Growing up as one of jehovahs witnesses, chris aspired to serve at the canadian watchtower branch headquarters, but in an attempt to solidify his faith as a devout jehovahs witness, chris researched the history and doctrines of the watchtower only to find major discrepancies between the. Russell called his group the millennial dawn bible study and those who followed him were called bible students. The story of the struggle between loyalty to god and loyalty to. History of the jehovahs witnesses the group now known as the jehovahs witnesses was founded in 1879 by charles taze russell, a pennsylvania businessman. I was raised a jehovahs witness grace evangelical society. Primarily, the jehovahs witness organization is a mindcontrol organization that uses its people to pass out literature and send in donations to the headquarters in brooklyn, new york. As a result of his study, which took place around 1870, he published numerous books. The pirates booty that changed the course of history. A former jehovahs witness has offered a rare insight into the religious group, describing it as a cult that tries to control emotions, thought. Charles taze russells books studies in scriptures are respected but are no. Jehovahs witness, member of a millennialist denomination that developed within the larger 19thcentury adventist movement in the united states and has since spread worldwide. The 11 beliefs you should know about jehovahs witnesses.
Jehovahs witnesses report friends and family members breaking the rules you should speak to the wrongdoer, urging him to seek the help of the elders. How to use the back of a napkin to prove to a jehovahs witness that jesus is god. Since 1976 all doctrinal decisions have been made by the governing body of jehovahs witnesses, a group of elders at the denominations headquarters. The historical background jehovah witness doctrine was founded by charles taze russell. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Jehovahs witnesses are very strongly cultic in both doctrine and behaviour, thus fitting both categories of false doctrine and mind control. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the reluctant apostate. He is the author of numerous books on new religions, in many of which he has discussed the jehovahs. In fact, they claim that jehovahs witnesses have a history almost 6,000 years long, beginning while the first man, adam, was still alive, that adams son abel was the first of an unbroken line of witnesses, and that jesus disciples were all jehovahs witnesses. Man recounts how jehovah witnesses cult tore his family. Russells adventist background and study of the bible led him to conclude, among other things, that the second coming of christ would occur in 1914, that hellfire did not exist, and god was not a trinity. Biblical answers to questions jehovahs witnesses ask buy on amazon buy on amazon europeuk for complete photocopied documentation purchase this book on amazon.
Jehovah s witnesses are very strongly cultic in both doctrine and behaviour, thus fitting both categories of false doctrine and mind control. Jehovahs witnesses trace their origins to the nineteenth century adventist movement in america. On the other hand, they voluntarily forget to mention that their actual history started long before, not with russell, but with the baptist preacher william miller. Jehovahs witnesses are a people of faith that many of us likely dont know that much about. In april 1974, a finalyear university student nearly made a decision that would have changed the course of history for dozens of people. Russells adventist background and study of the bible led him to conclude, among other things, that the second coming of christ would occur in 1914, that hellfire did not exist, and god was. As christians we dont need to be afraid of asking questions or reading about other beliefs systems. While studying at the university of ghana on an americansponsored oau scholarship, 23 yearold david had joined an interesting new christian group called jehovahs witnesses.
Our official website provides online access to the bible, biblebased publications, and current news. Various facts and history explaining the cults movement are dispersed throughout hewitts story, giving his account a place in any pastors library. Witnesses hold a number of traditional christian views but also many that are unique to them. The jehovahs witnesses have several book studies each week. Exposing the jehovahs witnesses cult eternal evangelism. Awakening of a jehovahs witness and millions of other books are available. Exjehovahs witness reveals secrets of religious group.
Author bonnie zieman was born and raised as a jehovahs witness, leaving after thirty years to gain the higher education that she was denied and build. I personally think the word cult is a little extreme, but i have to admit that jehovahs witnesses really bring it upon themselves by trying to pawn off their organization as christian when christianityatlarge rejected their entire theology as heretical some onethousand. I happened to be doing a little reading online and came across the wikipedia article on sir isaac newton. Combating cult mind control steven hassan is an expert on the subject of undue influence. Far from being a dangerous cult, jehovahs witnesses practice a. The future magazines talked about the futility of trying to educate a black. Jehovahs witnesses have received criticism from mainstream christianity, members of the. See the watchtowers secret rule book, shepherd the flock of god and video from the 20 convention of jehovahs witnesses, shun your family keep secrets from the organization. Jehovahs witnesses connection to freemasonry and satanism. This book was one of our most anticipated titles of june. Thus the bible is an organizational book and belongs to the christian congregation as an organization and not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely. The adventist movement emerged in the 1830s around. Jehovahs witnesses answered verse by verse is the only quick reference guide that. The more recent publications are used by jehovahs witnesses for their ministry and for their own personal study to understand jehovahs witnesses doctrine.
The members are not required to attend, but there is a level of expectation that gently urges converts to participate. Rather, we adhere to the standard that jesus set for his followers when he stated. Amber scorahs memoir, leaving the witness, recounts a tale of. The watchtower society assumes that its history started with charles taze russell who studied the bible and discovered numerous biblical truths such as the prediction of 1914. The sect now known as the jehovahs witnesses was started by charles taze russell, who was born in 1852. He was fascinated by religion from his school days, and discovered. History of the jehovahs witnesses cult one may learn the story of the beginning and progress of the jehovahs witness cult by studying its major leaders. He blogs at between two worlds and evangelical history. Beware the cultlike control and abuse of jehovahs witnesses. A short history of the jehovah witnesses the founder of the jehovah witnesses is charles taze russell, who was born in pittsburgh pennsylvania on february 16, 1852. At 18 i turned my back on the cloistered isolation of my familys faith and began a life where i was free to question ideas and beliefs. Jesus christ is gods agent, through whom sinful humans can be reconciled to god. A very objective clinical encyclopedia that unapolagetically exposes the truth about the truth. The group now known as the jehovahs witnesses was founded in 1879 by charles taze russell, a pennsylvania businessman.
History of the jehovahs witnesses catholic answers. Jehovah s witnesses are christians although this varies some jws will not say this. It is during these book studies that the jehovahs witness is constantly exposed to counter christian teachings. The history and founding of the jehovahs witnesses movement, including all. The story of the struggle between loyalty to god and. The second half is the theological meat of the book, as hewitt gives point after point as to how the jehovahs witness cult is anything but christian. The cult known today as the jehovahs witnesses was birthed in pennsylvania in 1870 as a bible study led by charles taze russell. When leaving a religion is like abandoning a cult the. Jehovahs witnesses are christians although this varies some jws will not say this. The twovolume encyclopedia contemporary american religion stated, various critics and exmembers in recent years have wrongly labeled jehovahs witnesses a cult. They believe they are the only true christian religion. Because the good news about jesus is the truth, it. Numerous books have been written by exjehovahs witnesses, exposing the.
A former jehovahs witness has offered a rare insight into the religious group, describing it as a cult that tries to control emotions, thought, information and behavior of a person. We are scholars of religion specialized in the study of new religious. Amber scorah was a jehovahs witness and a missionary in china when she began to harbor doubts about the apocalypse. Below are 10 facts about this group which branched off from orthodox christianity in the late 1800s. Charles taze russell began a bible study group in pittsburg in 1870, which evolved into this strange religious organization. In fact, they assert that jehovahs witnesses have a history almost 6,000 years long, beginning while the first man, adam, was still alive, that adams son abel was the first of an unbroken line of witnesses, and that jesus disciples were all jehovahs witnesses sic. He was raised a congregationalist, but at the age of 17 he tried to convert an atheist to christianity and ended up being converted insteadnot to outright atheism, but to agnosticism. The holy spirit is the name of gods active force in the world. Why the jehovahs witnesses are a cult the kings centre. Over 700,000 jehovahs witnesses now devote more than million manhours annually to spreading their counterfeit gospel in the united states alone. Cult education institute group information archives. He was only 18yearold when he began a bible study that focused on the second coming of jesus, as well as the chronology of the bible. History the adventist movement emerged in the 1830s around the predictions of william miller, who proclaimed that jesus christ would return in 1843 or 1844. Immediately answers the jehovahs witnesses misinterpretation of scriptureshows how to use the same scripture in leading jehovahs witnesses to christincludes a.
Christian conversations with jehovahs witnesses book. The beliefs of jehovahs witnesses are based on the bible teachings of charles taze russellfounder of the bible student movementand successive presidents of the watch tower society, joseph franklin rutherford, and nathan homer knorr. This one is a bit more detailed and includes scans of the information at the end. I, witness the shocking insiders story of jehovahs. The publications of jehovahs witnesses are organized into the year that the works were published, and in descending order. Okay get ready to have your mind blown because this blew mine. But when it comes to providing help to individuals in the process of exiting and recovering from the effects of membership in the cult, few compare with exiting the jw cult.
When leaving a religion is like abandoning a cult the new york. The bible itself reveals why it is so accurate in scientific, historical, and other. The jehovahs witnesses are an outgrowth of the international bible students association, which was founded in 1872 in pittsburgh by charles taze russell history. Watchtower books publications of jehovahs witnesses. Russell taught that the fall of the world empire of false religion had taken place in. Leaving jehovahs witnesses comes at a price kindle edition by evans, lloyd, mehta, hemant. The fact that outsiders call them a cult only strengthens their belief that they are right. Westcott and hort were two satanists, founders of the hermes club and members of famed russian witch madam blavatskys theosophy cult. Another video on jehovahs witnesses watchtowers history. The early history of jehovahs witnesses is not kind toward those who are black, as the february 15, 1904, watchtower suppositioned that black skin would turn white in their paradise earth. The beliefs of jehovahs witnesses and how they differ from mainstream christianity.
The future magazines talked about the futility of trying to educate a black man, about their inherent drunkenness, and such. Because they werent allowed to think for themselves. Exjehovahs witness reveals secrets of religious group the. Christian congregation of jehovahs witnesses in the netherlands, to examine the. Jesus christ was accused of being a drunkard, a glutton, a sabbath breaker, a false witness, a blasphemer of god, and a messenger of satan.
The jehovah s witnesses are an outgrowth of the international bible students association, which was founded in 1872 in pittsburgh by charles taze russell. Leaving jehovahs witnesses true stories by former believers. They believe that all true christian churches are of the devil. That movement began with william miller, a baptist lay preacher who, in the year 1816, began proclaiming that christ would return in 1843.
See the full list amber scorahs memoir, leaving the witness, is the account of a thirdgeneration jehovahs witness finally. Engardio also reject the assertion that jehovahs witnesses is a cult. Along with our main investigation, w5 has also prepared an interactive and below, some facts about the religion that you might not know. The book life 1929 noted that the return of jews to palestine signaled that the end. Religion and ethics home interfaith calendar ethics guides. We answer the questions of how they got their start, what their core beliefs are, and how many people ascribe to this faith in the world today below. So i politely told them that was why the jehovahs witnesses were a cult. Jehovahs witnesses 10 things to know about their beliefs. Excult watchdog john bowen brown ii and knocking producer joel p.