It is important that as a future healthcare provider, you have some background knowledge about the medical beliefs among prominent religions in the United States in the likely event that one of your future patients follows them. See the next couple points for more details on this. However, Penton also notes that avoidance of "demonistic practices" has released many people in Africa and Latin America from fear of spirits. We recognize that parts of the Bible are written in figurative or symbolic language and are not to be understood literally.Revelation 1:1. 9. Jehovah's Witnesses By: Addison Tucker What is a Jehovah Witness? The basis for this belief originates from several sources: primarily, they believe the celebration of birthdays stems from pagan rituals. Jehovah's Witnesses (hereafter JWs) consider themselves to be Christians ( but not Protestants ), even though they reject the doctrine of the Trinity. They only see Jehovah as the true mighty God, not Jesus or the Holy Spirit. The beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses are based on the Bible teachings of Charles Taze Russellfounder of the Bible Student movementand successive presidents of the Watch Tower Society, Joseph Franklin Rutherford, and Nathan Homer Knorr. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that only 144,000 people will go to heaven and that the rest of humanity will live forever on a paradise earth. and Why does God allow suffering? The Lord wants you to come to Him and trust in Him as your Savior and Lord. [59], He also claimed that The Watchtower has repeatedly blurred discussions of both Jesus Christ's loyalty to God and the apostles' loyalty to Christ to promote the view that Witnesses should be loyal to the Watch Tower Society. They only see Jehovah as the true mighty God, not Jesus or the Holy Spirit. Ex . New members are baptized by immersion and are expected to live by a strict code of personal conduct. We answer the questions of how they got their start, what their core beliefs are, and how many people ascribe to this faith in the world today below. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus is not equal with God. In the 1870s Russell organized the Watchtower Society, which directs, administers, and disseminates all doctrine. [197] Individuals who choose to publicly repudiate their association to the organization and renounce their place in the congregation are considered disassociated. The Witnesses understand Jesus' words at John 3:3"except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God"to apply to the 144,000 who are "born again" as "anointed" sons of God in heaven. Our organization. ", "The Pessimistic Sect's Influence on the Mental Health of Its Members", "War of Words Breaks Out Among Jehovah's Witnesses", "The Educational Identity Formation of Jehovah's Witnesses, Religion & Education", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jehovah%27s_Witnesses_beliefs&oldid=1141650652, Beliefs and practices of Jehovah's Witnesses, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 03:23. What Do Jehovahs Witnesses Believe? We are organized into congregations, each of which is overseen by a body of elders. Does the Bible Mention What to Give Up for Lent? Jehovahs Witnesses do not believe the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are the Trinity. When Taze began disputing some of the traditional views within Christianity, the Jehovah's Witnesses were born. After the war the Witnesses brought several suits in American courts dealing with their beliefs and practices, resulting in 59 Supreme Court rulings that were regarded as major judgments on the free exercise of religion. The Bible tells us the Holy Spirit has a personality and the Bible describes the Holy Spirit with personal pronouns (Acts 13:2). ", The answer to this is no. TERMS OF USE We adhere to Gods original standard of marriage as the union of one man and one woman, with sexual immorality being the only valid basis for divorce. [93] His birth on earth was accomplished when he willingly allowed himself to be transferred, by God, from heaven to the womb of the virgin, Mary. They teach that Jesus was created by God and not coexistent wth Him. We do not lobby, vote for political parties or candidates, run for government office, or participate in any action to change governments. Refresh the page, check Medium 's site status, or find something interesting to read. In this article, we are going to discover what Jehovahs Witnesses believe. I'm laid back and get along with everyone. This cannot be answered with a brief comment. Looking for an old soul like myself. We may remember them as the people who often come to our homes in order to evangelize, but do we actually know what they believe? [203] It is grounds for expulsion from the group and subsequent shunning. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". (Acts 24:15) However, those who refuse to learn Gods ways after being raised to life will be destroyed forever with no hope of a resurrection.Revelation 20:14, 15. Three distinct Persons, yet one God. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Jesus. 2:6-7). They believe Jesus died for humankind's sins, however they do not believe that he was physically resurrected after his crucification. Learn Religions. Jehovah's Witnesses believe salvation is obtained by a combination of faith, good works, and obedience. Jehovah's Witnesses refer to the fact that the Bible never explicitly mentions the term "trinity." She has earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master's degree in Christian Ministry with a deep academic emphasis in theology. Jehovah's Witnesses try to remain politically neutral. The Jehovah's Witness beliefs about God are outlined in detail below. They also don't celebrate other national holidays or birthdays in an attempt to remain separate from the world. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus was Jehovah's first creation, that Jehovah then created everything else by means of Jesus, and that the initial unassisted act of creation uniquely identifies Jesus as God's 'only-begotten Son'. Only God in the flesh could do all these things. The terms "little flock" and "other sheep" are drawn from Luke 12:32 and John 10:16 respectively. It is one of the more major ways in which Jehovah's Witnesses differ from various Christian denominations. [195], Watch Tower Society publications define apostasy as the abandonment of the worship and service of God by members of the Christian congregation, and equate it with rebellion against God. What Is Protestantism & Why Is it Important? [86][89], Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus is God's "only-begotten Son", and that his life began in heaven. Jehovah's Witnesses believe God is the Creator and Supreme Being. Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs include works such as learning about Jehovah, living a moral life, regular witnessing to others and obeying God's commandments as part of the requirements for salvation. The Witnesses distrust of contemporary institutions extends to other religious denominations, from which they remain separate. Heaven. [157] Jehovah's Witnesses believe that being "anointed" involves a personal revelation by God's spirit which "gives positive assurance of adoption" to the individual alone. They affirm that GodJehovahis the most high. The Bible teaches the truth of the Trinity in multiple passages. [204], Apostates are said to have become part of the antichrist and are regarded as more reprehensible than non-Witnesses. Buddhist Patients and Health Care: Nine Practical Points for non-Buddhist Providers. It Is So Painful to Care: How Do I Conquer Apathy? [90] He is described as God's first creation and the "exact representation of God",[91] but is believed to be a separate entity and not part of a Trinity. (Matthew 28:19, 20; John 3:16; Acts 3:19, 20) A persons works prove that his faith is alive. Jehovah's Witnesses don't celebrate Christmas or Easter, which makes sense when you remember that they don't believe Jesus is equal to God. The present study of 50 Jehovah's Witnesses admitted to the Mental Health Service facilities of Western Australia suggests that members of this section of the community are more likely to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital than the general population. [211] Higher education is discouraged,[212][213] based on their belief that it is futile to plan for secular advancement in a world that faces imminent destruction, as well as fears about succumbing to greed, corruption, and materialism. What is the condition of the dead? (Acts 15:28, 29; Galatians 5:19-21) We are peaceful and do not participate in warfare. [133], Watch Tower publications teach that hell (hades or sheol) is not a place of fiery torment, but rather the "common grave of mankind", a place of unconscious non-existence. One who has been baptized as a JW and is still loyal to the organization. Consequently, they refuse all ecumenical relations with other religious denominations. The Jehovah's Witness Organization is the prophet of God. (John 8:44) This angel, who after his rebellion was called Satan and Devil, persuaded the first human couple to join him, and the consequences have been disastrous for their descendants. Our worship. [173] Witnesses believe their doctrine is confirmed by world events since 1914, including wars, famine, earthquakes and increasing lawlessness, which they see as fulfillment of the "sign" of Christ's presence. Jehovahs Witnesses believe in a myriad of unbiblical ideas. Each Witness makes decisions in harmony with his or her own Bible-trained conscience.Romans 14:1-4; Hebrews 5:14. [152], Based on a literal interpretation of scriptures such as Revelation 14:14, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that exactly 144,000 faithful Christians go to heaven as spirit creatures to rule with Christ in the kingdom of God. [186], Most of those who had died prior to God's intervention will gradually be resurrected to a "day of judgment" lasting for the thousand years referred to in Revelation 20. | [110], Writers including James Beckford and former members James Penton and Barbara Grizzuti Harrison have stated that Jehovah's Witnesses' have a fear of demons, which Penton says is "sometimes so extreme that it becomes quite superstitious". They deny that are about things in 2003, all of recreation or easter. Rather than believing Jesus was physically resurrected from the dead, Jehovahs Witnesses believe Jesus was only spiritually resurrected. Instead, Jehovahs Witnesses believe Jesus has opened the way to salvation and that by following the rules of Kingdom Hall, anyone can also become a Jehovahs Witness. Unlike many other religions, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that death is not just the death of the physical body but also the death of the soul. We follow the teachings and example of Jesus Christ and honor him as our Savior and as the Son of God. These short video lessons answer key Bible questions, such as: Why did God create the earth? [35], The leadership makes no provision for members to criticize or contribute to official teachings. Jesus Christ is Gods agent, through whom sinful humans can be reconciled to God. Conflict arises at times with the medical staff concerning how best to manage their care. JWs claim that Jesus was not divine and that the Holy Spirit is an " active force " and not a person. To know what we believe and why requires a bible study with one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in Hell but do believe in Heaven. Salvation. Baptist Church: History & Beliefs Family. Outside of Jesus, there is no way to salvation. Those who acknowledge Jehovah in this life will become members of the millennial kingdom; those who reject him will not go to hell but will face total extinction. [72] Jehovah's Witnesses base all of their beliefs on the Bible, as interpreted by the Governing Body.[73]. Influenced by Restorationism in the 19th century, Charles Taze Russell and his associates formed a Bible study group in the 1870s in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, developing teachings that they considered to be a revival of "the great truths taught by Jesus and the Apostles". This, of course, is a major diversion from orthodox Christianity. We worship the one true and Almighty God, the Creator, whose name is Jehovah. A summary by a Governing Body committee of "wrong teachings" being promoted as "new understandings" included the suggestion that God did not have an organization on earth. [117] It dismisses Young Earth creationism as "unscriptural and unbelievable",[118] and states that Jehovah's Witnesses "are not creationists" on the basis that they do not believe the earth was created in six literal days. If you are a Jehovahs Witness, you can come to know Christ today and experience His saving grace by placing faith in Him. Although they allegedly started dating site, professionally done dating then called a data-gathering. For example, we dont accept blood transfusions because the Bible forbids taking in blood to sustain the body. Our relationships with others. [115][116], The Watch Tower Society teaches a combination of gap creationism and day-age creationism, with an extended period between the initial creation of the universe and the subsequent 'creative days' in relation to the earth, which are said to have taken "thousands of years".

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