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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.''   Headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, the Church has about 12,000 churches in the U.S. with 1 million members.  Outside the U.S. membership is over 6 million in 90,000 local churches. All baptized members are ordained ministers and share in the preaching and teaching work; there is no paid clergy.

The Jehovah's Witnesses were founded in the United States in the 1870s. 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 churches as the work of Satan.

The Jehovah's Witnesses were 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 churches as the work of Satan.  

==Theology==

==Theology==

see [[Jehovah's Witnesses Beliefs]]

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 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]]).

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 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 theological viewpoints.

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 most Christian doctrines, but 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 "as 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 brought under central control, subservient to the Society's headquarters in Brooklyn.  

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.

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.

===Pledge of Allegiance===

===Pledge of Allegiance===

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>

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.  The Witnesses considered such idolatry akin to worshiping the Roman emperor in the ancient world, and attack those who do salute the flag as idolaters.  Individual Witnesses are expected to be law abiding, tax paying citizens of the country in which they reside, but they do not vote.   

===Nazi Germany===

 

=== Germany and Japan===

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>  

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>  

===Recent persecution===

===Recent persecution===

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.

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.

{{See also|Jehovah's Witnesses Beliefs}}

{{See also|Jehovah's Witnesses Beliefs}}

== Controversy ==

==Blood==

 

Since 1945 the Jehovah's Witnesses' governing body has stipulated that accepting whole blood or whole blood cell transfusions is in violation of the Bible's commandments. 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>  

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.

 

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>  

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

* Francis, Shawn. ''Judging Jehovah's Witnesses: religious persecution and the dawn of the rights revolution'' (2000)

* Bergman, Gerald. "The Influence of Religion on President Eisenhower's Upbringing," ''Journal of American & Comparative Cultures'' 2000 23(4): 89-107, in [[EBSCO]]

* Penton, M. James ''Jehovah's Witnesses and the Third Reich: Sectarian Politics under Persecution'' (2004), 412 pp.,

* Eddy, G. Norman. " The Jehovah's Witnesses: An Interpretation," ''Journal of Bible and Religion,'' Vol. 26, No. 2 (Apr., 1958), pp. 115-121 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1459283 in JSTOR]

 

* Harrison, Barbara Grizzuti. ''Visions of Glory: A History and a Memory of Jehovah's Witnesses'' (1978), popular history

* Newton, Merlin Owen. ''Armed with the Constitution: Jehovah's Witnesses in Alabama and the U.S. Supreme Court, 1939-1946'' (1995). 221 pp.

* Penton, M. James. ''Jehovah's Witnesses and the Third Reich: Sectarian Politics under Persecution'' (2004), 412 pp.,  

== Links ==

== Links ==

Jehovah's Witnesses operate three official websites:

Jehovah's Witnesses operate three official websites:

[[category:Religion and Politics]]

[[category:Religion and Politics]]

[[category:Holocaust]]

[[category:Holocaust]]