Established in 1879 by charles taze russell in pennsylvania, jehovahs witnesses bear many of the hallmarks of mainstream christianity, while diverging from it in several key areas. Jehovahs witnesses is a millenarian restorationist christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream christianity. A beginners guide to witnessing to the jehovahs witnesses. Jehovahs witnesses beliefs compared to christianity. Chart comparing christianity and other world religions. Jehovahs witnesses and jesus christ, theology today, april, 1953. By the end, i think you will see that gulf is indeed wide between true, biblical christianity, and the theology taught by the watch. I remember that first year after id left the jehovahs witness faith. However, the doctrines of the christian church are clear from the bible and the writings of the early church fathers. This teaching is a good beginning for understanding jehovahs witness teachings and knowing where to.
This website is for people of various faiths who seek to understand islam and muslims. After giving a prepared introduction usually about the sorry and frightening state of the world your jw visitors will try to determine. Mormons believe the father, son and holy spirit are separate but equal gods that form a godhead, but jehovahs witnesses believe that jesus is inferior to god the father and that the holy spirit is the manifestation of god the fathers power. Reasoning from the scriptures with the jehovahs witnesses. Scientology in a nutshell all of it is totally against the bible. Facts the watchtower society doesnt want you to know. It is true that jehovahs witnesses and christians are both following the teachings brought about by the words of jesus christ. The other sheep jesus referred to are gentile believers who will one day join jewish believers to form one body of christians. I know jws dont believe in a hell when in fact jesus talks more. Facts the watchtower society doesnt want you to know fully documented with photocopies of statements from rare watchtower publications, this book reveals many facts the watchtower society tries to hide from jehovahs witnesses and investigators of this religion. David reed, an exwitness, says that the new world translation came into being in 1961 for the sole purpose of eliminating the deity of christ.
Although jehovah s witnesses claim to be christian, there are major differences in theology, which they attribute to apostacy. Religious organizations who claim to have maintained christianity are growing in number. Jehovahs witnesses along with a few other dissidents rejected this policy. They currently claim a worldwide membership of approximately 9 million people in 205 countries. Why do you say that mormons and jehovahs witnesses are not christians. Jehovahs witnesses come to your door with one main objective. Following are some verses concerning these two teachings of the witnesses, which they have totally corrupted. Although jehovahs witnesses claim to be christian, there are major differences in theology, which they attribute to apostacy. Jehovahs witnesses are a people of faith that many of us likely dont know that much about. However, the translators were not biblical scholars or theologians. Jehovahs witnesses 10 things to know about their beliefs. A brief comparison of jehovahs witnesses beliefs and islam.
It articulated ideas that remained the teachings of russells associates for the next 40 years, many of which are still embraced by jehovahs witnesses. How to share the gospel with a jehovahs witness dare 2. I have many mormon friends, but there are some clear differences. The mormon religion officially known as the church of jesus christ of latterday saints or lds and the jehovahs witness organization also known as the watchtower both share a common foundational doctrine. Jehovahs witnesses believe that gods one true namethe name by. Jehovahs witnesses are required to save themselves. Difference between christian and jehovah witness compare. They also allege they are averaging 200,000 new members each year. The apostacy is a result of the jehovah s witnesses interpretation of the bible. Witnessing to jehovahs witnesses effective evangelism. It is true that jehovah s witnesses and christians are both following the teachings brought about by the words of jesus christ.
Comparison grid of roman catholicism, mormonism, jehovahs. First and foremost, the jehovah witness group teaches that jesus is not god. In this article i will explore the very significant differences between historical christianity and the jehovahs witnesses beliefs. Here is a guide on how to share the gospel with a jehovahs witness.
Let me say you have my deepest condolenses on the loss of your mother. We answer the questions of how they got their start, what their core beliefs are, and how many people ascribe to this faith in the world today below. My overwhelming misgiving with this book is in regard to the persecution of jehovahs witness in malawi. Comparing roman catholicism belief system noted serious theological problems. Cult shock is an easytofollow resource of christian apologetics that teaches you how to defend your christian faith against the claims of jehovahs witness and mormon missionaries. Why mormons and jehovahs witnesses are not christians. Christian living led and empowered by the holy spirit, including a consistent witness to the lost by both deeds and words.
What is the similarities between christianity and jehovah. Every jehovahs witness will tell you that they are christians. The 11 beliefs you should know about jehovahs witnesses when. Though christians believe that it is impossible to save ourselves salvation is a gift from god, the jehovahs witnesses have a complex, impossible, and completely unscriptural belief about how to get to heaven. It contains a lot of brief, yet informative articles about different aspects of islam. The following chart provides a quickreference guide to the major similarities and differences between the beliefs and practices of jehovahs witnesses and mainstream protestant christianity. Main differences between jehovahs witnesses and christianity. Christians arent expected to spend their lives knocking door to door on peoples. Compare jehovah s witnesses and protestant christianity. Christianity is a religion, jehovahs witnesses are at best a cult but they are much more likely a publishing corporation taking advantage of tax code and unpaid volunteers. Comparison grid of roman catholicism, mormonism, jehovahs witnesses, and christianity. The following chart provides a quickreference guide to the major similarities and differences between the beliefs and practices of jehovah s witnesses and mainstream protestant christianity. The book, three worlds and the harvest of this world, was published in early 1877.
Popular jehovahs witnesses books showing 149 of 281 new world translation of the holy scriptures hardcover by. What is the similarities between christianity and jehovahs. What is the difference between scientology and jehovahs. What are the differences between most christian bibles and. Today this organization has branches in over one hundred countries, and it has missionary works in over two hundred and fifty. Compare jehovahs witnesses and protestant christianity. They did not officially adopt the name of jehovahs witnesses until 1931. What is the difference between scientology and jehovahs witness. If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake and keep following me. What is the difference between christianity and jehovah witnesses.
I will compare king james verses with the jehovah witnesses bible, the new world translation. First, this is the area where watchtower theology deviates most dramatically from orthodox christianity. The nwt christian greek scriptures new testament is mainly taken from the westcott and hort translation, but has been altered and changed to support the views of jehovah s witnesses that the premortal jesus was created by jehovah and that jesus is not part of the one being of god. Christians have great news to offer jehovahs witnesses. One suggestion is that the number comes from 12, a symbol for totality, which is squared and multiplied by one thousand for more emphasis. However, this question is not unique to followers of the watchtower society. What are the biggest differences between christians and jehovah witnesses. Jehovahs witnesses and orthodox christians disagree on some very basic issues. The trinity does not exist, and is an evil doctrine that teaches the existence of 3 gods.
Christian vs jehovah witness the main difference between christian and jehovah s witness is in the kinds of christ they believe in. Indeed, a comparison of the ot and nt equates jesus with jehovah compare isa. However, our bible tells us in the book of revelation that the 144,000. My husband had been a jehovahs witness as a child and recently began associating with jehovahs witnesses again. Christian conversations with jehovahs witnesses book. There are a rather large number of absolutely fundamental differences between what the bible teaches and what is taught by the jehovah witness group. Its followers can believe in god or gods, whatever floats their boat. What are the biggest differences between christianity and the. What are the most shocking verses in the jehovahs witness. The main difference is connected with the lower view of jesus christ espoused by the jehovah s witnesses. In contrast to the trinitarian concept of one god in three personsfather, son, and holy spiritthe jws have been taught to believe that god the father. How is jehovahs witness different than christianity.
How do jehovahs witnesses react when they meet someone really excited about god and the bible and they want to. Some, taking the numbers in revelation to be symbolic, believe it represents all of gods people throughout history in the heavenly church. The group reports a worldwide membership of approximately 8. This brief synopsis covers the two major cults of contemporary times that are referred to as christian cults, which are the jehovah witnesses and the mormons. Jehovahs witnesses believe the second coming of jesus is very near but mormons do not.
The original scripture index has been replaced with one using the page numbers of this revision. I was once banned from a jehovahs witness chat room after i not only answered their objections to the trinity and deity of christ but also challenged them in return. What are the main differences between mormons and jehovahs witnesses. Mormons refer to the bible, but look primarily to the book of mormon. What are the biggest differences between christianity and the jehovah witnesses. No blood transfusions no celebration of holidays no religious images all earthly organizations controlled by satan. What is the difference between jehovahs witnesses and. What are the biggest differences between christianity and.
The differences are significant enough that jehovahs witness christians and mainstream christians sometimes question each others legitimacy as christians. Never was there a more deceptive doctrine advanced than that of the trinity reconciliation, 1928. Nathan knorr, albert schroeder, george gangas, fred franz, m. Approximately 4 million of them live in the united states. Similar religions to jehovahs witnesses where else would i go. A survey of jw beliefs from a christian perspective. Francis chan meets some jehovahs witnesses youtube. Even the socalled congregation bible study for many years referred to as the book study is just a study of one of the wts books. Jehovahs witnesses, through the new world translation, claim that their version of the bible is scholarly and more accurate. Their jesus is a created being the bible calls the archangel michael whereas the christian jesus is god in the flesh and as such is our creator. But even though their teachings are only based on one religious text, which is the bible, differences are still transparent between the two. The new world translation of the bible is jehovahs witnesses own translation, no other religious group uses this bible and jehovahs witnesses make very little use of other bibles. An example of this is frequently found on the internet. During the 1960s malawian president for life hastings banda made his country a oneparty state requiring all citizens to become members of the malawi congress party.
For example the jesus of jehovahs witnesses is a different person than the jesus of christianity. Jehovahs witnesses believe that the bible, including all 66 books of the hebrew and greek. It seems that jehovah witness leaders just need years of study based on this answer. Such a tragic and senseless death due to weird jehovahs witness beliefs. Jehovahs witnesses main differences with christianity. Why they are not christians answering the question. It is not jehovahs witnesses vs christianity as jehovahs witnesses are christians.
However, because most of these cults often adhere to heretical beliefs, the term christian cults is an oxymoron. Christian vs jehovah witness the main difference between christian and jehovahs witness is in the kinds of christ they believe in. Joseph smiths visions and prophecies are recorded in a book titled the doctrine and covenants which contains. My book, reasoning from the scriptures with jehovahs witnesses, will provide you with a. Jehovahs witnesses maintain that jesus returned to earth invisibly in 1914, and his kingdom is in heaven, not on earth. What are the main differences between mormons and jehovah. Jehovahs witnesses required to obey jehovahs laws as explained by watchtower bible and tract society. But much of their doctrine is unique among christian faiths.
Subsequently, my name was passed around to all other jehovahs witness rooms where i was banned from them as well. Below are 10 facts about this group which branched off from orthodox christianity in the late 1800s. Christian conversations with jehovahs witnesses book 4jehovah. Why does stryver continually criticize and belittle sydney carton for his social lapses from tales of two cities book 2 chapter 11. Two christian bible scholars outline arguments anyone can use to counterand evangelize tojehovahs witnesses and mormons when they come knocking. The numbers 12,000 and 144,000 are variously interpreted in traditional christianity. In this book, biblical truth is presented in an effective way that challenges the. With over onehalf million volunteer workers, the jehovahs witnesses have become a serious threat to bible believers throughout the world. This name indicates the meaning of revelation it uncovers matters that had been hidden and discloses events that would happen long after it was written.
The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. At dare 2 share, our goal is to help you feel comfortable sharing the gospel. Jehovah s witnesses do emphasize the atonement of jesus christ, and on the surface many of the statements jehovah s witnesses have made about the atonement sound very similar to what a christian would say. They do not believe in the trinity of course, it is not biblical.