Talk:Jehovah's Witnesses Beliefs

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As referenced in main article on Jehovah's Witnesses, ran across a copy of Leo's Rosten's Religions in America (about which I will also be creating an article). Also included some information that provide about themselves to the public. Looking to keep information focused on what Witnesses say are the tenets of their faith vs. what others say are the tenets of their faith. The list is by no means exhaustive but I think represents a decent attempt at encapsulating their doctrines. BibleBrown 20:42, 29 January 2008 (EST)

Where is the section on what Jehovah's Witnesses believe? Christ came down to earth during World War I. The 144,000, etc. This is nothing more than a theology pamphlet. Learn together 11:24, 1 February 2008 (EST)
I'll see what I can pull together on those beliefs. My understanding, however, is that JWs have never claimed that Christ came to earth during World War I. Not sure if the statement "nothing more than a theology pamphlet" is meant to indicate that it is a good thing or a bad thing. If it's a compliment, thanks. If not, sorry ... trying to provide information on what JWs believe. If there is a better format to be employed, please advise. Also please note that I'm not looking to do a critique of their beliefs (influencing content through POV), merely report what it is they believe. BibleBrown 11:57, 2 February 2008 (EST)
Added the last of the beliefs section of JWs that I plan on providing at this time. BibleBrown 13:05, 23 February 2008 (EST)
I am still concerned with the way the article reads. For instance, there is no mention that the coming of Christ in 1914 was only declared to be an invisible coming in retrospect. The earlier dates that did not come to pass are also not mentioned. Learn together 03:30, 8 March 2008 (EST)
Did some more digging into Russell's writings specifically re: 1914 and Christ's invisble return and found that Russell specified both before 1914. At one time Russell had been convinced by a mentor that Christ's presence began in 1874 but he ultimately rejected the chronology on which that belief rested. Watchtowers in 1879 and 1880 identified 1914 as a significant year based on chronology that identified the start of the Gentile Times Jesus referred to at Luke 21:24 with the removal of Zedekiah from kingship. Regarding Christ's presence, Russell wrote a pamphlet called "The Object and Manner of Our Lord’s Return" and said "that, at His coming and for a time after He has come, He will remain invisible; afterward manifesting or showing Himself injudgments and various forms, so that “ every eye shall see Him." (p. 24). In doing my research I've run across acknowledgements that their expectations don't always jibe with what happens, but they tend to mark that up to wrong expectations and not with whether or not something happened. For instance, many thought they would go to heaven in 1914. The fact they didn't go to heaven didn't dissuade them from believing Christ returned in 1914. BibleBrown 14:42, 7 April 2008 (EDT)

Beliefs summary

I am a litte concerned about the unencyclopedic nature of this section. There are a lot of statements with biblical verse references given as support. Does this mean that JWs only believe in these sections and not others? Or do they believe in the Bible in its entirety? In which case what distinguishes them from other Evangelicals? I think it should be edited drastically. BrianCo 04:30, 8 March 2008 (EST)

This section was originally a placeholder as I did research and could be revised or removed. My understanding is that these are central beliefs of JWs but not necessarily the entire scope of their theology. If included in an encyclopedia the section would most likely appear as a sidebar. BibleBrown 14:42, 7 April 2008 (EDT)