Is anyone here relatively knowlegable or have personal experiences with Jehovah's Witnesses? What are there basic beliefs and how exactly do they differ from typical "Christianity"?

Here are some basics

JW was founded in 1870 by Charles Russell..at that time they were called The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom.After Russell's death Joseph Rutherford took over and renamed them the Jehovah's Witnesses...Rutherford predicted that Jesus would return for all JW's in 1914...then changed it 1918..after changing the dates several times he said that Jesus had returned but he was invisible to all but a few JW's
They believe that only 144,000 will make it to heaven depending on your works for the society...the rest will live in a earthly paradise...all non JW's will simply cease to exist after death.They also believe that Jesus was the archangel Michael while in heaven but became a man when he arrived on earth.they believe that Jesus died on a stake not a cross...which they view as a pegan symbol...and that Jesus rose from the dead spiritually not not physically.
JW's are forbidden to vote,do military service,take blood transfusions and celebrating birthdays and holidays incuding Christmas,mothers day and Easter.
The good news is over the last three years the number of JW's in the US has declined as oppossed to the Mormons which have grown at a rate of one million per year.

Thank you for that bit of info, I have never really understood what they were all about. I read up on their practice of "disfellowship" and it really kind of scared me. They seem to be VERY strict on their rules and consequences. Yet they seem to be so kind and inviting when they come to your door. Kind of misleading I'll say. When did people start to care so much about regulations, divisions, and not so much about just growing in Jesus? That's what tears at my heart when I look at the Christian population as a whole, that it isn't really whole, only divided and fighting over minor details...vote for unification!!!

I totally believe you, but tell me what Catholic off spring was created during the early to mid 1600's by a Spanish wounded soldeir? Maybe Im thinking of the same guy. Just a thought? ::)

Posted by: Lady-of-Light Posted on: Today at 07:24:46pm
I totally believe you, but tell me what Catholic off spring was created during the early to mid 1600's by a Spanish wounded soldeir? Maybe Im thinking of the same guy. Just a thought?


I'm confusicated ???

I don't know much about Jehovah's.

One thing that is a sign if the group is truely christian or not is what they believe about Jesus Christ. to express this best would be to go into detail who Jesus was (Son of God, Part of the Trinity, Died on the cross and rose on the third day...) and to see if their Jesus matches the true Jesus. If they don't match, than they aren't really Christians (but than the debate becomes who was Jesus and what is said about him). If they think that Jesus was once Michael, then they have denied what the Bible has said about Jesus and Michael, the Arch-Angel, thus they denied the true Christ and they are not Christians. There are other ways of identifing cults, my pastor gave a series of messages on who what are the cults and how to Identify them, but I missed about half of them and didn't take good notes for the ones that I did hear :(

Any one who says that Jesus Christ did not come in the flesh is not of God. 1 John 4 (I think)

They believe in salvation through works... That's enough for me to know they're not Christians.
They also have a messed up translation of the bible they've added things, changed things and dropped things entirely that don't fit with their beliefs.

We've had JWs come and try to evangelize us. The first time we didn't know they were JW, but the next time, we just didn't invite them in.
In my personal file, the one only teachers look at and pass on, it was written that my parents are JW, this is because once my father told a teacher that I was getting baptised. That teacher interpreted my baptism as us being JW. And only years later a different teacher ventured to investigate if it were true. So I got to tell her who we really were (e.g. Christians). I hope that teacher fixed the mistake. When she told me that, suddenly all the teachers' strange actions from all my years at school, that I interpreted as discrimination, made sence.
The best thing to do with JW is to love them and tell them about your wonderfull personal experience with God. Never argue with them.

Arguing with them is pointless cause they've been 'pre-programmed' with answers to questions.

Having a study with them is not pointless. You just have to be prepared. When they come to your door tell them "right now is a bad time" (it usually is bad when you are blindsided and not prepared). Invite them back in a week. Have at least two christians with you.
Pray, pray, pray, study, study, study. They usually come with one mentor and one newbie. Don't let them change subjects on you. Say "that's a nice subject but lets stick with the topic at hand". One subject that will plant a seed is the false prophecies by the JW's and what the bible says about a false profit Deut 18:20-22. The idea is to plant a seed if nothing else. Trust God to water it. I have had JW's doubt thier church once leaving my house. Since then I've been blacklisted and they haven't come back.
A good book for this with a breakdown of questions with documentation is : Expose' of Jehova's Witnesses by Erich and Jean Grieshaber. They are former JW's and have a ministry just for witnessing to JW's. You could prolly find them on line. Just remember it is never pointless, but they study in dept for quite a long time before going witnessing and are well versed in thier verses...don't let them lead you down rabbit trails...

^ agreed!
I have a friend, Steve, who witnesses to JW and Mormon "missionaries" that go door to door. once, they did their thing and he did his, then he suggestd that they each (including Steve) pray this prayer "Lord, No matter where I come from, what I was taught growing up, or what I believe now, if it is not the truth reveal it to me and I will change." after they were done praying both of the Mormon missionaries were crying and told Steve that God revealed to them the truth and that they were now true Christians and left the mormonism!

My best friend's mom and step-dad are JWs and so was he until I told him what JWs are really about and that it dosen't match what is in the Bible. So he was like screw that and he stopped going to church with his mom and step-dad and started going to church with his real dad.

JW's are very very good at what they do, which is going door to door and up front about their faith. I'd say their 'faith' is more duty-driven then anything. Their salvation isn't really based on a relationship, but more so requirements and procedures. Here's an overview on what JW's believe: *ideas from Bruce and Stan's book :)*

God: His name is Jehovah, and there is no Trinity. They believe the Trinity was a lie from Satan. There is a Holy Spirit, but its only God's acting force.

Humans: Are God's creation, those who are for God go to Heaven, those who don't just...dont exist after death.

Sin: Another word for falling short, and everyone sins.

Salvation/Afterlife: 144,000 are rewarded with heaven, the rest on a peaceful earth; all non-believers non-exist.

Morality: There are prohibitions and requirements.

Jesus: God's first creation, was Michael the archangel first, born of the virgin Mary, and died on a STAKE, not a cross. He was raised as an 'immortal spirit.'

Having a study with them is not pointless.


I didn't say a study was pointless I said arguing with them is pointless. Studies are a very good idea especially if you bring Greek and Hebrew into it.

What I meant was that JWs are trained to answer questions commonly brought up in arguments, a sort of programmed response. By arguing with them you are only vindicating them that they are right.

absolutely... ok I get what you meant now. and yes you really have to know what the bible says and not let them twist scripture, change the subject, or use the good ol "that is symbolism" when it's not tactics. It realy takes a heart for that ministry to do it. It is really easy to have study to turn into an argument. So basically ya got to prepare...

One of my best friends is a JW. I want to talk to her about it and to tell her about God, but I'm just afraid of losing a friendship because her religion is a really touchy subject to her. I know that this is awful of me and that I shouldn't be afraid. I'll keep praying about it.

I grew up as a JW. I was brought into belief by them, since my parents were in the faith. When I was about 12 (im 16 now), Dad decided to leave the faith, to try out Mormonism. That lasted all of a year, before he left that too. Now he's just really nothing, though I know an inner part of him still believes in God. It was hard for me when he left, as what I then believed was hard to accept that he had left - he had "disassociated" himself. This means no-one in the faith can talk to, or associate with him (family still can though). So not long after that, I stopped going to their Kingdom Halls, and became a 'nothing' too.

I guess I sort of.. felt a void. I always had a belief as to what would happen to me (paradise on earth blah blah), and now I didn't know what to believe.. but occasionally I would still pray.. just not a great deal. I always really believed in God and Jesus, and always had my.. well doubts about religion. This girl I know, who is a Christian (she posts on this board actually - AnchorOfMySoul#5), told me about her Church. It's just a Christian Church, that's it.. No organized religion, it's just Christian, and that's it. Being from N.ireland, I found that rather.. well different, since this place is torn around political and religious feuds, and this seemed well perfect to me.

I started to read the Bible.. I've read John, then went back into Genesis.. am about 2/3's of the way through Exodus now, and it gave me a bit of a better understanding about God.. using the NIV version - much easier to understand!! I'm starting to go to her church now. It's completely different than I imagined, but I enjoyed it. I'll be going again this week (2nd time). We'll see how things go.

And since this about Skillet (the board), we seen them in December. They rocked!!! We got to hang out with them, and went for coffee with them and stuff to some local store. They came and talked to us and stuff, which was really cool!!

Anyway thanks, may God be with you :)

Matt

that is an awesome testimony! :) you're finally finding God. it's a great example of God seeking you out. when He releases the hounds of heaven on someone, it's only a matter of time. ;)

Where in N Ireland are you from? I live in Belfast.

I know wot u mean about the religious feud here. It's probably that and nothing else that makes me adamant that Christianity is NOT a religion. It's a relationship with God.

Newry.. not far south from you. I just long for people to respect humans for one another.. Maybe some day.

Matt

Newry not far? Correct me if I'm wrong but that's like a good chunk of the way towards Dublin! haha

Newry not far? Correct me if I'm wrong but that's like a good chunk of the way towards Dublin! haha


It's not that far.. about 45mins down the road. I guess if you go some other route it might take long.. Newry's a good bit away from Dublin lol.. used to take about 2 hours to get there, only takes about 1hr15 now with that new pathetic toll road they have.

Matt


fixed the wacky page parameters. :) -unshakeable

Yeah its kinda silly having to pay to goto a different part of the SAME island!!!

It's not too bad.. could be worse.. £5 a day to drive into London lol.. the "road" down here's only €2. But I won't have to worry about that, when I finally get the chance to emmigrate :P

What on earth is up with this thread? It's gone all screwed up on my PC...

Maybe its the curse of JWs... ;D

hahahaha! They know we're talking bout them so they've infected the boards with a mess up virus!

Is your PC seeing this thread strange? Or is it just mine

This is wot I see

haha! yeah, it was all wacko. :) but i fixed it. but, now that it's fixed, let's get back on topic. i believe we were talking about Jehovah's Witnesses...

Thanks Unshakeable. was a very weird thing for a while there :P rite back to the topic....

After being brought up as one, I could say a lot about em :P

Go for it then. I would love to hear about it from someone who's been there.

Well what do you want me to say, lol. hi? :P

What did they teach? What organisation do they have? How do they run things? Whats the deal with those extra books that can teach you the whole scriptures (I've forgotten what they're called, they guy who started JWs wrote them).
Things like that.

Im 16. I never got baptized into it, was just brought up. So therefore I couldn't tell you a lot about it. Just what they teach, is confusing. The organization is greatly run by people, rather than from faith with God. The Watchtower society, as they are called basically run it. They have kindgom halls, which you know about. You go to them, they have weekly bible studies. They believe preaching the good news is the best thing, which is why they go on door to door "ministry" work.

Correct me if I'm wrong - I remember reading that they believe that if you don't make up the sell quotas and give out so many tracts etc. When judgement day comes you will be destroyed from existence. Do you know if that's true?

Dont be stupid lol. They do believe strongly in the whole Armageddon, Judgement Day sort of thing.. and they'll all be saved, no one else will, all other churches will fall etc.. but they dont have like, a die-if-you-dont-work policy. They do have sort of.. a basic quota on hours you're meant to do, and you give monthly reports on it. If you do badly once, they wouldn't say anything to you, however as part of your dedication you are expected to meet that, and if you didn't consistently, they might just.. have a brief word with you, but nothing serious.

Matt

Just remembered it wasn't destroyed it was slaughtered at Armageddon, or sumfin like that neway. :P

Arguing with them is pointless cause they've been 'pre-programmed' with answers to questions.


yeah, same with mormons. they know how to argue. show them the love of Christ, and you catch them off guard.

Yeah, love works.

Theelectric3, I believe Kieth Green came from a JW family. I remember him talking about them.

My sister is a jw. And she refuses to believe in Jesus christ they've brain washed her good.

It was started by a freemason Charles T. Russell.

There beliefs:

They dont believe Jesus is GOD to them he is a little god and micheal the archangel. If you ever try to tell them about the trinity they'll usually say put yourself in God's shoes which we cant.

They dont believe hell is a place of eternal flames instead after a non jehovahwitnesses dies they "cease to exist"

They believe you can earn your way to heaven by works. By going door to door as example.

They dont celebrate holidays they believe thats worldy.

Only 144,ooo are going to heaven these are the anoited and the rest are going to live on paradise

There is no soul

If a jw sins they are kicked out and no other jw are allowed to talk to them until they get clean

There chruch is the only way to heaven

The Holy Spirit is just God's active force and not God's spirit

Only 144,ooo are going to heaven these are the anoited and the rest are going to live on paradise

I thought it was that the 144'000 have already been chosen and heaven is full so the rest get to live on earth. :S Maybe Im wrong...

couple more things

Charles Russell wrote his own set of Bible commentaries. The JWs claim that if u didnt read the bible but only read his commentaries you'll learn all the bible has to offer in 2 years.

Also if you left his commentaries and read ONLY the Bible. You will be filled with heresy and apostasty
---
Translation: You read just the bible and you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free. ;)

They dont celebrate holidays they believe thats worldy.



that much, i knew... i worked w/ a girl whose parents and family were JW... she wasn't allowed to come to the Christmas party at work, stuff like that...