I registered on nairaland last month and my intention was to make educative posts in the education section but now I am being forced to make a thread here in the religion section.

I have observed that the Organisation I belong to ( Christian Congregation of Jehovah's witnesses) is constantly under attack and to make matters worse, certain individuals claiming to be witnesses have been a contributing factor to the unnecessary attacks on my organisation. Whether these individuals are really members of my organisation is a question I can't answer. But one thing I will tell you is their conduct and speech in this forum does not in anyway represent that of a member of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's witnesses.

The purpose of this thread is to answer any question anyone may have truthfully and honestly starting with the most common: Are Jehovah's witnesses a cult?

Stay tuned and follow along.

Why is the name "Jehovah witness"?

immortalcrown:
Why is the name "Jehovah witness"?

Jehovah's Witnesses adopted their name in 1931 during a convention in Columbus, Ohio. The term "Jehovah" is a Latinized form of the Tetragrammaton, YHWH, which represents the divine name of God in the Hebrew Bible. The adoption of the name reflects our focus on actively witnessing about God's kingdom and teachings based on our interpretation of the Bible.

NowYouKnow:
Jehovah's Witnesses adopted their name in 1931 during a convention in Columbus, Ohio. The term "Jehovah" is a Latinized form of the Tetragrammaton, YHWH, which represents the divine name of God in the Hebrew Bible. The adoption of the name reflects our focus on actively witnessing about God's kingdom and teachings based on our interpretation of the Bible.

Noted. Thank you for the explanation.

Why don't members of Jehovah's Witness celebrate birthdays?

Dating a Jehovah witness is very sweet, you no go fit lack umbrella at all

NowYouKnow:
■ I registered on nairaland last month and my intention was to make educative posts in the education section but now I am being forced to make a thread here in the religion section. I have observed that the Organisation I belong to ( Christian Congregation of Jehovah's witnesses) is constantly under attack and to make matters worse, certain individuals claiming to be witnesses have been a contributing factor to the unnecessary attacks on my organisation. Whether these individuals are really members of my organisation is a question I can't answer. But one thing I will tell you is their conduct and speech in this forum does not in anyway represent that of a member of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's witnesses. The purpose of this thread is to answer any question anyone may have truthfully and honestly starting with the most common: Are Jehovah's witnesses a cult? Stay tuned and follow along.

Christianity is a religion comprised of several thousands cult which are referred to as denominations.

There are more than 45,000 denominations globally. Followers of Jesus span the globe. But the global body of more than 2 billion Christians is separated into thousands of denominations. Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, Apostolic, Methodist — the list goes on.

JWs happen to be just one or more of them.

immortalcrown:
Noted. Thank you for the explanation.

Why don't members of Jehovah's Witness celebrate birthdays?

Jehovah's Witnesses abstain from celebrating birthdays due to our interpretation of certain biblical principles. While the Bible does mention birthday celebrations, it is in a context that Jehovah's Witnesses believe associates them with practices that go against our religious beliefs.

For example, in the Bible, both instances of birthday celebrations involve negative outcomes: Pharaoh's birthday celebration (Genesis 40:20-22) and King Herod's birthday party, where John the Baptist was beheaded (Matthew 14:6-10). Jehovah's Witnesses take these instances as indications that birthday celebrations are not aligned with our understanding of biblical principles.

Additionally, we strive to avoid any customs or traditions that have pagan or non-Christian origins. Since the historical roots of birthday celebrations can be traced back to various pagan practices, we Jehovah's Witnesses choose not to partake in them as a matter of religious conviction.

Kobojunkie:
Christianity is a religion comprised of several thousands cult which are referred to as denominations.
JWs happen to be just one or more of them.

Well we do not view ourselves as one for these reasons:

The classification of whether Jehovah's Witnesses are considered a cult can vary based on individual perspectives. However, some argue that they don't fit typical characteristics of cults because:

1. Mainstream Recognition: Jehovah's Witnesses are recognized as a legitimate religious movement by governments in many countries, and they have legal status as a religion.

2. Organizational Structure: Unlike many cults, Jehovah's Witnesses have a structured organizational hierarchy with defined leadership roles. They operate under a centralized structure, and their teachings are disseminated through official channels.

3. Voluntary Membership: Membership in Jehovah's Witnesses is voluntary, and individuals have the freedom to leave the organization if they choose without facing severe consequences. Cults often exert more control over their members.

4. Doctrinal Transparency: Jehovah's Witnesses openly share their beliefs and doctrines, and their literature is widely available. Cults, on the other hand, may be more secretive about their teachings.

5. Peaceful Practices: Jehovah's Witnesses generally promote peaceful and law-abiding behavior. They are known for their door-to-door evangelism but avoid aggressive recruitment tactics.

Why are there so many cases of child sexual abuse in your organisation?

NowYouKnow:
■ Well we do not view ourselves as one for these reasons:
The classification of whether Jehovah's Witnesses are considered a cult can vary based on individual perspectives. However, some argue that they don't fit typical characteristics of cults because:
1. Mainstream Recognition: Jehovah's Witnesses are recognized as a legitimate religious movement by governments in many countries, and they have legal status as a religion.
2. Organizational Structure: Unlike many cults, Jehovah's Witnesses have a structured organizational hierarchy with defined leadership roles. They operate under a centralized structure, and their teachings are disseminated through official channels.
3. Voluntary Membership: Membership in Jehovah's Witnesses is voluntary, and individuals have the freedom to leave the organization if they choose without facing severe consequences. Cults often exert more control over their members.
4. Doctrinal Transparency: Jehovah's Witnesses openly share their beliefs and doctrines, and their literature is widely available. Cults, on the other hand, may be more secretive about their teachings.
5. Peaceful Practices: Jehovah's Witnesses generally promote peaceful and law-abiding behavior. They are known for their door-to-door evangelism but avoid aggressive recruitment tactics.

No need for the whitewashing !

So what constitutes a cult? Eichel listed several factors:

◍ "Beware of any kind of pressure. That's probably the single most important advice I can give anyone. Any kind of pressure to make a quick decision about becoming involved in any intensive kind of activity or organization."
◍ "Be wary of any leader who proclaims him or herself as having special powers or special insight. And, of course, divinity."
"The group is closed, so in other words, although there may be outside followers, there's usually an inner circle that follows the leader without question, and that maintains a tremendous amount of secrecy."
◍ "The group uses deceptive means, typically, to recruit new members, and then once recruited will subject its members to an organized program of thought reform, or what most people refer to as brainwashing."
◍ "Typically cults also exploit their members….mostly financially. Within the group, they'll exploit members financially, psychologically, emotionally and, all too often, sexually."
◍ "A very important aspect of cult is the idea that if you leave the cult, horrible things will happen to you. This is important, and it's important to realize. That people outside of a cult are potential members, so they're not looked upon as negatively as people inside the cult who then leave the cult."
How to identify a cult: Six tips from an expert

NowYouKnow:

Whether these individuals are really members of my organisation is a question I can't answer.

I am Maximus one of Jehovah's Witnesses so if you're here to answer questions prepare to deactivate this account in less than five days or avoid many comments or begin answering each the way they present themselves.
I have opened and deactivated my account two times before i decided to keep this and only respond to anyone asking questions but one thing is certain: you can't tell anyone to keep quiet when his beliefs are being spoken against and in most cases lied against.
Each person will render an account before the true God and as far as this forum is concerned those attacking God's organization don't really want your response they just want to accuse the organization and convince the audience that they're saying the truth if you're quiet.

I am an elder in my own congregation so don't think i just love entertaining arguments all i do is respond to whoever truly needs it.

Once again you're welcome!

Yigefengzi:
Why are there so many cases of child sexual abuse in your organisation?

Before I answer your question, let me admit that I am just as shocked as you are that such cases exist.
However, they are real. I promised to be honest so here are answers to your question.


1. Failure to Report: Some lawsuits claim that the organization failed to report instances of child sexual abuse to the authorities promptly which is true. However, today members are allowed to report to the authorities promptly.

2. Internal Handling of Cases: We Jehovah's Witnesses have an internal judicial system to address wrongdoing within the congregations. Some argue that this internal handling may not prioritize the safety of victims or adequately address the legal implications of the abuse which I agree is true. Today, members are allowed to report to the authorities (police) when it comes to serious issues like child abuse or rape.

3. Two-Witness Rule: The organization had a doctrinal "two-witness rule," requiring two credible witnesses to an event or a confession before taking action. This made it challenging for victims to establish their case within the internal judicial process. Today, such rule has been updated.

4. Alleged Lack of Support for Victims: Some lawsuits claim that the organization did not provide sufficient support for abuse victims, both emotionally and in terms of taking appropriate action against the alleged perpetrators. There are even cases of elders warning or threatening the abused victim and their family not to report to the authorities or else they face discipline. This in my opinion was wrong and totally out of place. The elders on their part were presumptuous and overzealous in their duties. They lacked empathy and compassion for the victims.

5. Cover-up: There are cases in court of elders covering up cases of abuse which eventually lead to the abuse of other innocent congregants.

These are some of the reasons why the organisation faces child abuse cases.

Please note that It was not the intention of the organisation to harbor rapist, pedophiles or child molesters when they had the above rules and policies. Same way it isn't the intention of a family to harbor a member who is a criminal.

Such polices were initially created to prevent a brother or sister from being wrongfully accused of something he or she did not do. However, the poor handling of such cases has led to the governing body paying a huge price which is expected because they are not infallible.

We should also do well to understand that just because some members were jailed for child abuse doesn't mean all witnesses are child abusers.

Also, it is not all child abuse cases that are won in favour of the victim. Sometimes the organisation does win some cases.

MaxInDHouse:

I am Maximus one of Jehovah's Witnesses so if you're here to answer questions prepare to deactivate this account in less than five days or avoid many comments or begin answering each the way they present themselves.
I have opened and deactivated my account two times before i decided to keep this and only respond to anyone asking questions but one thing is certain: you can't tell anyone to keep quiet when his beliefs are being spoken against and in most cases lied against.
Each person will render an account before the true God and as far as this forum is concerned those attacking God's organization don't really want your response they just want to accuse the organization and convince the audience that they're saying the truth if you're quiet.

I am an elder in my own congregation so don't think i just love entertaining arguments all i do is respond to whoever truly needs it.

Once again you're welcome!

You cannot and can never be one of Jehovah's witnesses. Go back to the troll cave you crawled out from and stop derailing my thread with your venomous vitriol. You are an elder and you go about arguing and Insulting people in a faceless forum to do what? Bring praise and honour to your organisation right? Nonesense. Get out of this thread!

NowYouKnow:

Jehovah's Witnesses abstain from celebrating birthdays due to our interpretation of certain biblical principles. While the Bible does mention birthday celebrations, it is in a context that Jehovah's Witnesses believe associates them with practices that go against our religious beliefs.
For example, in the Bible, both instances of birthday celebrations involve negative outcomes: Pharaoh's birthday celebration (Genesis 40:20-22) and King Herod's birthday party, where John the Baptist was beheaded (Matthew 14:6-10). Jehovah's Witnesses take these instances as indications that birthday celebrations are not aligned with our understanding of biblical principles.
Additionally, we strive to avoid any customs or traditions that have pagan or non-Christian origins. Since the historical roots of birthday celebrations can be traced back to various pagan practices, we Jehovah's Witnesses choose not to partake in them as a matter of religious conviction.

In addition to the above God's servants never said anything good about the remembrance of birth:
“Let the day perish on which I was born, Also the night when someone said: ‘A man has been conceived!’ Job 3:3

A good name is better than good oil, and the day of death is better than the day of birth. Ecclesiastes 7:1

"Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother gave birth to me not be blessed" Jeremiah 20:14

Now in harmony with the above the world's most wonderful counselor of all time Jesus Christ {Isaiah 9:6} told his listeners that it's the same line of thought he shared with those prophets:

“Do not think I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I came, not to destroy, but to fulfill." Matthew 5:17

He promised his disciples that the spirit of God will remind them necessary details of what he taught them and things they needed to pen down for future purpose:

"But the helper, the holy spirit, which the Father will send in my name, that one will teach you all things and bring back to your minds all the things I told you" John 14:26

Did God's Holy Spirit did as Jesus promised?
YES! The apostles and other gospel writers remembered everything Jesus taught them so vividly including how he was born but in all of this the date of Jesus' birth was not remembered!

Jesus told his disciples to remember the date he was executed {Luke 22:19} which is in perfect harmony with what Ecclesiastes 7:1 said centuries before Jesus' birth.

He never celebrated his birthday, his parents never did, his beloved apostles never did and after his ascension to heaven they never marked Jesus' birthday!

NowYouKnow:

You cannot and can never be one of Jehovah's witnesses. Go back to the troll cave you crawled out from and stop derailing my thread with your venomous vitriol. You are an elder and you go about arguing and Insulting people in a faceless forum to do what? Bring praise and honour to your organisation right? Nonesense. Get out of this thread!

You will see why many of us can't remain silent but then calm down bro you're not the judge.

Meanwhile enjoy your time with them!

Kobojunkie:
No need for the whitewashing !

No white Washing here but your free to believe what you want.

By the way, the idea that Jehovah's Witnesses do exactly every single thing the governing body tells us to do is false.

In every organisation, whether religious or non religious there will always be those that take things to the extreme and those that are open and think outside the box.

Let me give you an example. Some years ago, the governing body came up with a rule that any elder whose child is in a far away university must be dropped. Some elders pulled their children away from the university, some did not send their kids to the university, while some dropped from their position as elders willingly and sent their kids to any far away university of their choice.

Were they killed, flogged, disfellowshipped or shunned? The answer is NO.

My point is not all witnesses are the same. Some they groove life pass you and you're free to do what you want as long as you are not doing anything that is against God's commandments in the Bible.

MaxInDHouse:


You will see why many of us can't remain silent but then calm down bro you're not the judge.

Meanwhile enjoy your time with them!

Leave this thread. Troll.

What do you gain pretending to be a witness. Even if they are rude and insultive is that a reason for you to throw away discernment and join them in their quest to insult and abuse? So as old as you are you don't know when to end a conversation once things go south? If really you are an elder you should be deeply ashamed of yourself. Nonesense!

NowYouKnow:

Leave this thread. Troll.
What do you gain pretending to be a witness. Even if they are rude and insultive is that a reason for you to throw away discernment and join them in their quest to insult and abuse? So as old as you are you don't know when to end a conversation once things go south? If really you are an elder you should be deeply ashamed of yourself. Nonesense!

You're just being judgemental it's obvious you're an apostate pretending here.

NowYouKnow:


Before I answer your question, let me admit that I am just as shocked as you are that such cases exist.
However, they are real. I promised to be honest so here are answers to your question.


1. Failure to Report: Some lawsuits claim that the organization failed to report instances of child sexual abuse to the authorities promptly which is true. However, today members are allowed to report to the authorities promptly.

2. Internal Handling of Cases: We Jehovah's Witnesses have an internal judicial system to address wrongdoing within the congregations. Some argue that this internal handling may not prioritize the safety of victims or adequately address the legal implications of the abuse which I agree is true. Today, members are allowed to report to the authorities (police) when it comes to serious issues like child abuse or rape.

3. Two-Witness Rule: The organization had a doctrinal "two-witness rule," requiring two credible witnesses to an event or a confession before taking action. This made it challenging for victims to establish their case within the internal judicial process. Today, such rule has been updated.

4. Alleged Lack of Support for Victims: Some lawsuits claim that the organization did not provide sufficient support for abuse victims, both emotionally and in terms of taking appropriate action against the alleged perpetrators. There are even cases of elders warning or threatening the abused victim and their family not to report to the authorities or else they face discipline. This in my opinion was wrong and totally out of place. The elders on their part were presumptuous and overzealous in their duties. They lacked empathy and compassion for the victims.

5. Cover-up: There are cases in court of elders covering up cases of abuse which eventually lead to the abuse of other innocent congregants.

These are some of the reasons why the organisation faces child abuse cases.

Please note that It was not the intention of the organisation to harbor rapist, pedophiles or child molesters when they had the above rules and policies. Same way it isn't the intention of a family to harbor a member who is a criminal.

Such polices were initially created to prevent a brother or sister from being wrongfully accused of something he or she did not do. However, the poor handling of such cases has led to the governing body paying a huge price which is expected because they are not infallible.

We should also do well to understand that just because some members were jailed for child abuse doesn't mean all witnesses are child abusers.

Also, it is not all child abuse cases that are won in favour of the victim. Sometimes the organisation does win some cases.

Hmmmm
Well at least you were honest in your write-up. I appreciate your honesty. You did not try to cover up with lame unreasonable and pointless excuses like that animal that calls himself your brother.

Why do Jehovah's witnesses reject blood fusion?

MaxInDHouse:



You're just being judgemental it's obvious you're an apostate pretending here.

Oh so now I am the apostate because I choose to explain with facts rather than spit insult all over the place...right?

Please do me a favour and get out of this thread.

NowYouKnow:

Oh so now I am the apostate because I choose to explain with facts rather than spit insult all over the place...right?
Please do me a favour and get out of this thread.

Guy keep shut!
If you don't want others to express themselves why quoting me in the first place?
I'm not interested in your hopeless thread if you never quoted me i have no business with judgemental people like you.
So keep your thread and never ever quote me again in your miserable life.
Bye!

Yigefengzi:


Hmmmm
Well at least you were honest in your write-up. I appreciate your honesty. You did not try to cover up with lame unreasonable and pointless excuses like that animal that calls himself your brother.

Why do Jehovah's witnesses reject blood fusion?

Please he is not my brother.

To answer your question Jehovah's Witnesses reject blood transfusions based on interpretation of certain biblical passages. We believe that the Bible prohibits the consumption of blood, and this belief extends to receiving blood transfusions. The key scriptures they refer to include passages such as Genesis 9:4, Leviticus 17:10-14, and Acts 15:28-29.

Speaking of blood transfusion have you all seen this. A first of its kind.

MaxInDHouse:



Bye!

Finally
Good riddance.

MaxInDHouse:


Guy keep shut!
If you don't want others to express themselves why quoting me in the first place?
I'm not interested in your hopeless thread if you never quoted me i have no business with judgemental people like you.
So keep your thread and never ever quote me again in your miserable life.
Bye!

Hahahahahahahahaha

You are now insulting another JW like you?

😂😂😂

He has put you in your place hasn't he?

Archoladey, Emusan, Courz, MightySparrow you guys need to come and see this thread!

oteneaaron:


Hahahahahahahahaha

You are now insulting another JW like you?

😂😂😂

He has put you in your place hasn't he?

Archoladey, Emusan, Courz, MightySparrow you guys need to come and see this thread!

I said it now. This is making the 3rd time another JW is denying Mad MaxinDhouse flat! Mad MaxinDhouse is even calling him Apostate. Hahahaha. Wonders shall never end. Mad MaxinDhouse reputation in this forum has gone far and wide. Mad MaxinDhouse is not a JW. He is an impostor.

Continue disguising with new accounts!

NowYouKnow:
I registered on nairaland last month and my intention was to make educative posts in the education section but now I am being forced to make a thread here in the religion section.

I have observed that the Organisation I belong to ( Christian Congregation of Jehovah's witnesses) is constantly under attack and to make matters worse, certain individuals claiming to be witnesses have been a contributing factor to the unnecessary attacks on my organisation. Whether these individuals are really members of my organisation is a question I can't answer. But one thing I will tell you is their conduct and speech in this forum does not in anyway represent that of a member of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's witnesses.

The purpose of this thread is to answer any question anyone may have truthfully and honestly starting with the most common: Are Jehovah's witnesses a cult?

Stay tuned and follow along.

While I appreciate your honesty on this thread so far, the fact remians that the Jehovah Witness organization is a CULT.

I say this confidently based on the BITE Model created by Steven Hassan.

B - BEHAVIOR

This category explores how manipulative groups regulate and dominate their members’ actions and behaviors through strict rules, rewards, and punishments, limiting individual autonomy.

I - INFORMATION

Examining the tactics of manipulative organizations to control information flow through censorship and propaganda, restricting members’ access to outside perspectives.

T - THOUGHT

Focuses on psychological techniques used by such groups to shape beliefs and attitudes, suppressing critical thinking and promoting conformity.

E - EMOTION

Explores how manipulative organizations manipulate emotions, fostering dependency and loyalty through love-bombing, guilt, and fear-based indoctrination.

oteneaaron:


While I appreciate your honesty on this thread so far, the fact remians that the Jehovah Witness organization is a CULT.

I say this confidently based on the BITE Model created by Steven Hassan.

B - BEHAVIOR

This category explores how manipulative groups regulate and dominate their members’ actions and behaviors through strict rules, rewards, and punishments, limiting individual autonomy.

I - INFORMATION

Examining the tactics of manipulative organizations to control information flow through censorship and propaganda, restricting members’ access to outside perspectives.

T - THOUGHT

Focuses on psychological techniques used by such groups to shape beliefs and attitudes, suppressing critical thinking and promoting conformity.

E - EMOTION

Explores how manipulative organizations manipulate emotions, fostering dependency and loyalty through love-bombing, guilt, and fear-based indoctrination.

I understand. And I don't blame you for having such a view. Some of our members can act like extremists.

Some feel others are spiritually weak based on a certain lifestyle they choose to live. Some will argue tooth and nail to defend certain policies only to later look stupid when such polices are corrected or adjusted.

Like I said above, it is not everything the governing body says that we do. They are infallible men and they make mistakes. That is just the plain honest truth. Some of us live quietly without wanting any privilege of service or seeking some form of recognition or undue attention.

As long as you are not breaking a commandment from God's word the Bible, you're good to go.

NowYouKnow:


I understand. And I don't blame you for having such a view. Some of our members can act like extremists.

Some feel others are spiritually weak based on a certain lifestyle they choose to live. Some will argue tooth and nail to defend certain policies only to later look stupid when such polices are corrected or adjusted.

Like I said above, it is not everything the governing body says that we do. They are infallible men and they make mistakes. That is just the plain honest truth. Some of us live quietly without wanting any privilege of service or seeking some form of recognition or undue attention.

As long as you are not breaking a commandment from God's word the Bible, you're good to go.

Based on the bolded, what are the doctrines from the Governing Body that you disagree with and why do you disagree?

NowYouKnow:
■ No white Washing here but your free to believe what you want. By the way, the idea that Jehovah's Witnesses do exactly every single thing the governing body tells us to do is false. In every organisation, whether religious or non religious there will always be those that take things to the extreme and those that are open and think outside the box.
■ Let me give you an example. Some years ago, the governing body came up with a rule that any elder whose child is in a far away university must be dropped. Some elders pulled their children away from the university, some did not send their kids to the university, while some dropped from their position as elders willingly and sent their kids to any far away university of their choice. Were they killed, flogged, disfellowshipped or shunned? The answer is NO. My point is not all witnesses are the same. Some they groove life pass you and you're free to do what you want as long as you are not doing anything that is against God's commandments in the Bible.

That some members chose to "think outside of the box" all while in the box does not change the fact that the organization is a cult though.

2. Of course not all rules will be accepted by all. Unless the governing body has some sort of militia in place to enforce their every rule, there really is no way it can succeed in coarsing all members into following all of the rules. However, that does not change the cult-ish impact of the organization on its members. Another example of a cult/denomination within the religion of Christianity is Deeper Life. The group has had to abandon several old rules over the years but their status as a cult remains intact, same as that of the JWS.

NowYouKnow:


Jehovah's Witnesses abstain from celebrating birthdays due to our interpretation of certain biblical principles. While the Bible does mention birthday celebrations, it is in a context that Jehovah's Witnesses believe associates them with practices that go against our religious beliefs.

For example, in the Bible, both instances of birthday celebrations involve negative outcomes: Pharaoh's birthday celebration (Genesis 40:20-22) and King Herod's birthday party, where John the Baptist was beheaded (Matthew 14:6-10). Jehovah's Witnesses take these instances as indications that birthday celebrations are not aligned with our understanding of biblical principles.

Additionally, we strive to avoid any customs or traditions that have pagan or non-Christian origins. Since the historical roots of birthday celebrations can be traced back to various pagan practices, we Jehovah's Witnesses choose not to partake in them as a matter of religious conviction.

All the days of the week have pagan origins. Why don't you avoid those days?

Kobojunkie:
That some members chose to "think outside of the box" all while in the box does not change the fact that the organization is a cult though.

2. Of course not all rules will be accepted by all. Unless the governing body has some sort of militia in place to enforce their every rule, there really is no way it can succeed in coarsing all members into following all of the rules. However, that does not change the cult-ish impact of the organization on its members. Another example of a cult/denomination within the religion of Christianity is Deeper Life. The group has had to abandon several old rules over the years but their status as a cult remains intact, same as that of the JWS.

Very well, to each his own.