Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses are members of an international religion that claims to be the restoration of first-century Christianity. Their preaching, evangelistic, and publishing activities are extensive, with The Watchtower and Awake! religious magazines being their most widely known publications. Headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, they are directed by a Governing Body. Each local congregation is led by a group of elders who are appointed by representatives of the Governing Body. Their official membership currently stands at over 6.6 million.2006 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, pg. 31: "Peak of Publishers in Kingdom Service - 6,613,829. Average Publishers Preaching Each Month - 6,390,016. Worldwide Memorial Attendance - 16,383,333."

From their inception, they have been concerned with the second advent of Jesus. Initially holding many views similar to other 19th century Adventist groups, such as the Millerites; they have since developed a unique eschatology. They trace their origin to the religious movement known as Bible Students, which was founded in the late 1870s by Charles Taze Russell. Following a schism in 1917, those who remained supportive of the Watch Tower Society adopted the name Jehovah's Witnesses in 1931 under the leadership of Joseph Franklin Rutherford.

The entire Bible, excluding the Apocrypha, is regarded by Jehovah's Witnesses to be the inerrant word of God. The name 'Jehovah' is an anglicized form of the name of God in the Hebrew language. They believe that Jesus' death was necessary to atone for the sins of humanity, thus allowing for the possibility of endless life on earth or, for a limited number, in heaven. In their eschatology, society will be destroyed through Armageddon, which those found worthy will survive. They differ from mainstream Christianity in rejecting the doctrines of the Trinity and Hellfire in favor of Unitarianism and the soul not surviving death. Though not strictly pacifists, Jehovah's Witnesses refuse to become involved in conflicts, and as a result have been victims of governmental persecution, notably by the Nazi government during World War II. They are well known for their rejection of blood transfusions. Their stand regarding blood transfusions has garnered criticism from some medical and legal sources. Members who are judged to be unrepentant sinners are excommunicated from the congregation, a practice that critics have called cruel and arbitrary.

History

1870-1916

In the early 1870's Russell organized a Bible study group in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1876, Russell met Nelson H. Barbour and subsequently adopted Barbour's eschatology. Barbour predicted a visible return of Christ for 1873, and when that failed to occur, he revised the prediction to 1874. See Section under "Our Faith." Soon after the second disappointment, Barbour's group decided Christ had returned to the earth in 1874, but invisibly.Russell explains how he accepted the idea of an invisible return of Christ in 1874 from N.H. Barbour in They differed from most Second Adventists by teaching that all of humankind descended from Adam would be given a chance to live in a paradise Earth. The year 1914 was seen as the final end marking a forty-year period from 1874.The Three Worlds, p. 189.

In July 1879, Russell broke with Barbour over the concept of substitutionary atonement and he soon began publishing his own magazine, Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence (now known as The Watchtower).Online copies of the The Watch Tower from 1879-1916 can be viewed by issue at: http://www.mostholyfaith.com/bible/Reprints/index.asp or by article at: http://www.agsconsulting.com/htdbv5/links.htm. These are taken from the 7 volume Watch Tower Reprints published by the Watch Tower Society in 1920 which reprinted all the issues from 1879-1919. After the break, Russell retained the bulk of Barbour's eschatological views. He was known as "Pastor Russell", and in 1881 formed the legal entity which developed into the non-profit organization: The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania (currently headquartered in New York City). In 1884, it was incorporated with Russell as president. He authored the six-volume series, Studies in the Scriptures.The titles of the six volumes are: 1) The Divine Plan of the Ages, 2)The Time is At Hand, 3)Thy Kingdom Come, 4)The Battle of Armageddon, 5)The At-one-ment Between God and Man, 6)The New Creation In 1914, Russell founded the International Bible Students Association in Great Britain.

1916-1942

	Last Days Begin	Christ's Return	Christ as King	Resurrection of Anointed	Judgment of Religion	Great Tribulation
History of Eschatological Doctrine
1879-1920	1799	1874	1878			1914, 1915, 1918, 1920
1920-1925			1878			1925
1925-1927			1914	1878	1878	within generation of 1914
1927-1930				1918	1878
1930-1933					1919
1933-1966	1914
1966-1975						1975?
1975-1995						within generation of 1914
1995-						imminent

Following Russell's death on October 31, 1916, an editorial committee of five was set up to supervise the writing of the Watch Tower magazine, as set forth in Russell's Last Will and Testament.; from the December 1, 1916 Watch Tower. This editorial committee was requested to not write, or be connected with, any other publications. On January 6, 1917, Joseph Franklin Rutherford (also known as "Judge Rutherford") was elected second President of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. New by-laws were passed at the same business meeting that strengthened the President's authority.. Rutherford, as chief legal counsel for the Watch Tower Society, had written the new by-laws. (See Harvest Siftings II, written by J.F. Rutherford.) Initially, the board of directors for the Watch Tower Society accepted this change, but four of the board members withdrew their support.Rutherford published his account of the dispute in and . The four directors replied to Rutherford's first booklet in . The June 20, 1917 meeting of the full board of directors tabled for one month a proposal to return control of the Society to the board,See Rutherford's Harvest Siftings under subheading "Seeds Begin to Bring Forth." but Rutherford prevented their attempt. Matters came to a head on July 17, 1917 when the book The Finished Mystery was published., published 1917, was called the seventh volume of Studies in the Scriptures. Rutherford announced that he was dismissing the four directors and was replacing them with new members.. The ousted directors disagreed: "...if the directors were not legally elected, neither were the Society's three officers: Rutherford, Pierson, and Van Amburgh. In order to have been chosen officers in January 1917, they would have had to have been legally elected directors. Yet, they had not been, and hence, by Rutherford's own logic, did not hold office legally."—Apocalypse Delayed, M. James Penton, p. 52 Dissension and schisms ensued in congregations worldwide as a result of these events, and of the consequences of new predictions made for the years 1918"Also, in the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by millions, it shall be that any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the downfall of 'Christianity.'"— (later editions read differently), 1920"And the mountains were not found. Even the republics will disappear in the fall of 1920. And the mountains were not found. Every kingdom of earth will pass away, be swallowed up in anarchy.". (This date was changed in later editions.) and 1925. .

The Watchtower Society's opposition to the draft during World War I resulted in legal action by the United States federal government. Rutherford and the new board of directors were sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment for violating the Espionage Act. They were released on bail, and in March 1919, the judgment against them was reversed and charges dropped.

An emphasis on preaching house-to-house began in 1922. By 1928, attendance at their yearly Memorial dropped nearly 75% from 1922, due to the previous power struggle, the failed predictions for the year 1925, and the evolving doctrinal changes which alienated those who sided with Russell's views. In 1931, the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" was adopted.

From 1925 to 1933, their eschatological beliefs underwent radical changes.Documentations of these changes can be found at By 1933, 1914 was seen as the beginning of Christ's presence, his enthronement as king, and the start of the last days instead of being considered the terminal date in their chronology. affirms that “the Lord’s second presence dates from 1874.” and reiterated this position. These are the current teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses regarding 1914, 1918 and 1919. They no longer consider the dates 1799, 1874 and 1878 to have any eschatological significance.

Jehovah's Witnesses were heavily persecuted by the Nazi government during World War II.See article on the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses from the They "had the option to avoid persecution and personal harm by submitting to state authority and serving in the armed forces. Since such submission would violate their religious beliefs, the vast majority of Jehovah's Witnesses refused to abandon their faith even in the face of persecution, torture in concentration camps, or death." Holocaust Encyclopedia

Under Rutherford, membership grew from about 44,000 in 1928 to about 115,000 at the time of his death in 1942.

1942-1975

Nathan Homer Knorr succeeded Rutherford as president of the Watch Tower Society. Known as an efficient administrator, Knorr founded the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead to train missionaries as well as the Theocratic Ministry School to train preaching and teaching at the congregational level.

Knorr's Vice-President Frederick William Franz became the leading theologian, and is believed to have been the principal translator of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.Since 1942, Witness publications are produced under a policy of anonymity. Former Governing Body member Raymond Franz claims the translators of the New World Translation were Fred Franz, Nathan Knorr, Albert Schroeder and George Gangas. Also produced were a Greek-English New Testament interlinear (The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures) and a Bible dictionary (Aid to Bible Understanding). In 1988 this was replaced by the 2-volume set Insight on the Scriptures. The offices of elder and ministerial servant (deacon) were restored to Witness congregations in 1972, with appointments being made from headquarters. Membership rose from 115,000 to over 2 million under Knorr's leadership.

During the 1960sThe year 1975 was first mentioned in 1966. See, for example, the article and early 1970s, many references appeared in Witnesses literature and assemblies suggesting Christ's thousand-year millennial reign might begin by 1975 but made no explicit prediction.A comprehensive list of quotes from Watch Tower 1975 articles, unaltered with date references, publication, and page numbers etc. Approximately 2% left (or became inactive) from 1975 to 1980.

1976-Present

The leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses was reorganized in 1976 and the power of the presidency passed on to the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses. Subsequent presidents of the Watch Tower Society after Knorr's death in 1977 have been Frederick William Franz, Milton George Henschel and Don A. Adams. However, since 1976, doctrinal and organizational decisions have been made by the Governing Body.1977 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, p. 258 Witnesses no longer teach that the generation of people alive in 1914 will survive until Armageddon,"A Time To Keep Awake", The Watchtower (November 1, 1995), p. 19 par. 12, and p. 20 par. 15. but they continue to emphasize its nearness."'The Great Day of Jehovah is near,' said God's prophet. (Zephaniah 1:14) That day is fast approaching, so we need to live with it in mind."--

Demographics

As of August 2005, Jehovah's Witnesses have a membership of more than 6.6 million actively involved in preaching. To be counted, an individual must be approved as a minister and report some activity in the ministry. Those with chronic and debilitating illness may report as little as 15 minutes of activity. In 2005, these reports indicated a total of nearly 1.3 billion hours. Scans available at 27, 28, 29, 30 accessed January 27, 2006. Jehovah's Witnesses' preaching activity is self-reported, each member submitting a 'Field Service Report' monthly.

Jehovah's Witnesses have an active presence in most countries. In no country are they a large part of the population, however. Brazil and Mexico are the only countries other than the U.S. where the number of active Witness publishers exceeds half a million.

Organizational structure

Jehovah's Witnesses are currently led by a small, ecclesiastical Governing Body. The number of men who make up the Governing Body has ranged from ten to seventeen and currently stands at ten. The Governing Body, through the departments of its various legal organizations, directs the operation of the 112 branches spread throughout the world. Members volunteer to operate these facilities. Each branch assigns circuit overseers who travel among various local congregations, spending a week with each. Within each local congregation, elders assigned by the branch organize the congregation's public ministry and schedule various speakers for congregational teaching. They also decide on qualified members of the congregation for the positions of elder or ministerial servant, requiring the approval of higher leadership.

Elders are prominent in congregational matters, particularly in religious instruction and spiritual counseling; ministerial servants generally assist elders in a limited administrative capacity. Elders are unpaid, but Circuit and District overseers receive a small financial living allowance. All baptized Witnesses are considered to be ordained ministers, and are expected to be able to provide religious instruction to others. Males are encouraged to qualify to become elders. Within local congregations, the role of women is minimal in terms of responsibility, but they carry out a large proportion of the preaching work.

Dissemination of doctrine is done primarily through the semi-monthly journal The Watchtower. As well, a variety of other publications are released on a regular basis, including many books, brochures and video productions. The New World Translation is the principal Bible translation used by these publications.

Beliefs and Practices

The following highlights some of the current beliefs and practices of Jehovah's Witnesses. As such, it reflects the point of view of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Overview

The entire Protestant canon of scripture is considered the inspired word of God. A literal interpretation of the Bible is usually favored, though it is acknowledged that at times biblical writers and characters employed symbolism, parable, figures of speech, and poeticism. The doctrine of sola scriptura is principal, that is, only the Bible should be used for deciding issues of doctrine. The interpretation and application of scripture is the sole responsibility of the Governing Body.

God is the creator and supreme being, sovereign of the universe. Using God's name, Jehovah, a derivative of the Tetragrammaton is a requirement for true worship. Jesus is God's first creation and he was used by God to create everything else. Jesus is literally the only begotten Son of God, and received his life from God. He is the one who is the means of approach to God in prayer, and is the "Chief Agent of life" and salvation for all worthy mankind. His role as mediator of the "new covenant" is limited to those going to heaven,"Consequently, 1 Timothy 2:5, 6 is not using 'mediator' in the broad sense common in many languages. It is not saying that Jesus is a mediator between God and all mankind. Rather, it refers to Christ as legal Mediator (or, “attorney”) of the new covenant, this being the restricted way in which the Bible uses the term."&mdash which number totals 144,000. The vast majority of God's faithful servants will live on a renewed paradise earth.. Mary was not perpetually a virgin, but rather bore more children after Jesus. The soul is the human body and consciousness, not an incorporeal entity that dwells in a physical human. Death is a state of non-existence. Hell (Hades or Sheol) is not a place of fiery torment, but rather the designated common grave of all mankind.

The period known as the "last days" began in 1914. All religions, including Witnesses themselves, will shortly come under attack by governments leading into Armageddon, banning all forms of religion. After religion is destroyed, governments also face destruction. Any who are not deemed faithful by God will be destroyed. The fate of some, such as small children or the mentally ill, remains indeterminate. After Armageddon, an unknown number of dead people will be resurrected, with the prospect of living forever on the paradise earth.

Their view of sexual behavior reflects conservative Christian views. Abortion is considered murder. Homosexuality and premarital sex are considered sins. Modesty is heavily encouraged in dress and grooming. Gambling, an attempt to make money through the losses of others, is strictly forbidden. Practices that connote nationalism or false religion are avoided. Weddings, anniversaries, and funerals are typically observed; however, common celebrations and religious or national holidays such as Birthdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are regarded as unchristian and not celebrated. The family structure is patriarchal. Husbands are considered the final authority on family decisions but are strongly encouraged to actively solicit their wife's thoughts and feeling. Marriages are required to be monogamous. Vigorous efforts are made to spread their beliefs by all members throughout the world in a variety of ways, with particular emphasis on the written word. Literature is published in many languages through a wide variety of books, magazines and other publications, with a small number being available in as many as 410 languages. The preaching work is regarded as a form of humanitarian effort by giving people a hope for the future, and do not typically focus on performing aid work that some other religious groups provide, such as soup kitchens, clothing donations, or building homes for the homeless.

The most important annual event is the celebration of the Lord's Supper held after sundown on the date corresponding to Nisan 14 on the Hebrew calendar. Weekly meetings are held that feature a variety of discourses. Elders and ministerial servants deliver the majority of these, with some student discourses being given by both women and men. As well, certain segments feature audience participation. There is also involvement in relief work in disaster-stricken areas. Focus is primarily on helping fellow members while providing assistance to others in need who are near the area they are working in, based on the principle at Galatians 6:10: "Really, then, as long as we have time favorable for it, let us work what is good toward all, but especially toward those related to ^* in the faith" (NWT). Notable examples include relief efforts to both Hutu and Tutsi victims, during the genocide in Rwanda, as well as to Congo refugees. They have also had an active share in the relief work of hurricane Katrina.

Politics

Jehovah's Witnesses are politically neutral. They feel that their allegiance belongs to God's Kingdom (government). Thus they refrain from saluting the flag of any country or singing nationalistic songs. They believe that such an act would be tantamount to worshipping an idol. Members are expected to obey all the laws, including the paying of taxes, of the country in which they reside, so long as these do not violate "God's law". The political neutrality of Jehovah's Witnesses is also expressed by their refusal to participate in military service, even when such is of a compulsory nature, and by their detachment from secular politics. Jehovah's Witnesses are discouraged, but not prohibited under all circumstances, from voting in elections. They do not run for any political office.

Blood

Whole blood transfusions are rejected. How Can Blood Save Your Life?. Accessed 4 December 2005. This is based on their understanding of the biblical admonition to "keep abstaining from blood" based on Acts 15:28, 29 (NWT). According to the conscience of the particular individual, they may accept derivatives of blood. In current medical practice, whole blood transfusions are very rare, and blood derivatives are used instead. Witnesses may accept a process called normovolemic hemodilution, a treatment that processes the individual's own blood in a closed loop that does not interrupt the circulation of blood, and delivers it immediately back into the person's body. Also left to conscience are procedures where a "quantity of blood is withdrawn in order to tag it or to mix it with medicine, whereupon it is put back into the patient." Many members carry carefully prepared durable power of attorney documentation outlining their medical wishes with respect to blood.

Jehovah’s Witnesses have been known to highlight the potential dangers of blood transfusions. Witness representatives have stated that plasma volume expanders are often sufficient to take care of various medical emergency situations.

Congregational discipline

Congregational discipline is administered by congregation elders through a judicial committee. In the event that an accusation is made concerning a baptized member and there is sufficient evidence, a tribunal or judicial committee (usually of 3 elders) is formed to administer spiritual help and correction. Marking is employed when someone who chooses a course that is ill-considered from a doctrinal standpoint, but still something for which the standard of disfellowshipping would not apply. Though such a person would not be shunned, social interaction outside of formal worship settings would generally be discouraged. Reproof involves sins which are more serious than those for which one would be "marked". Reproof is given before all who have knowledge of the transgression.

The most severe discipline administered is disfellowshipping. The standard put in place to determine if one should be disfellowshipped is the judgment of repentance. To judge repentance, members of the judicial committee ask detailed questions and review actions by the member being considered, in consultation with the Bible and guidelines as set forth by the Governing Body. Baptized members who express disagreement on any doctrine can potentially be disfellowshipped for apostasy.Letter to Circuit and District Overseers, From the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society 1980. (Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses, M. J. Penton, p. 349) Scan available at page 1 page 2 accessed March 18, 2006. Once the decision to disfellowship has been made, a person has seven days to appeal. The disfellowshipping will be announced to the congregation by letting them know that the person "is no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses". After one is disfellowshipped, all baptized members would cut off all association with that person, neither speaking with nor acknowledging them. Exceptions are sometimes made in business and family situations. If the disfellowshipped person is living in the same home with other baptized family members, religious matters are not discussed. Disfellowshipped family members living outside the home would experience minimal to absolutely no contact.

Critical Views

One of the most outspoken critics of Jehovah's Witnesses is Raymond Franz, a former third-generation Jehovah's Witness. Franz, who served nine years on the Governing Body, uses Galatians 1:16-20 to support his claim that Paul of Tarsus did not view the apostles in Jerusalem as a governing body. He further contends that the council of Jerusalem was an isolated event, and that the creation of a central authority in Christianity was a 4th century development. As well, he argues a sense of guilt is imposed on those not complying with organization arrangements for field service. Further, he contends that engaging in this formal activity became an extra-scriptural requirement placed upon those wanting to qualify for eldership. Time spent helping fellow members cannot be counted toward time spent in the ministry. He further claims that an individual's spirituality is judged by the elders on this basis. Further, he is critical of the application of the phrase "house to house" (gr. "kat' oikon") found at Acts 5:42, stating it does not require the idea of consecutive door-to-door visitation. He compares 27 Bible translations, for Acts 2:46, Acts 5:42 and Acts 20:20 showing phrases such as "at home", "at your houses" and "in your homes" are used more often than "house to house". He also maintains that fear of being shunned and/or family break-up/loss causes people to nominally remain members rather than formally disassociate themselves. Members can officially leave the religion by writing a letter requesting to be disassociated. Alternately, elders may also determine a member has disassociated themself by their actions. Both result in the same set consequences (see Disfellowshipping). Also, Franz asserts that the judicial process itself, due to its private and nearly autonomous nature, directly contradicts the precedent found in the Bible and the organization's own teachings, and can be used in an arbitrary and punitive manner.

According to Journal of Church and State in a recent peer-reviewed article, Jehovah's Witnesses are allowed to accept blood provided it is in the form of blood fractions. Kerry Louderback-Wood, the author, alleges that to label the currently acceptable blood fractions as "minute" in relation to whole blood, causes followers to misunderstand the scope and extent of allowed fractions. She also claims Witness publications exaggerate the medical risks of taking blood and the efficacy of non-blood medical therapies in critical situations.

Controversy and opposition

Throughout their history, the beliefs, doctrines and practices of Jehovah's Witnesses have met controversy and opposition from governments, communities and religious groups. Many Christian denominations consider their interpretations and doctrines to be heresy. Jehovah's Witnesses teach that the world's religions and governments are instruments of Satan used to detract from the "true" worship of God. They believe that eventually, God will use the governments of the world to destroy these religions, which they teach to be the "harlot" riding on the back of the seven-headed beast (world governments) in the book of Revelation, and that in turn, God will then eliminate these governments at Armageddon. These beliefs, in addition to their opposition to belonging to a government party, saluting a national flag, or to take up arms in support of their country of residence has led to the consideration by governments of various political persuasions that the religion is a subversive organization, and sometimes even a threat to national security.

Political and religious animosity against them has at times led to mob action and government oppression.

Some communities have also opposed the building of facilities (such as Kingdom Halls) and the holding of large conventions in their areas. Though such opposition is at times specifically directed at the religious group, at other times more mundane concerns are involved, such as traffic congestion and noise. In some legal cases, (such as Congrégation des témoins de Jéhovah de St-Jérôme-Lafontaine v. Lafontaine (Village)), disputes that have actually been about appropriate land use have been claimed by the Witnesses to be a violation of their religious freedoms.

History

1870-1916

1916-1942

1942-1975

1976-Present

Demographics

Organizational structure

Beliefs and Practices

Overview

Politics

Blood

Congregational discipline

Critical Views

Controversy and opposition

See also

References

Further reading

Watch Tower resources

Other Sources

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Jehovah's Witnesses

History

1870-1916

1916-1942

1942-1975

1976-Present

Demographics

Organizational structure

Beliefs and Practices

Overview

Politics

Blood

Congregational discipline

Critical Views

Controversy and opposition

See also

References

Further reading

Watch Tower resources

Other Sources