What is Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs?

Question

How can a person become a JW?

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses understand the Scriptures to teach that God's Kingdom by Christ Jesus is a real government which will soon replace all earthly governments.
(Daniel 2:44) God of heaven will set up a kingdom... It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite

That Kingdom will rule over the vast majority of mankind, most of whom will have been raised from the dead after Armageddon.
(John 11:23,24) Jesus said to her: “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him: “I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.”
(Acts 24:15) There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.

Until that resurrection, there is no suffering in "hell", or the grave. Sometime after the resurrection, death and "hell" will themselves be destroyed.
(Ecclesiastes 9:5) For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all
(Ecclesiastes 9:10) there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol ["hell"]
(Revelation 20:14) And death and Hades ["hell"] were hurled into the lake of fire

While a limitted number of humans will be resurrected to heaven to share in ruling over mankind, the vast majority (literally more than 99.9%) of Jehovah's Witnesses expect an EARTHLY hope, the same hope given to Adam and Eve.
(Genesis 1:28) God blessed them and God said to them: “Be fruitful and become many and fill THE EARTH and subdue it [caps added]
(Genesis 2:17) You must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will positively die [so never eating from that tree means never dying]

Interestingly, the Scriptures are full of references to this earthly hope.
(Psalms 37:11) 'the meek will possess the earth'
(Proverbs 2:21) 'upright will reside in the earth'
(Isaiah 45:18) 'God formed the earth to be inhabited'
(Matthew 5:5) 'the mild will inherit the earth'
(Revelation 21:3) The tent of God is with mankind


A person must demonstrate that he understands and agrees with the bible's teachings, and associate himself with the Christian congregation before he can qualify for baptism as one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_10.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_06.htm
http://jw-media.org/beliefs/trueworship.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/

http://watchtower.org/e/dg/index.htm?article=article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/pr/index.htm?article=article_07.htm

Answer 2

Jehovah's Witnesses basically believe in the Bible. They do not buy into 'interpretations' . A few basics; The earth will be restored to a paradise and people will live forever in perfection, no sickness or war. Some people will go to heaven to rule with Jesus. There is no burning hell, when you die it is as if you are asleep until Jesus resurrects the person to life either in Heaven or to the Paradise earth. God is Jesus father and his name in English is Jehovah. To become a JW you must understand what the Bible teaches and accept that and be willing to share your beliefs with others. If you want to have one of Jehovah's Witnesses call on you go to their web site, www.watchtower.org and give them your address,

Answer 3

Be careful of persons like kyla_tobi above who create lists about things they know little about, except what they have heard. Yes, witnesses don't celebrate manmade holidays, but the do celebrate life and the institution of marriage. The also observe the Memorial of the Last Supper, while other churches ignore it, despite the instructions of Christ.

Being a JW is not an easy life, but where did God promise that life would be easy? Consider what the Israelites had to do to gain the Promise Land. And though you do not gain salvation by your works, faith in God and Christ is necessary and the Bible does say that faith without works is dead.

You have some good answers above from witnesses. Just remember, witnesses don't seek to convert anyone. They seek those whose hearts and minds are looking around and wondering why there is so much trouble in the world as well as in so many of self proclaimed houses of God? In the witnesses you don't see elite members, with lifetime positions, making good money to hold their positions. No one gets paid, and no position is permanent. Also, where a person who was a wind washer by trade, is a district servant covering 1000 congregations.

Answer 4

Honestly, First Read the Bible, allot:D We are Christians, to be Christian you need to strive to follow the teachings of Jehovah, which we were provided by the Bible and Jesus. To obey what Jehovah says, we must know what he says, to know we must learn.

1 BIG tip. PLEASE do not use the web as a guide. There are allot of truthful things about us on the net, there are also false things, as some of the answerers here prove. No, we do NOT pray to saints. (first time I heard that one) The list of 101 "rules" gets posted here from time to time. Most of the rules are either based in truth but inaccurate or are completely off.

If you decide to study with a Witness or come to a meeting, don't be afraid to question what you here. How else can we learn if we don't question things.

Answer 5

Someone can become a Jehovah's Witness after he had made some major changes in his life (Ephesians 4:22,24). He can begin by taking knowledge of Jehovah God and Jesus Christ through a Bible study (which will fill him with faith that the Bible is the inspired Word of God). Than, he has to attend the congregation meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses, become a student at the Ministry School and go in the field service as an unbaptized publisher.


The Jehovah's Witnesses:
*Base their beliefs only on the Bible (not on traditions like other religions) which is the inspired Word of God.

"All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work." -- 2 Thimothy 3:16, 17


*Worship Jehovah as the only true God. They address their prayers only to Him through Jesus Christ (not through an icon).

“I am Jehovah. That is my name; and to no one else shall I give my own glory, neither my praise to graven images." -- Isaiah 42:8

"Jesus said to him: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." -- John 14:6


*Freely speak to others about God's purpose concerning the mankind. They are famous for going from door to door following Jesus' and his disciples' example spreading "the good news".

"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." -- Matthew 28:19

"And every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus." -- Acts 5:42


*Believe that there is only one true God, Jehovah, that Jesus is His Son, the firstborn of all creation, that the holy spirit is God's active force.

"....If YOU loved me, YOU would rejoice that I am going my way to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am." -- John 14:28

"When the helper arrives that I will send YOU from the Father, the spirit of the truth, which proceeds from the Father, that one will bear witness about me." -- John 15:26


*Believe that God will soon destroy the human governments; they will be replaced by God's Kingdom in a new system in which people will live on an earthly paradise.

"Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth." -- Matthew 6:10

"And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away." -- Revelation 21:4


*Believe that the only ones who have a heavenly hope are the 144,000 (the anointed) who will rule as kings with Jesus.

"And I saw, and, look! the Lamb standing upon the Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads... And they are singing as if a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one was able to master that song but the hundred and forty-four thousand, who have been bought from the earth." -- Revelation 14:1, 3


*Believe that we don't have an immortal soul, but that we are a soul. The dead are conscious of absolutely nothing. They exist only in God's memory who at the right time will resurrect them.

"For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all, neither do they anymore have wages, because the remembrance of them has been forgotten." -- Ecclesiastes 9:5

"I have hope toward God, which hope these [men] themselves also entertain, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous." -- Acts 24:15


*Don't get involved in politics or wars following Jesus' example.

"They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world." -- John 17:16


*Offer free Bible studies to those who are interested.

"Philip ran alongside and heard him reading aloud Isaiah the prophet, and he said: “Do you actually know what you are reading?” He said: “Really, how could I ever do so, unless someone guided me?” And he entreated Philip to get on and sit down with him." -- Acts 8:30, 31


For more information go to:
http://www.watchtower.org/library/rq/article_16.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_01.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_01.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_01.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_01.htm

Answer 6

Only by dedicating their life to Jehovah, and faithfully obeying His Son, Jesus.

To reach the point of dedication a person must study God's Word, and come to an accurate understanding of that word.

One must not just learn what the bible says but must apply it to their life.

Upon gaining this knowledge one goes to Jehovah in prayer and telling Him that we desire to do His Will, repent of our past sins and promising to do our best in keeping His commandments.

One such commandant is to have faith in his only-begotten Son.

At this point they now can be baptized, an outward sign of the heartfelt dedication

Answer 7

www.watchtower.org. you have to have a bible study with a Jehovah Witnesses. people keep saying we are a cult and brainwashed. a cult worships man. we worship Jehovah God and his son Jesus Christ. a cult lives together and we live in our own homes and come and go as we please. we may be your next door neighbor. also we go to a Kingdom Hall not a church. we don't celebrate holidays but we give gifts to each other during the year. also we do have parties

Answer 8

Go to http://www.watchtower.org/ or contact a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in your area.

Answer 9

I worked with an older woman who was a Jehovahs Witness. They dont believe in celebrating any holidays. No gifts or anything, not even Birthdays. They believe that it shouldnt have to be a holiday to give gifts, so they give any other day other than Holidays. They pray to the saints and not to the lord. They dont give Jesus much credit because something about God being the one who did everything for us.

Answer 10

By going to a Kingdom Hall. But, I would do research on their "religion" if I were you. Although JW's claim the bible as their final authority, they actually read from their own bible translation "New World Translation", that greatly perverts the scriptures, this is why they should be considered a cult. And besides why would you want to be in a church that denies the deity of Christ?