnesses (not an official site) and the complete article containing 34 points on this same subject. For information on Jehovah's Witnesses from a neutral point of view, please see this PBS documentary - Knocking. To obtain a copy of the book, Cults in Our Midst - the Hidden Menace in our Everyday Lives, by Margaret Thaler Singer, Ph.D., please see any online bookstore. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_W._Scott What a crock. HHG |  |