Jehovah's Witnesses originated as a branch of the
Jehovah's Witnesses started in 1870 when Charles Taze Russell led Bible studies in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Jehovah's Witnesses movement came out of the Bible Student movement, also founded by Russell. When he started to dispute some traditional Christian views, the Jehovah's Witnesses were born.
Early history
The story of Jehovah's Witnesses begins in the late 19th century near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a group of students studying the Bible. The group was led by Charles Taze Russell, a religious seeker from a Presbyterian background.
Although many of their eschatological teachings have changed over the years, Jehovah's Witnesses have consistently claimed to be the only true religion.
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that: God the Father (whose name is Jehovah) is "the only true God". Jesus Christ is his firstborn son, is inferior to God, and was created by God. The Holy Spirit is not a person; it is God's active force.
Jesus Christ, as Jehovah, established Heavenly Father's everlasting gospel on the earth in every dispensation of time in order to gather in every one of God's children who were lost. Our faith in Jesus Christ can be strengthened as we come to recognize His unchanging nature and His everlasting gospel.
The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT) is a translation of the Bible published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society; it is used and distributed by Jehovah's Witnesses.
A: While the Seventh-day Adventist and Jehovah's Witness faiths both give special emphasis to the Second Coming of Christ, they are different denominations with separate histories and discrete practices. Seventh-day Adventists arose from the Adventist or "Millerite movement after the Great Disappointment of 1844.
Beliefs & Teachings about Death
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that when a person dies, their existence completely stops. This is because the Bible makes it clear that human beings do not have an immortal soul that survives when the body dies. Witnesses believe that Hell (as traditionally portrayed) does not exist.
What Do Jehovah's Witnesses Believe? Witnesses believe in one God, not the Trinity. Like most Christians, they believe that Jesus Christ died for humankind's sins, and was resurrected after his crucifixion. One of the key elements of the Jehovah's Witness faith is their belief that the end of the world is coming soon.
Jehovah's Witnesses have also been criticized because they reject blood transfusions, even in life-threatening medical situations, and for failing to report cases of sexual abuse to the authorities. Many of the claims are denied by Jehovah's Witnesses and some have also been disputed by courts and religious scholars.
The Witnesses refrain from celebrating birthdays because they believe that birthday feasts have pagan roots. Jehovah's witnesses believe that evil influences and spirits get the opportunity to attack the celebrant during birthdays. Also, Jehovah's witnesses argue that early believers never celebrated their birthdays.
"The reason why we did that is the reason we go from door to door: We consider life sacred," Hendriks said. "By giving people a powerful message and by loving our neighbors, these two principles drive our ministry. We had to put principle ahead of personal preference."
Jehovah's Witnesses follow the model of "first-century" Christians, subscribing to Bible principles in the Old and New Test-aments that guide every aspect of their lives. They believe that God's kingdom is coming soon and will bring peace on earth. They don't vote or serve in the military.
The movement's adherents initially called themselves Bible Students until 1931, when they took the name Jehovah's Witnesses. Jehovah is a transliteration of the letters YHWH, which were used in place of the unspeakable name for God in the Old Testament.
It is not recommended to date outside the faith; in fact, it is prohibited, although not enforced in all families. Dating someone in secret is considered a deception to the church.
They affirm that God—Jehovah—is the most high. Jesus Christ is God's agent, through whom sinful humans can be reconciled to God. The Holy Spirit is the name of God's active force in the world.
Based on their understanding of scriptures such as Revelation 14:1-4, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that exactly 144,000 faithful Christians go to heaven to rule with Christ in the kingdom of God. They, with Jesus, will perform priestly duties that will bring faithful mankind to perfect health and 'everlasting life'.
Members who choose to leave the religion due to moral or doctrinal objections are shunned by the community. Members who sin in the eyes of their congregation are shunned as well (Pietkiewicz, 2014).
Both Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons identify as Christians, although their non-Trinitarian doctrine — both deny that Jesus Christ shares a single fundamental divine essence with God the Father and the Holy Spirit — has often brought them into conflict with mainline Christian tradition.
Jehovah's Witnesses identify as Christians, but their beliefs are different from other Christians in some ways. For instance, they teach that Jesus is the son of God but is not part of a Trinity.
The weekend meeting, usually held on Sunday, comprises a 30-minute public talk by a congregation elder or ministerial servant and a one-hour question-and-answer study of a Bible-based article from The Watchtower magazine, with questions prepared by the Watch Tower Society and the answers provided in the magazine.
(dʒɪˈhoʊvə ) noun. God; (the) Lord.
Jehovah's Witnesses adhere to the Bible's view of marriage and divorce. Monogamy between one man and one woman and sex only within marriage are requirements in the Witness religion. But Witnesses do permit divorce in certain cases, believing that the only valid ground for divorce and remarriage is adultery.