"The work of Jehovah's Witnesses is the revival and re-establishment of the primitive Christianity practised by Jesus and his disciples." - Encyclopedia Canadiana
2007-07-01 01:51:54 · 23 answers · asked by Audrey O 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
New Catholic Encyclopedia: “They [Jehovah's Witnesses] regard the Bible as their only source of belief and rule of conduct.”
New Catholic Encyclopedia: "[Jehovah's Witnesses are] one of the best-behaved groups in the world.”
Encyclopedia of Religion: “all that they [Jehovah's Witnesses] believe is based on the Bible. They ‘proof text’ (that is, supply a biblical citation to support) almost every statement of faith, taking for granted the authority of the Bible, which entirely supplants tradition.”
The Modern Encyclopedia of Russian and Soviet History, volume 15 (1987): “Hitler passionately loathed the Jehovists and imprisoned perhaps 10,000 of them ...The psychologically impervious Witnesses withstood German concentration camps better than most ...The Soviet government has never permitted the Jehovah’s Witnesses a legal existence
Enciclopedia del Novecento, edited by the Institute of the Italian Encyclopedia: “...since Secretary of State cardinal Pacelli (later pope Pius XII) looked favorably on the anti-Bolshevik aspect of the Third Reich... the churches... avoided absolutely uttering a word against the persecution of Jews and Jehovah’s Witnesses”—Volume IV, page 519.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/archives/index.htm#jws
http://jw-media.org/people/index.htm
2007-07-01 16:39:38 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you go door to door as Jesus did?
Do you join the military? Jesus and his followers didn't . He taught the Kingdom was more important.
Do you salute a flag? God said he wants exclusive devotion. You are not to pledge allegiance to anyone or thing but Him.
Do you use the name of Jehovah God the Sovereign of the universe in your worship? Everyone calling on the name of Jehovah will get away safe.
Do you use the bible that omitted God's name?
Do you believe in a burning hell to torture souls forever? God said that never came up into His heart for He is a God of love.
Do you believe in a new heavens and a new earth? Then why a new earth if you all think you are going to heaven? And why did God have it recorded that the meek will inherit the earth and dwell there forever?
In this age of television hasn't every eye seen the wars, reports of wars, earthquakes, and other things that would mark Jesus return to rule in the midst of his enemies?
2007-07-01 09:22:41 · answer #2 · answered by debbie2243 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The JW's are decent people...they have an evangelistic fervor that is 2nd to none except maybe the Mormons.
With that said, history proves them wrong on this "definition" given.
1) They teach that Jesus was crucified on a pole, a stake if you will. Nowhere in history do we find evidence that the Romans crucified on a pole; they used the cross as we all have seen images of. They had 3 different crosses but the only difference was the height of them.
2) JW's have their own Bible. The New World Translation is similar to a typical Bible but all references to Jesus being THE Son of God have been altered and also any reference to the concept of the Trinity has been removed. This was a widely held belief, one which Jesus Himself inplied. They do not believe this...this is a far cry from "primitive Christianity".
There are others, but I would encourage you to check out maybe Wikipedia or some other source.
2007-07-01 09:04:56 · answer #3 · answered by MiKal-el 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I think it is an interesting quote from an apparently relatively impartial source. While the word primitive can have some negative connotations, I do agree with the point that we strive to do things as Christ did, not being mired in various unchristian doctrines.
2007-07-02 12:02:15 · answer #4 · answered by Ish Var Lan Salinger 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jehovahs Witnesses do the work that Jesus assigned his disciples prior to his departure to heaven.
At Matt.28:19,20 he commands his followers to "Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations.......teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you...."
1Peter2:21 tells us that Jesus suffered for us "leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely"
As disciples of Christ and Jehovah God we endeavour to reach as many as we can with the good news of God's Kingdom,just as Jesus did and at the same time help fulfill Bible prophecy found at Mat.24:14:"This good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabite earth,for a witness to all the nations and then the end will come".
2007-07-01 12:56:42 · answer #5 · answered by lillie 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You cannot revive something that is alive and Christianity is as much alive today as it was in the beginning. And Christianity is far from being primitive, it is as Old as the Universe and as New as tomorrow.
2007-07-01 09:03:39 · answer #6 · answered by PREACHER'S WIFE 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
First off it's very interesting and made me think for awhile. I am a little familiar with Jehovah's Witnesses as I was approached by them in college to join.
I've already soundly rooted myself, via my parents, in Jesus Christ, whom I believe is the true SON of GOD.
One thing's for certain, the Bible's Prophecies are definitely unfolding right before our very eyes.
2007-07-01 08:57:35 · answer #7 · answered by James R 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Oh, there is a form of Christianity that isn't primitive? Which one is it?
2007-07-01 09:16:21 · answer #8 · answered by Sarrafzedehkhoee 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Quite accurate.
Thus dispelling the myth that we were founded by CT Russell in 1879.
We were restored in 1879 by Russell and the ones before him.
2007-07-01 15:06:23 · answer #9 · answered by sklemetti 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Interesting quote.
2007-07-01 13:37:58 · answer #10 · answered by NMB 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋