The european court of human rights has officialy declared jehovahs witnesses a religeon not a cult or a sect.

YES! To be a cult, they must mislead people into joining. Then, outside contact must be cut off. From here, brainwashing or mind control must be used to indoctrinate people. Then it is made difficult to leave, either by forcing them to stay or by making it devastating to leave. The JW's meet these criteria. People are not allowed to examine the OTHER side before commiting. The "world" is made to be evil and to be feared. Then they threaten to cut you off from themselves if you violate one of the rules and refuse to correct it, or if you attempt to pose an alternate viewpoint. Fear of getting destroyed is also used. Such people often have nowhere else to go, and "faithful" family members including parents are cut off. In my opinion, this fits the definition of a cult.

Yes.

Nooooooooooooooooooooo!

No more than a baptist, catholic, jew, muslim, mormon, or hindu are. All religions are cults. Its in the definition. Im religious and I can accept that.

They supposedly fit 8 out of the 10 criteria for being a cult. But, then again, that was told to me by a Mosaic. It's all subject to interpretation I guess.

JW are a sect. JW do not believe that Jesus is divine. They see Jesus as creation. Plain wrong. My 2 cents.

Much as I would like to call them a sect or cult, they are neither. They have enough members and existed long enough that they are a recognized religious denomination.

Though I am Atheist I would have to say this is a loaded question. You have only given two possibles and if neither is correct then how can anyone give a true answer?

Well one JW said I was a bitter person, but not a man and inferred I was not a Viet Nam Veteran and to get over it because I said something negative about Jehovah's Witnesses. So how does this fit? I can prove my record. Damned coward that won't serve their country challenge my service? Add my 32+ years as a volunteer sheriff officer and 85,000 hours service. Well just happens I have plenty of time. And I think I will devote some of it to exposing JW's and the WTS. Long ago the Kingdom Hall here got shut down. And yes it was for sexual abuse. But it seemed to be women above the age of 16 the elders had taken a liking to. But I'm going to see to it the Federal Police cite or arrest anyone leaving off those unauthorized Watch Towers and Awakes. It violates Federal Law. Not sure of the penalty. But I'll see if it can be increased. No, it is not persecution to prosecute laws only you seem to break. No other religion I know of has ever left literature without clearing it through the chaplains office. How's this for bitter. Yeah! I'm bitter I protected the rights of the likes of you to see you violate the rights of others.

jw are classified as a sect...they are the second largest religion in hawaii..cults are a lot smaller

France gives them the status as a cult, a dangerous cult. I think I'll go for their definition. Think I'll write a few Congressmen and Senators and see if we can list them here that way.

Yes they are a cult, a very dangerous cult.

My mother became a JW when I was 4, I am now 38. It's neither a cult or a sect. All of these people answering don't know what they are talking about. Somebody has made FerretGuy very angry. You have to remember that people are not perfect. If you reserch any religon you will find things wrong. Not only have Elders been caught doing wrong, but Priest, Ministers, Evangelist and so on. People are bad, so when they are associated with a religon it makes the religon look bad. Some people go to jail find a religon, get out of jail, do good for a little while then, go back to there old ways. Some people use religon as a cover. By the way JW belive in Jesus (that he is the son of god) and the Watch Tower isn't the gospel it is used with the bible to help better understand it. I will try to answer any questions on this subject as honestly as possible.

Yes, JW's ARE a cult, a very dangerous cult and will stop at nothing to convert (brainwash) you to their misguided beliefs. Get rid of those assholes and have nothing to do with them in the future. THEY ARE NOT CHRISTIANS. http://www.carm.org/jw/cult.htm http://journals.aol.com/er2ki/the-adventist-way-of-life/entries/2008/04/14/response-to-jw-cult/1113 http://www.freeminds.org/psych/mindcont.htm http://www.torymagoo.org/jw.htm http://www.caic.org.au/zjws.htm

when someone is in a cult, they are not allowed to speak to their family they are not allowed to have a free will and there is one person in charge of the entire cult. the kingdom hall is not a place out in the woods somewhere jehovahs witnesses live secretly, it is their place of worship that is out in the open where people come and go as they please. further more, your allowed to talk to whomever you want and your not being controled by anyone, there is no head of the jehovahs witnesses they take turns in giving talks and saying prayers. and just because it isn't natural for people to be so happy and kind in todays day and age, doesn't mean you have to be part of a cult. and in the bible it says gods true followers will be percecuted against and hated more then any other, yet the jehovahs witnesses are always being ridiculed and hated for having faith in jehovah and jesus christ. i'm not a baptised jehovahs winess so i don't know a whole lot, but thats just how i see it

Not at all. I know and am friends with many JWs and although they will willingly share their ideas and beliefs, they have never tried to sway me from mine. As for the "door knocking"..it can be a bit annoying at times, but it is their belief that it is what is required of them..they have never been pushy or anything except very courteous. Most cults hold their members by brainwashing and force if necessary.

As i grew up within a congregation of Jehovahs Wittnesses, with my father being an elder, i can safely say that they are nothing near to being a cult, i am not a Jehovahs wittness know thro reasons of my own, although i had a really lovely upbringing amongst some really down to earth people. Those i grew up with are still firm friends, even if we are far appart, i know that my friends will allways be their, and keep in contact frequently, some are still devoted wittneses and some are not. I was tought some very important values in life, one being respect for others and their views. If fashionable opinion and bias was put to the side and others tried to understand they would see that calling Jehovahs Wittneses a cult is based on no facts or reality. Maybe its fear of the unknown that cause people to put these labels on others.

I believe anything that takes away from believing 3 as one.( The trinity)is considered a cult.

You people are quiet, sick what have they ever done to you, obviously something, This all just comes from bigotry fed by ignorance, targeting those who are the easiest target, and bully those who cant or wont defend themselves. Peodeofiles are not created by ANY religion, they are created by that person themselves and to falsely accuse is dangerous for the simple fact that every time someone gets wrongly accused it makes it harder to convict the next one who has really offended and is the real PEDEOPHILE!!!!! This is all just vendictive with no basis in reality. Since visiting this sight i feel that other peoples ignorence and discriminating oppinions and beliefs have been pushed on me more than any Jehovahs Witness ever. This is a hate campaighn and nothing more by a few small minded people full of hatred

NO!!!!! they are Christians' too!!

no they are not. they are considered christians, since they believe in and look to christ as their leader. cults tend to look to humans as their leaders. unlike many cults, jw's live, work and hang out among everybody, they do not separate themselves from society in general. you'd be surprised how many witnesses live and walk among you. they are law-abiding, god-fearing, honest citizens. they are not involved in any sort of ritualistic, freakish rituals. if you go to their meetings, you will see a very simple structure, which involves: singing a song of praise, before, during and at the end of their meetings. bible based discourses and information, with questions and answers from the audience. and that's it! oh and lots of talking and laughter before and after the meeting! :))

Look in the dictionary under cult. You will find the definition is just obsessive religeous people. I think that fits any religeon.

The answers you will receive can come from people who have never known much about JW's and you can be sorely misguided. Educate yourself from a source that comes directly from those who know the inner workings of this religion and have studied its history, errors, teachings, etc because they were formerly very involved in this religion. Check out: http://www.macgregorministries.org/

There are not many, if any, points that the JWs and I would agree on. But they are no more a cult than any other expression of Christian faith. They just happen to be in the minority. The term "cult" once meant something rather specific and not necessarily derogatory. These days it's been dumbed down to mean anything that a large enough group of people happen to disagree with because it doesn't fit their world view. Remember, Christianity itself was once considered a cult of Judaism.

a cult is secretive and doesnt let anyone thats not a member in . jws go door to door asking random people to come see whats going on , so its def. not a cult

Not cult.

No, they aren't at all. They just very strongly believe in their religion. They have very practical reasons for everything they believe in, such as not celebrating holidays or not accepting blood transfusions. Just because they aren't like every other religion, that doesn't mean that they are a cult. To call one religion a cult for disliking their beliefs is pure ignorance. so NO, Jehovah's witnesses are not a cult.

JW's are definitely not a cult! They are recognized as a religion in most parts of the world, and in fact have representatives in 235+ lands and islands. The accusation levelled at the protection of pedophiles within the organization is also not true. Everywhere I have actually researched and got right to the nitty gritty of these matters has shown full co-operation between the JW's and the prosecuting authorities. No protection is offered by JW's for such gross sins, and such persons are not tolerated within their ranks. If one who has offended in the past and has shown sufficient remorse [repentance] to be re-admitted to the ranks moves to another area, a letter containing information regarding the immoral activities goes to the new congregation so the ones in charge are made aware of the danger that may exist. Additionally, any JW who was serving as an elder and practices such a gross sin will never serve in a position of responsibility again, regardless of where he may go. In response to the comment about refusal to do military service, I simply ask: How did Jesus react when his followers wanted to fight for him against the Romans? No, the JW's are anything but a cult. They are serious students of the Bible, and the Bible is a guide for all nations and peoples.

No. Because a 'cult' follows the teachings of a human being, either male or female..and doing what they order. Like David Koresh or the group in Guiana who committed mass suicide. Jonestown... J.W's follow what Jesus taught. Not what any man says. Matthew 28; 19,20 They / WE preach the KINGDOM ....Matthew 24;14...Daniel 2;44 and door to door...Acts 5;42 and 20;20.

By definition, any religion is a cult. The Jehovah's Witnesses are no more or less a cult than any other denomination of the Christian religion. 1: formal religious veneration : worship 2: a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents 3: a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents 4: a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator <health cults> 5 a: great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b: the object of such devotion c: a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cult Did you mean to ask about destructive cults? http://www.religioustolerance.org/destruct.htm

All religions are cults

personally, for me , i consider them so...they follow the Watch Tower..all alms go to Watch Tower ...they changed the WORD in their BOOK...these are serious offenses to God in my personal reasonings ,and I have many more "offenses" for me that show their practices ,by the WORD ,are wrong...and one of blasphemy the most serious.. this organization answers to a head, monetarily and in teaching practices, which NONE of the Apostles assemblies or Jesus 7 churches of Rev. did...Jesus,God is only HEAD..each of these assemblies took care of own sheep and helped other assemblies and ALL peoples with their alms...they helped poor,widowed and fatherless,not just THEIRS...Israelite(Levi) Priests were not to help just their own,ALL, and were NT priests to do... these are my personal views, not to "offend", do not mean too. just have to be honest with myself and others who ask....as with all people..their are "good" everywhere in all walks of beliefs, and Faith of GOD, as well as "bad" as each and every one can be...we are human ...and all full of sin, no matter who we are...Amen:)justme...

Depends on what dictionary and definition you are looking at. In some dictionaries the definition would fit ALL religions. But, if you are going by the most valid definition of the word 'cult'...the answer would be ..NO, they are not a cult.

By any objective measure, yes.

Depends on where your definition of a cult comes from. I see people quoting Webster's dictionary and citing political decrees. For me the definition that matters is from the Christian standpoint as they claim to be a type of Christianity. The definition held by the faith has always been that any religion that deviates from the core doctrines of Christianity is not a legitimate Christian branch. The core doctrines are acknowledgement of the virgin birth, acknowledgement of Jesus and the Holy Spirit as part of Gods eternal being, A bodily resurection, and the work of the cross as completely sufficiant for salvation. Jehova's Witnesses violate every core doctrine and others in thier official stance. OFFICIALLY JW's doctrine is that while Jesus is A God that He is not an eternal part of THE God. To them Jesus is not co-eternal but rather a CREATED entity. The Holy Spirit is, again according to thier OFFICIAL doctrinal beliefs, is not even a living being ! They classify Him as a force that comes from God but as not being a conscious entity. As a result of this insult to the Holy Spirit they also have a different outlook on the virgin birth. In a real sence they must interpret the overshaddowing of the Holy Spirit causing Mary's conception as God having sexual relations with her because in thier doctrine the Holy Spirit is only a force that comes directly from God. God Himself has to send out that force. JW's say for Jesus to return the world must get better and better by thier spreading His word through thier newsletters until it's good enough for everyone to accept Him. In other words the work of the cross was incomplete without thier help. They actually have named several dates for Jesus' return that have all, of course, failed. After the wrong guess of 1914 they released a statement that Jesus did return but not bodily and that He was at work though thier newsletter ministry. Not a bodily return. Few JW's know about this declaration and will deny any such statement exists. I could go on for hours - but the bottom line is that they definately are a cult !!!

if you really look at it they are all cults... religions i mean... some more extreme than others of course So yes

In some ways yes I do. At least from what I have been told to how it is. I think you did the right thing by leaving.

yes , they are, i was a member for many years and left because of this. they only want to associate with their own and only read their literature and anyone without their beleifs is an outcast and if you question anything your branded and become a black sheep. thats a true cult. if you ask me its the biggest cult on the planet.

Yes, although you will recieve argument in the other direction. Concerted efforts at influence and control lie at the core of cultic groups, programs, and relationships. Many members, former members, and supporters of cults are not fully aware of the extent to which members may have been manipulated, exploited, even abused. The following list of social-structural, social-psychological, and interpersonal behavioral patterns commonly found in cultic environments may be helpful in assessing a particular group or relationship. Compare these patterns to the situation you were in (or in which you, a family member, or friend is currently involved). This list may help you determine if there is cause for concern. Bear in mind that this list is not meant to be a “cult scale” or a definitive checklist to determine if a specific group is a cult. This is not so much a diagnostic instrument as it is an analytical tool. ‪ The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law. ‪ Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished. ‪ Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s). ‪ The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (for example, members must get permission to date, change jobs, marry—or leaders prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, whether or not to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth). ‪ The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity). ‪ The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society. ‪ The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations). ‪ The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members' participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities). ‪ The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt iin order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion. ‪ Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group. ‪ The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members. ‪ The group is preoccupied with making money. ‪ Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities. ‪ Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members. ‪ The most loyal members (the “true believers”) feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group.