When does it become a cult?

by SpiceItUp 25 Replies latest jw friends

  • SpiceItUp
    SpiceItUp

    Matty and I have gotten several books lately. Right now we are both reading "30 years a watchtower slave" and "Awakening of a jehovahs witness"
    Both we highly recommend.

    Anyway in the midst of it all he asked me: When did it turn into a cult?It got me thinking. Did they start out knowing that they wanted mind-control over people? That and a few other questions were raised.

    I gave him an answer after thinking about it for a while.... it becomes a cult when the importance of the "organization" becomes more important than the individual.

    But I'm sure its more than that.

    Whats your thought on this.....when does it happen....is it something thats conscious or does it just start to grow on it own?

  • Black Man
    Black Man

    It turned into a cult once they stopped being just BIBLE STUDENTS and started pushing the Faithful and Discreet Slave doctrine on peeps. Instead of reading and giving their thoughts on what they read, the fds doctrine gives them more authority because they are supposedly the mouthpiece of God.

  • JT
    JT

    "We would not refuse to treat one as a brother because he did not believe the Society is the Lord's channel... There should be full liberty of conscience." -- WT April 1, 1920, p. 100, 101

    when they stopped allowing freedom of thought for they have went from the above to where they are today where not only can you not say you disagree , you can't even THINK IT

    http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.aspx?id=11974&site=3

  • JT
    JT

    Today's Watchtower lesson instructs Witnesses not to think for themselves when it comes to Bible understanding:

    Augest 1, 2001, p. 14, par. 8:

  • JT
    JT

    First, since "oneness" is to be observed, a mature Christian must be in unity and full
    harmony with fellow believers as far as faith and knowledge are concerned. He does not
    advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to Bible
    understanding.

    AUG 1 2001

    SORRY ABOUT THAT could not get the paste to show up

  • gumby
    gumby
    Anyway in the midst of it all he asked me: When did it turn into a cult?It got me thinking. Did they start out knowing that they wanted mind-control over people?

    I think you already answered it when you said the importance was put on the Organisation, instead of god and the individual.

    Actually it was cultlike before that. Whenever a group feels TIED TO, OR LED, by a certain individual or group, and they feel that without that individual.......they could not find that truth they were looking for without the one(s) they are following, then it becomes a type of cult.

    Russell may have stated during most of his reign, that an Organisation was not what god wanted, but rather a faithful church of consecrated ones........but in reality is not what he had. He and others felt god was using him. He was the "messenger "of god as his tombstone stated.

    How could a group who feels god is using a man.......NOT follow that man, and his every word?

    Gumby

  • shotgun
    shotgun

    Rutherford turned it into a cult in the twenties....It started after Russell died maybe even shortly before that.

  • xjw_b12
    xjw_b12

    I agree with most here. After Russell left the scene, and Rutherford took over, the freedom to "agree to disagree" was lost.

    Russell didn't know how on the mark he was when he uttered "Religion is a snare and a trap"

  • gumby
    gumby
    It started after Russell died

    Are you guys REAL sure about this?

    This discussion is going to boil down to "what a cult is"

    Gumby

    btw shotgun......I liked your old pic better!

  • JH
    JH

    So, at first the JW's were not a cult?

    Good answers JT

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