Fifty years ago the Jehovah's Witnesses numbered fewer than 100,000. Now there are several million of them around the world. They don’t have churches; they have "Kingdom Halls" instead.
Their congregations are uniformly small, usually numbering less than two hundred.
Jehovah’s Witnesses was founded by Charles Taze Russell in 19th Century (1870s), United States. The name Jehovah's witnesses was adopted in 1931 to distinguish themselves from other Bible groups. Charles Taze Russell was raised a Congregationalist, but at the age of 17 he tried to convert an atheist to Christianity and ended up being converted instead—not to outright atheism, but to agnosticism. Some years later he went to an Adventist meeting, was told that Jesus would be back at any time, got interested in the Bible again and established Jehovah Witness.
Russell taught his followers the non-existence of hell and the return of Jesus in 1914.
When 1914 had come and gone, with no Jesus in sight, Russell modified his teachings and claimed Jesus had, in fact, returned to Earth, but that his return was invisible. His visible return would come later, but still very soon. It would result in the final conflict between God and the Devil—the forces of good and the forces of evil—in which God would be victorious. This conflict is known to Witnesses as the battle of Armageddon, and just about everything the Witnesses teach centers around this doctrine.
Notable personalities like late musicians Notorious B.I.G and Michael Jackson were members of Jehovah witness. Other well known people are singer, Serena Williams and former American president, Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Also, Nigerian blogger, Endy Edeson was a part time member of Jehovah witness before he became a Secular Humanist. Mr. Edeson left the congregation when he found peace in Philosophy.
Although, Jehovah Witness holds high integrity in proclaiming the teachings of Jesus Christ but some sections of the society see them as "extremist group".
Last week, news broke out that Russia's justice ministry has called for a ban on the Jehovah's Witnesses for zealously seeking to convert people and rejecting military service.
The ministry has asked Russia's supreme court to close the group's headquarters and stop its 175,000 Russian members sharing "extremist" literature. The ministry says Jehovah Witness "violate Russia's law on combating extremism" and writes articles that condemns other religious groups with the feeling they are the only one with true faith. One of their writers described the doctrine of the Russian Orthodox Church as superstition and sorcery.
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FACEBOOK COMMENTS
Frank Chijioke Adeyinka
so this is how JW was found. Wonders
Olajide Olushola
endy dis ur grammar na wa. which one be secular humanist
Endy Edeson
@olaijde:
Secular Humanist embraces human reason, ethics, social justice, and
philosophical naturalism while specifically rejecting religious dogma,
supernaturalism
Endy Edeson
@Awazi:
Atheism shouldnt be a word to be ashamed of to mention. As regard your
question, check my FB profile BIOGRAPHY for the answer
Amycable Nkem
@endy please who told you that Russell was the founder of jehovah's witnesses?
Endy Edeson
@Amycable:
It is well documented in history book. If you think he is not the one,
in your own version, how was Jehovah witness found?
Amycable Nkem
Sorry to ask o but you mean to say that he is the general overseer of jehovah's witnesses
Endy Edeson
@Nkem:
Come on, of course you can ask. This is a platform for learning. Even
if you have a contrary view i will look into it and do the needful.
Your question almost made me laugh. From global view, you can say that
he was the general overseer but by the doctrines of Jehovah Witness they
don't like titles.
Amycable Nkem
Why
am asking is because I know much about jehovah's witnesses nobody is
above anybody as long as jehovah's witnesses is concerned everybody is
equal
Endy Edeson
You are right. Which church do you attend?
Amycable Nkem
I was born in jehovah's witnesses before I got disfellowshiped
Endy Edeson
Awww. so sorry for that. Does it mean you are now an Atheist or you now attend a different church?
Amycable Nkem
After the disfellowship I went to different churches but none is like jehovah's witness so am going back to my root
Lchaim Lchaim
@ Endy u seem like an interesting person to me .. Will really like to meet u in person
Endy Edeson
@Lchaim:
Thanks for the compliment. Sure, we can meet. Hoping to seeing you
soon. @Amycable Nkem: I hope this article won't affect your decision of
going back to Jehovah Witness. Note that this post is for INFORMATIONAL
& EDUCATIONAL purpose. I don't intend drifting the minds of people
from their faith. If you think Jehovah Witness is good for, follow your
heart my sister. LET ME TELL YOU, i enjoy when religious folks preach to
me. Infact, i engage in soft arguement about creation with them. When
you go back to Jehovah Witness, try to locate me and preach for me. You
will see how I reason when it comes to creationism and life
Amycable Nkem
Sure I will
Agada Damian Gentle
@
Nkem did you try my church? anyway u got it wrong because u expect
another Church to be like Jehovah witnesses, until u accept that the
change you will find other churches ok too. but your decision is still
ok.
Chukwudi Kalu
Noted.....
Mayor LP
They
also inculcate the doctrine of not taking blood transfusion when needed
during crucial emergency period,good number of them have died based on
this misgivings doctrine.
Amycable Nkem
@agada
I think you too should try and worship with jehovah's witness too and
compare between them and your church which one knows the truth more and
please when you are going to their kingdom hall go their with all your
heart and with your bible too then after then I think you will be able
to understand why I decided to go back
Endy Edeson
@agada;
Worship? ha! I live on Logic. What about you? which church? @mayor;
Doctrines are common with religious bodies but some are really weird.
@kalu; Ok. @nkem; Its Up To You To Know The Right Place To Worship
Agada Damian Gentle
@
Nkem i have listen to many of their preaching, and i even have a group
that meets me every Sunday as soon as i return from my church. we
interact deeply because am also a catechism teacher in the Catholic
Church, sometimes i end up preaching instead. during my school days my
closest friend is a witness and we run things well to the extent the
other witness lady told me to change to witness and marry her because
they will not allow her marry someone who is not a witness. nothing will
change me from being a Catholic that is the bottom line. if you seek
the truth you can find it in the Catholic Church. All other churches
originated from the Catholic Church but Jesus established the Church
himself, am not in any way saying my church is better than any other
church but the Catholic Church is Universal, Holy and teaches the truth
Amycable Nkem
Lol
did you just say nothing will change you from being a Catholic? Well if
I heard you correctly that means we are of the same boat then
Olanrewaju Hammed
So check history and tell us about the history of christain
Bekere Becky Afaka
ENDY U AN ATHEIST? It is well
Endy Edeson
@Becky:
I know Atheism is not that ripe in Nigeria but it's a normal thing. I
hope you still got love for me. I just have to be sincere about who I
am. I advocate for ethical behaviours, unity and peace and as an
Atheist, I believe I have hope to be in HEAVEN if it exists because I
am done with my heavenly race. Please bear with me for being an Atheist.
That's how I see life