If only active Jehovah's Witnesses will be saved, then 2 Peter 3:9 and Watchtower comments about God's patience do not make sense. Shopping. Satan influenced Adam and Eve to disobey God, and humanity subsequently became participants in a challenge involving the competing claims of Jehovah and Satan to universal sovereignty. The number leaving rose to over 50,000 again in 2015, and no doubt will continue to rise over coming years. Those who do not submit a report for six continuous months are termed 'inactive'. With so few reviews, your opinion of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses could be huge. A combination of the growing irrelevance of 1914 and access to information on the Internet reduced growth from 15 million to just 3 million. [22][23] Congregational disciplinary actions include disfellowshipping, their term for formal expulsion and shunning, a last resort for what they consider serious offenses. The comment in Leadership magazine is supported by the following analysis of Watchtower publisher reports, which compares the number baptised with the increase in average publishers. 3 [315][316], The 2008 US Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey found a low retention rate among members of the denomination: about 37% of people raised in the group continued to identify themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses. These fine ministry supplies for Jehovah's Witnesses also . Branch in WallKill, New York, provided a statement to USA TODAY, saying the organization "care (s) deeply about children" and always tries to follow the. "[137][en 3], Jehovah's Witnesses believe their denomination is a restoration of first-century Christianity. Disfellowshipped and disassociated individuals may eventually be reinstated if deemed repentant. He participated in religion during his childhood along with his family and brothers and continued to preach door to door, twice a week, even when his fame had begun to grow, in 1984. "Jehovah's Witnesses are most "mobile." When comparing baptisms to the increase in average publishers there is over one hundred thousand people unaccounted for each year, examined in more detail later. [285][286][287] Witnesses are told that spontaneous giving at other times can help their children to not feel deprived of birthdays or other celebrations. Share [78][79], Worldwide membership of Jehovah's Witnesses reached 113,624 in 5,323 congregations by the time of Rutherford's death in January 1942. [319], Sociologist James A. Beckford, in his 1975 study of Jehovah's Witnesses, classified the group's organizational structure as Totalizing, characterized by an assertive leadership, specific and narrow objectives, control over competing demands on members' time and energy, and control over the quality of new members. [399][400] Failed predictions have led to the alteration or abandonment of some doctrines. In 2022, over 10,000 hours of preaching was required for a single baptism, and due to the number of Jehovah's Witnesses leaving or dying, it took 40,000 hours of preaching for the number of Jehovah's Witnesses to increase by just 1 person. "[162][163][164][165] The organization makes no provision for members to criticize or contribute to official teachings. Each of us regularly spends time helping people learn about the Bible and Gods Kingdom. PRIVACY POLICY Many Christian denominations consider their doctrines to be heretical, and some religious leaders have labeled Jehovah's Witnesses a cult. [159][160][161] Adherents are told to have "complete confidence" in the leadership, to avoid skepticism about what is taught in the Watch Tower Society's literature, and to "not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding. Jehovah's Witnesses still insist that 144,000 is the limit to the number of people who will reign with Christ in heaven and spend eternity with God. Doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses are established by the Governing Body. [113][382][383][384][385][386] Critics of the group such as Edmund C. Gruss,[387] and Christian writers such as Ray C. Stedman,[388] Walter Martin, Norman Klann,[389] and Anthony Hoekema[390] state that the New World Translation exhibits scholastic dishonesty. [2], For 2022, about 1.5 billion hours of preaching were reported and nearly 145,600 new members were baptized. Stedman, R.C., "The New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures", New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, Development of Jehovah's Witnesses doctrine, Organizational structure of Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses list of "serious sins", Jehovah's Witnesses congregational discipline, Jehovah's Witnesses and blood transfusions, Sociological classifications of religious movements, Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Canada, Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Nazi Germany, Supreme Court cases involving Jehovah's Witnesses by country, Unfulfilled Watch Tower Society predictions, Jehovah's Witnesses' handling of child sex abuse, Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, "Following Faithful Shepherds with Life in View", "Jehovah's Word Is Alive - Highlights From Book Five of Psalms", "They Shall Know That a Prophet Was Among Them", "Identifying the Right Kind of Messenger", "Why the Jehovah's Witnesses Grow so Rapidly: A Theoretical Application", Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, "Imprisoned for Their Faith: Jehovah's Witnesses in Auschwitz", "When Was Ancient Jerusalem Destroyed?Part One", "Tanzania: Dons Fault Court Over Suspension of Students (Page 1 of 2)", "How much of our religion must we bring to school? The book, published as the posthumous work of Russell, was a compilation of his commentaries on the Bible books of Ezekiel and Revelation, plus numerous additions by Bible Students Clayton Woodworth and George Fisher. In these situations, women must wear a head covering if they are performing a teaching role. Jehovah's Witnesses Overview Beliefs Practices People Opposition v t e Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society publications have made a series of predictions about Christ's Second Coming and the advent of God's Kingdom, each of which has gone unfulfilled. [5] Their official statistics indicate membership according to various territorieswhich they refer to as "lands"many of which are not independent countries. [33], The book taught that God's dealings with humanity were divided dispensationally, each ending with a "harvest," that Christ had returned as an invisible spirit being in 1874[33] inaugurating the "harvest of the Gospel age", and that 1914 would mark the end of a 2,520-year period called "the Gentile Times",[34] at which time world society would be replaced by the full establishment of God's kingdom on earth. [378] Sociologist Rodney Stark states that Jehovah's Witness leaders are "not always very democratic" and that members "are expected to conform to rather strict standards," but adds that "enforcement tends to be very informal, sustained by the close bonds of friendship within the group", and that Jehovah's Witnesses see themselves as "part of the power structure rather than subject to it. [346] Historian Sybil Milton concludes that "their courage and defiance in the face of torture and death punctures the myth of a monolithic Nazi state ruling over docile and submissive subjects. [360][361][362][363] It also warns members to "avoid independent thinking", claiming such thinking "was introduced by Satan the Devil"[364][365] and would "cause division". The organization has received criticism regarding biblical translation, doctrines, and alleged coercion of its members. The Jehovah's Witnesses U.S. Anderson says the policies "protect pedophiles rather than protect the children. (Note on negative figures - The years 1983/4/5 and 2009 have negative figures for those becoming inactive, indicating more people reactivated than stopped publishing. Comparing the number of Jehovah's Witnesses by continent highlights how dependant ones chance of belonging to the religion is on place of birth. Churches. ", "Lack Of Education Leads To Lost Dreams And Low Income For Many Jehovah's Witnesses", "Why Do Jehovah's Witnesses Maintain Political Neutrality? 1 reviews. The 30 known Jehovah's Witnesses are 1- Michael Jackson Known as the"King of Pop", he was raised in the faith of the Jehovah's Witnesses. [320], Beckford identified the group's chief characteristics as historicism (identifying historical events as relating to the outworking of God's purpose), absolutism (conviction that Jehovah's Witness leaders dispense absolute truth), activism (capacity to motivate members to perform missionary tasks), rationalism (conviction that Witness doctrines have a rational basis devoid of mystery), authoritarianism (rigid presentation of regulations without the opportunity for criticism) and world indifference (rejection of certain secular requirements and medical treatments). "[408] Sociologist Andrew Holden wrote that since the foundation of the movement around 140 years ago, "Witnesses have maintained that we are living on the precipice of the end of time. ( Matthew 24:14) This includes those who have been baptized as Witnesses as well as those who, though not yet baptized, qualify to share in the preaching work. Religious Organizations Near Me. [172][173] They believe that the Holy Spirit is God's applied power or "active force", rather than a person. Use one of the following options to contact Jehovah's Witnesses in your area. [63] Significant changes in doctrine and administration were regularly introduced during Rutherford's twenty-five years as president, including the 1920 announcement that the Hebrew patriarchs (such as Abraham and Isaac) would be resurrected in 1925, marking the beginning of Christ's thousand-year earthly kingdom. Up until 1995, the number that stopped publishing (the yellow section) was a small fraction in comparison to the increase in publishers (blue column). Jehovah's WitnessesWho Are We? Search reviews. [350], Several cases involving Jehovah's Witnesses have been heard by Supreme Courts throughout the world. Due to the large increase in Witnesses leaving the religion, the number of hours preaching required for an additional publisher doubled from 4,000 in the early 1990's to over 8,000 in 2000. [246][247], Divorce is discouraged, and remarriage is forbidden unless a divorce is obtained on the grounds of adultery, which they refer to as "a scriptural divorce". "[325], Political and religious animosity against Jehovah's Witnesses has at times led to mob action and government oppression in various countries. On the other hand, developed countries with the highest level of wealth, education and internet access to information regarding Watchtower have little to no growth. Watchtower artificially increased numbers in 2002, people that have voluntarily stop preaching. . Furthermore, anomalies exist in how figures are reported. [80][81], Nathan Knorr was appointed as third president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in 1942. Baptized members who fail to submit a report every month are termed 'irregular'. . [348], In April 1951, about 9,300 Jehovah's Witnesses in the Soviet Union were deported to Siberia as part of Operation North. In 2016, many of these countries reported less publishers than previous year peaks, including Britain, Australia, Germany, Italy, USA, Canada and Japan. A religion scholar explains the history of the often misunderstood group Published: March 10, 2023 4.11pm EST Want to write? The term was first suggested in 1935 by Joseph Franklin Rutherford, then president of the Watch Tower Society, for a building in Hawaii. [302], Jehovah's Witnesses do not accept the transfusion of "whole blood, packed red cells, platelets, white cells or plasma". The study also found that 65% of adult Jehovah's Witnesses in the US are converts. Total Hours Spent in Field: 1,669,901,531. ", "7. (Matthew 24:14) This includes those who have been baptized as Witnesses as well as those who, though not yet baptized, qualify to share in the preaching work. Many people are curious about who Jehovahs Witnesses are. [261][262][263], Expelled individuals may eventually be reinstated to the congregation if deemed repentant by elders in the congregation in which the disfellowshipping was enforced. At the end of every service year,a the peak number of Witnesses for each land during that year is determined. [291] Jehovah's Witnesses see themselves as a worldwide brotherhood that transcends national boundaries and ethnic loyalties. Jehovah's Witnesses teach that Satan and his demons were cast down to earth from heaven after October 1, 1914,[184] at which point the end times began. They also believe that human governments are controlled by Satan,[185] but that he does not directly control each human ruler. Because we witness, or talk, about Jehovah God and his Kingdom, we are known as Jehovahs Witnesses. Women are not allowed to address the congregation directly. [141] Their publications teach that doctrinal changes and refinements result from a process of progressive revelation, in which God gradually reveals his will and purpose,[142][143][144][145] and that such enlightenment or "new light"[146] results from the application of reason and study,[147] the guidance of the holy spirit, and direction from Jesus Christ and angels. [256] Contact with disfellowshipped individuals is limited to direct family members living in the same home, and with congregation elders who may invite disfellowshipped persons to apply for reinstatement. The negative numbers in some years indicate that a net rejuvenation of publishers, as some that stopped publishing in previous years start to report again. It is not endorsed, sponsored, or maintained by any legal entity used by Jehovah's Witnesses. Despite the number of studies doubling to 9 million in the 20 years from 1995 to 2014, the number of baptisms has dropped from its' 1997 peak of 375,963 to less than 304,000 each year since 2000. [329][330] Harrison, Schnell and Whalen have suggested Rutherford invited and cultivated opposition for publicity purposes in a bid to attract dispossessed members of society, and to convince members that persecution from the outside world was evidence of the truth of their struggle to serve God. In the year 2014, the 100th anniversary of when Watchtower claims Jesus took heavenly rulership, there were less leavers; maybe some doubters superstitiously remained in expectation the anniversary may herald in Armageddon. Assuming Witnesses have about the same birth rate as the global average, the estimated number of Witness children born is therefore 134,400. [14][15][16], Jehovah's Witnesses are known for their door-to-door preaching, distributing literature such as The Watchtower and Awake!, and for refusing military service and blood transfusions. We have been supplying data products to Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Halls for over 35 years. Jehovah's Witness, member of a millennialist denomination that developed within the larger 19th-century Adventist movement in the United States and has since spread worldwide. Participation is voluntary. [94] In 2001 Newsday listed the Watch Tower Society as one of New York's forty richest corporations, with revenues exceeding $950million. [8][9] They believe that the destruction of the present world system at Armageddon is imminent, and that the establishment of God's kingdom over the earth is the only solution for all problems faced by humanity. [82] Knorr's presidency was also marked by an increasing use of explicit instructions guiding Witnesses in their lifestyle and conduct, and a greater use of congregational judicial procedures to enforce a strict moral code. [158], Regular personal Bible reading is frequently recommended. With 23% over 65, decline will increase as these older members pass away. The CIA World Fact Book has been used for calculations that include the global population death rate, with esa.un.org/unpp/index.asp?panel=2 providing the rate averaged over 5 year periods. We are happy to help those interested in the Bible or in our worldwide work. [217] Witnesses are assigned to a congregation in whose "territory" they usually reside and attend weekly services they refer to as "meetings" as scheduled by congregation elders. Get a free interactive Bible study with one-on-one instruction. The phone number for Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses is (609) 877-8047. Shopping. Today, Jehovah's Witnesses number 8.5 million worldwide, with the largest concentration, 1.2 million, in the United States. For example, Jehovah's Witnesses report approximately 1.2 million active publishers in the United States, whereas the Pew Research Center reported that Jehovah's Witnesses make up 0.8% of the US population (approximately 2.5 million). America's Unfaithful Faithful David Van Biema (news.yahoo.com Their religious activities are currently banned or restricted in some countries,[326] including China, Russia, Vietnam, and many Muslim-majority countries. [243] Drinking of alcoholic beverages is permitted in moderation. Jehovah's Witnesses believe salvation is obtained by a combination of faith, good works, and obedience. [24][25] Baptized individuals who formally leave are considered disassociated and are also shunned. [255] Disfellowshipping, a form of shunning, is the strongest form of discipline, administered to an offender deemed unrepentant. Jehovah's Witnesses originated as a branch of the Bible Student movement, which developed in the United States in the 1870s among followers of Christian restorationist minister Charles Taze Russell. [241], The family structure is patriarchal. We do our best to imitate Jesus Christ and are proud to be called Christians. Jehovah's Witnesses are a religious group with populations distributed across the world. Start your review today. [1] Jehovah's Witnesses have an active presence in most countries, though they do not form a large part of the population of any country. This article contains the most detailed statistical analysis of Jehovah's Witnesses available on the internet, graphically presenting Watchtower's annual publisher reports for each year since 1960, including publishers, baptisms, memorial figures and congregations. A 0.4% increase is less than the population growth rate. ", "Work to Preserve Your Family Into God's New World", "Korea government promises to adopt alternative service system for conscientious objectors", "Bioethical aspects of the recent changes in the policy of refusal of blood by Jehovah's Witnesses", "How to approach major surgery where patients refuse blood transfusion (including Jehovah's Witnesses)", "Coagulopathy After Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Jehovah's Witness Patients: Management of Two Cases Using Fractionated Components and Factor VIIa", "How Do I View Blood Fractions and Medical Procedures Involving My Own Blood? [379] He also states that defectors "are seldom allowed a dignified exit",[260] and describes the administration as autocratic. [414], A former member of the headquarters staff, Barbara Anderson, says the policy effectively requires that there be another witness to an act of molestation, "which is an impossibility". [178] Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus was resurrected with a "spirit body", and that he only assumed human form for a temporary period after his resurrection. [232][233] They are instructed to devote as much time as possible to their ministry and are required to submit an individual monthly "Field Service Report". Bible Student missionaries were sent to England in 1881 and the first overseas branch was opened in London in 1900. [411][420][421] William Bowen, a former Jehovah's Witness elder who established the Silentlambs organization to assist sex abuse victims within the denomination, has claimed Witness leaders discourage followers from reporting incidents of sexual misconduct to authorities, and other critics claim the organization is reluctant to alert authorities in order to protect its "crime-free" reputation. Click here for a summary of the figures used, as taken from the 2011 and 2012 Yearbooks. 64,501 Kingdom Halls catered to 115,416 congregations in 2014, an average of 1.78 congregations per hall. "Jehovah's Witnesses have the lowest retention rate of any religious tradition. | | Geographic Distribution Jehovah's Witnesses by State % of adults in each state who are Jehovah's Witness. He identified the religious movement as "Bible Students," and more formally as the International Bible Students Association. This then steadily declined to less than 1 in 33 (3%) since 2014. [71] By mid-1919, as many as one in seven of Russell-era Bible Students had ceased their association with the Society, and as many as three-quarters by the end of the 1920s. [198] It is said to have been the focal point of Jesus' ministry on earth. We provide a number of service supplies for Jehovah's Witnesses in Spanish and French as well! A 5 year period was used as a way to even out the spikes that occur during years of uncertainty. Watchtower admits that "thousands of his servants become inactive each year." "[347], In socialist East Germany, from the 1950s to the 1980s, Jehovah's Witnesses were persecuted extensively by the State Security Service (the Stasi), who frequently used decomposition methods against them. They consider the use of God's name vital for proper worship. [403], The Watch Tower Society rejects accusations that it is a false prophet,[404] stating that its interpretations are not inspired or infallible,[405][406][407] and that it has not claimed its predictions were "the words of Jehovah. Documents the Witnesses' fight for civil rights in Canada and the US amid political persecution during World War II. 3 stars. Start your review today. Persistent legal challenges by Jehovah's Witnesses have influenced legislation related to civil rights in several countries.[31]. (Acts 8:18-20) In fact, most donations are made anonymously. (religions.pewforum.org 8 Mar 2008) However, partakers started to increase in 2006. Ministerial servantsappointed in a similar manner to eldersfulfill clerical and attendant duties, but may also teach and conduct meetings. Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. However, the percentage growth rate has been in decline since 1995. Browse Nearby. [250][251], Formal discipline is administered by congregation elders when a baptized member is accused of committing a serious sinusually cases of sexual misconduct[119][252] or charges of apostasy for disputing Jehovah's Witness doctrines. [1] Rutherford's reasoning was that these buildings would be used for "preaching the good news of the Kingdom". . Religious commentator Ken Jubber wrote that "Viewed globally, this persecution has been so persistent and of such intensity that it would not be inaccurate to regard Jehovah's Witnesses as the most persecuted group of Christians of the twentieth century. Each Witness donates his time, energy, and resources to our worldwide work according to his own desire and circumstances.2Corinthians 9:7. In a major organizational overhaul in 1976, the power of the Watch Tower Society president was diminished, with authority for doctrinal and organizational decisions passed to the Governing Body. [119] New elders are appointed by a traveling overseer after recommendation by the existing body of elders. The only significant increase was in regular pioneers, but that is an inflated figure, since the number of hours required to be considered a regular pioneer is half of what it once was. ( Hebrews 10:24, 25) At these meetings, which are open to the public, we examine what the Bible says and how we can apply its teachings in our life. (King James Version, KJV) which was adopted by resolution. Most of our services include audience participation, much like a classroom discussion. The movement has been accused of doctrinal inconsistency and reversals, failed predictions, mistranslation of the Bible, harsh treatment of former members and autocratic and coercive leadership. Detailed history of the Watch Tower movement's earliest years written to an academic standard. Therefore we have: 144,000 less 65,000 less 52,000 1 star. [101][102][103] The organization is led by the Governing Bodyan all-male group that varies in size. A Kingdom Hall is a place of worship used by Jehovah's Witnesses. Prior to 2009, congregations met three times each week; these meetings were condensed, with the intention that members dedicate an evening for "family worship". Jehovah's Witnesses are among the most racially and ethnically diverse religious groups in America. The number of baptisms reached a high of over 375,000 in 1997. Jehovah's Witnesses do not practice infant baptism,[123] and previous baptisms performed by other denominations are not considered valid. [186], Jehovah's Witnesses believe death is a state of non-existence with no consciousness. 5 stars. World Headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses 5 47 reviews #1 of 5 things to do in Tuxedo Park Religious Sites Scenic Walking Areas Visit website Call Write a review About Suggested duration 1-2 hours Suggest edits to improve what we show. 5 stars. 3 stars. During the 1980s and early 1990s, growth continued at over 5% per year. Preaching therefore accounts for the other half of baptisms. Gambling, drunkenness, illegal drugs, and tobacco use are forbidden. Donations have no relevance as to whether a person is counted as a Witness or has any particular assignment or privilege in our organization. [112] The Governing Body directs several committees that are responsible for administrative functions, including publishing, assembly programs and evangelizing activities. Had growth remained at 5.63%, the 4,950,344 Witnesses in 1995 would have exceeded 20 million in 2021, instead of 8 million - a difference of 12 million less Jehovah's Witnesses. Write an article and join a growing. [201][202], A central teaching of Jehovah's Witnesses is that the current world era, or "system of things", entered the "last days" in 1914 and faces imminent destruction through intervention by God and Jesus Christ, leading to deliverance for those who worship God acceptably. The following graph shows the number of baptisms started to drop from that time, whilst the number of people that stop preaching began to increase. The Scripture is there given in support of the statement, and therefore the individual when he looks up the Scripture and thereby verifies the statement,search[es] the Scripture to see whether these things were so. Nightlife. They believe that Satan is the ruler of the current world order,[183] that human society is influenced and misled by Satan and his demons, and that they are a cause of human suffering. [357], Various Bible scholars, including Bruce M. Metzger[380] and MacLean Gilmour,[381] have said that while scholarship is evident in New World Translation, its rendering of certain texts is inaccurate and biased in favor of Witness practices and doctrines. Of those, more than 21,000 people partook of the memorial emblems of unleavened bread and wine. 1.5 billion hours of preaching is half a billion less hours than 5 years ago. [5] Race is fairly equally distributed with 36% White, 32% Latino, and 27% Black, however, Asians make up less than 1%. 1 reviews. Image source: s-10-E 8/20. In the early 1980's, some who went inactive after the failure of the 1975 predictions came back to the religion. After accounting for a death rate of 0.85% each year, the total that left in one decade was 650,737. [277][278][279] Receiving a post-secondary education is considered "spiritually dangerous". Anthony Morris III, a member of the Governing Body, has been quoted as saying "the most intelligent and eloquent professors will be trying to reshape the thinking of your child, and their influence can be tremendous. Religious Landscape Survey: Religious Affiliation: Diverse and Dynamic", "A closer look at Jehovah's Witnesses living in the U.S.", "UN investigator: Rights of minorities to worship undermined", "The Global Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses", United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, "CANADIAN WRONGS: QUEBEC'S ATTACK ON JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES", "Jehovah's Witnesses in National Socialist concentration camps, 193345", "Persecution and Resistance of Jehovah's Witnesses During the Nazi-Regime", "Russian court bans Jehovah's Witnesses as extremist", "Exposing the Devil's Subtle Designs/Armed for the Fight Against Wicked Spirits", "Jehovah's Theocratic Organization Today", "Visits from Older Men Benefit God's People", "Will You Heed Jehovah's Clear Warnings?
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