Are Jehovah witnesses heretics

Answer 1

Definition of HERETIC1 : a dissenter from established religious dogma; especially : a baptized member of the Roman Catholic Church who disavows a revealed truth

2 : one who dissents from an accepted belief or doctrine : nonconformist

(Above definition from Merriam Webster online.)

If you go by the first half of definition 1, Jehovah's Witnesses could be considered as heretics. Jehovah's Witnesses base their beliefs on The Bible, not church or religious dogma.

If you go by the second half, then no. Jehovah's Witnesses do not disavow truth, nor are they Roman Catholic.

If one was a Roman Catholic and then studies the Bible and becomes one of Jehovah's Witnesses, they will no longer accept the teachings of that Church that are not in harmony with Scripture, and they will resign from it. The Catholic Church would then accuse them of heresy, but the JW looks to Jehovah for his approval, not to men.

Now, as to definition # 2 - It would depend upon what that "accepted belief or doctrine" was. If it is an unscriptural belief held by many churches, Jehovah's Witnesses would naturally dissent from it. That church may then consider them heretic, but the question is, would Jehovah God?

On the other hand, if that belief was found in the Bible, they would not dissent from it. If they did, then they would no longer be one of Jehovah's Witnesses, and He himself would consider them heretic.

Parallel Answer:

That would be a 'viewpoint' question. It would 'depend'. It would depend on a persons 'angle' of approach; and their understanding of what a 'heretic' is.

Definition 1:

A 'heretic' is: -- a dissenter from established religious dogma; especially: a baptized member of the Roman Catholic Church who disavows a revealed truth (Websters).

Since most who are now Jehovah's Witnesses were formerly Catholic, and left that religion and it's teachings behind; Therefore from a Roman Catholic view, those particular Witnesses might be viewed as heretics.

Definition 2:

A 'heretic' is: -- a person who has views that don't conform to the norm" (dictionary dot com website) (whatever 'norm' is; that would vary also depending on viewpoint.)

Since the next-most who are now Jehovah's Witnesses were formerly in 'mainstream' religions ('the norm'); and since they left their religion and disavowed their teachings; they could also be viewed by their former religions as heretics.

But from the viewpoint of Jehovah's Witnesses, we view The Bible as 'the norm'; as 'established dogma'.

Therefore since The Bible (for example) teaches that - God is LOVE, Compassion, merciful, forgiving, kindly; -- and since 'mainstream' religions teach that God 'torments eternally' in a fiery hell - - - from our viewpoint, they are 'heretic'. We feel that a god who 'torments eternally' is an 'anti-Jehovah' 'anti-Bible' viewpoint; thus it is heresy.

The same can be said of other Bible teachings; like the worship of a 'triune' god; like the belief that we have an 'immortal' soul. Those teachings both originate from ancient pagan religions, not from the Bible. Likewise with holidays such as Christmas. The early Christians did NOT celebrate anyone's birthday, not even their Lord's birthday. It is of pagan origins with a Bible word introduced into it to make it sound Biblical.

Therefore from the viewpoint of Jehovah's Witnesses, those teachings are all 'heresy' from the original Bible teachings. That's exactly why we visit people, to help them learn what the Bible really teaches; to expose the teachings that are not from Jehovah God. We try to help 'heretics' come back to the pure & true teachings of the Bible; we do not just toss them off with 'labels' as 'cult' or 'heretic'. (I'm only answering a question, thus even the use of these words.)