Jehovah’s Witnesses
When many people think of Jehovah’s Witnesses, they think of the people who go door to door relaying God’s message, or some refer to them as solicitors. The name “Jehovah” is the most personal form of God’s name found in the bible, and a witness is a person who proclaims truths of what was seen or what was learned. Jehovah’s Witnesses was also one of the earliest significant New Religious Movements (NRM) in the United States. Although this religion is relatively new compared to other religions, there are more than 8 million members or “publishers” worldwide and over 1.9 million in the United States alone. Jehovah’s Witnesses history goes way deeper than just Christians knocking on your door.
Charles Taze Russell was the founder of the Bible Student movement. It was called the Bible Student Movement because this religion was based on the teachings found in the Bible. Charles Taze Russell was born on February 16, 1852, in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. When Russell was only 18, he started a group with bible students in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This group compared the doctrines preached by modern day churches with what the Bible “really” teaches. This small bible group then went on to publish what they found to be true in books, newspapers, and in a journal called The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom. “Russell claimed that the Bible could be only understood according to his interpretations–a dangerous arrangement since he controlled what was written in the Watchtower magazine. This kind of assertion is typical among leaders of cult religions” (Slick, 2008, Paragraph 2). Although there is evidence that Russell founded the religion, Jehovah's Witnesses view Jesus as the true founder of the religion. Charles Taze Russell died on Oct. 31, 1916. After Russell’s death, Joseph Franklin Rutherford, a lawyer, took over the Bible Student Movement or previously known as Watch Tower Society. In 1931, Rutherford changed the name of the organization to what is now known as the "The Jehovah's Witnesses." After the death of Rutherford, Nathan Knorr took over. And after Knorr, Frederick William Franz took over and became president. The Society was then led by a board of “governing body” members. The current members of the board are Kenneth Cook , Samuel F. Herd, Geoffrey Jackson, Mark Stephen Lett, Gerrit Lösch, Anthony Morris III, Mark Sanderson, and David H. Splane. The World Headquarters of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is in Orange County, New York (Slick, 2008, Paragraphs 3-5).
Jehovah's Witnesses are a branch of christianity and a major Restorationist religion. Restorationism is the belief that first-century Christianity is the purest form of the faith and that it should be restored (Voorst, 2016, Page 300). The Jehovah’s Witnesses have many unique views and beliefs. Jehovah’s Witnesses are very similar to the Latter-day Saints (LDS), but views themselves as the only “true” church. “As Jehovah’s Witnesses, we strive to adhere to the form of Christianity that Jesus taught and that his apostles practiced” (JW.ORG., 2018, Paragraph 1).
Some basic teachings of this religion are God, the Bible, Jesus, the Kingdom of God, salvation, heaven, earth, evil, suffering, death, worship, prayer, organization, unity, conduct, and relationships with others. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that God is the Creator and the one true God. God is referred to as Jehovah, because it is the most personal name of God in the Bible. This religion is based strictly on the Bible and its teachings in all 66 books. The Jehovah’s Witnesses created a revised Bible called the New World Translation. They believed this Bible was easier and better to understand. Jesus is one of the teachers in the Bible, so Jehovah’s Witnesses specifically follow the teachings and examples of Jesus. Although they follow and honor Jesus, Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t believe Jesus is God. They don’t believe in the trinity as they claim it is not backed up with evidence from the Bible.
The Kingdom of God is also an important belief for Jehovah’s Witnesses. They believe that the Kingdom of God is a real government in heaven and that Jesus is the King of it. Jesus began ruling the government of heaven in 1914 according to the bible. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe deliverance from sin and death is a result of Jesus’s death and that salvation cannot be earned. Witnesses also believe people show their faith by getting baptized, their actions, and their course of life. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jehovah (God), Jesus, faithful angels, and 144,000 people will be resurrected to life in heaven. They also believe that obedient people will be rewarded with amazing health and everlasting life on a earthly paradise, which was the whole plan of earth all along.
Evil and suffering began when one of Jehovah’s angels rebelled. After the rebellion, the angel was named “Satan” and persuaded Adam and Eve to join him. Since Adam and Eve, the consequences and sinful nature has been passed from generation to generation. Evil and suffering is a punishment and a result of this rebellion. Death is viewed as someone simply dying on earth. No one goes to hell, but God will resurrect and raise to life the ones who followed God’s commands. Those who didn’t learn or follow God’s commands will have no hope of being resurrected and will be destroyed forever.
Family is based on God’s original view of marriage as the family structure. Divorce is only valid when sexual immorality is present. Worship is done in many different ways including prayer, reading, meditating, meeting together, encouraging others, preaching to others (ex. going door to door preaching of God’s love), helping others, maintaining “Kingdom Halls” or facilities of worship, and sharing with others. Although relationships are important, Witnesses don't celebrate birthdays or holidays such as Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day.
Organization is another key part of the Jehovah’s Witnesses beliefs. They organize into many congregations, a higher body of elders, and a “Governing Body”, which leads all Jehovah’s Witnesses. All witnesses are united as one in their beliefs around the world. Witnesses also strive to show love and peace in all actions. One action that is not allowed for Witnesses is blood transfusions, as this would displease God. Jehovah’s Witnesses respect the government and its as long as it doesn’t displease God. The final key view is relationships with others. Jehovah’s Witnesses work on staying neutral with religion and politics and also believe that one must love your neighbor as yourself. Jehovah’s Witnesses claim all their beliefs come from verses in the Bible.
Jehovah's Witnesses originated as a branch of the Bible Student movement, which was founded by Charles Taze Russell in the 1870’s. In 1931, the name of the movement was changed to Jehovah's Witnesses. Witnesses identify themselves as “true” Christians, as a restorationist religion. Jehovah’s witnesses devote their lives to being like Jesus Christ. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe “the Bible teaches that mankind is a direct creation of God. We are not the product of uncaring, mindless evolution” (JW.ORG., 2018, Paragraph 4). Witnesses believe we are children of God and that God made us ands earth for a reason. God created humans out of his love for us because he wanted us to experience love and happiness along with him. We were created to form a meaningful relationship with our creator. In addition to our relationship with God, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe God created humans work and carry out God’s idea of a perfect world. Witnesses believe we should live to honor and serve God and use the teachings of Jesus as the foundation for the way we should live. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe after death people just die and when resurrection comes only 144,000 people will go to heaven, while the rest are destroyed forever. Witnesses also don't believe in hell. They believe if you didn't follow the teachings of God and were not obedient they will just be destroyed forever with no chance for resurrection.
The Jehovah's Witness worldview and the Christian worldview are very similar. Christians believe God created the world and all of its people because he loved us and wanted us to experience his love, which is the same as the Witnesses beliefs. God sent his son to die for our sins, so we could sustain a happy life. We are children of God and were created in God’s image. We were designed to live our life according to God’s commands. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people" (Matthew 4:19, New International Version). Christians believe after they die they will go to heaven if they believe in Jesus and if you don’t believe in Jesus you will go to hell, where Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t believe in hell. “A Christian worldview leads us to believe in moral absolutes, miracles, human dignity, and the possibility of redemption” (Godandscience.org., 2018, Paragraph 6).
Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christians have more differences outside of the worldview questions. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus is inferior to God or Jehovah, while most Christians believe God, Son, and the Holy Spirit are one. Since they believe Jesus is inferior, they are “denying the Trinity is an equally strong denial of the deity of Christ, the deity of the Holy Spirit, the belief in hell, and eternal conscious punishment in hell” (Slick, 2017, Paragraph 7). Another big difference is that Witnesses believe Christ died on a stake, whereas Christians believe Christ died on a cross. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Christ was raised from the dead as an immortal spirit person, while Christians believe Christ was raised from the dead in a physical body. Witnesses also believe that the earth will never be destroyed and that God created it to be an earthly paradise, but christians believe that one day earth will be destroyed and new heavens and earth will be created. Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t celebrate holidays because it doesn't please God. Christians view holidays as a recognition and are pleasing to the Lord. Jehovah’s witnesses worship Jehovah only, while christians worship God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Another issue between the two religions is that the Witnesses believe Jesus’s second coming occurred invisibly in 1914 and that he became King of the heavens. Christians believe that Jesus will come back someday for all of his believers. “Jesus will return physically to earth and all alive will see Him as His kingdom is established on earth” (Godandscience.org., 2018, Paragraph 49).
Why do Jehovah's Witnesses insist on using only the New World Translation? Jehovah’s Witnesses saw the need to create The New World Translation in order to portray the accurate and “true” teachings of God. Witnesses also believed that this translation was needed to help people easier and better understand God’s Word and to create a book that is loyal to the true author, Jehovah. Christians use the old, original Bible that displays God’s original teachings. There are translations like English Standard Version, that make it easier for people to read, but Christian have not created their own easy bible.
Do Jehovah’s Witnesses go to church? Witnesses worship by going to a “gathering” on sunday while a person of the faith preaches. There is no paid clergy in this religion because they believe all are capable of preaching God’s word. Another way Witnesses worship is by going door to door and preaching Jehovah’s word. They view this action as a way to bring people to the faith because they preach God’s word to them through going door to door. All worship should be focused on Jehovah and based on the teachings of the Bible, specifically the New World Translation. Christians worship by going to church on sundays. While at church a priest or pastor preaches, many sing songs, and tithing occurs, all of this is done to worship and please God. Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t tithe, the church gets money by anonymous donations. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe God said in the Bible that tithing does not apply to Christians and that the Bible was referring to Israel.
Who is Jesus? Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus was God’s first creation, even before the world was created. God transferred Jesus’s life in heaven to life on earth. Witnesses believe that Jesus became the King of heaven in 1914 after he invisibly came back to earth. Christians believe Jesus is God and that he was born to the Virgin Mary. Christians also believe that Jesus Christ has always been the King of heaven because he is one with God.
Why don't Jehovah’s Witnesses celebrate Christmas or holidays in general? Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that holidays are political and nationalistic. They believe that holidays and birthdays don’t honor Jesus the way they should. Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas even though it is a holiday surrounding and celebrating Jesus because they believe it is more of a custom for people, rather than a day for Jesus. Jehovah’s Witnesses only acknowledge Easter and the Passover, which was around when Jesus died. Witnesses also believe Jesus never told his people to celebrate his birthday or to even mark it on a calendar, as it is displeasing to Jehovah (JW.ORG., 2018, Paragraph 2). Christians celebrate holidays, birthdays, and especially Christmas. Holidays are viewed as days in which we can honor and celebrate our Lord. Christmas was the day our Lord and Savior Jesus was born, so Christians honor him. Birthdays are marked to celebrate the day an earthly person was blessed enough to come on this earth and for that we celebrate. Christians view holidays and birthdays as being pleasing and honoring to God.