http://www.byui.edu/scroll/20050222/religion2.html
http://www.byui.edu/scroll/20050222/religion2.html
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| Focus on Religion |
| Jehovah?s Witnesses |
| by Brittanie Stephenson [email protected] Scroll Staff |
The church is ?an adherent of a millennia list sect that began in the United States in the 19th century and has since spread over much of the world,? according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
?The name Jehovah?s Witnesses was adopted in 1931 by Joseph Franklin Rutherford, who sought to reaffirm Jehovah as the true God and to identify those who witness in this name as God?s specially accredited followers,? according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
Jehovah?s Witnesses only believe the Bible and that it is complete and correct as it stands, Manuela Reinhold, a sophomore from Germany, said.
Reinhold is a former Witness who converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2003.
Jehovah?s Witnesses hold religious meetings three times a week.
The Sunday meeting is held in the Kingdom Hall and consists of an Elder giving a 45-minute talk on a Bible subject, followed by a discussion of an article from their official magazine, Watchtower, with the entire congregation.
Tuesdays and Thursdays smaller group meetings are held in members? homes where they have book studies and training from the organization?s pamphlet handbook, ?Kingdom Ministry.?
Jehovah?s Witnesses create a tight-knit society. Fellowshipping is an important part of their culture.
?They encourage close friendships only among their own ranks. They can have acquaintances and friends from outside, but close friendships are not encouraged with somebody who is not Jehovah?s Witness,? Reinhold said.
A commonly discussed doctrine of Jehovah?s Witnesses is the idea that only 144,000 people go to heaven.
?144,000 people are chosen by God to rule with Christ in heaven as kings and priests over the Earth. All other people will live on the Earth,? Reinhold said.
?All people can have everlasting life except for the people who are not chosen like the wicked,? Reinhold said. ?They say if you are not Jehovah?s Witness you will be destroyed and go out of existence,? Reinhold said.