Jehovah's Witnesses - Beliefs and doctrines

Jehovah's Witnesses claim reliance on the Bible for their theology and that it forms the basis for their beliefs. Many beliefs and practices are similar to mainstream Christian denominations, yet there are significant differences as well. Jehovah's Witnesses - Distinctive to Jehovah's Witnesses. Prominent use of the biblical name of God as translated into native languages, for example: Jehovah in English, Geova in Italian, Yawe in Ateso, Yekoba in Dinka, Iehova in Gaelic etc. ^{See also:}

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Read more here: » Jehovah's Witnesses: Encyclopedia II - Jehovah's Witnesses - Beliefs and doctrines

See the related article Doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses for additional details. Jehovah's Witnesses claim reliance on the Bible for their theology, and the scriptures noted below are commonly used by Witnesses and their organization as the basis for their claims of a biblical foundation for their doctrines. Many beliefs and practices are similar to mainstream Christian denominations, yet there are significant differences as well. Beliefs and practices that can be said to be distinctive of Jehovah's Witnesses include< ...

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Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Origins, Jehovah's Witnesses - Membership, Jehovah's Witnesses - Organizational structure, Jehovah's Witnesses - Beliefs and doctrines, Jehovah's Witnesses - The question of blood, Jehovah's Witnesses - Practices, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and governments, Jehovah's Witnesses - Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - Early eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - 1975, Jehovah's Witnesses - Recent changes, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and their families, Jehovah's Witnesses - Notes

Read more here: » Jehovah's Witnesses: Encyclopedia II - Jehovah's Witnesses - Beliefs and doctrines

Jehovah's Witnesses are currently led by a small, ecclesiastical Governing Body. Jehovah's Witnesses believe the role of the Governing Body corresponds to that of those who met in the Council of Jerusalem, guided by Holy Spirit and directed by Jesus. The description of the Council of Jerusalem in the Acts of the Apostles is often used as an example of how God had a "visible organization" in the fir ...

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Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - History, Jehovah's Witnesses - Membership, Jehovah's Witnesses - Organizational structure, Jehovah's Witnesses - Beliefs and doctrines, Jehovah's Witnesses - Distinctive to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by most Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by many Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by most conservative Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by some other Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by mainstream Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses - Blood, Jehovah's Witnesses - Practices, Jehovah's Witnesses - Worship, Jehovah's Witnesses - Morality, Jehovah's Witnesses - Construction and Humanitarian Efforts, Jehovah's Witnesses - Disfellowshipping excommunication, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and governments, Jehovah's Witnesses - Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - Early eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - 1975, Jehovah's Witnesses - Recent changes

Read more here: » Jehovah's Witnesses: Encyclopedia II - Jehovah's Witnesses - Organizational structure

As of August 2005, Jehovah's Witnesses have a practicing membership of more than 6.6 million, according to data reported in the Annual Worldwide Statistics at the Authorized Site of the Office of Public Information of Jehovah's Witnesses. The site states: "While other religious groups count their membership by occasional or annual attendance, this figure reflects only those who are actively involved in the public Bible educational work." Jehovah's Witnesses have a custom of counting their membership by 'Lands' rather than by countries ...

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Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - History, Jehovah's Witnesses - Membership, Jehovah's Witnesses - Organizational structure, Jehovah's Witnesses - Beliefs and doctrines, Jehovah's Witnesses - Distinctive to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by most Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by many Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by most conservative Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by some other Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by mainstream Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses - Blood, Jehovah's Witnesses - Practices, Jehovah's Witnesses - Worship, Jehovah's Witnesses - Morality, Jehovah's Witnesses - Construction and Humanitarian Efforts, Jehovah's Witnesses - Disfellowshipping excommunication, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and governments, Jehovah's Witnesses - Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - Early eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - 1975, Jehovah's Witnesses - Recent changes

Read more here: » Jehovah's Witnesses: Encyclopedia II - Jehovah's Witnesses - Membership

Jehovah's Witnesses - Worship. Jehovah's Witnesses have five meetings per week, which are made up of five program parts (totaling approximately five hours). Meetings are held in local Kingdom Halls and private homes. Larger conventions are held usually three times a year in facilities owned or maintained by the Watchtower Society or rented, such as stadiums or auditoriums. Throughout the week, there are also meetings for "field service" (preaching work) where members meet either in homes, or the Kingdom Hall, to ...

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Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - History, Jehovah's Witnesses - Membership, Jehovah's Witnesses - Organizational structure, Jehovah's Witnesses - Beliefs and doctrines, Jehovah's Witnesses - Distinctive to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by most Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by many Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by most conservative Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by some other Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by mainstream Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses - Blood, Jehovah's Witnesses - Practices, Jehovah's Witnesses - Worship, Jehovah's Witnesses - Morality, Jehovah's Witnesses - Construction and Humanitarian Efforts, Jehovah's Witnesses - Disfellowshipping excommunication, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and governments, Jehovah's Witnesses - Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - Early eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - 1975, Jehovah's Witnesses - Recent changes

Read more here: » Jehovah's Witnesses: Encyclopedia II - Jehovah's Witnesses - Practices

Jehovah's Witnesses exhort their members to obey all the laws, including the paying of taxes, of the country in which they reside, so long as these do not violate 'God's law'.[71] At the same time, however, they hold a stance of political neutrality. Examples of this detachment in practice include: Refusal to salute the flag, or sing nationalistic songs[72] Refusal to serve in the military (including defense, or non-combatant role ...

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Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - History, Jehovah's Witnesses - Membership, Jehovah's Witnesses - Organizational structure, Jehovah's Witnesses - Beliefs and doctrines, Jehovah's Witnesses - Distinctive to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by most Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by many Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by most conservative Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by some other Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by mainstream Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses - Blood, Jehovah's Witnesses - Practices, Jehovah's Witnesses - Worship, Jehovah's Witnesses - Morality, Jehovah's Witnesses - Construction and Humanitarian Efforts, Jehovah's Witnesses - Disfellowshipping excommunication, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and governments, Jehovah's Witnesses - Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - Early eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - 1975, Jehovah's Witnesses - Recent changes

Read more here: » Jehovah's Witnesses: Encyclopedia II - Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and governments

Since their formation in the 1870s, leaders of the organization have sought to identify dates for end-time events such as the enthronement of Jesus as King, the return of Jesus Christ, and for the "end of this system of things," culminating in Armageddon. The Witness publication Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, gives an overview of some of the historical development of the Witnesses' eschatology. However, no detailed study by Witness historians has been published. Most information on Jehovah's Witnesses' eschatology ...

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Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - History, Jehovah's Witnesses - Membership, Jehovah's Witnesses - Organizational structure, Jehovah's Witnesses - Beliefs and doctrines, Jehovah's Witnesses - Distinctive to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by most Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by many Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by most conservative Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by some other Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by mainstream Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses - Blood, Jehovah's Witnesses - Practices, Jehovah's Witnesses - Worship, Jehovah's Witnesses - Morality, Jehovah's Witnesses - Construction and Humanitarian Efforts, Jehovah's Witnesses - Disfellowshipping excommunication, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and governments, Jehovah's Witnesses - Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - Early eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - 1975, Jehovah's Witnesses - Recent changes

Read more here: » Jehovah's Witnesses: Encyclopedia II - Jehovah's Witnesses - Eschatology

Throughout their history, their beliefs, doctrines and practices have met controversy and opposition from governments, communities, and religious groups. Many Christian denominations consider the interpretation and doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses to be heresy. In addition, governments of various political persuasions have considered the religion to be a subversive organization, and sometimes even a threat to national security. Political and religious animosity against them has at times led to mob action and government oppression. ...

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Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - History, Jehovah's Witnesses - Membership, Jehovah's Witnesses - Organizational structure, Jehovah's Witnesses - Beliefs and doctrines, Jehovah's Witnesses - Distinctive to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by most Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by many Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by most conservative Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by some other Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by mainstream Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses - Blood, Jehovah's Witnesses - Practices, Jehovah's Witnesses - Worship, Jehovah's Witnesses - Morality, Jehovah's Witnesses - Construction and Humanitarian Efforts, Jehovah's Witnesses - Disfellowshipping excommunication, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and governments, Jehovah's Witnesses - Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - Early eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - 1975, Jehovah's Witnesses - Recent changes

Read more here: » Jehovah's Witnesses: Encyclopedia II - Jehovah's Witnesses - Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that some time after the death of the last apostle, the Church gradually diverged, in a "Great Apostasy", from the original teachings of Jesus in several major points. Influenced by Restorationism, they believe their faith is a continually improving, imperfect restoration of First Century Christianity. An example in The Watchtower states: "It was the 1900-year-old 'faithful and discreet slave,' the old Christian congregation, that was entrusted with this precious Kingdom service ... obedient in its centurie ...

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Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - History, Jehovah's Witnesses - Membership, Jehovah's Witnesses - Organizational structure, Jehovah's Witnesses - Beliefs and doctrines, Jehovah's Witnesses - Distinctive to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by most Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by many Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by most conservative Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by some other Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses - Shared by mainstream Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses - Blood, Jehovah's Witnesses - Practices, Jehovah's Witnesses - Worship, Jehovah's Witnesses - Morality, Jehovah's Witnesses - Construction and Humanitarian Efforts, Jehovah's Witnesses - Disfellowshipping excommunication, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and governments, Jehovah's Witnesses - Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - Early eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - 1975, Jehovah's Witnesses - Recent changes

Read more here: » Jehovah's Witnesses: Encyclopedia II - Jehovah's Witnesses - History

Being one of Jehovah's Witnesses and having other family members who are not can create strained relationships. When holidays come around (e.g. Christmas, Easter, Birthdays), some Witnesses may feel attendance or participation in holiday parties or gatherings violates their conscience, whether or not other, non-Witness family members choose to attend. It is because of this that many non-Witness family members of Jehovah's Witnesses feel they are being shunned or that their Witness family members are 'not allowed' to be around them at all. Th ...

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Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Origins, Jehovah's Witnesses - Membership, Jehovah's Witnesses - Organizational structure, Jehovah's Witnesses - Beliefs and doctrines, Jehovah's Witnesses - The question of blood, Jehovah's Witnesses - Practices, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and governments, Jehovah's Witnesses - Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - Early eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - 1975, Jehovah's Witnesses - Recent changes, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and their families, Jehovah's Witnesses - Notes

Read more here: » Jehovah's Witnesses: Encyclopedia II - Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and their families

Main article: Organizational structure of Jehovah's Witnesses Jehovah's Witnesses are currently led by a small, ecclesiastical Governing Body. The Governing Body (indirectly through the departments of its various legal organizations) directs the operation of the 111 branches spread throughout the world (Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society 2005). Each branch has appointed overseers who travel among various local congregations, spending a week with each and giving spiritual ...

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Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Origins, Jehovah's Witnesses - Membership, Jehovah's Witnesses - Organizational structure, Jehovah's Witnesses - Beliefs and doctrines, Jehovah's Witnesses - The question of blood, Jehovah's Witnesses - Practices, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and governments, Jehovah's Witnesses - Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - Early eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - 1975, Jehovah's Witnesses - Recent changes, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and their families, Jehovah's Witnesses - Notes

Read more here: » Jehovah's Witnesses: Encyclopedia II - Jehovah's Witnesses - Organizational structure

As of August 2005, Jehovah's Witnesses have a practicing membership of more than 6.6 million, according to data reported in the Annual Worldwide Statistics at the Authorized Site of the Office of Public Information of Jehovah's Witnesses. The site states: "While other religious groups count their membership by occasional or annual attendance, this figure reflects only those who are actively involved in the public Bible educational work." Jehovah's Witnesses have a custom of counting their membership by 'Lands' rather than by countries, indicating separate statistics for regions administered by ot ...

See also:

Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Origins, Jehovah's Witnesses - Membership, Jehovah's Witnesses - Organizational structure, Jehovah's Witnesses - Beliefs and doctrines, Jehovah's Witnesses - The question of blood, Jehovah's Witnesses - Practices, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and governments, Jehovah's Witnesses - Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - Early eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - 1975, Jehovah's Witnesses - Recent changes, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and their families, Jehovah's Witnesses - Notes

Read more here: » Jehovah's Witnesses: Encyclopedia II - Jehovah's Witnesses - Membership

Jehovah's Witnesses have five meetings per week, which are made up of five program parts (totaling approximately five hours). Meetings are held in local Kingdom Halls and private homes. Larger conventions are held usually three times a year in facilities owned or maintained by the Watchtower Society or rented, such as stadiums or auditoriums. Throughout the week, there are also meetings for "field service" (preaching work) where members meet either in homes, or the Kingdom Hall, to organize and pray prior to engaging in door-to-door or other ...

See also:

Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Origins, Jehovah's Witnesses - Membership, Jehovah's Witnesses - Organizational structure, Jehovah's Witnesses - Beliefs and doctrines, Jehovah's Witnesses - The question of blood, Jehovah's Witnesses - Practices, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and governments, Jehovah's Witnesses - Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - Early eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - 1975, Jehovah's Witnesses - Recent changes, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and their families, Jehovah's Witnesses - Notes

Read more here: » Jehovah's Witnesses: Encyclopedia II - Jehovah's Witnesses - Practices

Jehovah's Witnesses exhort their members to obey all the laws, including the paying of taxes, of the country in which they reside, so long as these do not violate 'God's law'. This is in keeping with their interpretation of Romans 13:7: Render to all their dues, to him who calls for the tax, the tax; to him who calls for the tribute, the tribute; to him who calls for fear, such fear; to him who calls for honor, such honor. At the same time, however, they hold a stance of political neutrality. ...

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Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Origins, Jehovah's Witnesses - Membership, Jehovah's Witnesses - Organizational structure, Jehovah's Witnesses - Beliefs and doctrines, Jehovah's Witnesses - The question of blood, Jehovah's Witnesses - Practices, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and governments, Jehovah's Witnesses - Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - Early eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - 1975, Jehovah's Witnesses - Recent changes, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and their families, Jehovah's Witnesses - Notes

Read more here: » Jehovah's Witnesses: Encyclopedia II - Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and governments

Since their formation in the 1870s, leaders of the organization have sought to identify dates for end-time events such as the enthronement of Jesus as King, the return of Jesus Christ, and for the "end of this system of things," culminating in Armageddon. The Witness publication Jehovah's Witnesses--Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, gives an overview of some of the historical development of the Witnesses' eschatology. However, no detailed study by Witness historians has been published. Most information on Jehovah's Witnesses' eschatology ...

See also:

Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Origins, Jehovah's Witnesses - Membership, Jehovah's Witnesses - Organizational structure, Jehovah's Witnesses - Beliefs and doctrines, Jehovah's Witnesses - The question of blood, Jehovah's Witnesses - Practices, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and governments, Jehovah's Witnesses - Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - Early eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - 1975, Jehovah's Witnesses - Recent changes, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and their families, Jehovah's Witnesses - Notes

Read more here: » Jehovah's Witnesses: Encyclopedia II - Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and eschatology

Throughout their history, their beliefs, doctrines and practices have met controversy and opposition from governments, communities, and religious groups. Many Christian denominations consider the interpretation and doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses to be heresy. In addition, governments of various political persuasions have considered the religion to be a subversive organization, and sometimes even a threat to national security. Political and religious animosi ...

See also:

Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Origins, Jehovah's Witnesses - Membership, Jehovah's Witnesses - Organizational structure, Jehovah's Witnesses - Beliefs and doctrines, Jehovah's Witnesses - The question of blood, Jehovah's Witnesses - Practices, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and governments, Jehovah's Witnesses - Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - Early eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - 1975, Jehovah's Witnesses - Recent changes, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and their families, Jehovah's Witnesses - Notes

Read more here: » Jehovah's Witnesses: Encyclopedia II - Jehovah's Witnesses - Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that some time after the death of the last apostle, the Church gradually diverged, in a "Great Apostasy", from the original teachings of Jesus in several major points. Influenced by Restorationism, they believe their faith is a continually improving, imperfect restoration of First Century Christianity. An example in The Watchtower states: "It was the 1900-year-old 'faithful and discreet slave,' [parable--Matthew 24:45] the old Christian congregation, that was entrusted with this precious Kingdom service ... ...

See also:

Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Origins, Jehovah's Witnesses - Membership, Jehovah's Witnesses - Organizational structure, Jehovah's Witnesses - Beliefs and doctrines, Jehovah's Witnesses - The question of blood, Jehovah's Witnesses - Practices, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and governments, Jehovah's Witnesses - Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - Early eschatology, Jehovah's Witnesses - 1975, Jehovah's Witnesses - Recent changes, Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses and their families, Jehovah's Witnesses - Notes

Read more here: » Jehovah's Witnesses: Encyclopedia II - Jehovah's Witnesses - Origins