Questions tagged [jehovahs-witnesses]

The group known as the Jehovah's Witnesses was founded in the 1870s. They originally called themselves Bible Students, but they changed to their current name in 1931.

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Other than JWs, which denominations (or religions) recognize God's personal name as the form "Jehovah"?

Background Referring to God as Jehovah is a known practice by Jehovah's Witnesses as written by Raymond Franz in In Search of Christian Freedom in 1991: The fact remains that today no religious ...
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According to Jehovah’s Witnesses why did John write the words found in John 1:1?

Jehovah's Witnesses translate John 1:1 as: " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god." whereas its more generally translated as something like : &...
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What is Jehovah's Witnesses view on a baptized member owning machine guns?

Question on Jehovah's Witnesses view about owning guns that are not used for hunting or for protecting against wild animals. Let's say for example someone in USA who likes to collect automatic ...
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How do Jehovah's Witnesses understand Hebrews 1?

Hebrews 1:4–14 contrasts Jesus with the angels. How do groups like Jehovah's Witnesses, who see him as an angel, understand these verses?
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The Jehovah's Witness perspective concerning the Four Horsemen

As a continuation of this question and this question: Few Biblical symbols, allegories, or metaphors have fired the imagination more than the alleged Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse described all too ...
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Why do Jehovah's Witnesses hold a "commemoration of the death of Jesus Christ"?

For the last several years, I have received mailings from Jehovah's Witnesses that say the following: Lo invitamos a acompañarnos a la Conmemoración anual de la muerete de Jesuscristo. Este es el día,...
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How do Jehovah's Witnesses explain Mark 1:1–3?

Mark 1:1–3 from the NWT reads: The beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God: Just as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “(Look! I am sending my messenger ahead of you,* who ...
Matt Zabojnik's user avatar
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How do Jehovah's Witnesses explain Paul's apparent equating of Yahweh and Jesus in Romans 10?

Recently I was listening to a lecture by Reformed theologian Robert Cara, in which he mentioned how frequently NT writers connect and apply OT Yahweh references to Jesus. A number of examples could ...
Nathaniel is protesting's user avatar
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What characteristics does the Great Tribulation have in JW eschatology?

I had asked this question regarding LDS eschatology and thought that I ask the same one from Jehovah's Witnesses point of view. I can see however that there's this other question where the answer ...
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Do JWs have books besides the Bible that they view as "sacred" or "inspired"?

I see that the JW website contains the text of a few different Bible translations: KJV, ASV, Byington, New World Translation and The Kingdom Interlinear Translation. From articles such as "The Bible ...
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How do those who believe the Son is not Almighty God interpret Revelation 2:23?

To me, the deity of Christ is seen all throughout Revelation, and for that matter, the Gospels (e.g. John 1:1) and Epistles, and all of Scripture, but for the purposes of the question, how do those ...
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How do Jehovah Witnesses explain the anger of Caiphas?

So the high priest said to him: “I put you under oath by the living God to tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God!” Jesus said to him: “You yourself said it. But I say to you: From now on ...
aska123's user avatar
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Besides JWs, are there other Christian denominations where meetings regularly consist of congregation-wide study sessions?

I have been in quite a few Jehovah's Witnesses meetings at their Kingdom Hall and am a bit intrigued about the meeting format. All the Sunday meetings consist of a 30-minute talk (I take this would ...
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What problems, if any, do Jehovah's Witnesses have with the Apostles' Creed?

I'm listening to an audio series in which the Apostles' Creed is used as the framework for "Christian theology," implying that those who believe the Apostles' Creed are orthodox. However, it's ...
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Are the contents of the Jehovah Witness website dogmatic?

Is the content of the Jehovah Witness website final and binding? For example, is the Bible Study guide definite and binding to all the Faithful? Or is it a usefull study guide that is open for the ...
aska123's user avatar
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Are (or should be) the resolutions of the SDA General Conference public?

Currently I'm doing a little bit of research on how different churches are organised. As far I can understand, the General Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church has an important role on ...
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Do JWs have vestments, clothing, or "sacred" or symbolic objects that are used for any particular occasion or position?

Different denominations have different sacred items and garbs available for priests, bishops, and the like. For example, this Wikipedia article on vestments mentions that such liturgical garments are ...
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How do Jehovah's Witnesses explain Paul's apparent equating of Yahweh and Jesus in Ephesians 4?

Recently I was listening to a lecture by Reformed theologian Robert Cara, in which he mentioned how frequently NT writers connect and apply OT Yahweh references to Jesus. A number of examples could ...
Nathaniel is protesting's user avatar
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(Jehovah's Witnesses view) Jesus statement about Great Tribulation and the situation due to which "no flesh will be saved"

This question is about Jehovah's Witnesses understanding of Jesus words in Matthew 24:21-22: for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until ...
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What is Jehovah's Witnesses view of Revelation 20:10 since they do not believe in hell?

I know that Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in hellfire but in that case, how do they interpret scriptures such as Revelation 20:10, which says And the devil that deceived them was cast into the ...
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Differences between paranormal entities like banshees, poltergeists, demons, ghosts, etc..? [duplicate]

Human history is full of various paranormal entities such as: Ghosts Demons Spirits Poltergeists Banshees Disembodied voices Orbs Some books I have seen even equated extraterrestrial aliens or UFOs ...
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Was the 1914 prophecy (derived from the book of Daniel) ever mentioned in any newspapers before World War I?

This question is about the time period of 2520 years derived from the book of Daniel and the calculations that that period ended in 1914. There is this other question that states that this ...
x457812's user avatar
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If only those who died after Jesus death are among the ones that go to heaven, how do JWs view the ascension of Elijah?

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that only 144000 (the group mentioned in Revelation 14:1-3) have a heavenly hope, while the rest of humankind have the hope of living forever on earth. This is for example ...
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Do Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the 1918 influenza was caused by Satan?

The accepted answer to this other question of mine mentioned that epidemics like the Spanish influenza are thought to be strong evidence of Satan’s being confined to the vicinity of the earth. ...
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7 votes
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According to the Jehovah's Witnesses, why was Jesus likely not born in December because of Levite temple service schedule?

This is about a particular reason why it was not likely for Jesus to have been born in December, based on an explanation I remember hearing from a Jehovah's Witness over a decade ago. I know that ...
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5 votes
2 answers
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How do JWs reconcile the belief that Satan was cast to earth in 1914 with Job 1:7 and Job 2:2?

Based on this other question, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the events depicted in Revelation 12:9, 12 happened in 1914. The text in these two verses says (from KJV here): 9 And the great ...
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What are Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs on how those who died before Jesus, or before JWs existed, will gain salvation?

Christian denominations have different beliefs about how those who died before Jesus existed, or before their denomination existed, can gain salvation. For example, some denominations believe that ...
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Do these videos represent JW meetings or do they have other secret/sacred meetings that are not available to public?

[Related to this question but that one is about teachings while this one is about meetings in general] The answer to this other question about Mormon meetings says about meetings at Mormon temples: ...
Dee's user avatar
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Did the New World Translation lead to any doctrinal changes?

The Jehovah's Witnesses believe that their denomination is a restoration of the original, ancient form of Christianity. They claim to have rediscovered this form through principled biblical study and ...
Psychonaut's user avatar
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Would a JW be disfellowshipped if they join a military (and are unrepentant about it)?

On my reading of a Anton Gill's 1989 book "The journey back from hell", he speaks briefly about JWs in the concentration camps. According to Gill, one of the issues the Nazis had with this group was ...
Ronnie's user avatar
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16 votes
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What are the main differences between Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses?

Both Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses go from door to door, talking to people about their beliefs. Also neither group accepts the notion of Trinity. What are the main differences between these two ...
Dee's user avatar
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25 votes
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What denominations, besides JWs, hold that the Star of Bethlehem was sent by Satan?

I looked up information about the Star of Bethlehem on Jehovah's Witnesses website and it looks like their point on it was that it was actually created by Satan in an attempt to kill Jesus. Now of ...
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7 votes
1 answer
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Since when have JWs said that United Nations will launch an attack on religion?

I was reading some publications jw.org online library about the Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs pertaining to the end of the world, such as this article from which I quote below snippet: 5 What yet ...
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Do Jehovah Witnesses believe that Jesus Christ returned to Earth in 1914, or has this teaching now been abandoned?

I would be interested in having some clarification on this topic. I once had a poster displayed in my house with the text, "The coming of the Lord draws near." James 5:8. Two very sincere and ...
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1 vote
1 answer
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Did a Seventh Day Adventist start the Jehovah Witness organization?

I have a couple of friends who are JWs, and I mentioned to them about one of the founders having come from a Seventh Day Adventist background, and they acted like they never heard that before. I'm ...
BJPierce's user avatar
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2 answers
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Is this appropriate to give to a Jehovah Witness? [closed]

I am not Jehovah Witness follower but my Mother in Law is. She has recently lost her son. I was going to paint her a plaque that has the saying "Your wings were ready, but my Heart was not" with a ...
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What is the Jehovah's Witness perspective on salvation?

What do Jehovah's Witnesses believe about salvation? For example, Protestants believe that we are saved by faith alone in Jesus Christ. Do Jehovah's Witnesses place their faith in the same place or ...
Oliver K's user avatar
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10 votes
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What are the Biblical arguments against man having an immortal soul separate from the body?

Belief in an immortal soul seems quite common in Christianity although some denominations do not seem to believe in this. What specific scriptures, and scriptural arguments, are used by those that do ...
SherlockEinstein's user avatar
11 votes
3 answers
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What's the significance of this image for Jehovah's Witnesses?

I was browsing through the friends of one of my Facebook friends. One of them is, I am guessing, a Jehovah's Witness because some of their posts have Jehovah's Witness-related entries such as photos ...
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4 votes
2 answers
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Did JWs believe in trinity and immortality of the soul before they got their own Bible?

This is a question about the Bible translation called the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT) that was produced by Jehovah's Witnesses as a complete Bible first in 1961, and about its ...
ravn's user avatar
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When a Jehovah's Witness is reinstated how does the congregation react?

When a disfellowshipped person takes the steps necessary to be accepted back into the Jehovah's Witness faith an announcement is made to the congregation informing all of the reinstatement of this ...
User 14's user avatar
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2 votes
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Do Jehovah's Witnesses believe in ghosts (or what-ever these may be)?

Here's a bit of a story from my childhood that's related to this question. (Sorry if this is too long but I wanted to explain what I mean.) I grew up in Sweden in a family of Finnish immigrants. ...
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6 votes
2 answers
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Weight of importance on the belief that Jesus is Michael for Jehovah's Witnesses?

According to this and this other question, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus is the same as Michael the Archangel. I am curious about the importance of this viewpoint. Is this a "core tenet" ...
ravn's user avatar
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Do Jehovah's Witnesses have anyone recognized as a "prophet", or what kind of titles do they use? [closed]

I was looking for information about the founders of Jehovah's Witnesses. It looks like some notable early people were the founder Charles T. Russell and then Joseph F. Rutherford who was the president ...
user100487's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
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Have Jehovah's Witnesses' top leadership made a "vow of poverty"?

This question is about the leadership in the Jehovah's Witnesses organization, such as the Directors of Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, that are named in this Wikipedia article. ...
x457812's user avatar
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Have Jehovah's Witnesses always been politically neutral?

This is a follow-up that I wanted to ask after reading this other question. When I was looking for information on Jehovah's Witnesses and Christmas, I found this article at wol.jw.org that explains ...
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10 votes
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What were the Jehovah's Witness arguments against doing the Nazi salute?

For this question I am looking for answers from Jehovah's Witnesses, if possible. In this YouTube video ("The Schoolgirl The Nazis and The Purple Triangles") this lady Simone Arnold talks about how ...
ravn's user avatar
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11 votes
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Do Jehovah's Witnesses have membership fees or how are they funded?

I was given an invite to a convention by Jehovah's Witnesses. It says on the bottom "FREE ADMISSION" and "NO COLLECTIONS TAKEN" and the couple who gave it to me had mentioned that there are quite a ...
x457812's user avatar
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5 votes
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According to Jehovah's Witnesses, when/how do the 144,000 ascend to Heaven?

Following an invitation, I attended a "Memorial of Jesus' Death" service at a Kingdom Hall recently. While there, I heard about the 144,000 who will go to heaven to "be kings and priests and rule ...
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8 votes
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Is it accurate to say Jehovah's Witnesses do not view Jesus as divine?

I am fully aware that Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jehovah and Jesus are separate beings. However their translation of John 1:1 says that "the word (logos) was a god. Do Jehovah's Witnesses ...
User 14's user avatar
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