What are the Jehovah's Witness beliefs? They're always knocking at my door. Help!!?

Answer 1

JWs are basically just another fundamentalist Christian sect. They aren’t very different form Baptists, Presbyterians and other fundamentalists.

The major points of difference are:

1)They believe that every Christian should preach the word of God as much as possible. That’s why they knock on your door. If you just answer the door and
ask them to leave and not to call again they won’t, for at least 12 months.

2)They don’t believe in the Trinity. They believe that God is God. They believe that the holy spirit is like an arm or appendage of God, not a distinct personality. They believe that Jesus is the Archangel Micchael and not in any way God.

3)They adhere to the injunction of Paul that Christians not eat any blood. So they won’t eat black pudding for example. They also extend that interpretation to meaning they can’t accept blood transfusions.

4)The religion has no priests, ministers or missionaries. All members work for a living doing normal jobs: doctors, painters etc. All members take their turn delivering sermons, presiding at Bible studies and so forth. The church heirarachy is made up of local councils of elders who also work fulltime jobs. The councils of elders are in turn overseen by regional councils of elders, and state councils, national councils and so forth. But there are no paid priests.

5)They don’t endorse any religious celebrations such as Christmas, Easter, Halloween and so forth. Nor do they endorse most secular holidays such as Labor Day/May Day. Nor do they believe that the Sabbathis particularly Holy. They hold church services whenever is convenient for the local church members. Services are usually held 3 or 4 times each week.

The only religious celebration they do endorse is their equivalent of an Easter. Mourning Service and this is considered the only holy day by the JWs. This is an annual service held around Easter (actually 3 days after Passover). The celebration incorporates their version of the communion service with the unleavened bread and wine, and this service is only performed this one day of the year.

6) They don’t believe in hell. They believe that once sinners die they are simply dead, unconscious. No further punishment, no flames, no demons with pitchfork.


Aside from those three points they are pretty much identical to any other fundamentalist Christian group. They believe in Jesus as the one true saviour and only path to salvation. They believe that the Second Coming is imminent and that we are living in the Time of the End. They practice adult Baptism and believe in spiritual rebirth of adults. They believe in the Bible as the word of God and believein following it scrupulously.

Contrary to what some people have said in this thread they do NOT endorse any books except a standard Bible. People who believe that are confusing them with Mormons. Like all Christians sects there are books, CDs and DVDS available outlining and discussing beleifs and providing spiritual entertainment, but such items are just interpretations. They aren't considered Holy or inspired.

JWs believe it is their Christain duty to accept any medical help possible. Damaging their bodies by action or ommision is considered a sin, just as it is for any other Christian denomination. The only caveat is that the medical treatment can not involve whole blood tranfusion. Any other medical treatment is not just sought, it is mandated. That includes any drugs, any organ transplants and any surgery and even fractionated blood transfusion as a matter of conscience.

They certainly do NOT believe Jesus walks the earth as we speak. They believe exactly what all Christains believe: that Jesus rose to heaven a week or so after his death and that he currently exists in heaven as a spirit at the right hand of God. JW belief emphatically opposes any suggestion that Jesus walks the Earth now or that he ever will walk the Earth in future. While some Christian sects believe that the second coming will involve a bodily resurrrection of Christ the JWs do not. The idea of Christ walking the Earth is anathema to any JW.

In practice the differences between JWs and Baptists are fairly trivial, and if not for the difference in trinity doctrine they would probably be considered an Episcopalian sect.

Answer 2

You should open the door and ask them instead of listing the question here and receive ridiculous answers.
The reason Witnesses knock on your door is that Jesus commanded his disciples before his ascension into heaven to "preach the good news of God's Kingdom and make disciples".(Matt.28:18-120).And their preaching work also is in fulfilment of Matt.24:14 which states-
"This good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations and then the end will come".
When Jesus was on earth,he did a similar work,going door to door,and where ever people could be found to preach to them about His Father's kingdom and the many blessings that it will bring.He also told them how they could be part of that Kingdom.(Acts.20:20,5:42;
Luke10:1-16)
If you are interested in living forever,in perfect health on a cleansed paradise like earth,you should consider seriously talking to Jehovah's Witnesses next time they call.You have nothing to loose and everything to gain

Answer 3

chad, they are >similar< to Christian beliefs, in some ways, but different in ways that we Christians consider important eg they teach that:

There is no Trinity
Jesus Christ was an angel; not the son of God, and not sharing the nature of God
The Holy Spirit is not God; he / it is an impersonal "force"
There is "heaven" only for the few; 144, 000; the rest will be raised to live on Earth, but it will be a perfect world

JW's have to obey their leaders very closely; there is no "freedom in Christ" such as we Christians have!

There is much more, too.

As I am Christian, I mostly focussed on the differences to "us". I read many books, that compared the 2 faiths, too.

BTW, my pastor tells us NOT to knock on doors in that way. The JW say I should.

I do not go door knocking. If JW or Mormons turn up, I like to talk to them, if I can make time. Maybe I can help THEM!

:-)

Answer 4

One reason they come knocking on your door is because they are trying to "earn" a free gift....their salvation. There are four requirements for salvation for Jehovah's Witnesses

There is only one requirement given by GOD...believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. You can find out how in the first link. The second tells more about the JW's and their beliefs

Answer 5

Well, there are many. just a few of their beliefs: That God's name is Jehovah, that Jesus was the literal son of God; that there is no trinity; God and Jesus are two separate and distinct individuals; That the reward of the righteous is the earth, not heaven--which by the way the bible says-that the meek will inherit the earth; the observance of birthdays, Christmas, and Halloween are pagan in origin and were never celebrated by the early Christians; that blood is sacred and should not be passed from one person to another-that it contains the soul of man-as stated in the bible;that the bible is the word of God -inspired by God to be written through prophets and that any errors are the errors of men in the TRANSLATIONS; that there is no spirit inside man that leaves the body after death-also a bible teaching-that when we die, there is no consciousness of thought-the dead cannot be of help to anyone; that most people will be resurrected and given a chance to prove they want to live according to God's word;there is no fiery hell-death is hell suffered by all men butovercome by the great mercy and kindness of God through his Son. There is more, but that is a start.

Answer 6

Are you already practicing a religion?

If so, and you are happy, then be careful when talking to them. They will try to lead you off the path you are already on. Depending on your answers to their questions, they will offer up their arguments to counter your beliefs and they are well read with arguments. A bit like a good door to door salesmen. If they are always knocking at your door, then they obviously feel you a potential prospect for their congregation. I bit like a multi level marketing distributor who wants to gain another distributor.

However, if the ones who are pursuing you genuinely want a discussion without trying to belittle whatever beliefs you may have then by all means engage them. Their beliefs will come in the conversation as mentioned by previous answers. I personally will only have a discussion with one who is prepared to accept my views as I am of accepting theirs. I may not agree as they would not with me but if they try to convert me then I am not interested at that point.

Answer 7

It may seem obvious, but why not just ask the persons who knock on your door?

You can learn much about Jehovah's Witnesses from their official website at:
http://watchtower.org

The Scriptures indicate that Jesus personally instructed his disciples to go door-to-door. Although they are a relatively small religion, Jehovah's Witnesses clearly embody the most prominent global fulfillment of that Christian assignment. Based on Jesus' words below, you may want to reconsider whether you should continue to disregard that preaching...

(Luke 10:1-17) After these things the Lord designated seventy others and sent them forth by twos in advance of him into every city and place to which he himself was going to come. 2 Then he began to say to them: “The harvest, indeed, is great, but the workers are few. Therefore beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest. 3 Go forth. Look! I am sending you forth as lambs in among wolves. ...16 “He that listens to you listens to me too. And he that disregards you disregards me too. Moreover, he that disregards me disregards also him that sent me forth.”

Answer 8

Please don't open the door.They are always knoking on our door too.Their belief are soooo messed up,you don't want to know.You don't have to know either,believe me.I don't know about their belief system and all that,but I found out what happened to a family member after becoming a Jehovah's witness.She became so heartless.Just pray and ask God that they would never come near your house.

Answer 9

I wish i were as tolerant as you regarding religious people knocking on doors - it's intrusive and none of anyone's business to know or to influence me on how good the religion is - you must have been nice to them. I will slam the door.

Answer 10

I have no idea what their beliefs are, but then again they stopped knocking on my door when i answered the door naked showing off cock piercings and offering them beer.