HOW TO IDENTIFY THE TRUE RELIGION

by Fifth Column 78 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • blindnomore
    blindnomore

    No, Jehovah's Witnesses are not hypocrites of any sort. Jehovah's Witnesses have no more "rules" than the Bible dictates, and follow two basic principles as outlined by Jesus: love of God and love of neighbor. said Fifth.

    Shouldn't your love for God move you to give your exculsive devotion to God only? Jehovah's Witnesses have deified the Governing Body and Body of Elders above God and Jesus. Open your publications, song book and attend JW meetings. The GB and BOE worships are everywhere.

    Shouldn't your love of neighbor move you to take care of your own at least?(1Timothy 5:3-8) I am a disfellowshipped ex-JW. Some of my weekly routines are taking an elderly JW woman for a grocery shoping and take her and her husband to doctor appointments. Besides check on them once or twice a week. The elderly couple has family and extended family in the local JW Congregation. Some of them are elders, ministerial servants. regular pioneers, and publishers. Unfortunitely non of their JW families are availble to take care their elderly mother, father, uncle, aunt, grandma, grandfa, and spiritual sister & brother in their needs of old age. It's a sad situation.

    What is your definition of love of God and love of neighbor?

  • JamesThomas
    JamesThomas

    Welcome, Fifth Column. Your post was quite eloquent.

    You said: "Each of us does well to ask himself, ‘Am I worshiping God in the way he has set out in the Bible?’

    Perhaps it would do well for you to ask yourself: If at Armageddon, the killing was too much to handle for God's loving angels, and so they ask you to cut the throats of your neighbors for them, would you? Would you take up a sword in the name of Yahweh, like the Israelites did and slaughter men, women, and children? Or just look away and let others do the killing for you so that you can blindly bath in the wonderful beauty of your imagination?

    You tell others to ask themselves about worshipping God, perhaps you should to some truly major-serious delving into your own out-of-balance ideas. You worship a God who readily kills, so you best do a very through job of it...or you may be one of the first to die.

  • perfect1
    perfect1

    Thank you for your important question.

    How to identify true religion:

    1) Does this religion value life ?

    2) Does this religion encourage me to think critically before accepting doctrine ?

    3) Can I verify the doctrine of this religion through my own experience ?

    4) Does practicing this religion develop qualities of love or compassion (agape) towards others ?

    How to identify false religion:

    1) Does this religion instill fear or phobias in its followers ?

    2) Does this religion discriminate against people based on race, gender, or sexual orientation ?

    3) Does this religion control many aspects of ones life ?

    4) Does this religion discourage or limit contact with outsiders ?

    Does this religion discourage the development of ones own intellect and capabilties ?

    Does this religion threaten converts with death if they leave ?

    7) Does this religion have a group of living priveleged ones who claim to have a direct line to God ?

    8) Is this entire religion based on elaborate math problem created by reading between ancient unrelated texts written thousands of years apart ?

  • Christ Alone
    Christ Alone

    JWs have no more rules than the Bible? Wha?!? Did I not belong to this same religion for 30 years? Because I cannot remember all the rules, I looked some up. They look pretty accurate to me. Here's a list of over 140 rules. Some in the Bible, most not...

    1. Belong to another organization or club for the purpose of socializing with nonbelievers.
    2. Have best friends and activity buddies who are not Jehovah's Witnesses.
    3. Associate with people outside their organization when it is not necessary.
    4. Attend social functions sponsored by their employer unless attendance is required
    5. Associate with coworkers after business hours in a social settings
    6. Disagree with their organization's (Watchtower) rules and code of conduct.
    7. Disagree with their organization's doctrines.
    8. Contribute to the Presidential Campaign Fund on their tax return
    9. Join the armed forces and defend their country
    10. Say the Pledge of Allegiance
    11. Salute the flag
    12. Vote
    13. Run for leadership in their organization. (JW's are 'appointed' and invited to be leaders.)
    14. Run for leadership in any organization
    15. Take a stand for any political issue inside their organization
    16. Take a stand on any political or 'worldly' issue outside of their organization
    17. Campaign for a political candidate
    18. Hold political office
    19. Discuss politics
    20. Be a union steward or shop steward
    21. Actively be involved in a union strike
    22. Use a gun for protection against humans
    23. Become a police officer
    24. Wear military uniforms or clothing associated with war
    25. Take yoga classes and practice the discipline of yoga.
    26. Smoke tobacco and cigars
    27. Work full time selling tobacco and cigars
    28. Attend Alcoholics Anonymous
    29. Donate blood
    30. Have blood transfusions
    31. Read books, magazines, publications, and literature from other religions.
    32. Buy anything from a church store
    33. Buy something at a church garage sale
    34. Donate items to a church run store
    35. Shop at the Salvation Army
    36. Work for the Salvation Army
    37. Work for another church
    38. Play competitive sports on a school team
    39. Play competitive sports professionally
    40. Run for class president
    41. Become a cheerleader
    42. Go to the school prom or school dance.
    43. Attend class reunions
    44. Be hypnotized
    45. Accept Jesus as their mediator, 1 Timothy 2:5.
    46. Join the Boy Scouts
    47. Join the Girl Guides
    48. Join the YMCA
    49. Serve on jury duty
    50. Study psychology, philosophy, sociology, and viewpoints that might shake their faith
    51. Attend other Christian churches
    52. Attend nondenominational churches
    53. Attend non Christian churches
    54. Get married in another church
    55. Dating non believers is discouraged
    56. Casual dating is discouraged
    57. Dating someone without the intent of getting married
    58. Having sex before marriage
    59. Breaking an engagement, separation, and 'unscriptural' divorce may result in disciplinary action
    60. Marriage to non believers is not recommended
    61. Be gay or lesbian. Homosexuality is not acceptable.
    62. Throw rice at a wedding
    63. Get divorced unless the reason is adultery
    64. Can't remarry unless their ex commits fornication first
    65. Toast drinks
    66. Buy a raffle ticket
    67. Play bingo
    68. Gamble
    69. Sing any holiday songs
    70. Sing the National Anthem.
    71. Celebrate Christmas
    72. Celebrate New Years Eve
    73. Celebrate Easter
    74. Celebrate Mother's Day
    75. Celebrate Father's Day
    76. Celebrate birthdays
    77. Celebrate Thanksgiving
    78. Celebrate Flag Day
    79. Celebrate Veteran's Day
    80. Celebrate Independence Day.
    81. Celebrate Saint Patrick's Day
    82. Celebrate Valentine's Day
    83. Celebrate Halloween
    84. Celebrate Hanukkah
    85. Accept holiday gifts
    86. Celebrate any holiday except the death of Jesus
    87. Partake in the bread and wine that represents Christ unless they are part of the 144,000
    88. Make holiday artwork for school
    89. Engage in holiday parties at school
    90. Take on a leadership role in school
    91. Porneia
    92. Do suggestive and immodest dancing in a public place
    93. Attend a class, workshop, or seminar, sponsored by another church
    94. Attend social events or fund raisers sponsored by another church
    95. Use bad language (curse words)
    96. Wear blue jeans, shorts, and overly casual clothing at the Kingdom Hall.
    97. Wear suit pants at a Kingdom Hall if you're a woman
    98. Wear revealing clothes or skirts that are too short
    99. Wear long hair or facial hair if you're a man
    100. No Body piercing
    101. No Tattoos
    102. State or imply that the Watchtower is not run by Jehovah God.
    103. Have discussions and express Bible based viewpoints that contradict the organization's beliefs
    104. Say anything negative about their organization. JW's must 'speak in agreement' and be 'like-minded'.
    105. Consider other religious beliefs as valid and truthful.
    106. Acknowledge any prayer spoken by a non JW as valid
    107. Take another Jehovah's Witness to court
    108. Wear or own a cross
    109. Own any religious picture
    110. Own any religious statue
    111. Engage in idolatry
    112. Believe in miracles (except those found in the Bible)
    113. Believe in ghosts
    114. Witchcraft
    115. Black magic
    116. White magic
    117. Consult with a psychic or become one
    118. Study tarot cards, get a reading or give a reading
    119. Study numerology or get a reading
    120. Dabble in ESP (extrasensory perception), dowsing, or divination
    121. Use a tool such as a pendulum to access information from the spiritual realm
    122. Attempt to communicate with departed spirits.
    123. Attend a seance
    124. Believe in good luck or say things such as 'Good luck to you'.
    125. Believe or say anything superstitious
    126. Prophesy (ironic, huh?)
    127. Speaking in tongues
    128. Laying on of hands
    129. Energy healing such as Reiki
    130. Read their horoscope
    131. Study astrology or zodiac signs
    132. Combat training, boxing, or martial arts
    133. Go to heaven unless they are part of the 144,000 ( 144000 )
    134. Worship Jesus
    135. Hang posters of celebrities on the wall
    136. Women can't be elders
    137. Women can't be ministerial servants (assistants to the elders)
    138. Divulge secret information to enemies and those not entitled to know. See Theocratic Warfare
    139. Greet or talk with disfellowshipped persons
    140. Associate with disfellowshipped persons except for immediate family living in the same house
    141. Keep secrets from the organization. Jehovah's Witnesses report friends and family members breaking the rules

    Five More Things Jehovah's Witnesses Can't Do.

    1. Women cannot give talks to the congregation like men do
    2. A woman should not pray in the presence of a baptized male JW. WT July 15, 2002, Questions from Readers
    3. Jehovah's Witnesses can't be part of this world. They must be separate from the world
    4. They can't believe anything former Jehovah's Witnesses say, - even if it's factual. See Apostate Lies
    5. Unless they're an Elder, Jehovah's Witnesses can't read this book, - 'Shepherd the Flock of God' - 1 Peter 5:2
  • Christ Alone
    Christ Alone

    Here are a few more rules I found:

    buying girl scout cookies is discouraged due to it's organization.
    you are discouraged from giving to charity.
    you cannot vote.
    you should not play chess as it is a game of war.
    You are discouraged from buying a two door car-A "Theocratic" or "spiritually strong" Jehovah's Witness will have a full size car for the door to door work
    Women cannot pray in the presence of men without a hat
    Only officially approved sexual practices are allowed in marriage (no oral or anal)
    wind chimes are discouraged because of links to spiritism
    You cannot join any clubs or sports teams
    You cannot celebrate Mothers or Fathers day (it may produce pride)
    JWs are are fobidden to say "good luck"
    JWs in times of crisis, are strongly discouraged from consulting with family counselors, including mental health professionals who are not Jehovah's Witnesses
    You forbidden to say "God bless you" when someone sneezes.
    You cannot participate in a school play

    Yes...the WTS is VERY biblical. These rules are very clearly condemned in the Bible and all true Christians should avoid such things.

  • raymond frantz
    raymond frantz

    Now let's see this list again :

    1. Base their teachings on the Bible (like :Jesus is the mediator of only the 144,000 ? baptise in the name of the Father Son and Anthny Morris ?(spirit begotten organisation) ,forbidiing 7 million Jehovah's Witnesses to take communion, which a command from Jesus .These are SERIOUS false teachings) .....0/10

    2. Worship only Jehovah and make his name known : Yes they do advertise God's name but they alse bring reproach on his name by having false doctrines.Jehovah doesn't need advertising ,doing his will is what he wants from each Christian ,which includes not following false doctrines.If you mean advertising God's name, the annoying knocking of doors Saturday morning .I've got news for you ....3/10

    3. Showing true love for one another : Yes jws do not take part on wars which is definetely a massive plus BUT they destroy and seperate families with extreme unscriptural disfellowshiping practices AND let their members die by refusing blood transfusions (a questionable doctrine )........5/10

    4.accept Jesus as the only means for salvation : Last time I checked obeying the GB was the only way to get saved .They have replace Jesus with a group of men as a way for salvation.BLASPHEMY! .....0/10

    5.Are no part of the world : Yes they are no part of the world ,no taking part in politics or war ...........10/10

    6.Preach God's Kingdom as man's only hope : Yes they do but right now GB is the only hope for man so again same problem ......5/10

    Don't forget what Jesus said there will be the weed and wheat class growing together until the very end and only they the angels will do the seperating work .So do not concetrate on to who is God's people today ,this is a myth .God's people can be found in every Christian denomination .Instead concetrate on to whether you personally display the characteristics of the true Christian

  • What Now?
    What Now?

    Pretty sure that this is a cut and paste from the Bible Teach book...

  • jwfacts
    jwfacts

    • base their teachings on the Bible
    • worship only Jehovah and make his name known
    • show genuine love for one another
    • accept Jesus as God’s means of salvation
    • are no part of the world
    • preach God’s Kingdom as man’s only hope

    This is a carefully constructed list in order to point to JWs as being the only true religion. It is not based on any Bible passage, either in whole or part, as how to identify the true religion. Futhermore, it is seriously flawed.

    • base their teachings on the Bible

    All Christians say this, and many have more solid doctrinal structures

    • worship only Jehovah and make his name known

    The New Testament shows that Jesus was called God and worshipped, not only Jehovah.

    John 20:28-29 "In answer Thomas said to him: "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him: "Because you have seen me have you believed? Happy are those who do not see and yet believe.""

    Hebrews 1:6 "And let all God's angels do obeisance to (proskune? worship) him (Jesus)."

    Further, Jehovah never appears in the New Testament and has been dishonestly added by the New World Translation. See http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/jehovah-new-testament.php

    • show genuine love for one another

    All Christian religions claim they do this, and many do a far better job of it through Charities, hospitals etc.

    • accept Jesus as God’s means of salvation

    All Christians claim Jesus to be the means of salvation

    • are no part of the world

    Christians do know this is in the Bible, and interpret it in different ways. Certainly, Amish prove to follow this far more literally than JWs. The Watchtower claims to be no part of the world because they do not vote, but in reality are very much part of the world, actively using the courts to get their own way, and owning billions of dollars of land. See http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/politics.php

    • preach God’s Kingdom as man’s only hope

    Again, this is common amongst Christian groups. All groups make disciples, otherwise they would not have members, and the Catholics have done a far better job of it by shear volume. The difference is that most preach that the hope is going to heaven once one dies, which is actually the message of Jesus and the New Testament. In fact it is the Bible message, since the Bible never mentions an future earthly resurrection, but rather and earthly one. See http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/preach.php and http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/earth-forever.php

  • Nambo
    Nambo

    Nothing in your list Fifth Column about building a Golden Calf to Jehovah and attributing salvation to it, so thats the JWs out.

  • transhuman68
    transhuman68
    Pretty sure that this is a cut and paste from the Bible Teach book...

    Yep, page 147...

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