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'''Jehovah's Witnesses''', are a religious organization that is headquartered in the [[United States]] and legally known as the ''Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.''  They use the ''[[New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures]]'', their version of the [[Bible]],  to draw conclusions that do not match mainstream [[Christian]] thought, including denying [[the Trinity]] and denying the divinity of [[Christ]].  

'''Jehovah's Witnesses''', are a religious organization that is headquartered in the [[United States]] and legally known as the ''Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.''  They use the ''[[New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures]]'', their version of the Bible,  to draw conclusions that do not match mainstream Christian thought, including denying [[the Trinity]] and denying the divinity of Christ.

 

 

 

Witnesses 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.

== History ==

== History ==

The group originated in the 1870s with a movement called the Bible Students, founded by [[Charles Taze Russell]].  Beginning in 1870, C.T. 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 thelogical viewpoints.

The group originated in the 1870s with a movement called the Bible Students, founded by [[Charles Taze Russell]].  Beginning in 1870, C.T. 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.

 

Witnesses are well known worldwide for their door-to-door preaching which features use of the Bible and distribution of ''[[The Watchtower]]'' and ''[[Awake!]]'' magazine.  They do not celebrate holidays that are not discussed in the Bible or that they feel serve to exalt individuals, human organizations or national groups, believing them to be an affront to God (see below).  This includes birthdays.

* Jehovah's Witnesses 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]].

Witnesses are well known worldwide for their door-to-door preaching which features use of the Bible and distribution of ''[[The Watchtower]]'' and ''[[Awake!]]'' magazine.  They do not celebrate holidays that are not discussed in the Bible or that they feel serve to exalt individuals, human organizations or national groups, believing them to be an affront to God.  In the 1920s and 1930s Witnesses would enter communities in large numbers, play loud phonograph records, and go door-to-door in search of potential converts, and denouncing other churches as evil. They became very popular indeed. [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], whose mother was a leader of the Witnesses in Kansas, came under attack for his connection; he defended the group but never affiliated with it.

Their position of political neutrality has led to their being well known for their refusal to pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America (or other governments) and participation in military service.  Jehovah's Witnesses base their position on their understanding of [[Book of Romans|Romans]] 13:1,5-7; [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] 12:17; and [[Book of Acts|Acts]] 5:28, 29.  Individual Witnesses are expected to be law abiding, tax paying citizens of the country in which they reside, but they do not vote.

Their alienation from government led to their refusal to pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America (or other governments) and participation in military service.  Jehovah's Witnesses base their position on their understanding of [[Book of Romans|Romans]] 13:1,5-7; [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] 12:17; and [[Book of Acts|Acts]] 5:28, 29.  Individual Witnesses are expected to be law abiding, tax paying citizens of the country in which they reside, but they do not vote. The Supreme Court ruled against them in 1941 but in 1943 they obtained the reversal of the decision that had permitted schools to expel their children for refusing to salute the flag. The Witnesses considered such idolatry akin to worshiping the Roman emperor in the ancient world. The Witnesses' trials support the position that American liberty does not emanate so much from localities and states taking their stand against a potentially tyrannical federal government as from an elite legal culture that places the Constitution and individual rights above the passions of communities and crowds.<ref> See Francis (2000)</ref>

* Witnesses were victims of the [[Holocaust]] under [[Nazi Germany]] because of their refusal to serve in the German military. Opposition to the Witnesses has been manifested in recent years in such diverse countries as South Korea, Greece, Spain, Chile, and various republics of the former [[Soviet Union]] including Russia, Georgia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. There has been persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Quebec, Canada due to their refusal to hold loyality to a government during wartime.

Witnesses were victims of the [[Holocaust]] under [[Nazi Germany]]. Of the approximately 20,000 Witnesses in Germany in 1933, about 6,000 were arrested. Hundreds died of mistreatment in prisons and camps; some were executed.<ref> See Penton (2004)</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]]).

Opposition to the Witnesses has been manifested in recent years in such diverse countries as South Korea, Greece, Spain, Chile, and various republics of the former [[Soviet Union]] including Russia, Georgia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. There has been persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Quebec, Canada due to their refusal to hold loyalty to a government during wartime.

== Jehovah's Witnesses and Holidays ==

== Jehovah's Witnesses and Holidays ==

Jehovah's Witnesses base their refraining from celebrating many popular religious holidays on II Corinthians 6:14, 17 which states: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? ... Therefore, 'Come out from among them, and be ye separate,' saith the Lord. 'And touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you.'" ([[King James Version]])  <ref>The Watchtower, December 15, 1974 (p. 740).</ref>   

Jehovah's Witnesses base their refraining from celebrating many popular religious holidays on II Corinthians 6:14, 17 which states: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? ... Therefore, 'Come out from among them, and be ye separate,' saith the Lord. 'And touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you.'" ([[King James Version]])  <ref>The Watchtower, December 15, 1974 (p. 740).</ref>   

Although Jehovah's Witnesses, then known as International Bible Students, celebrated Christmas during the early 1900's, this practice stopped in 1926.  <ref>Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom(p. 198)</ref>  Since that time they have published information regarding the alledgedly "pagan" origins of other holidays such as Easter, New Year's, Halloween and others.  Their sources have been varied, drawing upon ''The Encyclopædia Britannica'', ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'', ''The World Book Encyclopedia'', ''The Encyclopedia Americana'', and similar publicly available resources.

Although Jehovah's Witnesses, then known as International Bible Students, celebrated Christmas during the early 1900's, this practice stopped in 1926.  <ref>Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom(p. 198)</ref>  Since that time they have published information regarding the allegedly "pagan" origins of other holidays such as Easter, New Year's, Halloween and others.  Their sources have been varied, drawing upon ''The Encyclopædia Britannica'', ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'', ''The World Book Encyclopedia'', ''The Encyclopedia Americana'', and similar publicly available resources.

Regarding their position on secular holidays, Jehovah's Witnesses reference Christ's words at [[Gospel of John|John]] 17:16, that his followers would be no part of the world.  They also refrain from most celebrations that focus on individuals, such as birthdays, referencing scriptures such as Acts 10:25, 26; 12:21-23; [[Book of Revelation|Revelation]] 19:10.<ref>Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life (p. 214) </ref>

Regarding their position on secular holidays, Jehovah's Witnesses reference Christ's words at [[Gospel of John|John]] 17:16, that his followers would be no part of the world.  They also refrain from most celebrations that focus on individuals, such as birthdays, referencing scriptures such as Acts 10:25, 26; 12:21-23; [[Book of Revelation|Revelation]] 19:10.<ref>Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life (p. 214) </ref>

Jehovah's Witnesses have had their share of controversy.  Nathan H. Knorr (3rd president of the Watchtower Society) acknowledged that no human organization can be infallible, even Jehovah's Witnesses.

Jehovah's Witnesses have had their share of controversy.  Nathan H. Knorr (3rd president of the Watchtower Society) acknowledged that no human organization can be infallible, even Jehovah's Witnesses.

There has been ongoing controversy over the Witnesses' prohibition on blood transfusions, especially when they prohibit children from receiving life-saving transfusions, which has led many states and countries to override parents' authority in medical matters.

All adult Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse whole blood, packed red blood cells, white cells, platelets, and plasma.  There has been ongoing controversy, especially when they prohibit children from receiving life-saving transfusions, which has led many states and countries to override parents' authority in medical matters. The legal procedure is to obtain a court order allowing doctors to transfuse children over their parents’ objections if withholding blood is likely to lead to death or disability. <ref> Susan E. Lederer, ''Flesh and Blood: Organ Transplantation and Blood Transfusion in Twentieth-Century America'' (2008), ch 7.</ref>

 

== Links ==

== Links ==

Jehovah's Witnesses operate three official websites:

Jehovah's Witnesses operate three official websites:

*[http://www.jw.org Worldwide Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses ]

*[http://www.jw.org Worldwide Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses ]

*[http://www.jw-media.org Office of Public Information of Jehovah's Witnesses]

*[http://www.jw-media.org Office of Public Information of Jehovah's Witnesses]

==References==

==References==

<references/>

<references/>

 

[[category:Christian Denominations]]

[[category:Religion and Politics]]

 

[[category:Holocaust]]

* [http://www.quotedstatements.com/fotm.htm ''Faith on the March''] (by A.H. Macmillan, published by Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1957)

 

[[category:Religion]]

 

*[http://exjehovahswitnessforum.yuku.com Ex-Jehovah's Witness Forum and Recovery Site]. A resource providing information on opposing views with regards the Jehovah's Witness Organization.  Discussion and Recovery site for former Jehovah's Witnesses; those considering leaving; or simply interested individuals.