Jehovah's Witnesses? Can you tell me about your religion?What makes it different from the other.. ?

Question

branches of Christianity?

And how did you end up following this faith? Have you been a JW all your life, or did you convert? If you converted , what made you do it?

(Hoping Vot will come and answer)

Answer 1

What beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses set them apart as different from other religions?

(1) Bible: Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God, and instead of adhering to a creed based on human tradition, they hold to the Bible as the standard for all their beliefs.

(2) God: They worship Jehovah as the only true God and freely speak to others about him and his loving purposes toward mankind. Anyone who publicly witnesses about Jehovah is usually identified as belonging to the one group—“Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

(3) Jesus Christ: They believe, not that Jesus Christ is part of a Trinity, but that, as the Bible says, he is the Son of God, the first of God’s creations; that he had a prehuman existence and that his life was transferred from heaven to the womb of a virgin, Mary; that his perfect human life laid down in sacrifice makes possible salvation to eternal life for those who exercise faith; that Christ is actively ruling as King, with God-given authority over all the earth since 1914.

(4) God’s Kingdom: They believe that God’s Kingdom is the only hope for mankind; that it is a real government; that it will soon destroy the present wicked system of things, including all human governments, and that it will produce a new system in which righteousness will prevail.

(5) Heavenly life: They believe that 144,000 spirit-anointed Christians will share with Christ in his heavenly Kingdom, ruling as kings with him. They do not believe that heaven is the reward for everyone who is “good.”

(6) The earth: They believe that God’s original purpose for the earth will be fulfilled; that the earth will be completely populated by worshipers of Jehovah and that these will be able to enjoy eternal life in human perfection; that even the dead will be raised to an opportunity to share in these blessings.

(7) Death: They believe that the dead are conscious of absolutely nothing; that they are experiencing neither pain nor pleasure in some spirit realm; that they do not exist except in God’s memory, so hope for their future life lies in a resurrection from the dead.

(8) Last days: They believe that we are living now, since 1914, in the last days of this wicked system of things; that some who saw the events of 1914 will also see the complete destruction of the present wicked world; that lovers of righteousness will survive into a cleansed earth.

(9) Separate from the world: They earnestly endeavor to be no part of the world, as Jesus said would be true of his followers. They show genuine Christian love for their neighbors, but they do not share in the politics or the wars of any nation. They provide for the material needs of their families but shun the world’s avid pursuit of material things and personal fame and its excessive indulgence in pleasure.

(10) Apply Bible counsel: They believe that it is important to apply the counsel of God’s Word in everyday life now—at home, in school, in business, in their congregation. Regardless of a person’s past way of life, he may become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses if he abandons practices condemned by God’s Word and applies its godly counsel. But if anyone thereafter makes a practice of adultery, fornication, homosexuality, drug abuse, drunkenness, lying, or stealing, he will be disfellowshipped from the organization.

(The above list briefly states some outstanding beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses but by no means all the points on which their beliefs are different from those of other groups.)

For further information & learn more - you may wish to get in touch with Jehovah's Witnesses at the local Kingdom Hall.  Or: <watchtower.org>  

Answer 2

You could say they are a copy of the Jewish Cult that separated themselves some 1900 years ago.

Talking to one of my regular passengers, whose a Rabbi, I would say most Christians have much the same problem with JWs that ancient Jews had with the first Christians who they viewed as having been started by an uneducated ex-carpenter of the Jewish Lower Class who was executed for cause by the governing authority.  The only education he had was by Mary and Joseph, in the view of the Jews, he made up most of what he said.

He recruited other uneducated, lower class individuals, such as a failed fisherman (Peter) and a hated tax collector (Matthew).

Lacking any formal education, they were easy to manipulate into believing he was the Messiah, something that was impossible, as he did not bring about the destruction (Armageddon) of the enemies of the Truly Blessed People of God, the Israelites, as was prophesied.

After his lawful execution, these clearly brainwashed followers began going door to door telling their brethren that the traditional beliefs, rituals, and observances (holidays), dating back hundreds of years, were no longer valid.

They began creating their own scriptures, to support their false beliefs, instead of relying on the Holy Torah, which had sustained God’s People for hundreds of years.

Finally, there were highly educated individuals, especially in the religious arts, such as Saul of Tarsus, who could clearly prove that they were a false cult, bent on leading God’s People down a false path to destruction.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_of_Tar...

What happened to them, as a result of their false teachings, and their door to door work, was only to be expected of people who have lost their way.

Clearly, what you may or may not think of JWs is reliant on your point of view, just as it was in those first years.  Having an advanced education in religion does not mean that you are right, only that you sound that way.

JWs may have come from a simple, and some times, erratic beginnings, but at least they are making a valid effort to do better.  You cannot say that for other religions who:

Continue to get involved in politics;

Lie to the IRS about not doing so in order to get their non-profit status;

Avoids paying taxes on retail sales within the church;

Allows immorality to creep into the church;

Immortalizes their founders through the observance of a birthday, death, and/or anniversary of the founding of the church;

Places a pictures of the founders in all their churches, so that all can see and pay obeisance;  

Gives tacit approval to the Theory of Evolution; and

Doesn’t teach their followers to preach and teach the Bible, as Christ instructed.

Answer 3

Mr. Cal and Harry O did quite well, in answering your 1st Q.

So, I will answer the other ones.

In no particular order.

No, I have not been a Witness of Jehovah all my life.

What made me do it and how I ended up following the God of Jesus, Abraham, Issac and Jacob; can both fit the same answer.

I heard that the name of God was taken out of the Bible, on a public radio station. This made me extremely indignant! I wasn't raised to believe in "the made up version of God, in a man made book, called the Bible," either. So, with in a few days or so, my kids came home with a tiny, pocket-size Christian-Greek Bible {NT}. I started reading, and learning I was. I found out what a disciple is, an apostle, a witness / to witness; and so very much more! One thing that I continually noticed was the words "a people for His name", call upon His name", again, and again "His Name." Then 1 day, the cognition that Jehovah being God's name; and witness / to witness; Jehovah's Witnesses are Witnesses for / to the true God Jehovah. So, I thought to myself, I need to go to a Kingdom Hall, to learn more from those whom already know what I am just now finding out. Then within just a matter of days... Guess Who Was Knocking At My Door?!?!

And I have Never Looked Back! Ever!

The Best Decision I have Ever Made in my Entire Life!

Answer 4

JWs are not as special or unique as they like to think they are. They are a relatively run of the mill Adventist religion, very similar to 7th Day Adventists, Second Adventists, Christadelphians, Moonies, True faith Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Christian Witnesses, True Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Christian Scientists, International Bible Students and a number of other adventist sects.

They are also of the Arian protestant tradition in that they do not believe in the Trinity and immortal soul.

There is no one thing about them that is entirely unique. There are actually hundreds of religions that have nearly identical beliefs. JWs don't know this of course because they are not allowed to study other religions unless they use watchtower literature to do it. Just look up a couple of the groups I have listed to find out how common JWs really are.

Answer 5

I was raised as a JW.  I left at 15.  God redeemed me at age 21.

Anyone who believes that they may be teaching truth would be wise to pray, research and challenge away, before the stakes get higher! (accusations of apostacy, loss of family and friends, scarred children, the list goes on) And all in the name of "Unity!" For this reason and many others, the Jehovah's Witnesses are widely recognized as a psychologically and spiritually abusive cult.

All religions have one thing in common: they encourage their members to work as hard as they can to gain everlasting life, the celestial kingdom, nirvana, or whatever else they want to call it.

Biblical Christianity, however, is different. Instead of earning our goal as a reward, it is offered to us freely as a gift through Jesus Christ as the perfect sacrifice, whose offering of Himself was complete to earn our way to everlasting life with God the Father.

As Jesus Christ was dying, he said “It is finished” because from that point on, all anyone had to do was to trust His sacrifice to cover their sins. Everyone needs this sacrifice because the Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 that we are all sinners.

We are in such bad condition that when we try to earn favor with God through our good works, Isaiah 64:6 tells us that our righteous deeds are like filthy rags to God. In Mark 10:27 Jesus is answering His disciples’ question, “who then can be saved?” He said, “with man, this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.”

God realizes that man cannot possibly save himself through door-to-door preaching or ordinances of a church. That’s why God did not send an organization or a church to offer us peace with God, but He sent His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but through me.”  

Answer 6

http://www.watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm...

Answer 7

1)What makes Jehovah's Witnesses different from other Christian faiths? Jehovah's Witnsses worship a singulair diety.  For us God is one Almighty God Person as oppose to other Christians who believe God is plural -consisting of 3 or 2 Almighty God Perons/Spirits. Our concept of God alone separates us from 90% of Christians.

2) Have I been a JW for all of my life?  Most of it.  

3)Those who are of the truth will know the truth when they hear it.  In the field ministry I have spoken to a number of individuals who acutally tell me that my religion is definately the truth religion.  They however do not have what it takes to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses.  It requires discipline, dedication, and a sincere desire to please God.

http://www.counterfeitchristians.info/  List the major differences between Jehovah's Witnesses and main stream christianity.  The site was created by one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Answer 8

Go to watchtower.org and you can get any and all information you would like.

Answer 9

Just like the LDS... JW is a brand name in Christianity .. you can take it or leave it!   There is room for more religions... you need to be original to come up with a new one and get rich or die trying...!!!