Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses are members of an international denomination who identify themselves as Christian and number over six million. Their headquarters are in New York, USA. It is an international organization known for its extensive preaching and publishing activities, distribution of the Watchtower and Awake! religious magazines being the most prominent.

Beliefs and doctrines

See the related article Doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses for additional details.

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Jehovah's Witnesses claim reliance on the Bible as the source of their theology. Many beliefs and practices are similar to those of mainstream Christian denominations, yet there are significant differences as well.

Related Topics:
Beliefs - Practices

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Beliefs and practices that can be said to be distinctive of Jehovah's Witnesses include:

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• Prominent use of the biblical name of God as translated in the language of use, for example: rendered Jehovah in English, as Geova in Italian, Yawe in Ateso, Yekoba in Dinka, Iehova in Gaelic, etc. (Psalm 83:18, King James Version)
• Preaching from "house to house" (Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20; Acts 5:42; 20:20, 21)
• Belief that Jesus is a created being and God's first creation, not the uncreated second person of the Trinity. (See Arianism) (Colossians 1:15; Revelation 3:14, King James Version)
• Belief that the Holy Spirit is not the uncreated third person of the Trinity, but Jehovah God's impersonal active force. (Acts 2:1-4)
• Belief that the number of Christians going to heaven is limited to precisely 144,000 where they will rule with Jesus as kings and priests over the earth. (Revelation 7:4; 14:1-4; 20:6)
• Belief that a "Great Crowd" of faithful Christians is now living that will survive the coming battle of Armageddon and have the prospect of living forever on an earthly paradise. (Revelation 7:9-17)
• Belief that an unknown number of people will be resurrected after Armageddon with the prospect of living forever on an earthly paradise. (John 5:28,29; John 11:25; Acts 24:15)
• Belief that after Armageddon, Christ will rule for a thousand years, while Satan is abyssed and unable to influence the Earth while it is restored to a paradise. (Revelation 20:1-3) At the end of this time, Satan is released, and the final judgement takes place during which Satan and all those corrupted by him will be destroyed forever, and evil will never again occur. (Revelation 20:7-10; Revelation 21:1-4)
• "Abstaining from blood", most notably characterized by the refusal of whole blood transfusions or any of the primary components of blood (plasma, platelets, white blood cells, and red blood cells). (Acts 15:28, 29)Believe that the only proper use for blood can be decided by God only. That sacred use pertained to the washing of sins by Christ's blood as he died on earth.
• Belief that God has a visible organization, and that there is only one true religion. (Matthew 7:13, 14; Ephesians 4:4-6)
• Neutrality in secular politics and refusal to take part in elections. (Matthew 26:52; John 17:16) http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2001/10/15/article_01.htm.
• Not celebrating common religious or national holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. (Galatians 4:8-11)
• Not celebrating birthdays. (Genesis 40:20-22; Mark 6:19-27)
• Belief in the annihilation of the unsaved (cessation of existence) as opposed to damnation of the unsaved (eternal existence in hell.)

Beliefs similar to those of most conservative Christians include:

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• Belief in the inerrancy of the Bible, with a literal interpretation of the Bible, although believing that Bible writers and characters employed symbology, parable, figures of speech, and poeticism. (John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17)
• Rejection of theory of evolution. (Genesis 1:11, 12)
• Belief that abortion is murder. (Exodus 21:22, 23; Psalm 127:3)
• Belief that premarital sexual relations are sinful. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
• Belief that homosexual acts are sin. (Jude 7)
• Belief that women cannot be "teachers" in the congregation. (1 Timothy 2:12, 13) While female Witnesses do participate in meeting programs they do not serve in a "teaching" role or one of oversight. ("bishops" and "deacons" in 1 Timothy 3:1-13 as translated in the New International Version).
• Belief that women should be submissive to their husbands as both are to be to the Christ. Husbands are to have deep respect and love for their wives as they do their own bodies. The husband is the head of the family. (1 Corinthians 11:3)

Beliefs similar to those of some other christians include:

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• A rejection of ritual, including ritualism in the consumption of bread and wine. (Matthew 15:1-9)
• Belief that the soul is mortal, and that death is a state of non-existence. (Ezekiel 18:4) http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2001/7/15/article_01.htm
• Belief that Hell is not a place of fiery torment, but rather it is the common grave of mankind. (Revelation 20:13, 14)
• Refusal of military service. (Isaiah 2:2-4; Matthew 26:52)

Beliefs similar to main Protestant teachings include:

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• Rejection of transubstantiation, consubstantiation. (John 6:35, 40; 53, 63; 15:1; 1 Corinthians 11:25)
• Belief that the current time is the "Last Days" or "End Times." (Isaiah 2:2-4; 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 13)
• Belief that all are sinners. (Romans 3:23) (see: Sin)
• Belief that salvation is by faith and undeserved kindness (grace) of God which compels the Christian to works. Works are evidence of faith and cannot gain salvation. (John 3:16, 36; James 2:14-26; Matthew 7:15-23; Ephesians 2:8-10)

Beliefs similar to those of most Christians include:

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• Worship of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Matthew 4:10)
• Belief that the Hebrew Scriptures tell the history of the people of Israel as the beneficiaries of God's covenant and recipients of His Law, and prophesy the coming of Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:2; 9:1-6)
• Belief that Jesus is the incarnate "Word made flesh." (John 1:14, 18, 34)
• Belief in prayer to the Father in the name of the Son. (Matthew 6:9; John 14:6, 13)
• Belief that Jesus died to atone for the sins of humankind. (Matthew 20:28; also see Atonement) http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2001/11/15/article_02.htm

The question of blood

Jehovah's Witnesses do not accept whole blood transfusions.{{ref|JW_hb}} This is based on their understanding of the Bible admonition to "keep abstaining from blood" (Acts 15:28, 29).

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Although Jehovah's Witnesses do not take "whole blood" in any form including whole blood transfusions, they may according to the conscience of the particular individual accept certain blood fractions and derivatives of blood. The Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, PA, provides a detailed list of these specific distinctions.

Related Topics:
Pennsylvania Hospital - Philadelphia

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The refusal of blood transfusions is a significant issue among medical professional and others concerning Jehovah's Witnesses, especially when it involves minor children. In some countries, laws may impose limitations on physicians on the ability to withhold or withdraw blood transfusions or blood therapy from minors, particularly in life-threatening situations; parents who have prevented children under their care from receiving blood therapy in life-threatening situations may face prosecution. Courts have ordered transfusions in some children, often the very young; whereas in other cases they have respected the declared choice of an under-age minor who is able to defend his or her own beliefs to the court in a manner that reflects a mature understanding and without undue influence from the parents.

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Pursuit of medical alternatives to blood transfusion in cases involving Jehovah's Witness patients, including the use of erythropoietin to boost the red blood cell count, has afforded opportunities for medical advancement in the field of bloodless surgery.{{ref|JW_SurgicalAdvances}}

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:See also for additional information on this subject.

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:See also the NoBlood forum and wiki focused on the latest advances in blood management and avoidance since 1996.

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