Jehovah’s WitnessesBy Thomas Chang

(“In the World”)

Who are the Jehovah’s

Witnesses?The Jehovah’s Witnesses are a unique

religious Christian group that possess very

distinct views from that of the more

widespread religions. They offer a highly

different way of interpreting the world

through the Bible.

(“Apocalypse Delayed”)

(“M. James Penton”)

Origins of the Movement(“Brief History of Watchtower”)

(“Brief History of Watchtower”)

Founder: Charles Russell

Founded International Bible Students’

Association in 1872

Formed Zion’s Watchtower Tract Society in

1881 as legal headquarters

Predicted end of the world, visible coming of

Christ in 1914

Russell succeeded Joseph Rutherford in 1916

Made sweeping changes to the group organization

Changes caused dissent; group diverged

1931- Adopted name Jehovah’s Witnesses

(Hagensick)(“Bible Student Movement”)

Major Beliefs

(“What is Paradise?”)

(“Life Without End”)

What Does This Culture Believe?

One God named Jehovah

End of the world is very soon

End marks Christ’s 1000 year reign; mankind is

resurrected

144,000 go to Heaven, rest have chance at

earthly paradise

No Hell- souls of the wicked are destroyed

(“What Hope is

There?”)

Voting, Pledge of Allegiance, Military Service

Shows favor to human rule

“Christians are subject to God’s kingdom and their allegiance lies solely to him” (Penton 248)

Blood Transfusions

“keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality” (New World Translation, Acts 15.28-9)

Christmas, Easter, Birthdays, etc.

Pagan Origins

God says to celebrate death, not birth

(Lam)

(Scalpel)

Family Dynamics

Encouraged to marry within group

Marriages in Kingdom Hall with no toasting, confetti, etc.

Husband is head of the family

Wives must be fully obedient to husband

Children must be obedient to parents and authority figures

Family Dynamics

“They are instructed, however, that all such obedience is relative; they must respect God above all, and if … others order them to violate a Christian principle, they ‘must obey God rather than men’” (Penton 268)

(“Help for the Family”)

Education

Higher education is highly deemphasized

Preaching is seen much more important during these “last days”

“Timothy, who comes from a religiously divided household, faces a choice. Will he focus on higher education and wealth or will he decide to serve Jehovah whole-souled?” (“Pursue Goals that Honor God”)

(“Strategic Plan”)

Door-to-Door Evangelizing

Door-to-door preaching is a huge part of this culture

All members preach; God said to “make disciples of people of all the nations” (New World Translation, Matthew 28.19-20)

Have a large headquarters called Bethel to make large masses of magazines

(“How is Preaching Organized?”)

Relations with the World

Witnesses have endured rough relations with society

Nonstandard practices and views have made them targets of hate

“They have been assaulted, mobbed, beaten, tarred and feathered, castrated, raped, and murdered” (Penton 141)

(“Cheeses Christ”)

Relations with the World

Though mainly one-sided, Jehovah’s Witnesses have reciprocated these feelings

Have historically been highly critical of other religions, but this is slowly fading

“The Evil One controls the whole world” (New World Translation, John 5.19)

Believe political systems and much of society not in God’s favor

Jehovah’s Witnesses face a unique situation of being highly

sociable with and also alienated from society. Their preaching work

puts them very close to members outside their religion. At the same

time, they hold strongly onto these different views that sets them

apart from mainstream society.

Final Note

Works Cited"A Brief History of the Watchtower After Pastor Russell’s Death." FriendsofJehovahsWitnesses. Friends of Jehovah's Witnesses, 24 Sept. 2011. Web. 9 May 2014.

"Bible Student Movement." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 05 Oct. 2013. Web. 10 May 2014.

"Cheeses Christ." ZeroBS Jehovahs Witnesses Tag. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2014.

Hagensick, Carl. "Regathering." Heraldmag. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2014.

"Help for the Family." JW.ORG. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 May 2014.

"How Do Jehovah's Witnesses Organize Their Preaching Work?" JW.ORG. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2014.

"In the World, but Not of the World: The Story of Adolescents Who Defected from the Jehovah's Witnesses." Reflexive Action. Wordpress, n.d. Web. 10 May 2014.

King, Robert. "Waiting on Jehovah - My Story." Jehovahs Witnesses Watchman. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May 2014.

"Life Without End-At Last! | Become Jehovah's Friend." JW.ORG. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 May 2014.

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. S.l.: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, 1984. Print.

Penton, M. James. Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses. Toronto: U of Toronto, 1985. Print.

Rose, Devin. "Jehovah’s Witnesses Knock on the Wrong Door." St Josephs Vanguard. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May 2014.

"Strategic Plan for Higher Education." Universityofburao.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2014.

"Two New Governing Body Members." Governing Body Letters. Wordpress, n.d. Web. 2 May 2014.

"What Hope Is There for the Dead? | Good News." JW.ORG. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2014.

"What Is Paradise? | What the Bible Says." JW.ORG. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 May 2014.