just wondering about Jehovahs witnesses?

Question

What do they believe? I know that holidays aren't celebrated and things like that, does anyone here follow that? Or do you know about it?

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses practice strict political and nationalistic neutrality, so they do not celebrate nationalistic holidays such as Independence Day and Memorial Day.



Other holidays derive from false religion, and so are incompatible with pure worship as adulterating interfaith. For example, Easter derives from the pagan god Oestre and celebrates "rebirth" and "fertility" instead of commemorating Christ's Last Supper and death as Jesus commanded:

(Luke 22:1-22) [Jesus] dispatched Peter and John, saying: “Go and get the passover ready for us to eat.” ...14 At length when the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them: “I have greatly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I tell you, I will not eat it again until it becomes fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” ... Keep doing this in remembrance of me.”



Seemingly innocuous holidays may have only a tangential connection with false worship, such as Mother's Day and Father's Day (although arguably derived from ancestor worship). Understated observance of these is not generally considered interfaith by Jehovah's Witnesses, but it is too easily misunderstood in some cultures.



Since such celebrations are not required in true worship, and can easily become a distraction, so Jehovah's Witnesses focus their attention elsewhere. In particular, they are focussed on the preaching work which *IS* a requirement for Christians:



(Luke 10:1-17) [Jesus] the Lord designated seventy others and sent them forth by twos in advance of him into every city and place to which he himself was going to come. 2 Then he began to say to them: “The harvest, indeed, is great, but the workers are few. Therefore beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.



Learn more:

http://watchtower.org/library/w/2005/1/1a/article_01.htm

http://watchtower.org/library/w/2000/12/15/article_01.htm

Answer 2

Well, by what you said about Witnesses you have everything right so far. Yes it's true that Witnesses don't celebrate holidays. But do you know WHY? If you do your research nearly all man-made holidays have pagan roots that were later adopted by ones calling themselves Christians. Examples of this would be Christmas, Easter, Halloween, and etc. Even though most people feel they can share in celebrations with unchristian roots just for the fun of it, Witnesses are admonished to follow this scriptural counsel.

"Keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord; and quit sharing with them in the unfruitful works that belongs to the darkness, but, rather, even be reproving them."_Eph 5:10,11(also consider 2 Cor. 6:14-18 where it tells us to stop touching the unclean thing and separate ourselves from it so we could be take in as sons and daughters of Jehovah God.) In addition we can compare the account at Exodus 32:4-10 with some of the God-dishonoring holidays that people have come to adopt. Note how the Israelites adopted an Egyptian religious practice but then gave it a new name, "festival to Jehovah." Obviously God was displeased at this seemingly "harmless" practice. Such things are not trivial in God's eyes as he severly punished them.

Personally I am a Witness and I never felt "deprived." Instead of getting gifts at Christmas I can get them almost any other time of the year which is better. The only "holiday" mentioned in the Bible that Chirst's true followers would want to commemorate annually is the Lord's Evening Meal as it is called. This is the only celebration that Jesus told his disciples to keep on doing found in the account of Matthew 19:19-20.

Basically holidays today are either tainted with nationalistic overtones which we would again have no part of (John 15:19) or have pagan orgins. To learn about Jehovah's Witnesses God's view of holidays and their orgins follow these links.

www.watchtower.org -official site of Jehovah's Witnesses

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

http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2000/12/15/article_01.htm

Answer 3

In some areas, Jehovah's Witnesses believe much the same as orthodox Christians - for example, their rejection, as sin, of sex outside marriage, their acceptance of the Bible's creation account, as opposed to the evolution theory; and their belief that the Bible is the inspired word of God. But, in many other areas, their doctrines set them apart and mark them as a pseudo-Christian cult - especially the sect's teachings on matters like not celebrating birthdays, not accepting a blood transfusion, only 144,00 Jehovah's Witnesses can go to heaven and that number has been fulfilled since 1914, holidays cannot be celebrated eg. Memorial Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Mother's and Father's Day as a matter of fact all the well known holidays and many, many more to numerous to write.

Answer 4

Well, a short version that gives you an idea is this.



They believe they have the one and only truth and everyone else will be lost.



They believe that modern Christian churches except themselves are the great harlot who commits adultery with the governments of the world.



They do not believe in voting or having anything to do with politics.



They understand the Christian holidays including Christmas and Easter are pagan Holidays and that Satan deceives people into believing they are Christian.



They predict the End of The world every few years.



They do not get blood transfusions because to them it is like eating blood which is forbidden to do in the bible.



They believe that only the 144,000 will be in heaven and the saved will have immortal bodies and live right here on earth without sin. They believe the sinners who are cast in hell will burn up and no longer exist.

Answer 5

Sorry about the length.



There's a lot of quotations from the scriptures about what JWs believe, and anyone can find this out by talking to one, or just looking at their materials, but let's look at what they are that is not so commonly spoke about, but that every church should also follow.



They believe in sex only in marriage, so you don't see the levels of STDs or AIDS in the religion.



They don't believe in the participation in human forms of government, so you don't have one congregation promoting their particularly favorite politician, while another of the same religion promoting another.



They believe that human life has value, so you don't see one congregation promoting Stem Cell research, while another opposes it, because it may or may not involve cloning.



They believe in not killing another human being so they don't participation in the military, thus you didn't see JWs from Germany killing JWs from America during WWII. They even refused to work in the war munitions or support plants, thus they were jailed, in both countries.



They believe that children should be taught the Bible right along with the adults, thus when a JW child reaches the age of understanding, they already have a basic knowledge of the whole Bible, and not just Bible stories.



They believe women have the ability to teach and preach the Bible so all baptized men and women are legal ministers.



They believe in people shouldn't be paid to preach and teach the Bible, so there is no passing of the plate for offerings to support paid employees, such as pastors.



They believe that religious items shouldn't be sold, so they don't run a retail business in the sale of such items as Bibles, books, and religious figurines. They give away their Bibles and books, thus they don't have to worry about the government one day wanting sales tax.



They believe their Kingdom Halls are places of learning, and not social centers to be rented out for dances, gatherings, etc. So the city has no claim on them for property taxes because of making money for non-religious events.



They believe in paying taxes, so they don't cheat or try to find loopholes to avoid taxes.



They don't believe in gambling, so there are no lotteries, bingo, or other money raising events in the Kingdom Halls.



They believe every individual is important, so their congregations never get larger than 200 active members, so the individual does not get lost in the crowd.



Finally, they don't believe in participating in man made observances, holidays, or rituals, so you don't see people shopping for the most fun church or the one with the most social activities, or child care services.

Answer 6

Jehovah Witnesses do NOT believe that Christ is God in the flesh and one with the father. In essence they don't believe in the trinity which sets them apart from othodox (mainstream) Christianity. They believe in the bible but DON'T know Jesus as Lord. Not to diverge but Christianity is about Christ. "That everyone shall bow before the name of Jesus." Phillipians 2:10. It's not far off to mention that JW's can be considered a heretical offshoot know as arianism. They were started in the 1880's by a man called Rusell whose credentials were suspect. They also don't beleive in heaven and hell and the cross. Be carefull with these guys Maria.

Answer 7

i know about what they believe .i would like to be one. so that i can let others see what they bible says for themselves.

early bible students ( as the witnesses were then called) used to celebrate birthdays, and christmas and that ,but they stopped when they looked at the bible, and all the secular evidence and decided these were false and had their roots in pagan festivals. e.g saturnalia etc.

Jehovah's witnesses believe that the resurrected christ jesus has begun his rule as king of god's kingdom in 1914.

the witnesses today are preaching about god, his word jesus, and his word the bible.

they are seeking to get people to study the bible for themselves.

They believe that god's kingdom will restore the earth as a paradise. with 144,000 ruling with Christ in heaven as judges and kings and that satan will be removed so obedient mankind can enjoy perfect life as god intended.

they adhere to the bible for counsel and it's principles help them to know god's recquirements and his standards. the preach jesus as god's firstborn son jesus the first creation as also being the ransom, the lamb of god whose shed blood buys back what adam lost

Answer 8

If your curious why we don't celebrate holidays, feel free to ask me which ones, but in general we don't want to follow any traditions or pracitices that have links to ancient god's and worship. for example, any holidays with pagan traditions and for pagan gods, for we feel partaking in them, no matter what reasones christianity comes up with for takign them, still links to worshipping the practices applied to the worship of false gods, which is agianst the bible.



Jehovah's wittnesses beleive that worshiping the one and true god, and following the bible is the most important thing, above customs of religion and traditions.

so yah if your curious about the link of specific holidays and false god's and worship feel free to I.M me

Answer 9

they believe in Jehovah,very much into the Bible,when they recite the scriptures from the bible it's because they know the Bible they do study this.they have very strict rules

Answer 10

watchtower society..they dictate what the church believes in for the moment

Answer 11

They enjoy human sacrifices and the consumption of their own fecal matter

Answer 12

Who Are They?



IT IS the desire of Jehovah's Witnesses that you become better acquainted with them. You may have met them as neighbors and fellow employees or in other daily affairs of life. You may have seen them on the street, offering their magazines to passersby. Or you may have spoken briefly with them at your door.



Actually, Jehovah's Witnesses are interested in you and your welfare. They want to be your friends and to tell you more about themselves, their beliefs, their organization, and how they feel about people and the world in which all of us live. To accomplish this, they have prepared this brochure for you.



In most ways Jehovah's Witnesses are like everyone else. They have normal problems-economic, physical, emotional. They make mistakes at times, for they are not perfect, inspired, or infallible. But they try to learn from their experiences and diligently study the Bible to make needed corrections. They have made a dedication to God to do his will, and they apply themselves to fulfill this dedication. In all their activities they seek guidance from God's Word and his holy spirit.



It is of vital importance to them that their beliefs be based on the Bible and not on mere human speculations or religious creeds. They feel as did the apostle Paul when he expressed himself under inspiration: "Let God be found true, though every man be found a liar." (Romans 3:4, New World Translation) When it comes to teachings offered as Biblical truth, the Witnesses strongly endorse the course followed by the Beroeans when they heard the apostle Paul preach: "They received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so." (Acts 17:11) Jehovah's Witnesses believe that all religious teachings should be subjected to this test of agreement with the inspired Scriptures, whether the teaching is offered by them or by someone else. They invite you-urge you-to do this in your discussions with them.



From this it is apparent that Jehovah's Witnesses believe in the Bible as the Word of God. They consider its 66 books to be inspired and historically accurate. What is commonly called the New Testament they refer to as the Christian Greek Scriptures, and the Old Testament they call the Hebrew Scriptures. They rely on both of these, the Greek and the Hebrew Scriptures, and take them literally except where the expressions or settings obviously indicate that they are figurative or symbolic. They understand that many of the prophecies of the Bible have been fulfilled, others are in the course of fulfillment, and still others await fulfillment.



THEIR NAME



Jehovah's Witnesses? Yes, that is the way they refer to themselves. It is a descriptive name, indicating that they bear witness concerning Jehovah, his Godship, and his purposes. "God," "Lord," and "Creator"-like "President," "King," and "General"-are titles and may be applied to several different personages. But "Jehovah" is a personal name and refers to the almighty God and Creator of the universe. This is shown at Psalm 83:18, according to the King James version of the Bible: "That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth."



The name Jehovah (or Yahweh, as the Roman Catholic Jerusalem Bible and some scholars prefer) appears almost 7,000 times in the original Hebrew Scriptures. Most Bibles do not show it as such but substitute "God" or "Lord" for it. However, even in these Bibles, a person can usually tell where the original Hebrew text uses Jehovah because in those places the substituted words are written in large and small capitals, thus: GOD, LORD. Several modern translations do use either the name Jehovah or the name Yahweh. Hence, the New World Translation reads at Isaiah 42:8, "I am Jehovah. That is my name."



The Scriptural account that Jehovah's Witnesses draw on for their name is in the 43rd chapter of Isaiah. There the world scene is viewed as a courtroom drama: The gods of the nations are invited to bring forth their witnesses to prove their claimed cases of righteousness or to hear the witnesses for Jehovah's side and acknowledge the truth. Jehovah there declares to his people: "Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no saviour."-Isaiah 43:10, 11, American Standard Version.



Jehovah God had witnesses on earth during the thousands of years before Jesus was born. After Hebrews chapter 11 lists some of those men of faith, Hebrews 12:1 says: "So, then, because we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also put off every weight and the sin that easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." Jesus said before Pontius Pilate: "For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth." He is called "the faithful and true witness." (John 18:37; Revelation 3:14) Jesus told his disciples: "You will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon you, and you will be witnesses of me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the most distant part of the earth."-Acts 1:8.



Hence, some 6,000,000 persons today who are telling the good news of Jehovah's Kingdom by Christ Jesus in over 230 lands feel that they properly refer to themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses.



What Do They Believe?



JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES believe in Almighty God, Jehovah, Creator of the heavens and the earth. The very existence of the intricately designed wonders in the universe surrounding us reasonably argues that a supremely intelligent and powerful Creator produced it all. Just as the works of men and women reflect their qualities, so do those of Jehovah God. The Bible tells us that "his invisible qualities are clearly seen from the world's creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made." Also, without voice or words, "the heavens are declaring the glory of God."-Romans 1:20; Psalm 19:1-4.



People do not mold clay pots or make television sets and computers without a purpose. The earth and its creations of plant and animal life are far more marvelous. The structure of the human body with its trillions of cells is beyond our understanding-even the brain with which we think is incomprehensibly wonderful! If men have a purpose in bringing forth their comparatively insignificant inventions, surely Jehovah God had a purpose in his awesome creations! Proverbs 16:4 says that he does: "Everything Jehovah has made for his purpose."



Jehovah made the earth for a purpose, as he stated to the first human pair: "Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth . . . , have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving upon the earth." (Genesis 1:28) Because they became disobedient, this couple failed to fill the earth with righteous families who would lovingly care for the earth and its plants and animals. But their failure does not make Jehovah's purpose fail. Thousands of years later, it was written: "God, the Former of the earth . . . , did not create it simply for nothing." He "formed it even to be inhabited." It is not to be destroyed, but "the earth endures for ever." (Isaiah 45:18; Ecclesiastes 1:4, The New English Bible) Jehovah's purpose for the earth will be realized: "My own counsel will stand, and everything that is my delight I shall do."-Isaiah 46:10.



Hence, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the earth will remain forever and that all people, living and dead, who will fit in with Jehovah's purpose for a beautified, inhabited earth may live on it forever. All mankind inherited imperfection from Adam and Eve and, hence, are sinners. (Romans 5:12) The Bible tells us: "The wages sin pays is death." "The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all." "The soul that is sinning-it itself will die." (Romans 6:23; Ecclesiastes 9:5; Ezekiel 18:4, 20) Then how can they live again to share in the earthly blessings? Only through the ransom sacrifice of Christ Jesus, for he said: "I am the resurrection and the life. He that exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life." "All those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out."-John 5:28, 29; 11:25; Matthew 20:28.



How will this come about? It is explained in "the good news of the kingdom," which Jesus started to proclaim while on earth. (Matthew 4:17-23) But today Jehovah's Witnesses are preaching the good news in a very special way.





WHAT JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES BELIEVE



Belief Scriptural Reason



Bible is God's Word and 2 Tim. 3:16, 17;

is truth 2 Pet. 1:20, 21; John 17:17



Bible is more reliable Matt. 15:3; Col. 2:8

than tradition



God's name is Jehovah Ps. 83:18; Isa. 26:4; 42:8, AS;

Ex. 6:3



Christ is God's Son and Matt. 3:17; John 8:42; 14:28;

is inferior to Him 20:17; 1 Cor. 11:3; 15:28



Christ was first of God's Col. 1:15; Rev. 3:14

creations



Christ died on a stake, Gal. 3:13; Acts 5:30

not a cross



Christ's human life was Matt. 20:28; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6;

paid as a ransom for 1 Pet. 2:24

obedient humans



Christ's one sacrifice Rom. 6:10; Heb. 9:25-28

was sufficient



Christ was raised from 1 Pet. 3:18; Rom. 6:9;

the dead as an immortal Rev. 1:17, 18

spirit person



Christ's presence is in John 14:19; Matt. 24:3;

spirit 2 Cor. 5:16; Ps. 110:1, 2



We are now in the 'time of Matt. 24:3-14; 2 Tim. 3:1-5;

the end' Luke 17:26-30



Kingdom under Christ will Isa. 9:6, 7; 11:1-5;

rule earth in righteousness Dan. 7:13, 14; Matt. 6:10

and peace



Kingdom will bring ideal Ps. 72:1-4;

living conditions to earth Rev. 7:9, 10, 13-17; 21:3, 4



Earth will never be destroyed Eccl. 1:4; Isa. 45:18; Ps. 78:69

or depopulated



God will eliminate present Rev. 16:14, 16; Zeph. 3:8;

system of things in the Dan. 2:44; Isa. 34:2; 55:10, 11

battle at Har-Magedon



Wicked will be eternally Matt. 25:41-46; 2 Thess. 1:6-9

destroyed



People God approves will John 3:16; 10:27, 28; 17:3;

receive everlasting life Mark 10:29, 30



There is only one road to Matt. 7:13, 14; Eph. 4:4, 5

life



Human death is due to Rom. 5:12; 6:23

Adam's sin



The human soul ceases to Ezek. 18:4; Eccl. 9:10;

exist at death Ps. 6:5; 146:4; John 11:11-14



Hell is mankind's common Job 14:13, Dy;

grave Rev. 20:13, 14, AV (margin)



Hope for dead is 1 Cor. 15:20-22;

resurrection John 5:28, 29; 11:25, 26



Adamic death will cease 1 Cor. 15:26, 54; Rev. 21:4;

Isa. 25:8



Only a little flock of Luke 12:32; Rev. 14:1, 3;

144,000 go to heaven and 1 Cor. 15:40-53; Rev. 5:9, 10

rule with Christ



The 144,000 are born again 1 Pet. 1:23; John 3:3;

as spiritual sons of God Rev. 7:3, 4



New covenant is made with Jer. 31:31; Heb. 8:10-13

spiritual Israel



Christ's congregation is Eph. 2:20; Isa. 28:16;

built upon himself Matt. 21:42



Prayers are to be directed John 14:6, 13, 14; 1 Tim. 2:5

only to Jehovah through Christ



Images should not be used in Ex. 20:4, 5; Lev. 26:1;

worship 1 Cor. 10:14; Ps. 115:4-8



Spiritism must be shunned Deut. 18:10-12; Gal. 5:19-21;

Lev. 19:31



Satan is invisible ruler of 1 John 5:19; 2 Cor. 4:4;

world John 12:31



A Christian ought to have no 2 Cor. 6:14-17; 11:13-15;

part in interfaith movements Gal. 5:9; Deut. 7:1-5



A Christian should keep Jas. 4:4; 1 John 2:15;

separate from world John 15:19; 17:16



Obey human laws that do not Matt. 22:20, 21;

conflict with God's laws 1 Pet. 2:12; 4:15



Taking blood into body Gen. 9:3, 4; Lev. 17:14;

through mouth or veins Acts 15:28, 29

violates God's laws



Bible's laws on morals must 1 Cor. 6:9, 10; Heb. 13:4;

be obeyed 1 Tim. 3:2; Prov. 5:1-23



Sabbath observance was given Deut. 5:15; Ex. 31:13; Rom. 10:4;

only to Israel and ended Gal. 4:9, 10; Col. 2:16, 17

with Mosaic Law



A clergy class and special Matt. 23:8-12; 20:25-27;

titles are improper Job 32:21, 22



Man did not evolve but was Isa. 45:12; Gen. 1:27; Matt. 19:4

created



Christ set example that must 1 Pet. 2:21; Heb. 10:7;

be followed in serving God John 4:34; 6:38



Baptism by complete immersion Mark 1:9, 10; John 3:23;

symbolizes dedication Acts 19:4, 5



Christians gladly give public Rom. 10:10; Heb. 13:15;

testimony to Scriptural truth Isa. 43:10-12