Jehovah’s Witnesses identify as Christians, yet their beliefs differ in some ways from those of other Christians. For example, they preach that Jesus is God’s son but not a member of the Trinity.
We may recall them as the folks who frequently came to our houses to evangelize, but do we really know what they believe?
When did the Jehovah’s Witness begin?
In 1870, a man named Charles Taze Russell began leading Bible studies in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Taze also formed the Bible Student movement, which gave rise to the Jehovah’s Witnesses movement. The Jehovah’s Witnesses were founded when Taze began challenging several of Christianity’s conventional beliefs.
Russell argued against numerous common Christian beliefs during his career, including soul immortality, hellfire, predestination, the fleshly return of Jesus Christ, the Trinity, and the destruction of the earth.
What are the beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses? JW believe in a single God rather than the Trinity. They believe, like most Christians, that Jesus Christ died for the sins of humanity, but they do not think that he was bodily resurrected after his crucifixion. They feel he was merely spiritually raised.
Where did the name “Jehovah’s Witness” come from?
Because Jehovah’s Witnesses are devoted to God the Father, their name is derived from the Tetragrammaton, written as YHWH or JHVH and pronounced as Yahweh or Jehovah. The Watch Tower Society was founded by Charles Taze Russell, who published Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence magazines.
Do Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christians use the same Bible?
The New World Translation is the Bible translation used by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Prior to the publication of this translation by and for Jehovah’s Witnesses, most depended on the King James Version.
The New World Version of the Bible is Jehovah’s Witnesses’ own edition; no other religious body uses it, and Jehovah’s Witnesses use few other Bibles.
Do Jehovah’s Witnesses acknowledge the Holy Trinity?
No, the answer is no. It is one of the most significant differences between Jehovah’s Witnesses and other Christian denominations. Jehovah’s Witnesses point out that the term “trinity” is never clearly mentioned in the Bible. This “philosophy has gradually evolved over the centuries and through many debates”, they say.
Why don’t the Jehovah’s Witnesses celebrate Christmas?
Witnesses do not observe Christmas or Easter due they believe these holidays are based on (or have been heavily influenced by) pagan rituals and beliefs. They pointed out that Jesus never asked his disciples to celebrate his birthday.
What are the holidays observed by Jehovah’s Witnesses?
Jehovah’s Witnesses need not observe national or religious festivals, nor do they observe birthdays. They only remember Jesus Christ’s crucifixion around the period of Easter and Passover.
What can’t Jehovah’s Witnesses do?
Premarital sex, homosexuals, gender transgender people, adultery, smoking, alcoholism, drug addiction, and blood transfusions are all prohibited by the denomination’s rigorous moral rules.
Do the Jehovah’s Witnesses hold funerals?
The burial service of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is similar to that of other Christian faiths, except it lasts only 15 to 30 minutes. The funeral is normally held within a week of the death. Men are supposed to wear a suit and tie to the service, while ladies are advised to dress conservatively. But neither requires a head covering.
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