I just wanted to get your opinions on Jehovah's Witnesses and if you think they should be a religion in the United States or if they should be banned. I have my opinions backed up by facts i just want to see what you guys and gals think.

A cult rather than a religion. As individuals they are usually nice people but the way this church manipulates the minds of its adepts makes it quite dangerous.
Now, should it be banned ? I think other cults like Scientology or Moon are more dangerous. It is better to inform people about the dangers of this kind of organization and on mind manipulation. But it should be quite controlled and not allowed to benefit from taxes cut like a religion.

I want proof of what you say, in fact, If you cant furnish proof then dont post to this. opinions are nice, but they tend to be misguided. It's interesting you write from France b/c France lately has tried to take legal recognition away from Jehovah's Witnesses. I want the proof to your madness, and thats to everybody who posts

This is a free country they have the right to do as they believe. I'm not very happy with there beliefs because they don't like the flag, they don't believe they should defend there country, etc... I can't tell them to leave or quit there religion, but I can put a boot up there arse when they come to my door. I don't really have a problem with them as long as they keep there garbage to themselfs.

Well put mad dog. You made your point clear without spreading a lot of untrue bullshit. you made your point and that was that. You're going to make a good member.

JW's march to the beat of their own drummer. While they may be a bit of a pain in the butt while spreading the word, essentially they do no harm. Doesn't matter what their beliefs are, they're Americans and have the right to practice as they choose, same as any other cult or religion taking up space in the U.S. . Now, unless you're going to dazzle us with some new found evidence that proves they come from Alpha Centuri or are spawns of some demon creature that lives beneath an active volcano, I suggest that we let them be.

thats the best poll I think ive ever read

OK so I am going to be more specific.
There are many, many websites about the dangers of JW.
I only quote one that sums up quite well the mind manipulation of this cult :
http://www.freeminds.org/psych/kidphob.htm

"A Phobic World View

The first step that the Watch Tower takes in their indoctrination of their followers is to develop the concept of the "universal war" that all people are inevitably caught up in, namely, that Satan has declared war on Jehovah, and we are automatically on one side or the other; there are no fence-sitters. If you are not doing all that the organization asks, you are on the side of the devil. Everything outside of the Watch Tower is controlled by the devil, and all persons who are not Witnesses are misled by the devil and are bad or dangerous to associate with. An unbalanced fear of the supernatural is encouraged. Witness children are told to avoid "worldly" magazines, movies, TV shows, music, etc. Any information critical of the Watch Tower is automatically evil and dangerous. Most doctors are evil for wanting to administer blood transfusions. Children have nightmares about mom or dad having to refuse a blood transfusion. Everything is made to appear as part of a large conspiracy to destroy Jehovah's Witnesses. Satan is feared totally out of proportion to the role as represented in the Bible.

What is the end result? The child learns to fear life itself, at least outside of the Watch Tower, so that if he/she were to ever leave the organization, the devil would destroy him/her and he/she would become miserable and suicidal. I personally knew several members of the Watch Tower's Bethel family at their headquarters in New York who knew the organization was wrong, but could not leave due to fear that they were incapable of getting a job, or that their lives would disintegrate. They were the victims of carefully planted PHOBIAS. "

It's clear that the JW are a band of miss-fits, but in a free country they are free to have their beliefs so long as nobody is put at harm. Some of the 'not accepting blood' rules should not be pernissable.

Their mind control is typical of all religions - not just the JW's

On a basic level I don't see too much different between Roman Catholics & JW's - except the RC's are more organized and a bigger organization. Both use guilt as a tool, both have weird & strange beliefs.

But, on a personal level - all such religions contain many good people that are doing good things - better to keep them off the streets & in some church where guilt keeps them in check

Live and let live I usually say. But I am sick of them coming to my door and not taking "no" for an answer and trying to shove the latest copy of "Watchtower" down my throat. If this cult...er.....religion is so wonderful, I have to ask, why do you need to beg door to door for people to join?

Has anyone of you ever given them a chance? And wheres Borghunter and Tentmaker I wanna hear what they have to say

And astrapol, have you ever heard the expression you cant believe everything you hear, especially when those things are from a totally biased viewpoint. Most of those sites were started by people who used to be JW's but grew dissatisfied or who got in trouble and went on there own personal vendettas against them. If you can get your info from a RELIABLE source (i.e. not someone who repeatedly states that Witnesses are EVIL and should be DESTROYED) please make sure to post.

And Alessa, do they really try to shove it down your throat? Or is that what you percieve it as. They ask, and if you say no then they usually end with "have a nice day" and thats it. If thats not enough, all you have to do is tell them dont come back and they wont, yet there begging.... doh!

DrewM, misfits? they are some of the most respectful people you will ever meet. They dont steal, they dont curse, and they obey the law, yet there misfits. Before you say such rude statements, THINK!!!!!!

Haven't let myself ask many questions to JW's that I've encountered. The ones I have met and stood around for more than a minute came on with a fervernt zeal that was at best, irritating. Long ago I decided they had nothing that I wanted, and nothing I could give them, and avoid intentional contact. Live and let live.

Originally posted by es347fan
Haven't let myself ask many questions to JW's that I've encountered. The ones I have met and stood around for more than a minute came on with a fervernt zeal that was at best, irritating. Long ago I decided they had nothing that I wanted, and nothing I could give them, and avoid intentional contact. Live and let live.

Right on.

Originally posted by Jwjames111
Most of those sites were started by people who used to be JW's but grew dissatisfied or who got in trouble and went on there own personal vendettas against them.

It seems to me that the better source is precisely ex-JW. They know what they are talking about.

And about the old theory stating that the catholic church and other religions are not different, yes they are ! Some parts of these religions may be manipulating adepts (like the Opus dei) but as a whole organisation they are far from having the totalitarian practices of JW or other cults. A catholic is a free person, nobody will blame him for not fulfilling everything the church asks. The group pressure amongst cults is much higher, and often leads to severe psychologic traumas.
JW try to control every act and thoughts of their adepts. They do not accept criticism from inside or outside. That makes them a danger, not for other people, but for their adepts.

I do not say that as individuals they are bad people, I do not criticise their beliefs, but I think that, as an organization, they are alienating.

jw, The jehovah's witnesses that have come to my house over the summer, MORE than once, the SAME ones, were very irritating.
I have politely told them no thanx and as I closed the door I actually had one of them shove a copy of Watchtower between my doors to hold it OPEN! and then they said "Well let us talk to you for a minute!" I again said no and tried to close the door and they again shoved the watchtower at me and said "Please take a copy of The Watchtower" I said no agin and finally closed the door, when I opened it later that DAMN watchtower magazine was stuck in my door!!! So you are right jw, they didnt actually shove it down my throat but came damn close! I dont want to join ANY religion that fishes for members. (although almost any religion does in one way or another, thats why I am nondenominational)

[QUOTE]Originally posted by astrapol2
[B]It seems to me that the better source is precisely ex-JW. They know what they are talking about.

So, by extension , you are saying to get a complete understanding of someone we could simply ask his/her ex? Whenever someone is close to the source you are always gonna get a biased opinion.

Maybe my english is not good enough. I did not mean that. For me "ex-JW" is a former JW, not his/her ex.
And I do not pretend to have a complete understanding of JW. I just give my opinion, based upon what I have read. Maybe other posts will make me change my mind, who knows ?

Like I've said before America is a free country. I have many friends that are JW's they are good people, I've told them I don't believe in there way. This did not make them hate me nor did it ruin our friend ship. If they were a true cult then they would have told me to go to he**, and would have never talked to me again. We respect each others feelings and don't talk about religion or politics, because we know we will disagree. These friends of mine are welcome in my house anytime as long as they leave there preaching outside, They know and understand this. The same goes for me when I visit them.

Maybe I was wrong, or maybe the kind of mind manipulation I described exists only in some JW communities. Does anyone else have friends among the JWs ?

Astrapol2 we finally agree on something or atleast alittle bit. I quess all is not lost, I'm not saying every JW is going to act this way I'm just writing about some that I know.

Anyway, as i said before, my opinion is absolutely not against JW as individuals. I am just very concerned by cults in general or even any organisation (some companies, some political parties) that may manipulate their members. Sometimes it is obviously revolting (like the most dangerous cults, like Jim Jone's church), sometimes it is more difficult to appreciate since these organisation loo very respectable and do nothing to offend other people.
I know every organisation has some influence upon its members. I think the danger starts when the people are being willingly manipulated, when they are cut from their environment (friends, family) and become totally dependent from the organisation.