Is religion a con? These J Witnesses ask other religions to join them, which would negate....!?

Question

your marriage in (say) a catholic church. Also, they cannot give blood, but can inter marry races and so are mixing blood. Similarly, they do not believe a human has a soul, so giving blood should not be a problem. Whay can not they just clear off or ask directly for money. They employ harrassing techniques. They cannot say Jehovah, and claim they are called this, but can write it on their halls as an address for the gas man! Confused?!!

Answer 1

There's a difference between "religion" and faith or conviction.

Religion refers to the exterior rites and ceremonies that form a part of any given belief system. "Religious" people go through those motions, but it doesn't necessarily mean that their lives or attitudes are at all affected by the belief system they participate in.

Faith is the result of conviction, brought about by a personal encounter and relationship with Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world and Redeemer of mankind. Conviction means the deep awareness of our need to be redeemed from ourselves. This leads our lives to be transformed from the inside out. Religion hopes to change us from the outside in.

Personally, I know that no "one church" or doctrine or preacher will save anyone. That is what only Jesus can do. It's why He lived and died and rose again.

Where I live, "religion" is not a complimentary word. We go more for conviction, faith and transformation for the better.  

Answer 2

No i'm not confused at all,you don't need to talk/listen to them you don't have to give them money,and you don't have to stress yourself out thinking about these things.

Just let go.

Answer 3

In a democracy we are all free to believe what we like and practice our religion - or none at all. JWs are not doing anything illegal. If you find them harrassing, you must write to your local Kingdom Hall, stating that you no longer want any of them to visit, and give your address, the date and your signature. Keep a copy of that letter and if any more turn up, show it to them and say you will be taking further action.

They seem to have irritated you with their doctrines, which you find illogical. They do not say a marriage in another church is negated if you become one of them. As long as it was legally recognised, it holds good. They do say they are likely the only ones who should survive Armageddon; all other religions are condemned. They believe soul is just another word for life and they don't receive or donate blood because they believe the life (soul) is in the blood, which belongs to God. They don't ask for money, just hope that you'll donate for their literature. What they really want is for you to agree to have a weekly study with them in your home. That's what they are after. This is how they persuade people to start coming to the Kingdom Hall, then to get baptised as one of them. The best way to sort them out is to know what your Bible says on the fundamental doctrines of the faith and refuse to let them tell you differently. They rarely waste time on someone who know what they believe, and why.

Answer 4

The JW's are a CULT, so don't even worry about what they say. This is a country in which many fought for the right of freedom of speech, freedom of Religion and so on.  Oh, and by the way, it was not the JW that fought for their freedom, it was us who fought for them as they won't do it.  But they sure use it.  Anyhow that is why they can not be stopped.  Remember the old saying fro the drugs, JUST SAY NO!!!

Answer 5

Sorry, but unfortunately it is a free country to all 'false religions' now a days.  :(

Answer 6

Personally, I wish they would hurry up and have the trial,surely Jehovah must have enough witnesses by now. One of the quickest ways to become a millionaire is to start your own religion.

Answer 7

I wouldn't call it a religion; more of a cult. Most certainly not the same as Christianity.

An elderly family member was approached in his home by two JW's, they came quite frequently, and he was old and confused so he allowed them into his house as friends. They told him that in order to join them, he had to donate all of his furniture to the JWs. That's not a religion. That is a con, I agree.

Harry O - He wasn't given a choice. They came round twice a week and they expressly said that he "must" donate his furniture to them.

Answer 8

They are not Christians but they have their free will and right to believe any baloney they want

Answer 9

whats that gas man stuff about.....?????

I don't encourage hatred of religious beliefs, some people are born into confusion. The religious are no different than ordinary people who are taught a way of survival.

Answer 10

If you think that Jehovah's Witnesses cannot say 'Jehovah', you're more confused than you think.  Witnesses say that all the time.

Changing religion may negate your marriage ACCORDING TO the Catholic church, but you will find nothing in the Bible to support that.  If God viewed you as married before, He isn't going to suddenly stop viewing you as being married because because some priest does.

I can give you the scriptures that say to abstain from blood (Acts 15:28, for example.)  Can you give any scriptures against marrying people of other races?  There are scriptures against marrying people who don't worship God, but not other races.

And asking for money would not solve anything.  People in the world are going against what the Bible teaches and hence going against God in a multiplicity of ways, and God is going to remove those who continue to do so.  Teaching people what the Bible says may help them, but asking for money wouldn't.

If you live in some kind of communist regime that suppresses freedom of religion, Witnesses often ARE stopped by legislation.  The reason it's legal in the UK is that people in the UK have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and there are no laws against teaching people about the Bible.

Miss Dee - That story doesn't sound remotely credible.  Nobody has to donate ANYTHING to join JW's, even any money (whatever money members do donate is donated anonymously - and I'm the accountant in my congregation so I should know, I don't know who's given what or whether there's some who don't donate anything, it's all anonymous and everything that's given is given freely), and even if somebody WANTED to donate furniture to us we'd have no idea what to do with it - our Kingdom Halls already have all the furniture they need, and it isn't like we have jumble sales or anything.  What on earth would we do with some old furniture even if somebody wanted to give it to us?  We'd have no use for it whatsoever.

It sounds like the old man had got his story completely muddled up - you do after all admit that "he was old and confused".

Answer 11

Just tell them that you're happy with your religion. If they keep coming, threaten to sue. :)

Answer 12

We use the name Jehovah constantly, in prayer and by teaching others.

No one is ever harassed. We will leave and never come back if asked.

The issue of blood is discussed in the Bible.

(Acts 15:19-20) 19 Hence my decision is not to trouble those from the nations who are turning to God, 20 but to write them to abstain from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.

And we don't need your money. If one wants to contribute voluntarily it is appreciated. All contributions go straight to further the preaching work. All our time and expenses are voluntary.

Answer 13

I'm assuming you're some other form of Christianity?