No, but Jehovah's Witnesses have been taught that there is
only one true religion, citing Ephesians 4:5, 6
(NWT) "one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and
Father of all [persons], who is over
all and through all and in all."
However, looking at the definition of "faith" in the Bible at
Hebrews 11:1 it tells us that "faith" is not an
organized religion. Many scriptures throughout the
bible show examples of faith. Additional scriptures say that
faith is a fruit of God's spirit. Never is faith defined in
the Bible as a religion.
Are their seven characteristics of which religion is
right unique to them?
According to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society's book
Reasoning from the Scriptures, p328-330, there are seven
questions for a person to identify which religion is right.
But, are these characteristics unique to one religion?
And, where in the Bible does it state there is only one true
religion?
As asked in the Reasoning from the Scriptures
book:
How can a person know which
religion is right?
- On what are its teachings based?
My thoughts: Since gaining spiritual freedom, I have
begun attending a non-denominational conservative bible church.
I could not believe how different it was from a standpoint of
just reading the Bible. No interpretations are made
and scripture backs up scripture. The teachings are
more Bible based than what I remember from being a practicing
Jehovah's Witness. To give you an example,
our Pastor reads only several verses each week and then turns to
the Bible to help us understand the verses and give us practical
application of these verses. Additionally, he will reference the
original Hebrew or Greek language to help us understand the meaning
of the scriptures. The verses are disected for understanding,
and an entire hour is devoted to only a few verses. In the
Jehovah's Witness meetings, you will rush through the scriptures
every week with your assigned Bible reading and two short talks
(less than 20 minutes in total) that cover several chapters instead
of several verses. It was my experience that scriptures were
rarely read in their entire context, rather in the shortest form
possible to quickly make a point and move on to another point.
So, my answer to this characteristic is that other
churches do a much better job at teaching directly from the Bible
and not adding in other modern-day, man-made
publications.
- Consider whether it is making known the name of
God.
My thoughts: Growing up, I was told no other religion
recognizes God's name, and in fact the name of God had been taken
out of the Bible. However, now that I have experienced going
to other churches, I was pleasantly surprised by their recognition
of God's name, Jehovah, Yahweh, etc. What I found even more
interesting is that the NWT Bible has added the name Jehovah 237
times in the New Testament. Even
their latest worldly scholar, Jason BeDuhn, who endorses their
Bible as being one of the most accurate (compared to only seven
other translations), says that they have inaccurately added the
name Jehovah in the New Testament. But, this will be news to
Jehovah's Witnesses, as the literature they have received on Jason
BeDuhn's endorsement does not contain this information. (See
Watchtower, December 1, 2004, p30)
- Is true faith in Jesus Christ being demonstrated?
My thoughts: My question to this is, are imperfect humans
to be the judge of saying a particular religion is not? The
people in my church and those I know in other non-denominational
and denomational churches seem to exercise true faith in Jesus
Christ and demonstrate it by their actions. So, this is not a
characteristic exclusive to Jehovah's Witnesses. What I have
learned is that it seems the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has
gone through great lengths in changing scripture to take away the
Deity of Christ.
- Is it largely ritualistic, a formality, or is it a way
of life?
My thoughts: Once again I will reference growing
up. I was taught that other religions were just a formality
where people only went to church once a week, if that. When
the members were not at church, their lives did not meet Bible
standards. I was under this impression most of my life, until
I started to learn all the things other churches do. Most
churches have ministries, Bible study groups, youth programs,
family programs, singles programs, the list goes on. There
are plenty of churches that teach good morals and a Christian
lifestyle. To say that only one religion truly lives up to
this, is one of those judgments that can make one feel superior,
prideful and unloving toward their
fellow believers in Christ. Again, this characteristic
of having a Christian way of life and not just attending church as
a formality is not exclusive to Jehovah's Witnesses.
- Do its members truly love one
another?
My thoughts: Scriptures in the Bible (1 John 3:11-20,
John 13:35, 1 John 4:7) tells us we are to love our fellow brothers
in Christ. This does not mean only love one another in one
religion. There are many Christian religions, all believing
in and having faith that Jesus Christ is our savior. Our
fellow brothers and sisters go far beyond the walls or confines of
our church or religion.
As a practicing Jehovah's Witness, I experienced both love and
unjust judgments from fellow members. The kind of above and
beyond love Jehovah's Witnesses claim to have, I really can say
happened only once when I nearly died in a car accident.
Members of my congregation came to my side to assist me and for
that I am forever grateful. My experience with my new church
is they do the same and more for members in need. However, the
judging happened far more than the experience of love.
From youth to the time I decided to leave the religion at
the age of 36, many unloving and unjust judgments were made by
fellow members.
- Reprimands were made because my participation levels did not
meet that of an "average" publisher
- Someone thought they saw something inappropriate (kissing my
fiancé)
- Social contact being cut off when I went through a divorce
- Gossip behind my back that I was bad association
- Being told I was materialistic from my own mother
- Not being invited to certain social gatherings of the
congregation
The list could go on. I might add all this happening when I
was an active member. I consider this very unloving
behavior. And, to only exhibit love to those members in one
religion is not what the Bible says. The kind of love
Jesus commanded us to have exists with many people of many
religions and churches. I am sure every church has it fair
share of members who exhibit unloving judgments too, but
most Christian churches will teach its members to love all
fellow believers in Christ - not just those in the confines of
their church or religion.
- Is it truly separate from the
world?
My thoughts: Scriptures quoted here are John 15:19, Jas.
1:27 an 1 John 2:15-17. So, what is the "world" defined
as? Is it as everyone outside of one religion? Or, is
it talking about those who are not believers on Christ and/or not
living their life in accordance with Bible standards? In my
opinion Jehovah's Witnesses take this to an extreme and are
selective in what they consider worldly. For example,
Jehovah's Witnesses are known for not celebrating holidays to stay
separate from the world, claiming many of these holidays have pagan
origins. However, the ritual of having wedding rings (also
some believe has pagan origins) is OK. Many Jehovah's
Witnesses believe that separating themselves from the world means
to only have friends that are fellow Jehovah's Witnesses.
However, some Jehovah's Witnesses allow their children to have
"worldly" friends. There are many examples on how this
concept of staying separate from the world is selective. But,
the main point here is that the "world", or in their terms "bad
association", is not fellow believers in Christ. The "world"
is not everyone who is not a Jehovah's Witness. To claim this
is extremely judgmental, because in effect they are saying everyone
else is bad and how loving is that?
- Are its members active witnesses concerning God's
Kingdom?
My thoughts: Many religions and churches have a variety
of outreach that includes more than just door-to-door
witnessing. In fact, many other relgions or churches focus on
reaching those who have not accepted Jesus as their Savior, versus
counting their time (works) toward converting those who are already
believers in Christ. In my opinion actively witnessing is
the kind of witnessing where different methods are used to reach
unbelievers in all parts of the world, not trying to convert
already believers and by one primary method of witnessing that some sources say is rather ineffective.
Eight signs of a cult
Are these the eight things that identify the only "one
true religion"?
I believe the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has mastered this
list.
- Environmental Control. Only read books,
magazines and websites that are controlled by the Watchtower Bible
and Tract Society. Only associate with other Jehovah's
Witnesses, everyone else is "worldly" and "bad association".
- Mystical Manipulation. The "Anointed
ones" who are part of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society are
God's sole channel of communication with those of us on
earth. They are prophets, teaching doctrines and predictions
that are divinely directed by God.
- Demand for purity. One cannot
falter. You must obey all the rules and do all the
works. Even if your spiritual gift is not witnessing
door-to-door, you must do it. If you do not do enough works,
you may not receive salvation.
- Cult of confession. Confess your sins to
the elders to receive forgiveness. "It is certainly not easy
to confess to others deeds that one feels ashamed of and to seek
forgiveness. It takes inner strength." Watchtower 2001 Jun 1
p.31
- Sacred Science. If you do not absolutely
conform to everything, you will not be saved. If you can
disprove a teaching or doctrine you will be disfellowshipped,
disowned and/or shunned.
- Loaded language. Terminology used by the
organization is exclusive to the religion and not found in the
Bible, and elevates the religion with a holier than thou/we're the
only right ones capacity. "Disfellowship(ped)", "worldly" or
"worldly people", "paradise earth", The Society", "Jehovah's
Organization", "the truth", "the new system".
- Exclusivity. Salvation is only through
the religion. "Only Jehovah's Witnesses, those of the
anointed remnant and the "great crowd," as a united organization
under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural
hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated
by Satan the Devil." Watchtower 1989 Sep 1 p.19 NOTE: there
is no scriptural proof of this. Many scriptures talk about
what is required for salvation and this statement and many others
made by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society say the same.
- Mind control with fear and intimidation to stay in the
organization. If you leave, you will be
shunned/disowned from your friends and family members. Hate
the bad person.
The Watchtower Magazine Oct. 1, 1952, p599 ©1952 Watchtower Bible
and Tract Society, "We must hate [the disfellowshipped person] in
the truest sense, which is to regard with extreme active aversion,
to consider [them] as loathsome, odious, filthy, to detest."
The Watchtower Magazine, July 15, 1961, p420 ©1961 Watchtower
Bible and Tract Society, "In order to hate what is bad, a Christian
must hate the person."
Much of this research has been done be renowned authorities such
as Robert J Lifton and Dr. Margaret Singer. More can be found
here.
The Opposite of Love is Fear
Having been raised in a fear-based culture, I now know that
being coerced to practice a religion out of fear, is not
loving. 1 John 4:18 (NWT), "There is no fear in love, but
perfect love throws fear outside, because fear exercises a
restraint. Indeed, he that is under fear has not been made
perfect in love."
