Jehovah’s Witnesses, A Religion, Not a Cult or Sect
The Jehovah's Witness religious organization has sometimes been labeled as being a cult. This can be confusing for some, because "cults" can take on...
The Jehovah’s Witness religious organization has sometimes been labeled as being a cult. This can be confusing for some, because “cults” can take on a wide variety of meanings. this label is made by religious opposers of various types. 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 (Jesus was actually more of a reformer of the existing established religion of Judaism). It usually is used as a label, and has come to signify, in the mind of the public, as a religious or other group which has complete control over its members, many times using coercive and oppressive, or unethical psychological pressure to gain that control, or in making major decisions for its members.
The following examines several of those thoughts in a point by point comparison, extracted from the well researched book, 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.
For a more complete discussion of the subject, please see Jehovah’s Witnesses Headlines.
1. There are no secret stages in becoming one of Jehovah’s Witnesses
2. One of 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 Jehovah’s Witness publications in all areas of life.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are not required to or encouraged to consult with elders or anyone else, before or when making such decisions. In major decisions in life, Witnesses are encouraged to develop a strong personal relationship with God through regular prayer. Psalms 55:22.
3. Witnesses are not encouraged to leave their marriage mate who may not be a Jehovah’s Witness, but to stay together and work hard at one’s marriage. Following Bible principles on family life, even when only one member is a Witness, generally helps to improve one’s family life. “If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and yet she is agreeable to dwelling with him, let him not leave her,” the Bible encourages.
4. Participation in the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses is not an all or nothing proposition. People enjoy and benefit from contact with the Witness Bible education work on many different levels. Some only read the Witnesses publications and benefit from articles that feature subjects such as “happy family life on depression mental health and many other aspects of life are covered by Witness literature. they might only occassionally visit the Kingdom Hall, others attend only for the annual Memorial of Jesus’ death. Many associate regularly, and some choose to serve as missionaries, or in other aspects of full-time ministry. All is completely voluntary, and persons can participate in the full-time ministry for as long or short a period of time that they choose 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.
The way of worship the Christian faith of Jehovah’s Witnesses, is one of personal choice, and with allowance for a great deal of liberty in areas of personal conscience and decision making, but always within the reasonable moral guidelines of the Bible.
This article was written by John Scott, a writer who has a BA in Social Science from Thomas Edison State College, Trenton, NJ. and