We have Jehovah's Witnesses in California. I have spoken to them on several occasions. They are very nice people. People would tell me not to talk to them because they won't leave you alone after that but I really wasn't in fear of that happening. One day, a couple of Jehovah's Witnesses knocked at my door and starting speaking to me about God. I'm a christian and will not slam the door on them. I had a cast on my leg because I had broken my foot so I wasn't going anywhere and had time on my hands. I invited them inside where we spoke for 30-45 minutes. They felt bad because of my broken foot and offered to go get me some groceries. They offered to mow my lawn to help me out. And then they actually offered me some cash to help me get by because of my situation. I didn't take them up on their offer but I was taken back by their generosity. For them to have this much faith in a stranger amazed me even to this day. As they left to visit others, they gave me one of their Bibles to check out and read. I don't know much about them or their religion, but I can say I had a very good experience being around them.
2007-12-21 23:50:36
·
answer #1
·
answered by bobe 6
·
4⤊
0⤋
witnesses were forbidden by the communists in all comm. countries. the countries that are now NOT commie have agreed that jw's are NOT dangerous, but actually the best citizens you can have.
we dont fornicate, use drugs, get drunk, abuse elderly or kids, dont start or engage in wars and pay our taxes on time.
no, not all are perfect. geuss what, NONE of us are perfect.
but we are the ONLY truly christian group in the world.
we follow the christ totally and completely.
that is why the new dictator of russia wants us banned. we worship only jehovah, not the state.
if you ask your head church guy, you will find out that your group really does not measure up in russia.
really, go ask him.
as far as offending us?
naaah. hitler had the same attitude about us as you do.
does not bother us a bit.
really.
now, would you like to know what jehovah's witnesses believe? really?
write me privately and i will get you the addresses of the kingdom hall in your area.
where, btw, the witnesses are NOT banned.
you were just lied to by someone, likely an ortho priest of some sort.
adios from the beach
where we are a LOT more warm that you folks are
at the moment.
gramps
long beach ca usa
2007-12-23 16:03:09
·
answer #2
·
answered by grandpa 5
·
0⤊
1⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses, such as myself although i'm not under any direct persecution in the UK, are seen as 'dangerous' as unlike other religions they answer first to God, not the Government. Russia isn't the only country. China has a horrible hold on Witnesses. Governments like to be in control and if they happen to have laws which go against JW beliefs then they get angry because witnesses don't follow the gov.s laws.
We are NOT dangerous. We have no weapons, we don't kill, threaten people etc, it's just a control thing. Places like the USA and UK are proud for letting religious groups practise any religion as long as it isn't 'morally wrong', ie dangerous. JW's are still persecuted (quite obvious when you look at the people on yahoo answers who are determined to wreck JW's reputations)
Please ask any questions you have, I'd love to answer them!
2007-12-26 19:13:03
·
answer #3
·
answered by jaspercat91 3
·
0⤊
0⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses are clean respectable citizens in every country they preach in. Many times because of their growth in some countries, prominent religions will seek to ban their activities. More JW's mean less parishioners, means less tithes.
In some cases, individual goverments have issues because of mandatory military service. JW's usually say they maintain neutrality, with the exception of Mexico (vs. Malawi) some years ago.
More recently, goverments are banning the witnesses because of the percieved fanatical stand toward blood transfusions. I think as a result of possibly losing legal standing in Bulgaria in 1998, the policy was altered to make tranfusions a conscience matter. This was actually double-speek because although you were not DF, the new standard was you disassociated yourself by taking a BT. Purely semantics.
Many on this board appear to be new to the JW organization and are unaware of many of the issues that I mentioned. From active witnesses in the org. prior to 1995 or even 1975 they are questioning many of the policies and belief system as a whole. For many new in the org. this is the best thing since sliced bread.
2007-12-22 17:54:46
·
answer #4
·
answered by Beautiful Death 2
·
0⤊
1⤋
The preaching of the Kingdom of Jehovah will not be halted.
Matt. 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. And look I am with you al the days until the conclusion of the system of things."
DANGEROUS: Ha Ha, Jehovah's people are like sheep, mild and meek. We are being taught by Jehovah. So although we are not perfect we try with our every being to cultivate the fruits of the spirit.
Gal. 5:22 "The fruitage of the spirits is love, joy, peace, Long suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control..."
CULT: A cult is a religion that is said to be unorthodox or that emphasizes devotion according to prescribe ritual. Many cults follow a living human leader, and often their adherents live in groups apart from the rest of society. the standards for what is orthodox, however should be God's Word, and Jehovah's Witnesses strictly adhere to the Bible. their worship is a way of life, not a retual devotion. they neither follow a hhuman nor isolate themselves from the rest of society. they live and work in the midst of other people.
JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES THE WORLDWIDE CHRISTIAN SOCIETY OF PEOPLE WHO ACTIVELY BEAR WITNESS REGARDING JEHOVAH GOD AND HIS PURPOSES AFFECTING MANKIND. WE BASE OUR BELIEFS SOLELY ON THE BIBLE.
WHY ARE WE BAND ? Jesus said: "If they world hates you, you know that it has hated me beofre it hated you. If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on this account the world hates you." (John 15:18,19)
The Bible shows that the whole world lies under Satan's control; he is the principal instigator of the persecution. 1John 5:19 ; Rev 12:17
Please visit the one an only offical website of Jehovah's Witnesses at WWW.WATCHTOWER.ORG
2007-12-22 15:12:42
·
answer #5
·
answered by Vivimos en los Ultimos Dias 5
·
1⤊
1⤋
Point of correction, dear questioner.
The Witnesses are banned in Moscow, but not "in Russia". Life goes on for the rest of the Witnesses in other parts of Russia. Even the Assembly Hall in Moscow lies under the jurisdiction of St. Petersburg, so it is still open for use by the Witnesses.
Jehovah's Witnesses can still preach openly in Russia and they are experiencing great growth, what with the immigrants from other countries accepting Bible studies as well. Many foreign language congregations have been formed as well.
June/July were large district conventions "Follow the Christ!" (СледÑйÑе за Ð¥ÑиÑÑом!). In St. Petersburg there was an attendance of 10,380, and if you add all those who listened in by transmission, the total in attendance was 28,000. 167 new ones were added to our ranks (baptised). The highlight of that convention was the release of the complete New World Translation in Russian.
Have you visited their branch office at Solnechnoye (СолнеÑное) in St. Petersburg?
If you need more info, feel free to email.
ÐÑÐ´Ñ Ñада помоÑÑ!!
2007-12-20 20:00:23
·
answer #6
·
answered by Anonymous
·
11⤊
0⤋
"Russia—Jehovah's Witnesses Test Religious Freedom":
http://www.jw-media.org/rights/russia.htm
"The History of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia":
http://www.jw-media.org/region/europe/russia/english/prb_who/article_02.htm
"Today Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia enjoy their freedom of worship. Currently, there are some 1,100 congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses in the territories of the former U.S.S.R."
Jehovah's Witnesses are Christians.
2007-12-21 14:36:22
·
answer #7
·
answered by Alex 5
·
6⤊
0⤋
Jehovahs Witnesses are not a cult or a sect.
They are Christians who hold to the Bible as the standard for all their beliefs.
They are probably outlawed in your country because they present a threat to the Church because Jehovahs Witnesses expose Christendom for the lies and false teachings they preach to their followers.
Jehovahs Witnesses worship Jehovah as the only true God and freely speak to others about him and his loving purposes toward mankind.
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 Chrsit is actively ruling as King,with God given authority over al lthe earth since 1914.
They believe that God's Kingdom is the only hope for mankind;that it wil soon destroy the present wicked system of things,and that it will produce a new system in which righteousness will prevail.
They beleive 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".
They believe that God's original purpsoe 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.
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.
These are some of the beliefs of Jehovahs Witnesses.All of these beliefs are found in the Bible.
What seperates Jehovahs Witnesses from all other so called Christians is the preaching work that Witnesses undertake in obedience to Jesus command found at Matthew 28:19,20.Jesus himself did a similiar work and taught his disciples to do the same.(Acts.20:20,5:42).
Jesus also said that his followers would be hated just as he was hated.So it comes as no surprise to us that we are ridiculed and persecuted.
2007-12-20 21:17:31
·
answer #8
·
answered by lillie 6
·
10⤊
1⤋
Wow. I didn't know any country had banned Jehovah witnesses. I think is due to their belief in rejecting blood transfusions, not celebrating any holidays/birthdays, and they don't believe in the Trinity. I'm not Jehovah's witness but I do understand their belief of not participating in Christmas since we don't know the exact date of Jesus's birth, Pope Julius II decreed Christmas will be celebrated on December 25th. Jehovahs consider themselves Christian, they consider their beliefs biblical. You can go to watchtower society to learn more about them. You can also check the link below, they give an unbiased information about Jehovah witnesses.
2007-12-20 17:54:41
·
answer #9
·
answered by cynical 7
·
7⤊
2⤋
We have relative freedom in the USA. It did not come without effort. This government operates mostly by the Constitution of laws. Radical people have for the last century tried to avoid those laws and deny freedoms of speech, religion and assembly to US citizens. Over 50 times we have had to go before the highest court in this land to secure these laws of freedom for all the citizens, not just us.
Though we have many loud detractors, I doubt any would admit their noise is permitted because of our efforts. LOL!
The facts are, in any country we live, we obey all laws of the local governments except those directly in conflict with God's Laws. For the governments, this means lower costs in control of populace. We willingly pay taxes, obey laws, even when no one is looking, and in general cause no trouble for them. At all our assemblies, between 2,000 to 10,000 JWs attend. No need for Police. They only send one or two for appearance. Stadium crews love us as their work load will be light. We clean up after ourselves like true Christians should. Contrast this with a hockey game, when several dumpsters are needed and the cleanup work lasts until the next day.
I still remember when I was a kid, I believe it was a quote from a New York cabbie. "Them Jehovah's Witnesses came to town with $10 in one hand and the 10 commandments in the other and never broke either one here!"
I hear that Russia is getting better, lightening up on restrictions. This is as it should be as we are no threat. We have nothing to do with political actions for or against. Our hopes are all with God's Kingdom as the solution for the planet's problems.
----------------------------------------------------------------
I should add the reason we have smaller comparative numbers for our assemblies is few places today can hold more people for two or three days. So we have broken us up into many smaller assemblies rather than one giant assembly.
2007-12-20 18:17:09
·
answer #10
·
answered by grnlow 7
·
9⤊
3⤋