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The neutrality of this article is disputed. Please help restore neutrality by reporting disputed terms and phrases on Talk:Jehovah s Witnesses, so that disputed parts can be settled.
Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) are a christian group founded in the 1870s in Pennsylvania by Charles Taze Russell. During Russell's lifetime, the study groups multiplied, and their members came to be known as the International Bible Students or Bible Students. They founded the Watch Tower Society in 1881, and registered in 1884 with Russell as president. Later, in 1914 they founded International Bible Students Association in the UK, and in 1931, when Joseph Franklin Rutherford was president of the society, they adopted the name "Jehovah's Witnesses." The name Jehovah's Witnesses was inspired by Isaiah 43:10, which states, "Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah . . ." (ASV).
The group's members are noted for their racially diverse and close-knit brotherhood, the use of the name Jehovah, door-to-door evangelizing, free home Bible study, conviction that the present system of things will soon come to an end, uncelebration of many religious holidays, refusing to accept blood transfusions, non-participation in politics and military service, and separation from other religions. At times in their history, they have been the subject of religious and political controversy (See Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses). Jehovah's Witnesses generally exhibit a high degree of commitment to their religion, attending meetings three times a week in their local Kingdom Halls and in private homes.
Larger gatherings, called assemblies or conventions, are held, usually three times a year, in assembly halls that are owned or maintained by the Watchtower Society or rented public facilities, such as sports stadiums or auditoriums.
As of August 2003, Jehovah's Witnesses has a world-wide practicing membership of more than . The membership figures refer to the number of registered 'publishers' or door-to-door evangelists and are therefore not always comparable with statistics produced by other religious groups. Besides excluding those who are not really active, counting only publishers also excludes most children under 10 years old. Therefore, it can be said that their statistics are rather conservative. Well over 16 million people attend the Lord's Supper (Memorial), which is celebrated once in a year. They are among the .
Jehovah's Witnesses make vigorous efforts to spread their beliefs throughout the world in a variety of ways, with particular emphasis on the written word. Their teachings are mainly presented through two monthly journals, both based exclusively on the Bible's teachings. Awake!, published in 87 languages, is a general-interest magazine covering many topics from a religious perspective. The Watchtower, published in 148 languages, focuses mainly on doctrine. With an average circulation of 25 million copies semimonthly, The Watchtower is the most widely distributed religious magazine in the world, and is available in a large-print edition, in Braille, on audiocassettes, in American Sign Language (on videocassette and DVD) and on CD, in MP3 format. Both The Watchtower and Awake! are published simultaneously in dozens of languages. At their yearly conventions, new books, brochures, and other items pertaining to the religion's current doctrine are usually released. Additionally, a number of audio- and videocassettes have been produced featuring various aspects of the group's beliefs and practices. Recent years have seen a proliferation of material available on their .
Throughout their history, their beliefs, doctrines and practices have met controversy. Political and religious animosity against them has at times led to the point of mob action and government oppression, including being targeted in the Holocaust — and widespread criticism from leaders of other faiths. Hostility from traditional, fundamentalist and evangelical Christians has been particularly virulent primarily because of this group's rejection of the traditional Christian doctrines of the immortality of the soul, hell, and the Trinity. Many have been critical of what they see as publicized, but unfulfilled predictions of events of the end times.
See also: Christology.
In the United States, many Supreme Court cases involving Jehovah's Witnesses have shaped First Amendment law. Significant cases affirmed rights such as these:
By 1988, the U.S. Supreme Court had reviewed 71 cases involving Jehovah's Witnesses, two thirds of which were decided in their favor. Most recently, in 2002, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society disputed an ordinance in Stratton, Ohio that required a permit in order to preach from door to door. The Supreme Court decided in favor of the Witnesses.
Controversy has also arisen over the Witnesses' refusal of blood transfusions. All active, baptized Jehovah's Witnesses carry personal identification cards with advance medical directives explaining their position regarding blood transfusions, as well as their wishes regarding alternative treatment (i.e., use of blood fillers or substitutes, etc.) should major loss of blood occur.
Many criticise the organization's practice of excommunicating — termed "disfellowshipping" — members. Jehovah's Witnesses who have family members who are disfellowshipped are encouraged to have contact with the disfellowshipped family member only if such contact is important, such as the passing of another family member.
Many also view door-to-door evangelizing as an invasion of privacy and pretend to not be at home when the Witnesses stop by. Although very uncommon, hate crimes have occurred due to this practice. Fortunately, most people are cordial to the Witnesses.
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