Jehovah's Witnesses A Cult?
or Ministers of God?
Copyright 1994 by David A. Reed, used with permission Comments from the Friends,
Spring 1994 issue
Watchtower Society mounts defense against recent exposes, tries to show itself
unlike Waco cult
Are Jehovah's Witnesses a cult? More voices must be saying so, or why else
would six pages - including the cover - of the February 15, 1994 Watchtower
magazine be devoted to answering this charge?
The Watchtower Society's answer comes in the form of two articles: "Cults
- What Are They?" (pages 3-4) and "Are Jehovah's Witnesses a Cult?"
(pages 5-7).
Above a half-page photo of the burning Branch Davidian compound in Waco,
Texas, the first article begins by summarizing that recent tragedy, strangely
without ever naming the town of Waco or mentioning cult leader David Koresh
or his sect by name. The article then refers to the 1969 Charles Manson murders,
the 1978 Jonestown disaster, and the 1987 mass-suicide of a pseudo-Christian
cult in Korea.
Next, after noting the existence of organizations set up to monitor cults,
and the anticipated proliferation of cults surrounding the advent of the year
2000, The Watchtower goes on to ask in a new subheading, "What Is
a Cult?"
It turns for the answer to such authorities as The World Book Encyclopedia,
Newsweek magazine, and Asiaweek magazine to come up with definitions
centering on the thought of "small, fringe groups" following "a
single, charismatic individual," "a living leader who promotes new
and unorthodox doctrines and practices," or "a charismatic leader,
who often proclaims himself to be the personification of God." To this
it goes on to add from another source the thought of a group "employing
unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion and control to advance the
goals of its leaders." Then The Watchtower comments in its own words
that "Usually they conduct their religious activities in secrecy,"
and, "Many of these cultic groups actually isolate themselves in communes."
Finally, the article states the problem:
"Occasionally, anticult organizations and the media have referred to
Jehovah's Witnesses as a cult. A number of recent newspaper articles lump the
witnesses with religious groups known for their questionable practices."
The second article, titled "Are Jehovah's Witnesses a Cult?" goes
on to offer "evidence" that they are not. Let's examine that alleged
evidence point by point:
Jesus and his disciples were falsely accused
Yes, they were. But that does not mean that this is true of Jehovah's Witnesses.
The same argument that "they persecuted Jesus too" has been used by
countless cults, including the Branch Davidians of Waco, Texas. It has nothing
to do with the guilt or innocence of the group in question, and is introduced
as a tricky debating tactic.
a Russian official who had been told Jehovah's Witnesses were an "underground
sect sitting in darkness and slaughtering children and killing themselves"
discovered them instead to be "normal, smiling people"
This, too is a deceptive trick known as a "straw man" argument.
The Watchtower sets up a fake "straw man" - the extremely ridiculous
description of JWs the official first heard - and then easily knocks down that
straw man. Of course, "normal, smiling people" can be found in many
cults, including those cited earlier for their mass suicides.
The fact that The Watchtower's first two defenses consist of clever
tricks instead of real evidence should make readers even more cautious in examining
the remaining arguments.
their meetings consist of Bible study and discussion
The same was true of the meetings David Koresh conducted with his Branch
Davidians at the Waco compound. His lectures revolved around the book of Revelation
and other Bible prophecies. Cults and heretical sects have been twisting scripture
from the days of the apostles. (2 Pet. 3:16).
their activities are public, not secretive.
While it is true that house-to-house preaching is a public activity and most
JW meetings are open to the public, there is much about the organization that
remains hidden from the public eye. Most outsiders have no idea of the extent
to which the Watchtower Society controls its members - punishing them if they
vote in elections, or hang an evergreen wreath on their door, or read forbidden
literature (such as this sheet you are now reading!). Even most relatives and
neighbors are unaware that JWs can be put on trial behind closed doors, without
right to representation by an attorney, and that they can be commanded to shun
a life-long friend without even being informed of the friend's alleged offense
against the organization.
with more than 11 million people attending, they are "far from being
a small fringe cult"
True, the numbers involved exclude Jehovah's Witnesses from the category
of a small fringe cult, but this does not exclude them from being a large major
cult.
victims of alleged brainwashing are lacking.
Speaking to "the millions of non-Witnesses who are studying the Bible
with the Witnesses or who have studied with them at one time or another,"
The Watchtower asks rhetorically, "Were there any attempts to brainwash
you? Did the Witnesses employ mind-control techniques on you? The Watchtower
answers for them: "'No' would doubtless be your frank response. Obviously,
if these methods had been used, there would be an overwhelming number of victims..."
As a matter of fact, there are countless victims who have testified
to Watchtower mind control in radio and TV interviews, in law courts, and in
print. The non-religious book Combatting Cult Mind Control by exit-counselor
Steve Hassan deals mainly with "Moonies" but lists Jehovah's Witnesses
among the cults and refers readers to seven books by former Witnesses.
Because it is implemented much more slowly than in many other cults, the
Watchtower Society's program of mind control often goes unrecognized, except
by experts. But it shares basic elements with other 'brainwashing' programs:
(1) repetitive instruction, with books, magazines, and meetings all hammering
home the same information, (2) new members told to break ties with outside friends
and limit fellowship with non-member relatives, (3) a ban on reading critical
works, (4) denunciation and shunning of ex-members, (5) verbal attacks undermining
the authority of all outside institutions - religious, educational, medical,
governmental, (6) a unique vocabulary with "loaded" language reinforcing
the sect's rules, and (7) an orchestrated superiority/inferiority-guilt complex.
Former members who have not been deprogrammed commonly report problems with
anxiety, fear, and disorientation, as well as difficulty reintegrating in society
at large.
"'They are people who are absorbed in humanity.' And they do not
live in communes, isolating themselves from relatives and others."
Aside from the roughly 13,000 volunteers who live and work at Bethel office/factory/farm
facilities, most JWs are not physically isolated. But they are socially isolated
from outsiders. And when contact with "worldly" (non-member) relatives
or neighbors does take place, Witnesses are taught to view this as an opportunity
for witnessing rather than a time for fellowship. The statement quoted here
denying that JWs isolate themselves is propaganda for public consumption; on
page 24 of this same Watchtower, Witnesses themselves are told, "We
must also be on guard against extended association with worldly people. Perhaps
it is a neighbor, a school friend, a workmate, or a business associate. ...What
are some of the dangers of such a friendship?..."
So, not only do JWs in fact isolate themselves, but their leaders are deliberately
concealing this fact and falsifying information to defend themselves against
the charge of being a "cult."
they adhere strictly to the Bible
Again, this same claim is made by most pseudo-Christian cults, including
the one whose members died in the fire at Waco; surviving children felt left
out when the others 'went to heaven.' The Watchtower goes a step further than
most cults, actually replacing standard Bibles with those tailored to fit the
sect's doctrines, rather than rely simply on unique interpretation.
"the veneration and idolization of human leaders so characteristic
of cults today is not found among Jehovah's Witnesses."
The Watchtower has acknowledged elsewhere that early Witnesses "were
exalting creatures, indulging in a personality cult that focused on Charles
T. Russell." (May 1, 1989, page 4) Witnesses today exalt their collective
leadership as a group. They view their organization as essential to salvation
and feel obligated to obey its every command. They call it 'Mother' (God is
'Father'), 'God's channel of communication,' 'God's organization,' and pledge
to it their full loyalty and allegiance. In effect, they idolize the organization
as a corporate savior and lord. Thus, while avoiding a cult focused on an individual,
today's JWs are a cult focused on an organization.
So, are Jehovah's Witnesses a cult?
Yes! The Watchtower Society's defense falls flat when faced with the facts.
In fact, Jehovah's Witnesses are a deadly cult. A single sentence in the
February 15, 1994 Watchtower article admits, without comment, "They
will not eat blood, nor will they accept blood transfusions." (page 7)
But it fails to admit that this ban on blood transfusions has caused more deaths
than the Waco, Texas standoff, the Manson murders, and the Jonestown mass suicide
put together.
David Reed's book Worse Than Waco documents dozens of JW deaths -
giving names, places, dates, and media references - and cites statistics pointing
to a total death toll numbering in the thousands. It goes on to detail how the
Watchtower Society has instructed followers to break laws, violate court orders,
smash medical equipment - and how Witnesses have been jailed for carrying out
such instructions, even kidnapping children from hospital beds and taking them
out hospital windows.
Why are there no newspaper headlines classing Watchtower leaders with David
Koresh and Jim Jones? Partly because the JW deaths have occurred - and continue
to occur - one at a time in different locations, rather than in one spot where
TV cameras could focus. And partly because the Watchtower Society continues
to use its mammoth propaganda machine to hide the facts. The February 15, 1994
Watchtower article asking, "Are Jehovah's Witnesses a Cult?"
is a prime example.
Write to David Reed for a copy of his great newsltter. Keep up with the latest
developments.
Comments from the Friends, P. O. Box 819, Assonet, MA 02702
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