Simple ignorance

hillbillygal

Ok, I have browsed through the JW sites & guess I am missing it, what is the big controversy about JW? I simply do not know, I have heard it called a "cult" and understood that they did not believe that Christ is our savior. I know they are an organized religion, not a "cult" I just haven't ever learned enough to know. My son has a 2nd family that have converted to JW, and I was a little concerned...should I be? They are awesome people & I simply want to educate myself...thanks

Valis

hi hillbillygirl...I can give you one instance that might lead you to not think them "awesome"....Would you follow a religion that finds it acceptable to let their members die over not accepting a blood transfusion? Better yet would you allow your own child to die because you didn't believe in not taking a transfusion?

Please check out this website for more on that issue..

http://www.ajwrb.org/

and welcome to the forum.

Euphemism

Welcome to the board!

Quick answer: the JWs do believe that Christ is Savior, although they do not believe he is co-equal with God. The reason I and many others consider them to be a 'cult' is because they discourage their members from having any close friendships outside the religion, forbid the reading of any material critical of current teachings, and require absolute adherence to their tenets, on pain of shunning. Many on this site--myself included--are currently shunned by our families--even our own parents--solely because we chose to leave the JW faith.

hillbillygal

I am a nurse, so I have encountered the anti-transfusion issue many times, as I work on an orthopedic floor & we give a lot of blood, and it is very frustrating. So I do not agree with that, just my own feelings, I wouldn't have one unless I had no other choice, not because of religion. These people I am referring to have been wonderful to me & my son, is what I meant by they are awesome. The mother(or wife)has just recently converted. So far as I know, no one has been shunned (yet). Keep the replies coming, Thanks yall.

A Paduan

Simple ignorance - they rely on it.

trevor

hillbillygirl

If you are interested in reading a thoughtful book that examines the Witnesses click on my profile.

peacefulpete

Hillbilly, welcome. The term "cult" is a loaded one and often avoided by specialists who prefer the terminology "High Control Group" but the idea is that various groups extert inordinate control over the memebers lives and often use unethical means of mental manipulation to that end. Rather than just accuse any group of being a cult or HCG, it is best to review the genrally recognized methods of control used by harmful cults and compare them with the group in question. No cult uses all the methods and to the same extent but any attempt to manage the minds of others using even some of these techniques is inexcusible. Go to the American Family Foundation (AFF) site and read for free the articles by trained professionals that help identify thewse techniques and the results of this control. It is a huge site so look around abiy. Here are some techniques used by HCGs to accomplish thought control which when understood are seen as applying to the WT:

Milieu Control. This involves the control of information and communication both within the environment and, ultimately, within the individual, resulting in a significant degree of isolation from society at large.
Mystical Manipulation. There is manipulation of experiences that appear spontaneous but in fact were planned and orchestrated by the group or its leaders in order to demonstrate divine authority or spiritual advancement or some special gift or talent that will then allow the leader to reinterpret events, scripture, and experiences as he or she wishes.
Demand for Purity. The world is viewed as black and white and the members are constantly exhorted to conform to the ideology of the group and strive for perfection. The induction of guilt and/or shame is a powerful control device used here.
Confession. Sins, as defined by the group, are to be confessed either to a personal monitor or publicly to the group. There is no confidentiality; members' "sins," "attitudes," and "faults" are discussed and exploited by the leaders.
Sacred Science. The group's doctrine or ideology is considered to be the ultimate Truth, beyond all questioning or dispute. Truth is not to be found outside the group. The leaders, as the spokespersons for God or for all humanity, is likewise above criticism.
Loading the Language. The group interprets or uses words and phrases in new ways so that often the outside world does not understand. This jargon consists of thought-terminating clichés, which serve to alter members' thought processes to conform to the group's way of thinking.
Doctrine over person. Member's personal experiences are subordinated to the sacred science and any contrary experiences must be denied or reinterpreted to fit the ideology of the group.
Dispensing of existence. The group has the prerogative to decide who has the right to exist and who does not. This is usually not literal but means that those in the outside world are not saved, unenlightened, unconscious and they must be converted to the group's ideology. If they do not join the group or are critical of the group, then they must be rejected by the members. Thus, the outside world loses all credibility. In conjunction, should any member leave the group, he or she must be rejected also. (Lifton, 1989)

Alwayshere

Hillbillygal, They are a cult and you don't want to get involved! All you have to do is read older issues of their publications and you will see they say one thing is wrong and later get a"new light" and say it's ok. An example is voting, which they say you are not supposed to do but in a Watchtower 2001 under questions from readers, they say if you see someone voting, it ia ok but then after that they say it is wrong to vote. Don't know for sure what watchtower it was but think it's Feb. 1 or 15. They have prophesied in God's name which they themself say: "In Jeremiah's day false prophets prophesied in Jehovah's name, fortelling in his name what he had not foretold. Religious liars like them can not escape but will meet an end at Armageddon."That is in Watchtower 1956 Feb.1. Look now in any awake, on the inside cover of Awake Mag. from March 1988- Oct. 1995 [7 years] they say "The creator PROMISES the new world will be here BEFORE the generation of 1914 passes away." If God had promised that, it would have came true. They done what they said the false prophets in Jeremiah's day did. Revelation 2 2 :15 says "all liars and those liking a lie will be destroyed."The 1914 isn't the only time they said the world would end but 1918, 1925, 1975 and if you keep reading on this post you will find a lot more on that organization. There are sincere people in there[including my kids] but when you disagree they label you an Apostate so no one, including your family will not speak to you.They tell them God will kill everyone NOT in that organization.

Honesty

These people I am referring to have been wonderful to me & my son, is what I meant by they are awesome.

It is called love bombing. Typical cult behavior until you join them.

Euphemism

Let me just add that most JWs I knew are very nice people when religion is not an issue. I don't doubt that this family has been awesome to you, and still will be. From personal experience, being a JW is a bit like having a religious on/off switch. As long as the switch is off, religion won't be a problem.

Simple ignorance

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