Jehovah Witnesses
This article was written with an intent to shed some clarifications about Jehovah Witnesses. It is in no way promoting anything about this religion or religious group – take this whole collection of passages as some sort of a descriptive guide.
Let’s start from the 70’s, not the 1970’s but the time period during the year 1870; an era when Christianity was on the rise, and so was rest of the religions. Specifically speaking, it was the 1870s when the United States population witnessed the emergence of Jehovah Witnesses. Some say it is a religious cult, while others believe that Jehovah Witnesses are a Christian religion.
At the very basic level, this religion is said to be a branch of Bible/Christianity. There’s a whole pile of text books and journals that suggest that Jehovah Witnesses’ methods are based on Bible; but with a slight tinge of difference.
With the subject of being “different” from Christianity, there comes a lot of repercussion and altercative speeches from both sides. Different groups of Christians, or Purists, have accused Jehovah Witnesses of being a cult and nothing more. These groups belong to reputable authorities from different sects of Christianity from the far and wide corners of the Vatican City and the U.S.A.
However, not everything is as “satanic” as it may seem. Jehovah Witnesses are simply people who recognize God as a superior entity, and give Jesus Christ a little less priority. Let’s take a look at the primary postulates that govern this religion:
• The Holy Bible:
o According to the Bible, it is supposed to be respected and recognized as a historic book, with facts and figures regarding the makings ‘n completion of Christianity. The Bible is supposed and meant to be followed to the finest lines of details in it.
§ Jehovah Witnesses are of the view that the Bible is supposed to represent the life and workings of God and only God. Just like Christians, Jehovah Witnesses are also devoted to following the teachings in the Bible. But since this is a different religion, they have their own Bible that’s known as ‘New World Translation”. Just as the name suggests, this book is in fact a moderated translation of the original teachings of the Holy Bible.
• Concepts About God:
o God is identified as Jehovah, by the Jehovah Witnesses. In addition to the “Jehovah” analogy, the followers of this religion don’t give much importance to Jesus, as they believe that nothing is above God.
§ Christians, on the other hand, sometimes think that Jesus is a little more important than God in some ways of life.
§ Jehovah Witnesses also have their beliefs inclined towards the Holy Trinity – they only hold God responsible as an active force and a major role player in this trifecta.
• Death:
o Death is something that takes away everything at the time of its untimely occurrence – This is what Jehovah Witnesses believe in. Their teachings strongly suggest that there is no life after death, hence nulling the existence of Hell and Heaven (There is a paradise but it will be on Earth only).
§ In order to be resurrected, Jehovah Witnesses are highly active in their community. The only means of resurrection, after death, are possible when and only when a person does enough for the religion to be remembered after his/her lifetime of servitude is over.