What About Jehovah's Witnesses?
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Are Jehovah's Witnesses Christian?
You've probably encountered them at your door. And you may have seen their Watchtower and Awake! magazines neatly displayed upon the counters of your local Laundromat. Who are the Jehovah's Witnesses? Are they Christians?
The Jehovah's Witnesses find their roots in the teachings of Charles Taze Russell who established his group as Zion's Watchtower and Tract Society in 1884. Ever since the Dawn Bible Students splintered from them in 1931, they have been known as Jehovah's Witnesses. Under the allegiance of "Pastor" Russell, Jehovah's Witnesses were urged to study only his teachings. Russell claimed that if anyone read the Bible without the aid of his work entitled Studies in the Scriptures, they would go "into darkness."
In order to make such a bold claim, you would think that "Pastor" Russell were either a prophet or a scholar. In actuality, he was neither. He stated that the Battle of Armageddon began in 1874 and would end in 1914 (The Watchtower, 1-15-1892:22; The Time is at Hand, 1888:101; Studies in the Scriptures, series IV, 1897:621). He also claimed to know the Greek alphabet, but after being cross-examined in court, it turned out that he was not familiar with the language.
In spite of these early blunders, the Watchtower still makes erroneous claims that they are the true prophet of God for this generation, and they have set numerous dates concerning the end of the world. Needless to say, all their prophecies have turned out to be false. And just like their founder, they have lacked a proper understanding of the biblical languages. Nevertheless, this has not stopped them from producing their own "New World Translation" of the Bible!
Finally, Jehovah's Witnesses teach doctrines that are completely opposed to orthodox Christianity. For instance, they deny the Trinity, that Jesus is God, that salvation is by grace through faith, and that Christ rose from the dead in his own body. Despite their sincerity and dedication, we can only affirm that the Jehovah's Witnesses are not Christians.
On Jehovah's Witnesses, that's the CRI Perspective by Hank Hanegraaff.
- Are Jehovah's Witnesses Christian?
- by Hank Hanegraaff
20 Questions Jehovah's Witnesses Cannot Answer
Amazon Price: $7.02 (as of 05/27/2012)
I really enjoyed this book. You know, asking the "witnesses" the "hard questions" will make them vanish like a morning mist under the sun.
I was an active witness for more than 40 years. (I was "raised" in "the truth.") I did not just wake up one morning and say to hell with it. It was a long process for me. And it started when the Society changed the definition of the word "generation." For almost a hundred years, and all of my 40 plus years, they said from every platform and hundreds if not thousands of times in print that "the generation of 1914" would not pass away before the end came. At first (look it up yourself) they said a person born in 1895 would not pass. Then as they got old they said 1900....then 1910....then you just had to be BORN in 1914. THEN when most if not all of those were dead, in 1995 they changed the meaning of the word "generation" to something completely different.
This was just ONE of the MANY things they did and were doing that was wrong. They have made many false prophesies including the 1975 fiasco, I know, I was there. They have also made "bedroom laws" and try to regulate how a husband and wife make love to each other....and in the past have disfellowshiped for doing it the "wrong" way. I could go on and on, but I know most will just think I'm an "apostate" and do not care to hear any of this. - I used to be the exact same way, so I can't blame you. I just like to sometimes try to open peoples eyes a little faster than it took to get mine open.
The book 1984 could have been written with the JW's in mind. JW's are just SO Orwellian it is not funny. And the reason why you guys can't see this is right in the book...."They can't rebel until they become conscience, and they can't become conscience until they rebel." Yup, you guys can't think for yourselves, much less use any critical thinking skills. You all depend on the Society to tell you daylight is day, and darkness is night.
I will close with this....since I left "the truth," I have never been happier. I no longer feel like 12 MEN in Brooklyn are trying to micro-manage my life. I live a normal and moral life that now includes wearing a cross, giving blood, voting, celebrating birthdays, smoking fine 20 dollar cigars once or twice a month (with 18 year old scotch,) supporting our troops, training at Gunsite, and making love to my wife the way I see fit. The bottom line is that I'm free for the first time in my life, and I'm loving it.
I wish all the JW's well. Some people are always content inside the wire. May the chains of your oppressors weigh lightly on you.
~ A Satisfied Customer
Awakening of a Jehovah's Witness: Escape from the Watchtower Society
Amazon Price: $16.59 (as of 05/27/2012)
"The public needs to be warned," says ex-Jehovah's Witness Diane Wilson about the religion she once embraced. In Awakening of a Jehovah's Witness: Escape from the Watchtower Society, Wilson recounts her quarter-century in the movement, making the usual case that the Society is a cult, that it exercises unhealthy control over the minds and behavior of its members and that it grooms followers to become victims. Certainly, her story is sad, particularly the part about being encouraged to shun her own daughter for several months, but it is hardly a balanced or even very perceptive book. (One of the most interesting elements of the narrative is that Wilson seems to have transferred the near-divine authority that she once vested in her church to her therapist, whose words are sometimes reprinted here in boldface.) Sadly, few objective accounts exist about the Jehovah's Witnesses; little stands in the middle between polemic and apologetic. Readers are left with classic studies such as M. James Penton's Apocalypse Delayed, a rare book that seeks not just to discredit and refute the Watchtower, but to understand it.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
The Facts on Jehovah's Witnesses (The Facts On Series)
Amazon Price: $2.78 (as of 05/27/2012)
John Ankerberg, John Weldon, and Dillon Burroughs team up to revise and update The Facts on Jehovah's Witnesses, part of the popular Facts On Series (more than 1.9 million copies of books from this series sold). Known for their extensive research and Bible knowledge, these authors offer readers the essential facts they need to evaluate and discuss today's issues regarding the Jehovah's Witnesses, a religious organization, and the Watchtower Society. The concise, easy-to-follow information helps readers answer such questions as:
* What is the Watchtower Society and what power does it hold?
* Is the Watchtower Society's translation of the Bible accurate?
* Is the Society's teaching on salvation biblical?
Whether the reader is merely curious or searching for specific information, The Facts on Jehovah's Witnesses will give them what they are looking for-easy-to-understand, factual, and relevant information about this group.
Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah's Witnesses
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 05/27/2012)
Christians have great news to offer Jehovah's Witnesses. In this revised and updated version of the top-selling Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah's Witnesses (more than 90,000 copies sold), author and Bible expert Ron Rhodes helps readers delve into the Bible and use practical tools to share God's truths with those who come calling.
* Convenient side-by-side comparisons of the New World Translation and the Bible, along with answers to each doctrinal error espoused by the Witnesses
* Point-by-point lists of the favorite tactics and arguments used by the Witnesses-along with effective, biblical responses to each
* Questions you can ask to challenge the Jehovah's Witnesses' confidence in the Watchtower Society
With easy-to-understand helps, concise information, direct comparisons of beliefs, and a compassionate presentation, this resource from Ron Rhodes is ideal for personal and church libraries and for any reader who wants to confidently share the gospel.
The 10 Most Important Things You Can Say to a Jehovah's Witness
Amazon Price: $5.45 (as of 05/27/2012)
Highlights false prophecies of Jehovah's Witnesses' leaders, errors in the New World Translation Bible, their unbiblical views.
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rockycha
Jan 13, 2011 @ 8:26 pm | delete
- Great lens, wonderful resources, God Bless you! :)
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andreaberrios
Aug 27, 2009 @ 9:34 pm | delete
- WOW great lens!
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WhitU4ever
Aug 27, 2009 @ 12:23 pm | in reply to spirituality | delete
- Thank you so much for sharing your opinion! I completely respect and understand your opinions, even though sometimes we disagree. That's ok with me. I enjoy the way you think and especially your intellectual honesty. Your friendship on Squidoo is valuable to me, as well as your comments and contributions to similar discussions to this one. :)
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spirituality Aug 27, 2009 @ 2:33 am | delete
- I do think Jehovah's witnesses are Christian, but it depends on your definition. I consider anybody a Christian who considers themselves to be Christian. Since Jehovah's Witnesses DO consider themselves Christian, who am I to argue? But yes, they're a very tight knit group that is often considered a cult.
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Who Am I?
by WhitU4ever
"If you drive God out of the world, then you create a howling wilderness." ~ Peter Hitchens
I'm a Christian. Deal with it.
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