What do Jehovah Witness's believe in?

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I hope I’ve came to the right place.

I am curious to know about Jehovah Witness’s. What do they believe in and why? What is their history?

My little girl went to a public school last year and she had two JW little boys in her class. It was very sad because these two boys were never allowed to participate in any celebratory activities and they just watched on the side lines as the other children sang, danced etc. If these boys did care I would not think it was sad but they were cleary sad and feeling left out. When they were asked by the other children why they don’t do birthdays (why not celebrate a birthday???) they couldn’t articulate it very well and always said that they wish they could participate.

I don’t get it! So that is why I have come here.

If anyone can enlighten me that would be great.

God’s Peace
 
Me too wanted to know what JW practise, i was told they are not allow to carry any arm weapon right??
 
JW’s Believe that they are the one true faith. They reject the trinity - they believe that Jesus was Michael the Archangel. They have their own Bible translation (New World) and several verses have been altered to support their views. They believe that Armegeddon is coming very soon & Jehovah will will destroy everyone except faithful JW’s. They believe that all religions (other than theirs) and all political systems ar the work of Satan.

They believe that there are only 144,000 spots available in heaven and those spots were filled by 1935. The vast vast majority of JW’s believe they will NOT go to heaven, but will live forever on Earth.

They must attend meetings 3 times per week and go out in service knocking on doors witnessing their faith.

They may not:

Vote
Celebrate any holidays (b-days, Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day… etc. etc.)
Join the military
Accept blood transufions
See R rated movies
women: wear pants to “church” (Kingdom Hall)
men: have hair past their shirt collar
Have worldly associations (become friends with non JW’s)
Sing patriotic songs or own a flag
Speak to any former JW’s (they shun those who leave the faith - even close family members)
Wear a cross or own any religious symbols (angels - saint statues - pictures of Jesus etc.)

15 years ago when I was a JW we were not allowed to go to college… I’m told this has since changed?

Their religion was started by Charles T. Russell in the late 1800’s. He believed he was chosen by God (Jehovah) to start a new faith because all the other faiths were wrong. He made alot of predicions - none of which came true. Throughout their brief history they have predicted the end of the world several times. Each time the predicition fails, many JW’s leave the organization. Sadly, many new people fall prey to their zealous preaching & join.
 
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happygal:
Me too wanted to know what JW practise, i was told they are not allow to carry any arm weapon right??
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Among many other things (Carol pointed out several very well :)) they are also complete pacifists. No weapons, no military service.

If you want to know more about them you can call them and they will definitely talk to you. Most likely they will want to do it face to face and will schedule a time to talk with you at or in your home. They will see this as an opportunity to show you the truth (which is of course their ideas and only their ideas). If you ask them questions they will answer them or find out and come back with an answer.

A word of caution: If you do take this route you should be firmly grounded in your faith. Their arguments are well thought out and if you don’t do your homework or take the time to do your own research you can fall into their traps.

Truth fears nothing.
 
carol marie:
Thanks. I’m often told smarter than I look. 😉
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Then again… maybe I’m not. That should read:

I’m often told I’m smarter than I look. :o
 
One other thing the JWs believe in is money. Their organization is incorporated as a business. Their members are expected to purchase the materials they sell from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc. Whatever they do not sell they have to eat (not literally, of course). And I have read that they are pressured to buy if they want to be seen as good, productive JWs. So it’s not a case where all they have to do is replenish the stuff they sell; regardless of whether they sell or not, they are expected to buy.

I would second the advice that you should not talk to them unless you are well-grounded in your own faith, especially Scripture. They are sincere, well-meaning people who are given extensive training in how to put their beliefs across. Their weakness, however, is also their training which gives them limited knowledge–only what the Society wants them to know. Most JWs won’t listen to counter arguments because they are not prepared to deal with them. So someone who knows his Catholic faith and Scripture can usually send the JWs packing fairly quickly.
 
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weedhook:
One other thing the JWs believe in is money. Their organization is incorporated as a business. Their members are expected to purchase the materials they sell from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc. Whatever they do not sell they have to eat (not literally, of course). And I have read that they are pressured to buy if they want to be seen as good, productive JWs. So it’s not a case where all they have to do is replenish the stuff they sell; regardless of whether they sell or not, they are expected to buy.

I would second the advice that you should not talk to them unless you are well-grounded in your own faith, especially Scripture. They are sincere, well-meaning people who are given extensive training in how to put their beliefs across. Their weakness, however, is also their training which gives them limited knowledge–only what the Society wants them to know. Most JWs won’t listen to counter arguments because they are not prepared to deal with them. So someone who knows his Catholic faith and Scripture can usually send the JWs packing fairly quickly.
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Actually the JW’s don’t purchase the materials they distribute door to door. The organization did away with “selling” the materials to it’s members several years ago - I think to avoid some sort of tax. JW’s are able to have all the materials they need - but they are to donate to cover the cost. Small collection boxes are mounted on the wall in the Kingdom Hall & JW’s contribute whatever they want. It’s the honor system. Since no -one knows how much someone contributes, no one is really pressured to buy anything. The magazines and books are free for the taking and given to the “homeowner” for free - most JW’s I worked with didn’t even ask for a contribution to cover the cost although we were told we could (this would reinburse our expense).

The Watchtower Society does have assets though. The Kingdom Halls are built by volunteers - all of the materials are produced by volunteers - the Elders (similar to a Pastor) do not receive any salaries - and the the Society owns some very valuable property in Brooklyn, New York.

I really don’t believe that the Watchtower Society is in it for the money though. The simple truth - in my opinion - is that everyone - from the regular witness to the governing body have bought into this belief system and they honestly believe that they are serving Jehovah. They’ve been duped and it’s terribly sad.
 
If they don’t believe in any kind of government do they pay taxes and if the do to whom to they pay them? An other question. If they don’t recognize the authority of a government how do they buy and sell real-estate? I see a lot of problems living in a community while trying not to recognizing the authority of the community. Do they use the Services provided by the government they don’t recognize, fire, water, etc.? I left out police because if they don’t believe in the military I presume they don’t believe in a police because the police are a military of sorts. They ware uniforms carry guns and can kill people.

Not believing in an earthly governmental authority because it is evil causes problems living in the boundary of the government.

I hope you can fallow my ramblings? :hmmm:
 
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Harland:
If they don’t believe in any kind of government do they pay taxes and if the do to whom to they pay them? An other question. If they don’t recognize the authority of a government how do they buy and sell real-estate? I see a lot of problems living in a community while trying not to recognizing the authority of the community. Do they use the Services provided by the government they don’t recognize, fire, water, etc.? I left out police because if they don’t believe in the military I presume they don’t believe in a police because the police are a military of sorts. They ware uniforms carry guns and can kill people.

Not believing in an earthly governmental authority because it is evil causes problems living in the boundary of the government.

I hope you can fallow my ramblings? :hmmm:
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They believe that the government systems are necessary evils… so they pay taxes & they are supposed to obey all laws that don’t conflict w/ God’s laws… but they don’t involve themselves in politics because they believe that true peace & security can only come after Armegeddon when Jehovah makes a “new earth.”
So to answer your question… they use all the services their taxes pay for.

I suppose it would be similar to moving to a communist country. You could say that you don’t believe in the system AT ALL - but you will obey & subject yourself to the authorities.

And you are correct - a JW could not be a police officer because they aren’t allowed to carry a weapon.

They really have no attachements to this world because they believe it’s all going to end very soon. That is why they don’t fight to end abortion - or have an opinion about the death penalty - or even really care about the homeless or the poor. Social issues are of no concern because they are told to be “no part of the world.”
 
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weedhook:
One other thing the JWs believe in is money. Their organization is incorporated as a business. Their members are expected to purchase the materials they sell from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc. Whatever they do not sell they have to eat (not literally, of course). And I have read that they are pressured to buy if they want to be seen as good, productive JWs. So it’s not a case where all they have to do is replenish the stuff they sell; regardless of whether they sell or not, they are expected to buy.

I would second the advice that you should not talk to them unless you are well-grounded in your own faith, especially Scripture. They are sincere, well-meaning people who are given extensive training in how to put their beliefs across. Their weakness, however, is also their training which gives them limited knowledge–only what the Society wants them to know. Most JWs won’t listen to counter arguments because they are not prepared to deal with them. So someone who knows his Catholic faith and Scripture can usually send the JWs packing fairly quickly.
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They also do NOT believe in the Trinity so they changeds the verse of John 1:1 to say what they need it to say
 
Hi:

My name is Jeff Schwehm and I am the President of The Fellowship of Catholic Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses. We are a group of former JWs who are now Catholic and we are called by God to share the Catholic faith with our JW friends (and Catholic friends too.)

You can get more information on what JWs believe and why and how to dialog with JWs at the following website:

www.catholicxjw.com

And you can listen to our podcasts at our website or subscribe to them at

catholicxjw.blogspot.com

Jeff S.
 
Jehovah’s Witnesses - Who are they and what do they believe?

The central CORE doctrine of the Watchtower,yes **the reason the Watchtower came into existence was to declare Jesus second coming in 1914.**When the prophecy (derived from William Miller of 1842) failed they said that he came “invisibly”.

FAMILY WRECKING CULT:

I have family in the Jehovah’s Witnesses Naples Florida kingdom hall who practice the Watchtower JW enforced ritual shunning that i have not seen or heard from in 15 years.

The WatchTower Corporation is a media publishing, real estate development, and convention sponsoring company and their literature all promotes the corporation and those goals.

UNLIKE in the case of Christians who are persecuted in other lands for talking about Jesus Christ, Jehovah’s Witnesses are largely persecuted for following the teachings of their corporate headquarters.

When the Watchtower is held accountable for their misdeeds they scream religious ‘persecution’.

The Watchtower corporation pays no municipal taxes on their buildings, without even one charity to compensate the community.

Think! When was the last time you saw a Jehovah’s Witness charity of any kind for the poor? ]

The Watchtower is BIG money, being one of the top 40 New York City Corporations making nearly one billion dollars a year. That’s just from one of their many corporations.

Jehovah’s Witnesses follow the teachings begun during the second presidency of the Watchtower, when Joseph F. Rutherford took over in a corporate flap and began changing doctrines quickly in the Watchtower belief system.

He claimed that angels directly conveyed “truth” to some of those in leadership. He coined the name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” to make them stand out from being witnesses of Jesus, a typical evangelical expression (and a Biblical one).

Rutherford dumped holidays, birthdays and the 1874 date for the invisible return on Christ, and invented an “earthly class” of Witnesses, since only 144,000 can go to heaven according to their teaching.

The rest, meaning all 99.9% of Witnesses still alive, will live forever on a cleansed earth, under the rule of the Watchtower corporate headquarter leaders in heaven, who will keep them in line by local elders known as “princes.”

If you have been “witnessed to” by Jehovah’s Witnesses and you reject their message, you will likely die “shortly” at Armageddon with all the other non-Witnesses, since theirs is the only true religion, and (if they can live up to all the rules) they are the only ones to inhabit this “new earth.”

If you believe Witnesses seem rigid now, any non-conformist during the future “cleansed earth” will be directly destroyed by their god. Even now a Witness will be disfellowshipped (excommunicated) for any one of many gaffs, such as smoking, taking a blood transfusion, or even voting.

To even vocally question the teachings of the Jehovah’s Witness organization will result in complete cutting off, with family and friends usually being forbidden to talk to them.

The Watchtower is a truly ORWELLIAN world.

Jehovah’s Witnesses are the ‘perfect storm’ of deception-in a word they are the cult of Innuendo–Danny Haszard Bangor Maine dannyhaszard.com
 
Thank you to everyone who responded to my post. Especially, those who suggested the websites.

I feel a lot less ignorant now when it comes to my knowledge of JW’s.

Thankfully, my knowledge of both the Church and Scripture has fended off the JW visitors and different times in the past. I just never knew what they really believed and why, nor did I really care.

Funny, I once was told if you have an American Flag outside your home it would deter them but not in my case. Not only do I have an American Flag right outside my door but St. Francis stands tall out there as well.

Oh, well. We are all free to believe in what we choose. God does give us free will. It is unfortunate that some choose to believe in such fallacy. (I know many believe that Catholics are misguided as well:D ) I personally would not find it appealing to believe in something that taught that there was no place for me in Heaven. What kind of motivator is that. Not to mention that it is a huge contridiction to Scripture. But then again, if you change it to suit your own purpose then I guess it could work for you.

I’d prefer to think of being one of those assumed into Heaven as Our Lady Mary was if Christ comes back during my life time. But that is just me.

Again, thank you to all. And may God lead those who are led astray Home. Just another good reason to always live our lives as good witnesses to the Church and Christ’s teachings.

Blessings
 
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