Jehova's Witness Beliefs?

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Nov 19, 2012
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#61
I was asked some questions about them (JWs). I know they have some beliefs that are not mainstream, but I can't remember what was controversial about them. Could someone summarize the key issues that set them apart?

The ones that I personally know do not celebrate Christmas or Easter.

They deny The Triune God and Jesus' deity.

They have their own version of the Holy Bible called the New World Translation (NWT).
 

1joseph

Senior Member
Dec 14, 2014
590
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#62
...things may have changed since I last had them on my door step. When I brought out my theology texts and my large study Bible, they voluntarily left and never came back.

The same happened to me once.

There were these three sweet old ladies with colorful dresses and hats that had stopped by a couple of times when I was out in the yard working. We talked in the yard about things in general. They were very nice--friendly and gentle. Then one day the three sweet little (well, they weren't little) came late one evening with a man. The man wanted too know if they could come in and talk me and my wife (whom the ladies had also met) for a few minutes. I said, "Sure. Come on in!"

My wife and I got them seated and we offered them drinks. We all got settled in and the man (one of the ladies had introduced him, along with his title) did most of the talking, telling us what the bible says, quoting scripture and such, and giving chapters and verses to support what he was saying (This is why it's important Christians to know God's Word.) We listened to him (them) for 20 or 30 minutes realizing they were misquoting some scripture. I began to see a pattern; they would quote some well known scripture accurately then misquote lesser known scripture. I knew then that they were being deceitful. So the next scripture they quoted inaccurately I said, "That's not what the Word of God says." I turned, saying, "I've got my Bible right here. Let's read it together and get it right."

Lord have mercy. You would have thought an electric shock ran through all of them as they immediately stood in unison, saying something about how they had taken up enough of our time.

I said, "Nooo, no. The important thing is that Truth be revealed. Please have a seat. I've got all night."

But the man, with his hand already on the door knob was making more excuse's about why they had to leave. I said, "Can we at least pray for you before you leave," but the man would have none of it and out the door he went with his cackling entourage right behind.

And they, too, never came back.

They were a lot of fun. I miss them.:(

God's Word truly is powerful.
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
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#63
The same happened to me once.

There were these three sweet old ladies with colorful dresses and hats that had stopped by a couple of times when I was out in the yard working. We talked in the yard about things in general. They were very nice--friendly and gentle. Then one day the three sweet little (well, they weren't little) came late one evening with a man. The man wanted too know if they could come in and talk me and my wife (whom the ladies had also met) for a few minutes. I said, "Sure. Come on in!"

My wife and I got them seated and we offered them drinks. We all got settled in and the man (one of the ladies had introduced him, along with his title) did most of the talking, telling us what the bible says, quoting scripture and such, and giving chapters and verses to support what he was saying (This is why it's important Christians to know God's Word.) We listened to him (them) for 20 or 30 minutes realizing they were misquoting some scripture. I began to see a pattern; they would quote some well known scripture accurately then misquote lesser known scripture. I knew then that they were being deceitful. So the next scripture they quoted inaccurately I said, "That's not what the Word of God says." I turned, saying, "I've got my Bible right here. Let's read it together and get it right."

Lord have mercy. You would have thought an electric shock ran through all of them as they immediately stood in unison, saying something about how they had taken up enough of our time.

I said, "Nooo, no. The important thing is that Truth be revealed. Please have a seat. I've got all night."

But the man, with his hand already on the door knob was making more excuse's about why they had to leave. I said, "Can we at least pray for you before you leave," but the man would have none of it and out the door he went with his cackling entourage right behind.

And they, too, never came back.

They were a lot of fun. I miss them.:(

God's Word truly is powerful.
I had something similar happen with a nice little old lady, a young kid and a man......when they seen that they could not lead me astray they spit like lightning and never came back......

Interestingly enough I also had two Mormons come to my door...a trainer and a trainee......I could tell by the way I maneuvered around the trainer that the trainee was doubting his own theology by the time they left.......never had Mormons again at my door.....!
 
C

cmarieh

Guest
#64
I had something similar happen with a nice little old lady, a young kid and a man......when they seen that they could not lead me astray they spit like lightning and never came back......

Interestingly enough I also had two Mormons come to my door...a trainer and a trainee......I could tell by the way I maneuvered around the trainer that the trainee was doubting his own theology by the time they left.......never had Mormons again at my door.....!
I live out in the country and have a long driveway and at the end of the driveway there is a No Trespassing sign. Out of the blue we received a letter from a couple ladies asking us to remove the sign so they can talk to us about Jehovah Witness. This happened about three times. I couldn't believe the nerve of these cults the people in them.
 

thisgirl

Senior Member
Mar 2, 2015
153
5
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#65
Jesus was not crucified on a cross but a pole. they do not believe He was risen. The new world translation is a bad translation modified to suit their church's beliefs. They seek to attend to lonely people during the day when the husband is at work normally & then draw them in. The wife is unsaved without the husband and therefore they promote the breakdown of the family unit. They also promote the breakdown of the family unit by not allowing them to partake in Christmas, birthday or easter celebration masking it as Holyness and separation from pagan rituals. In reality they are aloud to get together with other members but not family at this time. these are the times family gathers. I've lost an aunt and a cousin to this church and both of their spouses lost them as well after they refused to join the cult.
 
Dec 12, 2013
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#66
I live out in the country and have a long driveway and at the end of the driveway there is a No Trespassing sign. Out of the blue we received a letter from a couple ladies asking us to remove the sign so they can talk to us about Jehovah Witness. This happened about three times. I couldn't believe the nerve of these cults the people in them.
WOW.....that does take some nerve.......
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
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#67
Jesus was not crucified on a cross but a pole. they do not believe He was risen. The new world translation is a bad translation modified to suit their church's beliefs. They seek to attend to lonely people during the day when the husband is at work normally & then draw them in. The wife is unsaved without the husband and therefore they promote the breakdown of the family unit. They also promote the breakdown of the family unit by not allowing them to partake in Christmas, birthday or easter celebration masking it as Holyness and separation from pagan rituals. In reality they are aloud to get together with other members but not family at this time. these are the times family gathers. I've lost an aunt and a cousin to this church and both of their spouses lost them as well after they refused to join the cult.
Tragic for sure......gonna be hot for false teachers for sure....!
 
Y

yaright

Guest
#68
Well, it seems JW aren't the only one's who claim to know God because they say they know His real name. I can see how some are duped by that claim. I will use family as a means to understand. As a child, I was known as my dad's son, and, I called him dad because that is who he is to me. Yes, he did have a proper name he was born with; but when he started a family, all my brothers and sisters called him dad. It is a position of honor on both parts; only the children will inherit what belongs to him. So when I talk to him (praying), I day Heavenly Father with the heart of a child talking with his dad. This is how you know you are part of the family, when you hold that position in the family. And all the neighbors know you are his child. So, the next time you hear someone say they know the True God, what follows next will reveal to you whether that person is part of the family. God created heaven and earth, and His Son, who is the Son of a carpenter, is the finisher of His ABA's (Dad's) work. Jesus builds His church by shaping living stones. There is no other carpenter who can do this.

[h=2][/h]
 

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
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#69
Many years ago I was well versed in JW beliefs and practice. By the late 80's I had probably read almost every hardcover publication written by the Society since before the 1900's. I knew more about their Society, their history, and what they taught than they did. But, it has been a long time since I have kept up with them and the way things change in the society I don't what may have changed in their views.

The three doctrines you will be most often confronted with by any JW who shows up at your door will usually be either Paradise on earth, the nature of God or hell, at least this has been my experience. Often they will just begin with whatever the topic is in their most current issue of Watchtower magazine.

Here are some positions that were strongly held when I was keeping up with their beliefs.

Very briefly:
Their theology is decidedly non-trinitarian. They believe Jesus is a created being who was Michael the archangel before his incarnation.

In their eschatology they believe that the earth will abide forever and that the faithful will live forever on an earthly paradise. That only the 144,000 will be taken to heaven and rule a Princes over the earth.

Their soteriology is strictly works based.

They believe that man is a soul, not that man possess a soul.

They believe that Hell is strictly a figurative expression for eternal annihilation and that nothing of man survives beyond the grave.
Do they believe that Jesus' body either was preserved as a memorial before God or turned to gas, and that the resurrection was Jesus coming back as a spirit? I have heard that about them before, but I suspect the run-of-the-mill JWs doesn't believe that or know that that is the Watchtower teaching if it is.

Incidentally, some of their beliefs are similar to SDAs. If I'm not mistaken, SDAs think Michael is Jesus, but they are Trinitarian. Don't both groups believe in soul sleep.

As far as man being a soul is concerned, that is consistent with the use of the term in scripture.
 
Jan 24, 2012
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#70
I was asked some questions about them (JWs). I know they have some beliefs that are not mainstream, but I can't remember what was controversial about them. Could someone summarize the key issues that set them apart?
As a former JW, I can tell you that they don't really believe in the divinity of Christ. They believe that He was just Michael the Archangel and on Earth He was simply a perfect man, kind of on the same plane as Adam. They don't believe in the Holy Spirit. They believe anytime the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the Bible, it is just referring to the Father (Jehovah) doing something. They believe that only 144,000 people will go to Heaven, period. They don't believe in a fiery torment in Hell but instead believe in Annihilationism (God destroys the souls of the wicked). They believed that the world was ending in 1914 and when it didn't, they said that Christ started ruling as temporary king in Heaven. Then they predicted the world would end about 3 or 4 more times all the way up to the 80s. They have a body of believers (the watchtower society) whom they believe are annointed and are a direct channel to God's Holy Spirit and they produce a magazine called the Watchtower (which has produced many beliefs that they would later change in more recent issues of the articles, I guess they think God's prophets mess up His words sometimes :) ) And they also exclusively use a Bible translation called the New World Translation. All translators remain anonymous to evade accountability due to the heavy amount of mistranslated passages concerning Jesus being a part of God. Also, they claim that their religion is the "truth" through their use in who Holy Name (YHWH, Jehovah) of God, and falsely insert it throughout the NT.

There are many more things that they have differences in beliefs in both culturally and biblically. I can answer just about any questions you have whenever you need.

BTW to all JWs on here I'm not bashing here. I still have many family members in the faith.
 

MarcR

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2015
5,486
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#71
I do not call them JWs because they claim that God takes ownership of their teachings; and I don't believe that is true.

I call them Russell's Whitlessness because that is what they teach.

When they come to the door, I tell them:

Either God is such a poor communicator that He allowed His faithful to continue in confusion for more than 1800 years; or Mr Russell got it wrong. I prefer to believe that Mr Russell got it wrong.
 
Dec 9, 2011
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#72
I was asked some questions about them (JWs). I know they have some beliefs that are not mainstream, but I can't remember what was controversial about them. Could someone summarize the key issues that set them apart?
Hello oyster67
I was approached this morning by two Jehovah's witnesses and they told me to read the material they were trying to give me.I asked them was it true that they think that JESUS was only a prophet and not deity and they told me that they believe that JESUS is the son of GOD but i saw the words watchtower on the material they wanted to give me and i immediately thought don't wish them GODs speed.
 
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popeye

Guest
#73
I do not call them JWs because they claim that God takes ownership of their teachings; and I don't believe that is true.

I call them Russell's Whitlessness because that is what they teach.

When they come to the door, I tell them:

Either God is such a poor communicator that He allowed His faithful to continue in confusion for more than 1800 years; or Mr Russell got it wrong. I prefer to believe that Mr Russell got it wrong.
Amen to that.

I tell them "you are not jehova's witness,I am,because Jehovah testifies of the Son,Jesus,and that is something you are unable to do"

I tell them "why would you belong to a church that twists God's word."

I show them in their own bible where they change John 1;1

But hebbrews and colossians and others where the diety of Jesus is declared is where we talk. I do not llet them off the hook. They always say tthat they do not want to argue(that is all they want to do) and leave in anger. I tell them "I will leave you Jesus,not anger."

But the diety perversion can not be tolerated ,or their other heretical mess.
 
Dec 9, 2011
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#74
Amen to that.

I tell them "you are not jehova's witness,I am,because Jehovah testifies of the Son,Jesus,and that is something you are unable to do"

I tell them "why would you belong to a church that twists God's word."

I show them in their own bible where they change John 1;1

But hebbrews and colossians and others where the diety of Jesus is declared is where we talk. I do not llet them off the hook. They always say tthat they do not want to argue(that is all they want to do) and leave in anger. I tell them "I will leave you Jesus,not anger."

But the diety perversion can not be tolerated ,or their other heretical mess.
yes they told me that they thought I was very respectful to them for not arguing with them.I would hate to be doing what they were doing with a works mentality.I mean what's the point?
 
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popeye

Guest
#75
yes they told me that they thought I was very respectful to them for not arguing with them.I would hate to be doing what they were doing with a works mentality.I mean what's the point?
One time I told them "bring me your top man. I will debate him. Guess what,they did.

All they do is get you on their doctrinal merry go round. It is so weak,shallow and false a baby in christ coulld refute it.
They go by a workbook or formula. Same thing over and over. They want to controll the narrative.

They resort to lies. They begin to lie after they see you are not buying the noxious pablem they sell.

"Oh we do use the greek text"
"Oh really? which one"
The alexandrian"
"Oh no,that is the worst one. The church fathers and others threw it out. Tainted,corrupted,and mothballed. Rightly so."
"No,the alexandrian text is the best"
They only say that because they attack the deity of Jesus and the "A" text is friendlier to their little corrupt mischief.
 

WebersHome

Senior Member
Dec 9, 2014
1,940
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#76
-
The Watch Tower Society's theologians took the liberty to create a category
of gods sandwiched between the true and the false called "mighty ones".
The mighty-one category is a sort of neutral zone where qualifying
personages exist as bona fide deities without violating the very first of the
Ten Commandments. For example:

"I myself have said: You are mighty ones" (Ps 82:6)

Here's another.

"In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was a mighty one." (John 1:1)

And another.

"No man has seen God at any time; the only-begotten mighty one who is in
the bosom position with the Father is the one that has explained him." (John
1:18)

The neutral zone was an invention of necessity. In other words: without it,
the Word and the only-begotten would, by default, be classified as false gods
seeing as how John 1:3, and a host of other passages, testify that there is
only one true god.

=========================================
 

pem

Banned
Mar 13, 2015
207
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#77
Got involved with the JW's myself 23 years ago because my friends lives changed drastically and i wanted a piece.......6 months later, my girlfriend (now wife) pleaded with me to drop it so i studied and dropped it - by The Grace of God
 

john832

Senior Member
May 31, 2013
11,365
186
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#78
I can't really comment since I do not know much about them.
 
8

84Niner

Guest
#79
They have many problems with their theology most of which are born out of there non-belief in the divinity of Christ. If you don't have the proper foundation, everything built upon it will be faulty. If you begin with Jesus not being divine, then you have major problems with salvation and virtually everything else.
 

oldhermit

Senior Member
Jul 28, 2012
9,144
613
113
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Alabama
#80
Do they believe that Jesus' body either was preserved as a memorial before God or turned to gas, and that the resurrection was Jesus coming back as a spirit? I have heard that about them before, but I suspect the run-of-the-mill JWs doesn't believe that or know that that is the Watchtower teaching if it is.

Incidentally, some of their beliefs are similar to SDAs. If I'm not mistaken, SDAs think Michael is Jesus, but they are Trinitarian. Don't both groups believe in soul sleep.

As far as man being a soul is concerned, that is consistent with the use of the term in scripture.
Yes, this is very much what they believe. As to the everyday run-of-the-mill JW, they all have the same indoctrination training, or at least they used to.