Why do people think Jehovah’s Witnesses are brainwashed?
The facts are that, before baptism, we study the bible and the accompanying literature from the faithful and discreet slave and build up our knowledge, appreciation and faith. Nobody ever says "you must not celebrate christmas" etc. but when we do study the bible and read into such celebrations, we realise that they are pagan holidays based on false teachings and tradition…never based on the bible. we consider all this and decide for ourselves what Jehovah would want us to do, and what is in harmony with his standards.
people say that it is rediculous that we do not accept blood transfusions. it is not the organisation that says this…it is the bible. true, the organisation supports us and gives us ALL the information to let us make an informed decision on our lives but we need to sign the form…not anyone else on our behalf.
also, it is the parents, who are responsible for their children who sign for the kids not to be given blood…not anyone else in the organisation.
also…people believe our worldwide preaching work is unnessassary, and it a fabricated teaching to get us knocking on people’s doors. in matthew 28:19, 20 tells us to "go therefore and make deciples of people of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things i have commanded you. and look! i am with you all the days until the conclusion of this system of things."
some one said "It’s the threat of disfellowshipping and the circular reasoning used by JWs that make people say they are brainwashed."
so if you were looking to change religion, and were really looking for the truth, would you not be delighted to find a religious organisation where all around the world, the teachings are consistent and the congregations truely could say that they lived their life by God’s standards?
People who think Jehovah’s Witnesses are brainwashed have themselves been lied to so much and brainwashed by the churches that teach this, as well as by apostates and opposers, that they cannot think for themselves and see the truth.
The apostates, opposers, and false religious organizations have been blinded by and are doing the work of their father.
February 27th, 2010 at 7:47 pm
All religions brainwash. What’s important for me is truth. Scientific truth.
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Atheist
February 27th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
No. They are nice people just trying to be Christ-like.
Use your spell check!
Too long of question or rambling. You’re going to tick people off.
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February 27th, 2010 at 8:27 pm
I’m not reading all that. Shorten it, please.
As far as question goes, because they are, just like Christians and Muslims and a horrid number of others, I’m sure.
If a religion is based on the Bible than what’s the point in it. Everyone can make up their own interpretation of the Bible with their own rules. Why do you think YOU are the one everybody should be chained to?
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February 27th, 2010 at 9:11 pm
You are a good disciple of the BORG (Brooklyn Organization). While "brainwashed" might be a bit strong, the beliefs of the JWs are not naturally found. You are not told to NOT CELEBRATE Christmas, but you are told Christians don’t and if you decide to you won’t be baptized or if you’re already baptized you’ll be disfellowshipped. People don’t "naturally" find this in the bible on their own but are lead to it by the twisting of scripture.
The bible is absolutely silent on blood transfusions and most reasonable people wouldn’t find a restriction to blood transfusions in scripture…even the Jews don’t read the old testament restriction on blood to exclude transfusions…if a JW decides to have a transfusion they will be disfellowshipped. You used to have the same policy on organ transplants, comparing it to canibalism. As this has changed, so too, slowly, is the issue of transfusions. But yes, the current policy is that those who recieve, or allow their children to recieve a blood transfusion will be disfellowshipped…with hospital committees to remind the faithful of this.
Yep, we should go and make disciples of all nations…pushing magazines door to door is pretty ineffective…yet this is the standard by which JWs are spiritually judged by the Elders…in part at least…how much time they do door to door work.
It’s the threat of disfellowshipping and the circular reasoning used by JWs that make people say they are brainwashed. It’s things like some JWs becoming convinced that they actually believed blood transfusions were wrong before they met the Society (I’ve seen it happen).
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February 27th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
1. your comments on Christmas are true.
2. blood transfusion did not exist during the time of the law,
any commends on blood were made under the law, we now
have a new covenant written in the new testament.
3.Knocking on doors is a good thing, but not with false teachings.
4. It’s your view of Christ that’s the problem, he is more than a prophet,
he is the son of God in the flesh, he was here before the world was
created, the world was created by God the father through Christ.
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February 27th, 2010 at 9:52 pm
Most Christian denominations have very similar interpretations of scripture. The concordances and such usually agree. Some of the Jehovah’s Witness tracts and publications just seem wacky. People just scratch their heads and wonder where all of that in the tracts came from. They say to the effect "That isn’t really in the Bible or what was meant; those people must be brainwashed." The thought of going from door to door and getting all of that rejection would seem to be nearly impossible to do long term –except if you were making a lot of money, or brainwashed. The same has been said of Scientologists and Mormons with respect to the belief systems. Evangelicals and the main denominations seem to be keeping to themselves more and more lately, but the Jehovah’s Witnesses seem to continue to reach out and thereby expose themselves to criticism.
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February 27th, 2010 at 10:10 pm
are you a Jehovah’s Witnesses??
Haven’t you studied it why…
off course the whole world is lying on the hand of the wicked one(satan)
1 John 5:19
2 Corinthians 4:4 among whom the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through.
by the way I appreciate it if your purpose is to preach,..
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February 27th, 2010 at 10:50 pm
We are different. We work diligently to practice what we preach and study the bible. Those of us who are true Witnesses don’t practice habits of the world. We don’t have the attitude of the world, therefore we are no part of the world as Jesus said his followers would be. If people don’t understand something they shun it and label it. I see alot of twisted thinking in these answers you are getting. If something is not understood than ask the person saying it to show and explain. Maybe you are the ones brainwashed by your church.
Benny—We bring the truth of God’s word to the door. Jesus was not a prophet. He is the only begotten son of God and now reigning King in heaven. Please get your facts straight. Its statements like these that get rumors started, and we know what happens with rumors.
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February 27th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
one of the bigest fool cults out their
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February 27th, 2010 at 11:02 pm
People who think Jehovah’s Witnesses are brainwashed have themselves been lied to so much and brainwashed by the churches that teach this, as well as by apostates and opposers, that they cannot think for themselves and see the truth.
The apostates, opposers, and false religious organizations have been blinded by and are doing the work of their father.
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John 8:44
2 Corinthians 4:4
February 27th, 2010 at 11:47 pm
I actually looked up the definition of "brainwashed" this is what it means:
"to indoctrinate to a new set of beliefs"
to "indoctrinate" means:
"to instruct or propagandize, especially in a particular doctrine or ideology; to acquaint, as with a new employer’s rules and policies."
The term brainwashed always seems to have a bad connotation, but actually unless are unorthodox methods are used, it isn’t a bad thing. Anyone changing beliefs, whether from Christian to Atheist, Christian to Buddhist, Atheist to Christian, Jewish to Christian etc…. would be correcting termed as brainwashed. A cleaning out and starting new of beliefs.
As Jehovah’s Witnesses we strive to live our lifes by the bibles standards and principles. We base our beliefs on what the bible teaches, not man’s doctrines. Many may feel that this is extreme, but God’s laws and teachings have not changed for his followers, just because the world has gone to the other extreme and doesn’t agree with it. Who are we do obey God or men?
So let people say what they want, Jehovah’s opinion is the only one that counts.
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February 28th, 2010 at 12:21 am
It’s an easy put-down by people who don’t take the time to really learn about Jehovah’s Witnesses.
It’s also an easy cop-out for people who have difficulty accepting authority, even accepting God’s or Christ’s authority.
Christianity has a code of conduct and moral boundaries. Christians who follow the Lord Jesus Christ are not brainwashed, just children of God.
It’s also a handy disparagement available to those who think that what they have is better than what we have.
They are entitled to their opinion, but the only opinion that matters to servants of God is God’s opinion, as expressed in His word, the Holy Bible.
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The HOLY Bible
February 28th, 2010 at 12:58 am
Jehovah’s Witnesses are brainwashed ?
I think that is a true statement , their brain is washed to remove all the false teachings of the churches & in it’s place has been put the word of God.
I don’t full agree with the Jehovah’s Witnesses but i can see they are a good bible based religion.
If only other Christians where not brainwashed or brain dead they would be more like the Jehovah’s witnesses & really act like Christians with a bible based conscience would .
Example , if you really know the bible
Would you vote ?
Would you go to war ?
Will you burn in hell ?
Is Jesus God or a trinity ?
If you answered yes to these questions how can you claim to be Christian ?
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Studying the bible & asking what does it mean.
February 28th, 2010 at 1:04 am
We are in a Most Splendid way….
Towards the thinking and approved worship of the Creator of the universe.
Dictionary.com gives this as the definition of brainwashed, brainwashing:
~1) subjected to intensive indoctrination(teaching) resulting in the rejection of old beliefs and acceptance of new ones.
~~~Ps 51:10 "Create in me even a pure heart, O God,
And put within me a new spirit, a steadfast one."
~2) A method for systematically changing attitudes or altering beliefs.
~~~Pr 24:21 "My son, fear Jehovah and the King.
With those who are for a change, do not intermeddle."
~3) An instance of subjecting or being subjected to techniques.
~~~Heb 12:9: "Furthermore, we used to have fathers who were of our flesh to discipline us, and we used to give them respect. Shall we not much more subject ourselves to the Father of our spiritual life and live?"
We have chosen to have our brians washed by the word of our God and Father in heaven Jehovah, through His Son, Jesus Christ.
And we are brainwashed; to the thinking of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who came to earth to fulfill the Law, and lay down his perfect life, so that we can come into a relationship with Jehovah God, through him, as mediator; also so we can come to an accurate knowledge of Jehovah God.
Just so happens that those in the world,
use it as a negative.
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February 28th, 2010 at 1:51 am
By saying that Jehovah’s Witnesses are brainwashed it’s like saying that Jesus was brainwashed, because we are the only ones that are really following his teachings, the people who accuse, . us of being brainwashed, should repent from the sin of blasphemy, before something worst happens to them.
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February 28th, 2010 at 2:24 am
clevergirl,
first, we follow the literature of a old being, Jehovah God, his literature, the bible.
second, who wants to follow pagan teachings, commercial greed, and false love, yes most people return to their old ways after “THE SEASON” is over.
third, we have a bible based responseability to bring our children up correctly.
and finally, more and more people are joining the organization year after year, the difference is, I see it growing, you hear its not.
February 28th, 2010 at 2:41 am
First of all jws follow the literature from the so- called "faithful and discreet slave" (just a group of old men) without question.
Second, if you were known to celebrate xmas you would probably end up disfellowshipped (outcast and publicly denounced)
Third, what right do parents have to decide whether or not their children should receive medical care that could save their lives. Children have the basic right to the best medical intervention.
And finally how effective is your preaching work really? More people are leaving the organisation than are joining every year.
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February 28th, 2010 at 10:42 am
After reading http://www.jwfacts.com you may reach a different conclusion.