Do you know who founded Jehovah's Witnesses? What are your Spiritual thoughts/feelings about this?

Question

Name: Jehovah's Witnesses
Founder: Charles Taze Russell
Date of Birth: February 16, 1852
Birth Place: Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Year Founded: The history of Jehovah's Witnesses begins in 1869, in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, when Charles Taze Russell began a Bible study which led to this separate movement. The name "Jehovah's Witnesses" (based on Isaiah 43:10-12) was not adopted until 1931.

Brief History: Although Charles Taze Russell was born to Presbyterian parents, he joined a Congregational Church at the age of fifteen. Soon, however, he became troubled by certain doctrines such as predestination and eternal punishment. At the age of seventeen he was a skeptic and disbelieved the Bible (Hoekema, p.223-24).

"Brought up a Presbyterian, indoctrinated from the Catechism, and being naturally of an inquiring mind, I fell a ready prey to the logic of infidelity, as soon as I began to think for myself. But that which at first threatened to be the utter shipwreck of faith in God and the Bible was, under God's providence, over-ruled for good, and merely wrecked my confidence in human creed and systems of Bible misinterpretations." -Charles Taze Russell (Watchtower magazine, 1916)

His wavering faith was re-established in 1870 after dropping in on a Second Adventist Bible study conducted by Jonas Wendell. Soon after this meeting, Russell organized his own Bible study with a circle of friends who came to regard him as their pastor.

Answer 1

Yes indeed their history is quite frightening. Although Jehovah's Witnesses believe Charles Taze Russell (founding father of their theological error) was directed by God, his actions proved otherwise. The real history behind the organization they slavishly devote their lives to should be of monumental interest to them...
http://sixscreensofthewatchtower.com/2charlestazerussell.html

Answer 2

I was interested in the JW's but since have decided, based on some statements that the church has made, that it is no more right (except for maybe in some doctrines) than the rest of the churches of christianity. I like the fact that the founder was trying to find truth, but i dont like the fact that he did not remain entirely true to the Bible. he became another man proclaiming he knew that jesus would come in a certain year in the late 19th century and then was wrong, eventually changed his "prophesy" to 1914 and, again, was wrong--but this time he said that it was because Jesus returned invisibly...now where in the bible does it say that would happen??

Answer 3

Jehovah's Witnesses love their God and love their "neighbors".

Each Witness's study of the Scriptures has helped him to clearly understand God's requirements for salvation, as well as Christ's command for Christians to publicly preach:
(Matthew 28:19,20) Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.

Each Witness's personal experiences help to convince her that the Scriptural Good News of Jesus Christ will actually improve the lives of her neighbors, not just in the afterlife or after Armageddon, but even in this existing system of things:
(Hebrews 4:12) For the word of God is alive and exerts power

As individuals, Jehovah's Witnesses are students of the bible. They well know that some of their early brothers made mistakes, just as Noah and Moses and David and Peter and Paul made mistakes. Yet the totality of what each Witness has learned from the bible makes him feel as Peter did:

(John 6:67,68) Jesus said to the twelve: “You do not want to go also, do you?” Simon Peter answered him: “Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life

Thus, Jehovah's Witnesses are able to appreciate their spiritual heritage while recognizing that their spiritual forebears were imperfect. Charles Taze Russell wrote many intelligent analyses of bible topics, but he also was imperfect. It seem best to allow a man dead nearly a century to rest in peace.

(Philippians 3:12) Not that I have already received it or am already made perfect, but I am PURSUING to see if I may also lay hold on that [emphasis added]

Answer 4

that is what the note church(???????? ekkl?sia) ability; a amassing of voters stated as out from their residences into some public position, an assembly. Congregation(??? `edah) ability; amassing. So both words advise an identical issue so neither could properly be faulted, we call were we congregate a Kingdom hall because we practice about God's Kingdom(Matthew 24:14) And this reliable information of the dominion will be preached in each and each of the inhabited earth for a witness to each and each of the international locations; and then the top will come. (Daniel 2:40 4) “And contained in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that isn't added to smash. And the dominion itself is only no longer exceeded on to any individuals. it is going to overwhelm and placed an end to some those kingdoms, and it itself will stand to cases indefinite; If we were stated as as those that taught as we practice then we may be stated as "the way". the way were the direct followers of Christ. They were stated as that because of what Jesus stated at(John 14:6) 6 Jesus stated to him: “i'm the way and the reality and the existence. no man or woman includes the daddy except through me. . . Paul became persecuting those stated as the way(Acts 9:2) 2 and requested him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, only so he may carry sure to Jerusalem any whom he stumbled on who belonged to the way, both adult males and females individuals. those were followers of Christ that no longer in reality were the Jews attempting to get rid of yet to boot those that all of us understand as Roman Catholics were also persecuting and killed thousands of adult males women individuals and babies contained in the video games on the Colosseum. John 11:24 shows that the followers of Christ did not count number on going to heaven or a burning hell they believed in a resurrection contained in the perfect days as do Jehovah's Witnesses(John 11:24 Martha saith unto him, i understand that he shall upward thrust again contained in the resurrection on the perfect day.-American commonly used). all of us understand each and each of the trustworthy adult males of previous believed in a unmarried genuine God, that is an same God that Jesus taught and is an same God that we the Jehovah's Witnesses practice and sanctify his large and Holy call-(Matthew 6:9) “you are able to pray, then, this type: “‘Our Father contained in the heavens, enable your call be sanctified.

Answer 5

Jehovah's Witnesses is in the category of 'cults'. You have left something out that is very important, of all the predictions that were made by the leaders of this group, none have never happened, ever. Plus JWs think that they are the 144,000 mentioned in Revelations, but that is not so, the 144,000 are the the 12 tribes of Israel. Also, not to mention, JWs are not allowed to have blood tranfusions. Now that is totally going against God's words. God says that we should do what ever we can to preserve life, not to take it away. To save a life. God never said to let a man die.

I also want to say something else, you can't reason with a JW unless you question them by using their own literature. They are willing to tell you about what they know, but are not willing to listen to what you have to say.

Answer 6

Do you know who founded Christianity?

An uneducated ex-carpenter of the Jewish Lower Class who was executed for cause by the governing authority.

He recruited other uneducated, lower class individuals, such as a failed fisherman (Peter) and a hated tax collector (Matthew).

Lacking any formal education, they were easy to manipulate into believing he was the Messiah, something that was impossible, as he did not bring about the destruction (Armageddon) of the enemies of the Truly Blessed People of God, the Israelites, as was prophesied.

After his lawful execution, these clearly brainwashed followers began going door to door telling their brethren that the traditional beliefs, rituals, and observances (holidays), dating back hundreds of years, were no longer valid.

They began creating their one scriptures, to support their false beliefs, instead of relying on the Holy Torah, which had sustained God’s People for hundreds of years.

Finally, there were highly educated individuals, especially in the religious arts, such as Saul of Tarsus, who could clearly prove that they were a false cult, bent on leading God’s People down a false path to destruction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_of_Tarsus

What happened to them, as a result of their false teachings, and their door to door work, was only to be expected of people who have lost their way.

Clearly, what you may or may not think of JWs is reliant on your point of view, just as it was in those first years. Having an advanced education in religion does not mean that you are right, only that you sound that way.

JWs may have come from a simple, and some times, erratic beginnings, but at least they are making a valid effort to do better. You cannot say that for other religions who:

Continue to get involved in politics;

Lie to the IRS about not doing so in order to get their non-profit status;

Avoids paying taxes on retail sales within the church;

Allows immorality to creep into the church;

Immortalizes their founders through the observance of a birthday, death, and/or anniversary of the founding of the church;

Places a pictures of the founders in all their churches, so that all can see and pay obeisance;

Gives tacit approval to the Theory of Evolution; and

Doesn’t teach their followers to preach and teach the Bible, as Christ instructed.

Answer 7

I'm sorry to have to say this. But I think one has to be particularly dense in order to believe what Jehovah's Witnesses believe.

Their publications are printed on a 2nd grade reading level.

They make even the most literal-minded xtian fundies look rational.

I

Answer 8

Jehovah's Witnesses buildings in Missouri do not have any windows,. That is something i find to be very different

Answer 9

I was aware of this. It lens a BIG lack of credibility to their message! You didnt mention the pyramid on his grave or that black JW's are buried below him on the hill in the cemetary. He had a "thing" about black being buried above him on the hill.

Answer 10

The biblical instruction regarding false prophets is to disregard everything else they ever attempt to teach or proclaim.

The bible is absolutely right.