Cult Characteristics:

Cult members do not realize that they are in a cult. Because all cults have different beliefs, cult experts have identified common characteristics of cults, which they use to identify new cults. University of California at Berkeley (19 Characteristics)
Recruitment

1. Deception - Group identity and/or true motives are not revealed. The group leaders tell members to withhold truth from outsiders.2. Emotional Leverage/Love Bombing - Instant friendship, extreme helpfulness, generosity and acceptance...Group recruiters "lovingly" will not take "no" for an answer-invitations impossible to refuse without feeling guilty and/or ungrateful. "Love", "generosity", "encouragement" are used to lower defenses and create an ever increasing sense of obligation, debt and guilt.
3. Exploit Personal Crisis - They use an existing crisis as a means of getting you to participate. They exploit vulnerability arising from:

• Broken relationships
• Death in the family
• Loss of job
• Move to new location
• Loneliness/depression
• Guilt/shame
• Stress/fear

4. Crisis Creation - They employ tactics designed to create or deepen confusion, fear, guilt or doubt. i.e. "you aren't serving God the way He intended." Questions areas of faith never before examined or explored and attack other faiths specifically.5. All The Answers - Provide simple answers to the confusion they, themselves, create. Support these answers with material produced or "approved" by the group.

Programming

1. Intense Study - Focus is on group doctrine and writings. Bible, if used at all, is referred to one verse at time to "prove" group teachings.2. Opposer Warnings - Recruiters are told that "Satan" will cause relatives and friend to say bad things about the group to try to "steal them away from God." Recruits soon believes group members, alone, are truthful/trustworthy.
3. Guilt and Fear - Group dwells on members' "sinful nature" (many use public confession). Guilt and fear arising from "failing God" are magnified to manipulate new member.
4. Schedule Control & Fatigue - Study and service become mandatory. New member becomes too busy to question. Family, friends, jobs and hobbies are squeezed out, further isolating the new member.
5. Attack Independent Thought - Critical thinking is discouraged as prideful and sinful, blind acceptance encouraged.
6. Divine Commission - Leader(s) claim new revelation from God, within past 200 years, in which all but their group are rejected by God. They, alone, speak for God.
7. Absolutism - They insist on total, unquestioning obedience and submission to the group, both actions AND thoughts. Group "love" and acceptance becomes dependent upon obedience and submission. Unconditional love...isn't.
8. Totalism - "Us against them" thinking. Strengthens group identity. Everyone outside of group lumped under one label.

Retention

1. Motive Questioning- When sound evidence against the group is presented, members are taught to question the motivation of the presenter. The verifiable (sound documentation) is ignored because of doubts over the unverifiable (presenter's motives). See Opposer Warnings (#2 above).2. Information Control - Group controls what convert may read or hear. They discourage (forbid) contact with ex-members or anything critical of the group. May say it is the same as pornography making it not only sinful and dangerous but shameful as well. Ex-members become feared and avoidance of them becomes a "survival issue."
3. Isolation, Separation & Alienation - Group becomes substitute family. Members encouraged to drop worldly (non-members) friends. May be told to change jobs, quit school, give up sports, hobbies, etc.
4. Coercion - Disobedience, including even minor disagreement with group doctrine, may result in expulsion and shunning.
5. Phobias - The idea is planted that anyone who leaves goes into a life of depravity and sin, loses their sanity, dies, or will have children die, etc. Constant rumors of bad things happening to people who leave. No one ever leaves for "legitimate reasons."
6. Striving for the Unreachable - Group membership and service are essential for salvation..."Work your way into God's favor." NO matter what you do, it is never enough.

http://www.prem-rawat-talk.org/forum/uploads/CultCharacteristics.htm

About Jesus and Michael the Archangel:

Lets take a look at the book of Jude:

3Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

5Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved^c a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 

*notice it does not say that the Father saved them, 

it does not say that Michael saved them, 

but it says Jesus, Jesus saved them.

 _____________________________________________________________

6And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire,^d serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

8Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.

9But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”

*Let's compare this to verse 4. Verse 4 says that Jesus is our only Lord. 

Now Michael is acknowledging that Jesus has more authority than he. 


In Revelation 22:16 who sent the angel to the congregations? In verse 6, who sent the angel?

Christ Crucified

The key to understanding scripture: "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." 1 Corinthians 2:2"For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified"- 1 Corinthians 1:23

How could I join a church after being a Jehovah's Witness?

There for a while I got hung up on proving that there were no better denominations. Then I realized that I can rest in Jesus and not research every denomination out there. I can just ... be home.

I am already saved. I am done searching and/or proving. My faith is in Jesus, not a church. And the church reminds me of that. So this shirt illustrates nicely how I came to join a church. Just calm down, shut up and get in the pew!

Finding a faithful church that brings peace instead of fear, and calming down enough to attend or join is something that is a challenge for most ex-Jehovah's Witnesses. (Please be aware that this isn't about finding the perfect denomination!) So in this blog, I am going to devote some posts to talk about how we can go about finding a church and determining if we should stay there.

The Trinity Doctrine and how we know God

When we understand who Jesus is, we understand who God is.

"Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”  Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?" -- John 14:8-9

This is the affect of the Trinity doctrine on an ex-Jehovah's Witness: 

Instead of seeing God as a distant dictator who sent others to do His dirty work, we see God coming to us, He loves us so much that He was willing to give up His glory, walk among us, eat with us, touch us... and even wash our feet, even when He knew we wold betray Him. The Trinity doctrine causes us to realize that God does not sit on a distant throne giving orders to others and expecting us to struggle, struggle, struggle to Him. No... He comes to us.  Jesus ate dinner with thieving tax collectors, prostitutes, and dispicable cowards. Jesus was not proud, constantly judging in a harsh manner.   Jesus said that He came to save us rather than to condemn or destroy us, and He proved it with His actions. The Trinity doctrine makes us more like Christ because it teaches us who God is.

Does your God wash feet? Love and help sinners? Do you?

The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being,- Hebrews 1:3

Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself - Philippians 2:5-8

Jesus replied. "If you knew me, you would know my Father also."- John 8:19
The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.- John 12:45

We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ.- 1 John 5:20

I was baptized as a Jehovah's Witness. So why did I get baptized again?

In a Jehovah's Witness baptism the one seeking baptism does a lot of studying on Jehovah's Witness doctrine and passes a test to show that they understand it. Then the day that they are baptized they are asked two questions:

1. On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?
 

2. Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in association with God's spirit-directed organization? Having answered yes to these questions, candidates are in a right heart condition to undergo Christian baptism." -Watchtower - 1985 Jun 1 p.30

Then they are dunked. Nothing is said upon dunking.

So you see, when I was a JW I was not baptized into Jesus, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. So when I was saved, one of the first things I wanted to do was to get baptized the right way. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 8:35-37)

Getting baptized in a Christian church automatically results in disfellowshipping, so I waited a few months so that I could use that time to share the gospel with my family before they cut me off. I was saved, had received, and was even filled with the Holy Spirit during that time.


I was baptized at a Baptist church about 6 months after I was born again. I was baptized into Jesus. (Galatians 3:27) I now go to a Lutheran church. Since I have been baptized into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, into Jesus, there is no need for me to be baptized again. Knowing what I know now, I would never get baptized into a church. Only into Jesus. 

It is possible to be born again (saved) prior to baptism, (John 5:24; 7:38-39) and I know that I was. But I also believe that baptism applies Jesus' death and resurrection to me personally. (Romans 6:3-9) I can look to my baptism for assurance that I have indeed been born again, because this is God's promise to me. (Acts 2:38-39) I have no problem with baptizing my children, even infants, because I have no problem telling them that Jesus died for them. I also see that God's Word says that baptism saves. (1 Peter 3:21) And if there is anything that I can put my faith in, it's God's Word. 

As a Jehovah's Witness I argued against the Trinity doctrine.

I would like to show you my attitude about the Trinity doctrine from about 3 years ago. When I did not know Jesus, I spent just as much or more time trying to show others the error of the Trinity doctrine and other things that "Christendom" teaches than what I spend trying to share the gospel now. I was convinced that the Trinity doctrine kept people away from God. Now that I know Jesus I believe that the Trinity doctrine has been misrepresented by cults that keep people away from God by keeping them from fully trusting Jesus. I fully trust Him now and have been born again.
The Christian was trying to show me scriptures. I was a Jehovah's Witness during this conversation and I was replying in red. My screen name on the message board was MamaElephant:

Regarding Jesus as God, here are some starters, many more where these came from:

1) John 20:28-29 And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"  Jesus said to him,  "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."  Thomas called Jesus both Lord and God, and Jesus did not correct him. That is a good point. I have known of this scripture before, but I will look into it again as I don't remember specifics.

3) In Exodus 34:14, we are told to worship no other God, Yehovah (Jehovah never appears in scripture, so even that word is made up buy JWs!). Yet in Hebrews 1:6, the angels worship Christ! Heb 1:6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him."
There are scores more that JWs have to explain away. I will look into this one. I am surprised that the explanation isn't readily available in the back of the NWT.  The NWT says "do obeisance to him". I have found the New Jerusalem Bible very accurate, and it says "Again, when he brings the First-born into the world, he says: Let all the angels of God pay him homage." Hebrews 9:24 states that Christ entered into heaven to appear before the person of God for us. Do you have an explanation for that?

Oh regarding Genesis where God says "Let us create man in our image" JWs believe that he was speaking to Jesus, as all things were created for him and through him (I believe that is in Colossians.

MamaElephant, you sound like a nice person, I am not out to intentionally offend you, but Jesus, the true Jesus, after all is the “Rock of offense”. Please consider this verse:

Mark 9:42 "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.”

I am glad you defend creation. However, you are doing as bad or worse than an evolutionist, because you are teaching a false doctrine to your kids that puts them in eternal danger. Please consider that if you are wrong (which scripture overwhelmingly says you are), you couldn’t be wrong in a more serious way.

Fred

They did not claim to be inspired of God. Prophets do. so you create for yourself an exit by calling them “supposition”. Yet everyone knows they were prophecies. Then, to top it off, you pat them on the back for admitting they were wrong! Of course they were wrong, the world did NOT come to an end when they said it would!
Another example:

Fred: Why did JWs previously worship Jesus, up until 1954?
You: “That is odd for you to think.”. You then go on about the Trinity, which is a strawman. Here is a quote from the Watchtower:

"Jehovah God commands all to worship Christ Jesus because Christ Jesus is the express image of his Father, Jehovah, and because he is the Executive Officer of Jehovah always carrying out Jehovah's purpose (Heb.:3-6)." Watchtower 1939 Nov. 15 p.33 (Scan is here)

So, how do you get out of this one? Is this another example of how you are proud that the JWs corrected yet another mistake in doctrine? Interesting. The term "worship" used in the Greek Septuagint was also used here: 1 Kings 1:23 where Abraham is showing honor to businessmen as customary at the time. Proverbs 4:18, John 16:12 indicate that God's servants will progressively refine their beliefs. Daniel 12:4, 8,9; 1 Peter 1:10-12; Acts 1:6,7; 1 Corinthians 13:9-12 show that God's people have not always understood everything.

http://www.evolutionfairytale.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=3658&st=100

Now in this message I am quoted by the Christian, but the colors are going to stay the same. I am sure you can figure it out. 

MamaElephant, on Sep 23 2010, 07:23 PM, said:

“I am sure now in my heart and mind Jehovah's Witnesses are God's people.”

While I don’t have all the answers, I am 100% sure Jesus IS Who He said He is. So, that being said, I am 100% sure, without a shred of doubt, that JWs are wolves in sheep’s clothing (whether they realize it or not) deceived by Satan, and will lead many along with themselves to eternal damnation. We all deserve to go to hell, but faith in Jesus and what He did on the cross is our only path to salvation. It has to be the real Jesus, it has to be God who redeems us. It makes perfect logical sense. I pray you see the wisdom of your sister (hopefully she is a saved Chirstian).

Quote

“I will always continue to test though”

But I see a serious problem in all your posts. You don’t allow your “tests” to be falsified. You’ve got a ready-made “answer” for everything regardless of whether or not it makes sense. For example:

Quote

“I would not call them prophecies, but supposition. That is why my sister left. I really appreciate the fact that the Witnesses will admit that they were wrong and make changes.”

You don’t want to call them prophesies because you’ve already been told what God thinks of false prophets, so you create for yourself an exit by calling them “supposition”. Yet everyone knows they were prophecies. Then, to top it off, you pat them on the back for admitting they were wrong! Of course they were wrong, the world did NOT come to an end when they said it would! What further proof do you need that this is a false religion created by fallible men who, because their hearts were AGAINST the True God, were easily influenced by the prince of this world?

Another example:

Fred: Why did JWs previously worship Jesus, up until 1954?
You: “That is odd for you to think.”. You then go on about the Trinity, which is a strawman. Here is a quote from the Watchtower:

"Jehovah God commands all to worship Christ Jesus because Christ Jesus is the express image of his Father, Jehovah, and because he is the Executive Officer of Jehovah always carrying out Jehovah's purpose (Heb.:3-6)." Watchtower 1939 Nov. 15 p.33 (Scan is here)

So, how do you get out of this one? Is this another example of how you are proud that the JWs corrected yet another mistake in doctrine?

Quote

“The older copies of the Greek Septuagint version of the New Testament did indeed contain the Tetragrammaton.”

Do you realize what you just said? The Septuagint is OLD Testament. There is no evidence of Tetragrammaton in the New Testament, it is pure speculation, and a gross exaggeration for the JWs to insert it 237 times in the New Testament.

Here is a good quote from a powerful source on the shenanigans of the JWs:

“The New World Translation has time and time again demonstrated that it is not really a translation. Although those on the committee understood that it is not a translators job to freely substitute words in that are not in the text, and ignore every ancient manuscript in favor of hand-picked translations that were chosen to support a preconceived doctrinal bias, that is exactly what they have done. To makes matters worse, they ignore the same sources they tout when those sources disagree with their own slanted position (ie. "J" sources that proclaim that Jesus is YHWH). The NWT cannot be trusted as an accurate rendering of any text, whether New Testament or Old. Items such as the 1961 version claim that "Jehovah" appears in the "Christian Greek Scriptures" are proof that the NWT was written to be a propaganda piece, and will tell a deliberate falsehood to bolster it's claims.” - http://www.neirr.org...ragrammaton.htm

Fred