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Headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, the Religion has over 13,000 Kingdom Halls (Houses of Worship and Study) in the U.S. with 1,145,723 million members (As of 2011). Outside the U.S. membership is over 7.2 million in 96,094 local Kingdom Halls.  All baptized members are ordained ministers and share in the preaching and teaching work; there are no paid clergy.

Headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, the Religion has over 13,000 Kingdom Halls (Houses of Worship and Study) in the U.S. with 1,145,723 million members (As of 2011). Outside the U.S. membership is over 7.2 million in 96,094 local Kingdom Halls.  All baptized members are ordained ministers and share in the preaching and teaching work; there are no paid clergy.

The Jehovah's Witnesses was founded in the United States in the 1870s by Charles Taze Russell of Pittsburgh. A small group of non-conformist Christian Adventists who professed loyalty only to Jehovah, they refused to swear allegiance to any government or to serve in the army of any nation. They believed that after the battle of Armageddon they would be the elect in a thousand-year period of heavenly peace. They were disliked for their opposition to the First World War, their door-to-door proselytizing, their disdain toward government, their early support of the return of the Jews to the Holy Land, and their loud criticism of other Religions hypocrisy.  

The Jehovah's Witnesses was founded in the United States in the 1870s by Charles Taze Russell of Pittsburgh. A small group of non-conformist Christian Adventists who professed loyalty only to Jehovah, they refused to swear allegiance to any government or to serve in the army of any nation. They believed that after the battle of Armageddon they would be the elect in a thousand-year period of heavenly peace.  

They were disliked for their opposition to the First World War, their door-to-door proselytizing, their disdain toward government, their early support of the return of the Jews to the Holy Land, and their loud criticism of other Religions hypocrisy. Some of these criticisms had to do with mainstream Christendoms involvement in politics and their support of war efforts across the globe making them blood-guilty. They put forth the Bible's teaching that true Christians would not kill their own (Spiritual) brothers, (Such as Christians, of any Denomination killing Christians, of the same or other Denominations) and that such actions showed an absence of true brotherhood on the part of these Religions (Loyalty to nation rather then God).

==Theology==

==Theology==

They primarily use the ''[[New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures]]'', their translation of the Bible.  It was produced because in their words: "No translation of the Bible can ever be considered final. Translations must keep pace with the growth in biblical scholarship and the changes in language."<ref> The Watchtower October 15, 1999 p.28 </ref>  

They primarily use the ''[[New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures]]'', their Modern translation of the Bible.  It was produced because in their words: "No translation of the Bible can ever be considered final. Translations must keep pace with the growth in biblical scholarship and the changes in language."<ref> The Watchtower October 15, 1999 p.28 </ref>  

Jehovah's Witnesses believe their faith is the restoration of the early Church.  This belief is based on their attempts to align their organizational structure as closely as possible to their view of the Christian congregation of the first century.  There is no clergy-laity distinction as all, male and female members, are considered to be ordained ministers at the time of [[baptism]] (note that Witnesses do not practice [[infant baptism]]).

Jehovah's Witnesses believe their faith is the restoration of the early Church.  This belief is based on their attempts to align their organizational structure as closely as possible to their view of the Christian congregation of the first century.  There is no clergy-laity distinction as all, male and female members, are considered to be ordained ministers at the time of [[baptism]] (note that Witnesses do not practice [[infant baptism]]).

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that there is only one God, Jehovah, and that Jesus Christ is Gods Son rather then God himself. They do not believe that God is three gods in One, but rather One God that created all things, and thus reject the trinity. The support such teachings using scriptures such as (Matthew 4:10) and (Deuteronomy 6:4) where God is spoken of as the One God Alone.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that there is only one God, Jehovah, and that Jesus Christ is Gods Son rather then God himself. They do not believe that God is three gods in One, but rather One God that created all things, and thus reject the trinity. They support such teachings using scriptures such as (Matthew 4:10), (Deuteronomy 6:4), and (Psalms 83:18) where God is spoken of as the One God Alone.

Witnesses Reject teaching of the immortal soul, citing such scriptures as (Ezekiel 18:4) and (John 11:11) as proof that the soul can die. As such, Witnesses believe teach that a place like the modern concept of ''Hell'' cannot exist, citeing scriptures such as (Matthew 10:28) which aslo speak of the sould being ''Destroyed'' rather then tourtured forever.

Witnesses Reject teaching of the immortal soul, citing such scriptures as (Ezekiel 18:4) and (John 11:11) as proof that the soul can die, and that death can be likened to sleep, where no activity exists. As such, Witnesses believe that a place, like the modern concept of ''Hell'', cannot exist, citing scriptures such as (Matthew 10:28) which also speak of the soul being ''Destroyed'' rather then tortured forever.

Witnesses do not celebrate secular holidays such as Christmas, Easter, or Birthdays pointing out that no such celebrations were held by Gods people in the Bible. They also believe that since these celebrations have their origins in Pagan festivities that delt with the worship of False gods, that True Christians should have no part in them.  

Witnesses do not celebrate secular holidays such as Christmas, Easter, or Birthdays pointing out that no such celebrations were held by God's people in the Bible. They also believe that since these celebrations have their origins in Pagan festivities that dealt with the worship of False gods, that True Christians should have no part in them.  

They do observe an annual celebration of the [[Last Supper]], or Lord's Evening Meal (1 Corinthians 11:20).  This event, which they refer to as the Memorial of Christ's Death, falls on the night of Nisan 14 which corresponds with the ancient [[Passover]] celebration observed by Jews.

They do observe an annual observance of the [[Last Supper]], or Lord's Evening Meal (1 Corinthians 11:20).  This event, which they refer to as the Memorial of Christ's Death, falls on the night of Nisan 14 which corresponds with the ancient [[Passover]] celebration observed by Jews.

==Morality==

==Morality==

Their views of morality reflect conservative Christian values. All sexual relations outside of marriage are grounds for expulsion if the individual is not deemed repentant; homosexuality is considered a serious sin, and same-sex marriages are forbidden. Abortion is considered murder. Modesty in dress and grooming is frequently emphasized. Gambling, drunkenness, illegal drugs, and tobacco use are forbidden.Drinking of alcoholic beverages is permitted in moderation.

Their views of morality reflect conservative Christian values. All sexual relations outside of marriage are grounds for expulsion if the individual is not deemed repentant; homosexuality is considered a serious sin likened to bestiality or pedophilia, and that same-sex marriages are forbidden. Abortion is considered murder. Modesty in dress and grooming is frequently emphasized. Gambling, drunkenness, illegal drugs, and tobacco use are forbidden.Drinking of alcoholic beverages is permitted in moderation.

The family structure is patriarchal. The husband is considered the final authority on family decisions, but is encouraged to solicit his wife's thoughts and feelings, as well as those of his children. Marriages are required to be monogamous. Divorce is discouraged, and remarriage is forbidden unless a divorce is obtained on the grounds of adultery, termed "a scriptural divorce". If a divorce is obtained for any other reason, remarriage is considered adultery while the prior spouse is still alive and has not begun another sexual relationship. Extreme physical abuse, willful non-support of one's family, and what the religion terms "absolute endangerment of spirituality" are considered grounds for legal separation.

The family structure is patriarchal. The husband is considered the final authority on family decisions, but is encouraged to solicit his wife's thoughts and feelings, as well as those of his children. Marriages are required to be monogamous. Divorce is discouraged, and remarriage is forbidden unless a divorce is obtained on the grounds of adultery, termed "a scriptural divorce". If a divorce is obtained for any other reason, remarriage is considered adultery while the prior spouse is still alive and has not begun another sexual relationship. Extreme physical abuse, willful non-support of one's family, and what the religion terms "absolute endangerment of spirituality" are considered grounds for legal separation.

== History ==

== History ==

The group originated in the 1870s with a movement called the Bible Students, founded by [[Charles Taze Russell]] (1852-1916). As a young man, Russell was critical of some Christian doctrines, and was attracted to the teachings of William Miller and other [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|adventists]] who speculated upon the return of the Savior. During the repeated crises of the Adventists, when all dates calculated for the second coming proved erroneous, Russel started his own movement in the 1870's. Predictions concerning the second coming of a spiritual Lord and intensive distribution of tract literature and of 'Watchtower' materials characterize the organization of his group. Russell organized a Bible class to study the scriptures from the ground up.  The study process involved raising a question, discussing the topic and reviewing all known related scriptures that the participants could find on the point.  The results were recorded whether or not they matched long-standing theological viewpoints.  His group was known first as Russellites and then as the "International Bible Students." Russell founded Zion's Watch Tower, (now The Watchtower), in 1879, and Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society in 1884 (later renamed Watchtower Bible and Tract Society)

The group originated in the 1870s with a movement called the Bible Students, founded by [[Charles Taze Russell]] (1852-1916). As a young man, Russell was critical of some Christian doctrines, and was attracted to the teachings of William Miller and other [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Adventists]] who speculated upon the return of the Savior. During the repeated crises of the Adventists, when all dates calculated for the second coming proved erroneous, Russel started his own movement in the 1870's. Predictions concerning the second coming of a spiritual Lord and intensive distribution of tract literature and of 'Watchtower' materials characterize the organization of his group. Russell organized a Bible class to study the scriptures from the ground up.  The study process involved raising a question, discussing the topic and reviewing all known related scriptures that the participants could find on the point.  The results were recorded whether or not they matched long-standing theological viewpoints.  His group was known first as Russellites and then as the "International Bible Students." Russell founded Zion's Watch Tower, (now The Watchtower), in 1879, and Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society in 1884 (later renamed Watchtower Bible and Tract Society)

"Judge" Joseph F. Rutherford (1869-1942), a prolific writer, served as the second president, 1916-42, and renamed the movement "Jehovah's Witnesses" in 1931.  By 1938 there were 115,000 members, and local churches were becoming more directly organized by the Society's headquarters in Brooklyn.  

"Judge" Joseph F. Rutherford (1869-1942), a prolific writer, served as the second president, 1916-42, and renamed the movement "Jehovah's Witnesses" in 1931.  By 1938 there were 115,000 members, and local churches were becoming more directly organized by the Society's headquarters in Brooklyn.