Are Jehovah's Witnesses a Cult?

Norman Hovland

The February 15, 1994, issue of the Watchtower asked this question. Of course the magazine draw the conclusion that they were not a cult. As proof of this they made this statement:

"Cult members often isolate themselves from family, friends, and even society in general. Is that the case with Jehovah's Witnesses?" (The Watchtower, February 15, 1994, pp. 6-7)

A very good question. Do the Jehovah's Witnesses isolate themselves from family, friends and society in general? Why not let their own literature answer that question.

Question: Do Jehovah's Witnesses isolate themselves from their own family and friends? Answer:

"Still there are those who think that they can allow themselves to seek association with worldly friends or relatives for entertainment." (The Watchtower, February 15, 1960, p. 112, §6)

Question: Do Jehovah's Witnesses isolate themselves from society in general? Answer:

"There is to be no partnership, no fellowship, no portion, no sharing with unbelievers. In other words, no association with them if one is to associate with" (The Watchtower, February 15, 1960, p. 112)

"But, to 'turn away from such,' to avoid association with them means not to have fellowship with those whose thoughts are not in harmony with God's thoughts, that is, not to share in their thoughts or conduct." (The Watchtower, February 15, 1960, p. 112)

"Even if such acquaintances are not dishonest or immoral, their first concern is not the worship and service of Jehovah. One who associates regularly with them will soon think as they do." (The Watchtower, February 15, 1960, p. 112)

Yes, imagine that associating with "worldly people" might even make you, gasp, THINK! We can't have that can we? Imagine a JW, who actually think! That would be the end of the WT world as we know it.

As we all know and can see from the above quotes from the Watchtower Jehovah's Witnesses have all the tell tale characteristics of a cult.

But of course they try to avoid such clear realities with printing complete bilge like this:

""I do not belong to Jehovah's Witnesses," wrote a newsman in the Czech Republic. Yet he added: "It is obvious that they [Jehovah's Witnesses] have tremendous moral strength.... They recognize governmental authorities but believe that only God's Kingdom is capable of solving all human problems. But watch it -- they are not fanatics. They are people who are absorbed in humanity."

"And they do not live in communes, isolating themselves from relatives and others. Jehovah's Witnesses recognize that it is their Scriptural responsibility to love and care for their families. They live and work with people of all races and religions." (The Watchtower, February 15, 1994, pp. 6-7)

Quoting an anonymous "Czech newsman" whom if he even exist obviously is horribly ignorant about Jehovah's Witnesses, doesn't tell us much. We all know that the "love" any Jehovah's Witness have for their family is turned off, the instant this family member disagrees with the Watchtower Society. They also condemn people of all races and religions apart from their own to be mass slaughtered by their insane homicidal hit man in the sky.