Cult or Religion

by Richard C B 225 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Londo111

  “Bad associations spoil useful habits.”
  

  "He that is walking with wise persons will become wise, he that is having dealings with the stupid person will fair badly."

  Here even Scripture shows that our association influences us for good or ill. The pressure to conform to JW teachings does not solely come from within due to misinterpretation. The message has often been clear at every meeting and assembly: "Can you do more?" What you are doing is never enough, it's never quality enough. You might be doing this, but are you doing that? If a person does not see this pressure is coming from the top-down, they are not listening at the meetings.

  In the Watchtower org, a person's social standing is often dependent on how well they perform and how much they conform.
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  Richard C B

  @heaven,, well Jesus was only around for 3 and half years before his death so there would be more physical evidence of phillistines for sure. Im sure he is mentioned in the works of Josephus, please correct me if im wrong there. the evidence for Jesus could be open for another debate
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  Richard C B

  Londo111, That would definatly cause hardship for some i have to agree with you
• 

  wizzstick

  This has been posted before but its relevant information concerning mind control tactics and defining what is

  a recognized cult. .......... by Steve Hassan

  I've highlighted specific elements pertaining to the JWS
  

  1. Regulate individual’s physical reality
  2. Dictate where, how, and with whom the member lives and associates or isolates
  3. When, how and with whom the member has sex
  4. Control types of clothing and hairstyles
  5. Regulate diet - food and drink, hunger and/or fasting
  6. Manipulation and deprivation of sleep
  7. Financial exploitation, manipulation or dependence
  8. Restrict leisure, entertainment, vacation time
  9. Major time spent with group indoctrination and rituals and/or self indoctrination including the Internet
  10. Permission required for major decisions
  11. Thoughts, feelings, and activities (of self and others) reported to superiors
  12. Rewards and punishments used to modify behaviors, both positive and negative
  13. Discourage individualism, encourage group-think
  14. Impose rigid rules and regulations
  15. Instill dependency and obedience
  

  Information Control

  1. Deception:
  a. Deliberately withhold information
  b. Distort information to make it more acceptable
  c. Systematically lie to the cult member
  2. Minimize or discourage access to non-cult sources of information, including:
  a. Internet, TV, radio, books, articles, newspapers, magazines, other media
  b.Critical information
  c. Former members
  d. Keep members busy so they don’t have time to think and investigate
  e. Control through cell phone with texting, calls, internet tracking
  3. Compartmentalize information into Outsider vs. Insider doctrines
  a. Ensure that information is not freely accessible
  b.Control information at different levels and missions within group
  c. Allow only leadership to decide who needs to know what and when
  4. Encourage spying on other members
  a. Impose a buddy system to monitor and control member
  b.Report deviant thoughts, feelings and actions to leadership
  c. Ensure that individual behavior is monitored by group
  5. Extensive use of cult-generated information and propaganda, including:
  a. Newsletters, magazines, journals, audiotapes, videotapes, YouTube, movies and other media
  b.Misquoting statements or using them out of context from non-cult sources
  6. Unethical use of confession
  a. Information about sins used to disrupt and/or dissolve identity boundaries
  b. Withholding forgiveness or absolution
  c. Manipulation of memory, possible false memories

  Thought Control

  1. Require members to internalize the group’s doctrine as truth
  a. Adopting the group's ‘map of reality’ as reality
  b. Instill black and white thinking
  c. Decide between good vs. evil
  d. Organize people into us vs. them (insiders vs. outsiders)
  2.Change person’s name and identity
  3. Use of loaded language and clichés which constrict knowledge, stop critical thoughts and reduce complexities into platitudinous buzz words
  4. Encourage only ‘good and proper’ thoughts
  5. Hypnotic techniques are used to alter mental states, undermine critical thinking and even to age regress the member
  6. Memories are manipulated and false memories are created
  7. Teaching thought-stopping techniques which shut down reality testing by stopping negative thoughts and allowing only positive thoughts, including:
  a. Denial, rationalization, justification, wishful thinking
  b. Chanting
  c. Meditating
  d. Praying
  e. Speaking in tongues
  f. Singing or humming
  8. Rejection of rational analysis, critical thinking, constructive criticism
  9. Forbid critical questions about leader, doctrine, or policy allowed
  10. Labeling alternative belief systems as illegitimate, evil, or not useful

  Emotional Control

  1. Manipulate and narrow the range of feelings – some emotions and/or needs are deemed as evil, wrong or selfish
  2. Teach emotion-stopping techniques to block feelings of homesickness, anger, doubt
  3. Make the person feel that problems are always their own fault, never the leader’s or the group’s fault
  4. Promote feelings of guilt or unworthiness, such as
  a. Identity guilt
  b. You are not living up to your potential
  c. Your family is deficient
  d. Your past is suspect
  e. Your affiliations are unwise
  f. Your thoughts, feelings, actions are irrelevant or selfish
  g. Social guilt
  h. Historical guilt
  5. Instill fear, such as fear of:
  a. Thinking independently
  b. The outside world
  c. Enemies
  d. Losing one’s salvation
  e. Leaving or being shunned by the group
  f. Other’s disapproval
  6. Extremes of emotional highs and lows – love bombing and praise one moment and then declaring you are horrible sinner
  7. Ritualistic and sometimes public confession of sins
  8. Phobia indoctrination: inculcating irrational fears about leaving the group or questioning the leader’s authority
  a. No happiness or fulfillment possible outside of the group
  b. Terrible consequences if you leave: hell, demon possession, incurable diseases, accidents, suicide, insanity, 10,000 reincarnations, etc.
  c. Shunning of those who leave; fear of being rejected by friends, peers, and family
  d. Never a legitimate reason to leave; those who leave are weak, undisciplined, unspiritual, worldly, brainwashed by family or counselor, or seduced by money, sex, or rock and roll
  e. Threats of harm to ex-member and family

  I think the post by Finkelstein clearly shows that the JW's are a cult.

  For me, the difference between a cult and religions comes down this. What happens to you when you you want to leave? Can you leave with no impact on your family relationships? Are families discouraged from associating with those who have left?

  When people leave the Church of England there are no consequences. The same could hardly be said of JW's.
  
• 

  Richard C B

  Are Jehovah’s Witnesses a Cult?

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  No, Jehovah’s Witnesses are not a cult. Rather, we are Christians who do our best to follow the example set by Jesus Christ and to live by his teachings.

  What is a cult?

  The term “cult” means different things to different people. However, consider two common perceptions regarding cults and why those perceptions don’t apply to us.

  • Some think of a cult as being a new or unorthodox religion.Jehovah’s Witnesses have not invented a new religion. On the contrary, we pattern our worship after that of the first-century Christians, whose example and teachings were recorded in the Bible. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17) We believe that the Holy Scriptures should be the authority on what is orthodox in matters of worship.

  • Some think of a cult as being a dangerous religious sect with a human leader. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not look to any human as their leader. Rather, we adhere to the standard that Jesus set for his followers when he stated: “Your Leader is one, the Christ.”—Matthew 23:10.

  Far from being a dangerous cult, Jehovah’s Witnesses practice a religion that benefits its members and others in the community. For example, our ministry has helped many people to overcome harmful addictions, such as the abuse of drugs and alcohol. In addition, we conduct literacy classes around the world, helping thousands learn to read and write. And we are actively involved in disaster relief. We work hard to have a positive impact on others, just as Jesus commanded his followers to do.—Matthew 5:13-16.
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  Richard C B

  just throwing the pigeon among the cats
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  StarTrekAngel

  Yep.. you definitely did. You just proved us all here that it is indeed a cult. You got your definition of cult from jw-org. the cult's website.
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  wizzstick

  And what does your post show?
  

  Does it mention disfellowshipping? The massive impact it has on individuals?

  Does it explain how hard it is to leave?

  That once baptised you are under the control of the elders. If they hear about something that you've allegedly done you can be called into a Judicial Committee. At ANY age?

  That they can decide that a medical procedure is against God's Law (all blood products) then later change there mind (saying some procedures are conscience matters). How may people have died because of a man made doctrine?
  

  No - like all cults it doesn't talk about all the damage. Just hyperbole.
  
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  wizzstick

  Look how cunningly they word their article:

  Some think of a cult as being a dangerous religious sect with a human leader. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not look to any human as their leader.

  No - instead JW's wax lyrical about the Governing Body. They look to a group of men as leaders, not one.
  
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  Richard C B

  @wizzstick,, well they clearly state they dont have a human leader. only one leader The Christ. So how is it you all think the GB are leaders when they themselves have said they are not.