The Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses

As a sectarian religious group, Jehovah's Witness insist on 'congregating' in Kingdom Halls, not in churches. They do not consider themselves as part of the mainstream denominations. Members of this society call themselves Jehovah's witnesses or Witnesses (Albanese 172). Jehovah's Witnesses have a history dating back to as far as mid 19th century, and like other religious formations, the community has a set of beliefs, practices, and rituals, with an explicit lifestyle as highlighted in this paper.

Jehovah's Witness or the Watch Tower Society is a religious group founded by Charles Taze Russell who lived between 1852 and 1916. He initially founded the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in the 1880s. He was initially a Presbyterian and later Congregationalist. Later on, he rejected religious teachings regarding predestination and eternal punishment. In 1869, Adventist Christian church leader Jonas Wendell influenced Russell regarding the possibility of eternal life and resurrection of human beings after death. Russell then reverted back to belief in the bible. He formed a bible study group in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He became convinced that Jesus was on earth as an invisible, spiritual being, having come back in 1874. He collaborated with an Adventist, Nelson H. Barbour but soon disagreed after the latter's prediction that the church would be taken to heaven in 1878 (Albanese 173).

Russell and his followers emphasized that the world would come to an end in different years- ranging from 1874 to 1914, 1918, 1925 and 1975. This did not however happen. By the time of his death in 1916 during World War 1, he believed that the ongoing world war was the Battle of Armageddon, predicted in the biblical book of Revelation.

After Russell's death, the society's lawyer Joseph Rutherford took over as president. He changed the group's name from Watch Towers to Jehovah's Witnesses. Rutherford predicted that in 1925, the worldly powers would no longer exist and instead, patriarchs described in the Old Testament would be resurrected and control the world. His prophecy failed (Albanese 173).

After Rutherford died in 1942, Nathan Knorr (1905-1977) took over as the society's third president. Under him, the society transformed into an organized religious group with hierarchies, the president and a governing body being the supreme authorities. The society began printing large volumes of books and periodicals and supplying to members. Under Knorr, the society created its own bible translation, the New World Translation. Another prediction was made by anonymous authors of books and periodicals that in 1975, the world would cease to exist. It was stated that 1975 represented a 6,000year anniversary since the biblical Adam and Eve were created. Once again, the prophecy failed (Albanese 173).

It was during this time that the concept of spreading the word to total strangers was devised. Such strangers, on the road, in the street among other places, were to be eventually transformed into members of the group. This practice persists to this day. Of late, the Jehovah's witnesses propagate their messages through two magazines: The Watchtower and Awake! These are sold all over the world (Albanese 173-4).

Jehovah Witnesses do not emphasize on prayer or meditation (Albanese 174). Christmas and Easter celebrations are prohibited, and so are personal birthday and national holiday celebrations. The only celebration carried out is the 'Memorial Supper' which celebrates the death of Jesus. However, unlike mainstream religions such as Catholics and other Christian religions whom merrily celebrate such days as Christmas and the Last Supper, Witnesses spend the 'Memorial Supper' in a solemn manner. Only those who believe that they rule the world along with Christ take part in the event.

There is strict discipline among Witnesses. Transgressors are counseled and sometimes, the offender faces the risk of being 'disfellowshipped', the equivalent of a total ban from the religious society. Ron Rhodes, an author who has written extensively on the sectarian group observes that anyone who dares question or reject a particular Watchtower doctrine faces the risk of 'disfellowshipping', similar to ex-communication in churches (15). Witnesses are expected