What is a jehovah's witness?

Question

i've heard some about them but am still confused. i am agnostic so i don't know much about this kind of stuff. who is jehovah?

Answer 1

Geez, I thought most people had the problem with getting Jehovah's Witnesses to NOT come to their front door and tell them all about their religion.

"Jehovah" is one of the names of God, according to the Old Testament. Jehovah's Witnesses are a sect of Christianity, who most notably are Biblical literalists (rejecting many traditions that aren't Biblical-based, such as wearing crosses, celebrating pagan-based holidays like Christmas and Easter, etc.), with a special emphasis on the Book of Revelation. This talks about the rapture/apocalypse and 144,000 people who get "saved". And guess who claims to have a good connection with those 144,000? And "witness" is a euphamism for "proselytizing", which is why they "witness" by ringing my doorbell on Saturday mornings.

Read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversies_regarding_Jehovah%27s_Witnesses

Answer 2

“They believe in an all male deity; the father and son who had sexual intercourse and made human beings.” That’s a quote from one poster. I tell you truthfully, every time I think I have heard it all, I hear something new. But then that person may be thinking of Mormons, I’m not sure.

Interestingly enough, there are still people on the planet who have never been approached by a Jehovah’s Witness. I guess you are one of them. Surprising to some, I suppose, but it shouldn’t be.

Linedancer and Grnlow gave you accurate responses. If that is not enough, go to www.watchtower.org, which is their official site. You can learn answers to all of your questions there. Or you can stay on this site and continue to get responses that run the gamut – everything from the insanely ludicrous to the plain truth and everything in between. For instance, you can read responses above about how “they’re a cult” and how “they mix truth with lies and have their own book.” That’s the favorite line of some.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 3

Jehovah is an english version of the Hebrew name for God found in the Bible. You may also have heard the name Yahweh, another way of pronouncing the divine name. The Hebrew form is 4 letters JHVH or YHWH. If you want to know more about what Jehovah's witnesses believe you can ask any that call at your door or check out their official website. www.watchtower.org

Answer 4

Lukusmcain//:

Please do a thorough research about Jehovah's Witnesses before posting. When you ask a ?, wouldn't you correct (fact) answer?

The first 3 sentences of your answer is somewhat general idea about the Witnesses. The last 2 sentences is describing the Mormons. Please don't confuse the questioner with these two religions. They are totally different from one another (like day and night).

Answer 5

Dear Roz:

Actually, Jehovah’s Witnesses are interested in you and your welfare. They want to be your friends and to tell you more about themselves, their beliefs, their organization, and how they feel about people and the world in which all of us live.

It is of vital importance to them that their beliefs be based on the Bible and not on mere human speculations or religious creeds. They feel as did the apostle Paul when he expressed himself under inspiration: “Let God be found true, though every man be found a liar.” (Romans 3:4, "New World Translation")

From this it is apparent that Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in the Bible as the Word of God. They consider its 66 books to be inspired and historically accurate. What is commonly called the New Testament they refer to as the Christian Greek Scriptures, and the Old Testament they call the Hebrew Scriptures. They rely on both of these, the Greek and the Hebrew Scriptures, and take them literally except where the expressions or settings obviously indicate that they are figurative or symbolic.

Jehovah’s Witnesses? Yes, that is the way they refer to themselves. It is a descriptive name, indicating that they bear witness concerning Jehovah, his Godship, and his purposes. “God,” “Lord,” and “Creator”—like “President,” “King,” and “General”—are titles and may be applied to several different personages. But “Jehovah” is a personal name and refers to the almighty God and Creator of the universe. This is shown at Psalm 83:18, according to the King James version of the Bible: “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.”

The name Jehovah (or Yahweh, as the Roman Catholic Jerusalem Bible and some scholars prefer) appears almost 7,000 times in the original Hebrew Scriptures. Most Bibles do not show it as such but substitute “God” or “Lord” for it. However, even in these Bibles, a person can usually tell where the original Hebrew text uses Jehovah because in those places the substituted words are written in large and small capitals, thus: GOD, LORD. Several modern translations do use either the name Jehovah or the name Yahweh. Hence, the New World Translation reads at Isaiah 42:8, “I am Jehovah. That is my name.”

The Scriptural account that Jehovah’s Witnesses draw on for their name is in the 43rd chapter of Isaiah. There the world scene is viewed as a courtroom drama: The gods of the nations are invited to bring forth their witnesses to prove their claimed cases of righteousness or to hear the witnesses for Jehovah’s side and acknowledge the truth. Jehovah there declares to his people: “Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no saviour.”—Isaiah 43:10, 11, "American Standard Version."

If you would like further information or a free home Bible study, please get in touch with Jehovah's Witnesses at the local Kingdom Hall. Or visit their official web site - http://www.watchtower.org

Cal.

Answer 6

Jehovahs Witnesses are the most publicly open concerning their beliefs.They are seen daily on the street corners and from house to house as they share their knowledge of Gods kingdom and how that kingdom will solve mans problems. There should be no reason why you dont know what they belief. next time you see one approach them and ask. Im sure you wont get converted on the spot.

Answer 7

The official site:

http://www.watchtower.org

An on-line JW brochure about JWs:

http://www.watchtower.org/library/jt/index.htm


A Yahoo JW group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JWquestions-and_answers/?m=0

Answer 8

Jehovah Witness are in essence a christian denomination who differs quite differently in their beliefs from traditional christians i.e catholics, baptis and other protestant faiths. They do not beleive in the beliefs of the Trinity (God in 3 different personalities). The believe that Jesus is the son of God and not God himself. Jehovah is the name of God and they strongly advocate that should be use. Other beliefs are not receiving blood tranfusion and many other i do believe they have a website http://www.watchtower.org/..

Answer 9

Jehovah is the personal name of God Almighty. Most people have never been told of anything but the title, God. Psalms 83:18 is one place in almost every translation which uses that name.

We believe many do not believe in the Bible is because most religions mix the teachings of men with the Bible. That causes their religions to not make any sense.

We have found that by basing our beliefs only in the Bible, we are both pleasing to Jehovah and make logical sense.

All of Jehovah's creations and actions show a logical order, never chaos. From the placement of the solar system to the water cycle, all reflects order. Does it not make sense for such a God to have a chosen method of worship of Him? That method is revealed in the Bible. What is acceptable to Him and what is not.

One thing is His plans for the earth. In Genesis, perfect man was told to multiply and fill the earth with perfect children. Their job or purpose was to expand Eden's garden to cover the earth. They only had one law, which they disobeyed. Jehovah's plans are not so easily stopped. He always accomplishes what He starts. He fully intends for earth to become a paradise again after wiping out all signs of wickedness from the earth. Psalms 37:10 shows the meek will find an abundance of peace in that time. This is entirely different view from what people have been taught.

Why did Jesus come to earth? Most do not know picturing Jesus as a little baby or dying on a cross. It was to balance the scales of justice. Jehovah is a God of Love, Righteousness, and Justice. All these qualities are seen here. He could have wiped out Adam & Eve right then but that would have meant we would never exist. Out of Love, he allowed them to have descendants, though imperfect. That is why we die. How could we get out from under that? Justice demanded a perfect life got us into this mess, a perfect life is the only thing that could get us out. Righteousness in that Jehovah and His son,Jesus, sent Jesus to take human form to sacrifice his perfect life for mankind. To balance the scales of justice. This too, is different from anything you have heard as well. This is what the Bible teaches though.

We go from door to door because Jesus ordered us to. As his followers, he ordered in Matt. 24:14 and 28:19,20 just such a preaching work. We do just as 1st century Christians did. Not just for preaching and teaching about Jehovah and His terrific plans for earth, but for a warning of what He will do.

Noah worked on the ark for 120 years. During that time, he warned the people Jehovah will make water come down from the sky and flood the earth. They all just laughed and dismissed him as a nut. After all, it had never rained before. Then the flood came and they died. We don't want any to at least not be warned; preferably do something positive about the warning. That is why we do what we do.

Being imperfect, we try and live these beliefs. 1Cor. 1:10 shows Christians would all "speak in agreement and fitly united in the same mind and line of thought." No matter where one goes in the world, in any congregation, they will teach the same thing and the same way. This is unlike other religions claiming to be Christians.

We know we are living in the last days of this old wicked system. We have talked about it for years. Now, as in Noah's day, people laugh that this has not happened on man's schedule. We know from 2Peter 3:9, that Jehovah is not slow, but desires all to get repentance, to live. Jehovah will pick the correct time for this.

Other answers will have details on other things, but I thought I would show something we don't often have in answers.

Answer 10

(1) Bible: Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God, and instead of adhering to a creed based on human tradition, they hold to the Bible as the standard for all their beliefs.

(2) God: They worship Jehovah as the only true God and freely speak to others about him and his loving purposes toward mankind. Anyone who publicly witnesses about Jehovah is usually identified as belonging to the one group—“Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

(3) Jesus Christ: They believe, not that Jesus Christ is part of a Trinity, but that, as the Bible says, he is the Son of God, the first of God’s creations; that he had a prehuman existence and that his life was transferred from heaven to the womb of a virgin, Mary; that his perfect human life laid down in sacrifice makes possible salvation to eternal life for those who exercise faith; that Christ is actively ruling as King, with God-given authority over all the earth since 1914.

(4) God’s Kingdom: They believe that God’s Kingdom is the only hope for mankind; that it is a real government; that it will soon destroy the present wicked system of things, including all human governments, and that it will produce a new system in which righteousness will prevail.

(5) Heavenly life: They believe that 144,000 spirit-anointed Christians will share with Christ in his heavenly Kingdom, ruling as kings with him. They do not believe that heaven is the reward for everyone who is “good.”

(6) The earth: They believe that God’s original purpose for the earth will be fulfilled; that the earth will be completely populated by worshipers of Jehovah and that these will be able to enjoy eternal life in human perfection; that even the dead will be raised to an opportunity to share in these blessings.

(7) Death: They believe that the dead are conscious of absolutely nothing; that they are experiencing neither pain nor pleasure in some spirit realm; that they do not exist except in God’s memory, so hope for their future life lies in a resurrection from the dead.

(8) Last days: They believe that we are living now, since 1914, in the last days of this wicked system of things; that some who saw the events of 1914 will also see the complete destruction of the present wicked world; that lovers of righteousness will survive into a cleansed earth.

(9) Separate from the world: They earnestly endeavor to be no part of the world, as Jesus said would be true of his followers. They show genuine Christian love for their neighbors, but they do not share in the politics or the wars of any nation. They provide for the material needs of their families but shun the world’s avid pursuit of material things and personal fame and its excessive indulgence in pleasure.

(10) Apply Bible counsel: They believe that it is important to apply the counsel of God’s Word in everyday life now—at home, in school, in business, in their congregation. Regardless of a person’s past way of life, he may become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses if he abandons practices condemned by God’s Word and applies its godly counsel. But if anyone thereafter makes a practice of adultery, fornication, homosexuality, drug abuse, drunkenness, lying, or stealing, he will be disfellowshipped from the organization.