Papa’s Reply to the Question of Jehovah’s Witnesses as a Cult

I am still plugging away at my third response to Mr. Shilmer (I am around page 22?); but I don't want to leave you all totally high and dry. That is why I will now give you a nice little ditty from a quite awhile back, courtesy of Papa. And although we all probably have heard the argument in other forms before, I thought that the way Papa delivered it was just plain eloquent. :)

Papa: As for JWs, you could say they are a copy of the Jewish Cult that separated themselves for the teaching of the Temple, some 1900 years ago

Talking to one of my regular passengers, who is a Rabbi, I would say most Christians have much the same problem with JWs that ancient Jews had with the first Christians who they viewed as having been started by an uneducated ex-carpenter of the Jewish Lower Class who was executed for cause by the governing authority. The only education he had was by Mary and Joseph, in the view of the Jews, he made up most of what he said.

He recruited other uneducated, lower class individuals, such as a failed fisherman (Peter) and a hated tax collector (Matthew).

Lacking any formal education, they were easy to manipulate into believing he was the Messiah, something that was impossible, as he did not bring about the destruction (Armageddon) of the enemies of the Truly Blessed People of God, the Israelites, as was commonly known.

After his lawful execution, these clearly brainwashed followers began going door to door telling their brethren that the traditional beliefs, rituals, and observances (holidays), dating back hundreds of years, were no longer valid.

They began creating their own scriptures, to support their false beliefs, instead of relying on the Holy Torah, which had sustained God’s People for hundreds of years.

Finally, there were highly educated individuals, especially in the religious arts, such as Saul of Tarsus, who could clearly prove that they were a false cult, bent on leading God’s People down a false path to destruction.

What happened to them, as a result of their false teachings, and their door to door work, was only to be expected of people who have lost their way.

Clearly, what you may or may not think of JWs is reliant on your point of view, just as it was in those first years. Having an advanced education in religion does not mean that you are right, only that you sound that way.

JWs may have come from a simple, and some times, erratic beginnings, but at least they are making a valid effort to do better. You cannot say that for other religions who:

1.      Continue to get involved in politics;

2.      Lie to the IRS about not doing so in order to get their non-profit status;

3.      Avoid paying taxes on retail sales within the church;

4.      Allow immorality to creep into the church;

5.      Immortalize their founders through the observance of a birthday, death, and/or anniversary of the founding of the church;

6.      Place pictures of their founders in all their churches, so that all can see and pay obeisance;

7.      Give tacit approval to the Theory of Evolution; and

8.      Don’t teach their followers to preach and teach the Bible, as Christ instructed.