Do JWs think they have a 'religion'?

by Seeker 6 Replies latest jw friends

  • Seeker
    Seeker

    (Rather than continue to allow an existing thread to be hijacked by a different topic, I'm starting this new topic. It continues an argument between myself and Tallyman. The question is, Do JWs refer to themselves as having a 'religion' or do they still follow the old Rutherford notion of all religions being a 'snare and a racket'. I say Rutherford's idea is old light and that JWs have long since referred to themselves as having the 'true religion' as opposed to all those false religions. Tally says that is not true, and that all I have to do is go to a Kingdom Hall and ask a JW if he has a religion and I will see I am wrong. Feel free to quote current literature that backs either side, if you wish.)

    Tally,

    You are right, I missed your context, and I apologize for that.

    As for going down to the Hall, I have no need to do it. I was a JW not that long ago and know very well about how JWs view their religion. If you disagree, show some recent quotes that prove your claim.

    I admit they used to refuse to call themselves a religion, and we had situations like the one Somebody referred to from her childhood. But this is old stuff, not current, and hasn't been current for some years now. I'm sure you can dig up some old-timers who still think that way, and still make "back calls", and refer to the "Kingdom Ministry". But none of that is relevant, for it's changed whether they want to change along with it.

    It's so silly to get this pendantic over my use of the word "religion." Talk about hijacking a thread over nothing. I'll bring this out to a new topic so we will stop messing with the original thread that has nothing to do with this.

  • Fredhall
    Fredhall

    Seeker, do you have a brain?

  • joelbear
    joelbear

    My understanding is that Jehovah's Witnesses are not a religion.

    The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is a legal corporation.

    The Governing Body and the other annointed are the center of god's organization.

    Individual witnesses supposedly subscribe to a certain way of life, but I've never heard it referred to as a religion

    joeL

  • outcast
    outcast

    Who woke Fred up from his nap?

  • GinnyTosken
    GinnyTosken

    How about chapter 22 of the You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth book? It's called, "Identifying the True Religion."

    The first paragraph says:

    There can be no doubt as to who were practicing true religion in the first century. It was the followers of Jesus Christ. These all belonged to the one Christian organization. What about today? How can those practicing the true religion be identified?

    At the end of the chapter, there is a heading called "One True Religion." It says:

    It is only logical that there would be one true religion. . . . Who, then, are the ones who form the body of true worshipers today?

    We do not hesitate to say that they are Jehovah's Witnesses.

    I hope this helps.

    Ginny

  • Seeker
    Seeker

    Remember, I'm talking current understanding. I know in the past they never used the word 'religion' to refer to their beliefs. But that was changed some years ago when they began to make a distinction between 'true religion' and all those 'false' ones.

  • JanH
    JanH
    My understanding is that Jehovah's Witnesses are not a religion.


    It is totally meaningless to debate whether JWs consider themselves as members of a religion or not before you define what "religion" means.

    First, define what you think JWs mean when they say "religion", and then you can discuss the question.

    It is pretty obvious that if you ask JWs if they are a religion, they will answer "yes". Those who argue they still mean otherwise, will have an explantion problem, IMO.

    - Jan
    --
    Faith, n. Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel. [Ambrose Bierce, The DevilĀ“s Dictionary, 1911]

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