Jehovah's Witnesses
Their numbers are relatively small. They constitute less than 1% of those who indicate some religious preference. They rank 24th on the list of the 25 largest denominations in the United States. Despite these low numbers, there is no denomination in this country or in the world, which spends more time proselytizing. They are the Jehovah’s Witnesses. According to the Public Affairs Office of Jehovah’s Witnesses, last year their members spent over one billion hours on public missionary work. Jehovah’s Witnesses are the fastest growing denomination in the United States, with a growth rate of 2.25 percent. Fifty years ago, they numbered fewer than 100,000, now they number over one million. The very reason for their existence is to make converts. If they have not been in your neighborhood, or “come a knocking” at your door, it is just a matter of time. If you invite them in, be prepared for a well-orchestrated and rehearsed plan designed to make the convert feel spiritually astute with answers that correspond to the principles, which coincide with their fundamental beliefs.
Since their founding in 1872 by Charles Taze Russell, the religious principles of the Jehovah’s Witnesses have been diametrically in conflict with fundamental positions held by both the Protestant and Catholic churches. While they believe in the God of the Judeo-Christian Bible, they have a different translation – the New World Translation –, which is viewed by many traditional Bible scholars as a “frightful mistranslation”.
Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the doctrine of Trinity, the immortality of the soul, and the notion of Hell. They do not believe that Jesus is God, but they acknowledge that his sacrifice a...
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Jehovah's Witnesses. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear that name? Preachers? Church-dwellers? "The kingdom"? That's what many around the world first think of, however you may also have thought of: the bible. This may be because you know that every belief that Jehovah's Witnesses have stems from the bible. The bible is the foundation of the religion. Living the life of a Jehovah's Witness is one of the most fulfilling ways one can lead their life.
Looking at his most recent mug shot, no one would guess that Warren Jeffs was once a prophet and leader to a church with nearly ten thousand members; without Warren’s dark brown hair and the suits he commonly wore, Warren could be passed off as any other hardened criminal. Despite the dramatic change in his appearance, it is speculated that the convicted sexual predator still manages to maintain control over his people. While the FLDS Church followers believe that Warren is the one and only mouthpiece of God today; the Jehovah’s Witnesses, on the other hand, have a governing body of seven men that lead their denomination. The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is “the oldest and most important of the corporations of the Jehovah's Witnesses”, and the President of the Society used to be part of the governing body. However in October 2000, the current president Don Alden Adams, resigned from the governing body to take on a purely administrative role which has no influence on the doctrine. (WatchTower.org) Adams is considered to be a 50-year veteran of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and like Warren, Adams grew up with his current religion. (Ostling) Don and Warren slightly resemble each other with their long faces, prominent noses and thin framed glasses, however without their shared belief in a god, their appearance is the extent of their likeness. Just as the FLDS Church and the Jehovah’s Witnesses both share a belief in a higher power, they differ greatly in their origin, doctrine, and practices. By comparing these denominations, it will become clear why one is more popular than the other.
A cult may be defined as a group of people centred about one person’s religious, social or political ideology (Martin, 2003). It is a movement that venerates a specific person, and uses manipulative techniques to recruit members and raise funds. Cults demand complete obedience from the members and use them to work, provide money and provide sexual favours for the benefit of the leaders. Most cults engage in criminal activities such as child marriages, sexual abuse, kidnapping, assault, arson and even murder (Snow, 2003). Over the years, there has been a brisk rise in the number of people starting up cults and those joining them. Individuals are in a bid to discover their significance through passionate and spiritual experiences, which are provided by cults. Reasons why people turn to cults include loneliness, lack of personal identity and alienation (Martin, 2003). There have been many cults in the course of American history. One of the most infamous cults is the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS). This paper will give a brief history of the cult, its methods of action, the toxic effects of its beliefs and the methods of treatment used for survivors.
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Such as, the New Salem Associations believes that the preacher is called by God, and not chosen by men. Some religions and denominations believe in paying people to preach sermons to them. The New Salem is completely different they are willing to preach to the congregation, and not receive any money from them. They believe that they are paid through God by blessings. The preachers are schooled entirely from God and not from a seminary school (Huff, Carolyn).
The incorporation of the 14th Amendment in regards to Civil Liberties is one of the longest and most important constitutional debates of all time. Though the 14th Amendment was adopted in 1868, the Supreme Court rendered their first interpretation of its scope five years later. The Court supported the Privileges and Immunities Clause by a narrow 5-4 vote. This clause was later thought to be the regular basis of enforcing individual citizen’s rights and civil liberties. The development in understanding and the provision for protection of one such liberty, freedom of religion, has changed throughout the history of the United States. Evidence of this can be seen not only in the role government has played but also through several court cases.
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The Baptists stands out as an interesting denomination. What attracts me to this particular denomination are their practice and their religious views. Unlike many Christian denominations, Baptists practice adult baptism; they believe that baptism should be for those who have made a conscience decision of accepting Jesus as Lord. As for their religious views, Baptists have an ever-changing view on various issues. In many ways the Baptists denomination is very traditional in their old ways but also they also evolve with the new times.
...Pentecostal’s hold, that “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
For my first site visit, I went to a Kingdom Hall in Sunnyside, Queens NY with Valentina and Chelsea. Some of Valentina’s distant relatives are Jehovah’s Witnesses and we went with them to a meeting. The Kingdom Hall’s architecture looked simple and slightly aged on the outside. The walls were made up of a material that looked like bricks. In my town in Massachusetts, there is a Kingdom Hall that I used to drive by. Because it is in a suburb, it looked like a small, simple house. The one in Queens was bigger and fit in with city architecture. Once inside, I noticed that the Hall looked like a functional meeting place. That explained why the Jehovah’s Witness services are called “meetings”. There were no religious statues, paintings, or symbols throughout the Hall. The members were conservatively dressed, but were not extremely formal. Women are not supposed to wear pants to the meetings, instead they are supposed to wear skirts. Everything is moderate including any makeup. No one looked glamorous or extravagant at the Kingdom Hall, because they believe in practicality. ...
First, let’s take a look at a few beliefs of a Jehovah’s Witness. A Jehovah’s Witness does not believe that Jesus is Jehovah God. He or she believes that Jesus was the first thing that Jehovah created (Martin). A Jehovah’s Witness believes that Jesus is “the archangel Michael”, who was Satan’s brother (Lewis). He or she also does not believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus- he or she believes He was “raised from the dead, not with a physical body, but as a mighty Spirit creature” (Martin). However, if Jehovah God had created Jesus first, and Jesus, or in the Jehovah’s Witnesses eye- Michael, created all other things, it would make Jesus Satan’s father, not Satan’s brother. (Defending) All these beliefs are very different from what Christian’s believe. When witnessing to a Jehovah’s Witness, it is important for Christians to bold, but not offensive, so we may stil...
The Jehovah’s Witness religion is a well-known religion in the United States that began in the 19th century. Jehovah’s Witness is categorized under the Christian denomination; whose followers believe that others have misinterpreted the true teachings of Jesus. This religion is very heavy on the emphasis of spreading their faith around to the whole world. Estimated at fifty years ago this sect involved less than 100,000 members. Today there are over a million of these Witnesses around the world. Unlike other religions, instead of worshipping at a church, they have what they call as “Kingdom Halls.” These halls are normally rented buildings like: auditoriums, a gymnasiums, or a simple building. Inside of these buildings