Is it true that the Jehovah's Witnesses have never had a split?

Question

Thanks to all in advance.

split - as in church split or a group splinters off from them.

Answer 1

The JW's have had splits occasionally. There are groups that broke away back in the early 20th century, because they had disagreements. Some of those groups still exist.

To answer someone above, most people who have left the witnesses do not tell lies. They honestly share what they have experienced, and they have been hurt by the organization. The Watchtower also tells lies about people who have left, because they are afraid more people will leave if they hear the truth.

Answer 2

There have been those who left on their own, but never a split like as in Christendom. Our congregations split because there is lack of room or location problems. These splits are always friendly and everyone helps. That is why a new Kingdom Hall can be built in a four day period.

Unlike say for instance, Baptists I am familiar with. Some get upset with their preacher and refuse to stay so they build a church a mile down the road and get a preacher they like. Other times it is the rich or influential who disagree among themselves so they split.

Jehovah's Witnesses teach the same way where ever you go in the world. We are in agreement just as the Bible said true Christians would be. (Romans 16:17-19; 1 Corinthians 1:10) Our assemblies held several times each year are a model of unity.

Answer 3

Yes they have, just as in many religions. The Jehovah Witnesses consider the "splinter" or group that "split" as apostate.

Answer 4

Jehovah's Witnesses are a spin-off of the William Miller second adventist movement of 1842 they have split and changed their name 3 times.

I am Danny Haszard born 1957 as a 3rd generation Jehovah's Witness http://www.dannyhaszard.com

Answer 5

Actually, there are several branches of Russellites of which Jehovah's Witnesses claim to be the original group. Charles Taze Russell founded the group, and when he died Judge Rutherford (as he is called, i forget his first name) took over. When this happened, various groups splintered off.

There is still a group called the Russellites. They're fairly small. They rejected Rutherford's changes, which included banning celebrations of Christmas, birthdays, etc.; refusing blood transfusions; and saying the Pledge of Allegiance. The original group did not object to these things; Rutherford's group did/does.

Answer 6

Aren't the JW's a splinter from Catholicism or some other Xian sect? I guess if you think of a splinter religion as not having splintered and that provides you with some benefit then that's great.

Answer 7

I'm not clear on what you mean by split but this forum is pretty much not the place to come to for truthful answers regarding Jehovah's Witnesses.

Go to their site http://www.watchtower.org and contact them with your question. Many times I've noticed on this forum that weak minds just spout off with any old garbage just to spew hate or gossip though it's very far from the truth. Plus there are many apostates and persons who have been disfellowshipped who come to this site to chastise and despise publicly the witnesses.

Get to that site and contact them or type in the search string "split" or something to that nature. I think it's best to just call up a kingdom hall in your area and ask the service overseer or an elder from that congregation you call "have Jehovah's Witnesses ever had a split". This way you're getting it right from the heart and truth, and not on this forum where there are so many lies and much gossip.

Good luck.

Bye; God Bless.

Answer 8

Jehovah's Witnesses have never suggested that no group has ever split from the religion. In fact, the publications of Jehovah's Witnesses discuss many of these events quite frankly and even include the names of some anti-Witness leaders.

For example, Jehovah's Witnesses' "1975 Yearbook" included this information (pages 93,94):
[quote]
At the annual shareholders’ meeting on Saturday, January 5, 1918... The opposers’ attempt to gain control had been foiled completely. Faithful ones and opposers now were beyond reconciliation. The opposition group formed an entirely separate organization headed by a “Committee of Seven.” Separation certainly was complete by March 26, 1918, when the opposers celebrated the Memorial of Christ’s death apart from the faithful congregations of God’s people. The unity of those forming the opposition group was short-lived, however, for at their convention in the summer of 1918 differences arose and a split occurred. P. S. L. Johnson organized a group with headquarters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he published The Present Truth and Herald of Christ’s Epiphany. There he remained, characterizing himself as “earth’s great high priest” until his death. Further dissension from 1918 onward caused division until the original dissident group that had separated from the Watch Tower Society disintegrated into a number of schismatic sects. ...How many forsook true Christianity during the critical years of 1917 and 1918? ...At the Memorial celebration on April 13, 1919, a partial report gave an attendance of 17,961. Though incomplete, these figures make it clear that far less than 4,000 had ceased walking with their former associates in God’s service.
[unquote]

The official history (Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom) includes this comment on page 151:
[quote]
after the death of Brother Russell, some former associates refused to cooperate with the Watch Tower Society and the International Bible Students Association, even opposing the work of these societies. Such fragmented groups used a variety of names, some of them clinging to the designation Associated Bible Students.
[unquote]

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_02.htm
http://jw-media.org/people/who.htm

Answer 9

No. but those who left had to go into the Jehovah's Witness Protection program

Answer 10

What do you mean by a split?