History Founded in the 1870’s by Charles Taze Russell First called the Zion’s Watch Tower and Tract Society The name Jehovah's Witnesses was not adopted

HistoryHistory Founded in the Founded in the

1870’s by Charles 1870’s by Charles Taze RussellTaze Russell

First called the First called the Zion’s Watch Tower Zion’s Watch Tower and Tract Societyand Tract Society

The name Jehovah's The name Jehovah's Witnesses was not Witnesses was not adopted officially adopted officially until 1931until 1931

FactsFacts

6.6 million members are actively invovled 6.6 million members are actively invovled in preachingin preaching

1 hour of service is the minimum 1 hour of service is the minimum requirement per monthrequirement per month

1.3 billion hours as of 20051.3 billion hours as of 2005 1.331 million adult members in the U.S.1.331 million adult members in the U.S. 1 million active in the U.S.1 million active in the U.S. Over 5 million active in U.S., Mexico, Over 5 million active in U.S., Mexico,

Brazil, and ZambiaBrazil, and Zambia Gradual decline in membershipGradual decline in membership

BeliefsBeliefs

1.1. Source of AuthoritySource of Authority • • JWs claim the Bible is their final source of authorityJWs claim the Bible is their final source of authority

• • The JWs have their own translation of the Bible The JWs have their own translation of the Bible called the called the New World TranslationNew World Translation

• • The WatchtowerThe Watchtower magazine is also one of their main magazine is also one of their main authoritiesauthorities

2.2. The TrinityThe Trinity • • JWs believe that God is not a triune God, but only JWs believe that God is not a triune God, but only

“Jehovah God”“Jehovah God”

• • They believe Trinitarianism is a belief in three godsThey believe Trinitarianism is a belief in three gods

Beliefs Beliefs (continued)(continued)

2.2. The Trinity The Trinity (continued)(continued)

• • They also believe that Satan inspired They also believe that Satan inspired polytheism, and that those who believe in the polytheism, and that those who believe in the Trinity are polytheistsTrinity are polytheists

3.3. God the FatherGod the Father • • They know him as JehovahThey know him as Jehovah

• • Considers Him to be the only true eternal God, Considers Him to be the only true eternal God, the Almightythe Almighty

• • They believe God was once alone in the They believe God was once alone in the universe and his first creation was His sonuniverse and his first creation was His son


4.4. Jesus ChristJesus Christ • • Since JWs do no believe in the Trinity, they also Since JWs do no believe in the Trinity, they also

do not believe that Jesus is God in the fleshdo not believe that Jesus is God in the flesh

• • In Colossians 1:16, 17 they add the word In Colossians 1:16, 17 they add the word “other” four times, to teach that Jesus Christ in “other” four times, to teach that Jesus Christ in the reincarnation of the archangel Michaelthe reincarnation of the archangel Michael

• • The “Watchtower” teaches that Michael is The “Watchtower” teaches that Michael is God’s son, that he was created before the God’s son, that he was created before the world, and that he was the only person created world, and that he was the only person created directly by Goddirectly by God


5.5. Resurrection of ChristResurrection of Christ • • JWs deny the bodily resurrection of ChristJWs deny the bodily resurrection of Christ • • Through their teachings the body of Christ was Through their teachings the body of Christ was

annihilated by God, not risenannihilated by God, not risen • • They claim Jesus arose spiritually and only They claim Jesus arose spiritually and only

“materialized” various times after His “materialized” various times after His resurrection so He could be seen aliveresurrection so He could be seen alive

6.6. The Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit • • JWs claim that the holy spirit is only an JWs claim that the holy spirit is only an

impersonal “active force of the Almighty God impersonal “active force of the Almighty God which moves His servants to do his will”which moves His servants to do his will”


7.7. SinSin • • JWs believe in the Adam and Eve story and that JWs believe in the Adam and Eve story and that

Adam disobeyed Jehovah when tempted by the Adam disobeyed Jehovah when tempted by the angel Luciferangel Lucifer

• • They believe that as a result of his disobedience They believe that as a result of his disobedience Adam and all his descendents lost the right to lifeAdam and all his descendents lost the right to life

8.8. SalvationSalvation • • JWs claim everlasting life is a reward for doing JWs claim everlasting life is a reward for doing

the will of Godthe will of God


8.8. Salvation Salvation (continued) (continued)

• • According to their theology there are three According to their theology there are three possible destinies, the anointed, the 144,00 that possible destinies, the anointed, the 144,00 that go to heaven, the rest who are not the anointed go to heaven, the rest who are not the anointed live forever on a paradise Earth, and the rest who live forever on a paradise Earth, and the rest who are not a Jehovah’s Witness are demolished by Godare not a Jehovah’s Witness are demolished by God

9.9. The Body of ChristThe Body of Christ • • They believe that the members of the spiritual They believe that the members of the spiritual

Body of Christ are the chosen 144,00Body of Christ are the chosen 144,00

• • Only 8,000 of theses chosen ones are still on Only 8,000 of theses chosen ones are still on earthearth


10.10.Soul SleepSoul Sleep • • JWs deny the immortality of the soulJWs deny the immortality of the soul • • They do not believe the soul can exist They do not believe the soul can exist

apart from the body, but a corpse apart from the body, but a corpse remains in an in the grave waiting for remains in an in the grave waiting for resurrectionresurrection

11.11.Annihilation of the WickedAnnihilation of the Wicked • • They teach the “second death” is annihilation They teach the “second death” is annihilation

and extictionand extiction

• • They claim the wicked will cease to exist and They claim the wicked will cease to exist and will not suffer everlasting torment, because will not suffer everlasting torment, because they deny the doctrine of hellthey deny the doctrine of hell

DisciplineDiscipline

Administered by congregation of eldersAdministered by congregation of elders1. marking-1. marking- • •someone is deemed unscriptualsomeone is deemed unscriptual • •social interaction outside of formal social interaction outside of formal

worship is restrictedworship is restricted2. reproof-2. reproof- • •public punishment is in front of all on public punishment is in front of all on

lookerslookers3. disfellowshipping-3. disfellowshipping- • •excommunicationexcommunication • •all baptized members cut off all association all baptized members cut off all association

with that personwith that person

PracticesPractices

Always address each other as “brother” Always address each other as “brother” and “sister”and “sister”

Weddings, anniversaries, and funerals are Weddings, anniversaries, and funerals are typically observedtypically observed

Common, religious, or natural holidays: Common, religious, or natural holidays: birthdays, thanksgiving, and christmas birthdays, thanksgiving, and christmas aren’t celebrated because they have aren’t celebrated because they have pagan originspagan origins

Family structure is patriarchal Family structure is patriarchal

Practices Practices (continued)(continued)

Political NeutralityPolitical Neutrality

• •refuse to salute flag or sing nationalistic refuse to salute flag or sing nationalistic songssongs

• •refuse to serve in the militaryrefuse to serve in the military

• •refuse to participate in political processes refuse to participate in political processes such as electionssuch as elections

• •refuse to hold political officerefuse to hold political office They don’t believe in blood transfusion or They don’t believe in blood transfusion or

gamblinggambling

How they communicate their How they communicate their beliefs to others (share their beliefs to others (share their

good news)good news) They don’t feel that they use pressure or They don’t feel that they use pressure or

force to convert peopleforce to convert people They try to find those who are “sighing They try to find those who are “sighing

and groaning over all of the detestable and groaning over all of the detestable things being done” to helpthings being done” to help

They do this by going from house to house They do this by going from house to house They practice this because they feel that is They practice this because they feel that is

was what Christ did- “He went journeying was what Christ did- “He went journeying from city to city”from city to city”

Documents

History Founded in the 1870’s by Charles Taze Russell First called the Zion’s Watch Tower and Tract Society The name Jehovah's Witnesses was not adopted