2. 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.
5. (“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
6. 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”)
9. 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?”)
10. 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)
11. 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
12. 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”)
13. 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”)
14.
15. 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?”)
16. 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”)
17. 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
18. 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
19. 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.
