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Jehovah’s Witnesses
Description
The Jehovah’s Witness movement began in the early 1870s at a Bible study group in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. The leader of the group was Charles Taze Russell, who in 1879 began publishing a magazine, Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. By 1880, there were several congregations following Russell’s doctrine. Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society was formed in 1881, and in 1884 Russell became president of the incorporated society. The name eventually changed to Watch Tower Tract and Bible Society.
In 1909, the society’s headquarters moved to Brooklyn, New York, where it is still located. The movement had spread worldwide by this point. Many sermons and books were published and circulated, and a film documenting the Earth’s history since its creation by Jehovah to the present day was made and played extensively.
Russell wrote that 1914 would be the end of an era, the end of gentile days. Not all that he predicted occurred; however, it was a historically significant year nonetheless. Russell died in 1916, and Joseph F. Rutherford took his place and made some changes. He began a new magazine, The Golden Age (still in circulation as Awake!). He also emphasized door-to-door witnessing. The name Jehovah’s Witnesses was officially adopted in 1931. Radio and portable phonograph were two other media through which Jehovah’s Witnesses spread sermons to the general population. Meanwhile, Witnesses were being prosecuted for their activities, but they were able to defeat the charges because their civil rights were being violated.
Rutherford died in 1942, and N. H. Knorr took his place. He started a school for missionaries, the Bible School of Gilead, and he expanded the governing body so that administration would be more effective.
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in God but do not believe in the Trinity. Jesus Christ is seen as God’s son but as a separate entity, while the Holy Spirit is God’s motivating force. They believe that God created the Earth for a reason and that Jehovah’s Witnesses are its stewards. Although Jehovah planned for Adam and Eve to be righteous stewards, they sinned and fell from grace, so other humans are also not free of sin. Witnesses believe that human death is the result of Adam’s sin. Jesus Christ died and was resurrected so that human sins may be forgiven, as his death was a ransom for humans.
Witnesses believe that death is a state of unconsciousness and that 144,000 Witnesses alone will ascend into heaven. The rest will have eternal life on Earth, and the wicked will be destroyed for good. Hell is the common grave of humanity, and hope for the dead is found in the belief in resurrection, which will happen on Judgment Day.
Jehovah’s Witnesses will not swear allegiance to any government or any flag, believing that they owe allegiance to God only. Consequently, they are usually excluded or exempt from military service, depending on national law. In some countries, they are prosecuted for refusing compulsory military service.
Religious Elements
Scriptural and Doctrinal Sources
Old and New Testaments are used. The Watchtower: This magazine discusses and promotes doctrine, rather than serving as a direct source of doctrine. Awake!: This magazine is another source of discussion about doctrine.
Sacraments
Baptism by immersion in water, symbolic of dedication. Lord’s Evening Meal, celebrated once annually as a memorial of Christ’s sacrificial death.
Moral Code
Houses of Worship
The Kingdom Hall is the central building where Jehovah’s Witnesses, meet to worship. Bible studies may also take place at Witnesses’ homes.
Devotional Practices and Services
Weekly meetings are held in each Kingdom Hall to spread and discuss the Word of God; these meetings are open to the public. Meetings include discussion of some current topic of interest, followed by Bible study of a theme or prophecy, which is supplemented by The Watchtower reading material. Weekly meetings are conducted to teach Witnesses how to spread the Word of Jehovah. These meetings include discussions concerning the state of local recruitment and door-to-door visits. Witnesses gather weekly in homes for short Bible studies.
Clergy, Organization and Government
The governing-body headquarters is in Brooklyn, New York. Headquarters sends representatives every year to local branches to discuss work. Branch offices have branch committees with three to seven members to oversee work in a district. Each branch governs a district, and each district is broken up into circuits. Each circuit has 20 congregations Each circuit has two assemblies per year. The district overseer visits each circuit in rotation. The circuit overseer tries to visit each congregation about twice a year to assist in organization and preaching. The local congregation is defined by its attendance at a particular Kingdom Hall, the meeting centre. The geographic area around each Kingdom Hall is mapped out into territories, and each Witness is assigned a territory in which to visit householders. Each Kingdom Hall has elders who look after particular duties. Individual Jehovah’s Witnesses have the important role of spreading the word of Jehovah. Every year, accomplishments are published in the January edition of The Watchtower and in an annual yearbook.
Propagation of the Faith
Evangelism is most frequently conducted by Witnesses who go door to door, as this is understood to be the most effective way to spread the Word of Jehovah (on a one-to-one basis). When at a person’s house, a Witness will discuss a local or world issue with the householder and may offer a Scripture reading for the person to consider. If the householder shows interest, the Witness will arrange a time to visit again and continue the discussion. A free Bible study may be offered. Witnesses also take advantage of daily conversation, such as with a neighbour, a co-worker or a stranger on the bus, to spread the Word of Jehovah.
Major Celebrations and Observances
Days of Regular Observance
Weekly meeting at Kingdom Hall to discuss the Bible and prophecies in the Bible. Weekly meeting to focus on techniques of evangelism. Weekly Bible study meetings in individual homes.
Special Observances
Dress Requirements
Dietary Requirements
Medical and Health Requirements
Blood transfusions: Taking blood into the body is morally wrong and prohibited, as stated in the Bible. This includes any components of blood, such as packed red cells, plasma, white cells and platelets. Jehovah’s Witnesses will place their faith in God for healing instead of accepting a blood transfusion. Jehovah’s Witnesses can choose whether to accept other products, such as albumin, immunoglobulins and clotting factors.
- Blood testing is permitted as long as the samples are disposed of.
- Dialysis is acceptable.
- Other medical treatment is acceptable.
Organ transplants: These are generally not permitted because blood passes through organs, and taking in blood is prohibited. Where blood is not involved, such as with corneas, a transplant may be acceptable.
Death and Burial
The dying may appreciate a visit from an elder, although this is not a requirement. Last rites are inappropriate. Burial is by family decision.
Other
Birthdays and Christmas are not celebrated. Jehovah’s Witnesses avoid mixing socially with people outside their faith, except for evangelical purposes.
Sources of Additional Information
http://www.watchtower.org/ — official website of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The Watchtower Society
Box 4100
Halton Hills, ON L7G 4Y4
Phone: (519) 853-1500
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