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Jehovah's Witnesses are members of an international denomination self-identified as Christian and numbering over six million. Headquartered in New York, USA, it is an international organization known for its preaching and publishing activities (in particular the publication of the Watchtower and Awake! magazines). In the late 19th century under the leadership of Charles Taze Russell, a movement arose whose members referred to themselves as "Bible Students" and were called "Russellites" by non-members. In 1931, under the leadership of Joseph Franklin Rutherford they adopted the name "Jehovah's Witnesses". Though having origins in various Christian movements in the United States during the 1800s, some of their doctrines were considered heretical and sparked controversy to the extent that most Christian denominations consider them to be quasi-Christian or not Christian at all. For details about the similarities and differences between their beliefs and those of other denominations, see Beliefs and doctrines below.

Origins

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that some time after the death of the last apostle, the Church generally departed in a "Great Apostasy" from the original faith in major points. Influenced by Restorationism, they believe that in modern times, the Christianity of the First Century was restored by the founding of their religion. For example, The_Watchtower states: "It was the 1900-year-old 'faithful and discreet slave,' the old Christian congregation, that was entrusted with this precious Kingdom service. . . obedient in its centuries-old commission to be witnesses in the earth. . .the matured 'slave' as represented by a remnant now stood ready for new assignments of service." They believe this new assignment of service occurred in 1919. Jehovah's Witnesses feel that true understanding of the scriptures began to be reassembled when Charles Taze Russell and his associates started a Bible study group in the 1870's in Allegheny, Pennsylvania.

From the begining, the "Bible Students" as they were then known, focused their evangelizing work on proclaiming that the Millenial Reign of Christ would soon begin and destroy the present "system of things" (including religious organizations and governments). This is one reason they also were referred to as "Millenial Dawnists." To this day, based on their understanding of Bible chronology, that Armageddon is near and that these are the "Last Days" drive the sense of urgency in their preaching work.

Born a Presbyterian, Russell had developed an interest in Bible study from his earlier involvement with the Millerites and related groups. Known as "Pastor Russell," he formed a Bible study group which developed into the Watch Tower Society in 1881, and in 1884 it was incorporated with Russell as president. Over the several years, many millions of copies of Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence were distributed in several languages to proclaim Christ's presence and the dawn of his Millennium. In addition, his six-volume work, Studies in the Scriptures, established the fundamental doctrines derived from their Bible study.

In 1914 they founded the International Bible Students Association in Great Britain. Russell died in 1916.

The period following Russell's death has seen some significant doctrinal changes in the organization. Some adherents of Russell's teachings chose to disassociate themselves from the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society (WTB&TS), believing that, after the death of Russell, the purpose of the WTB&TS completely changed. Some of these groups still survive today as the Bible Students.

In 1931, while Joseph Franklin Rutherford was president of the WTB&TS, those who maintained their association with the Society adopted the name "Jehovah's Witnesses." This is based on Isaiah 43:10 which reads, "'You are my witnesses,' is the utterance of Jehovah..." (New World Translation).

Under Rutherford, the Jehovah's Witnesses experienced rapid growth. Rutherford was known to be bold, some would say inflamatory, in his rhetoric. In his preaching, he coined the phrase "Religion is a snare and a racket" as he denounced heavily the Catholic Church, other denominations, modern Judaism, and national governments. Under his leadership the Society developed a talented legal staff (which is utilized to this day), and battled successfully in the US and Canadian courts to establish their rights to preach their religion and be protected under the law.

Under the leadership of later Presidents, Jehovah's Witnesses have developed a more sophisticated organizational and leadership structure, as well as refining their beliefs as God has revealed them and made the light of understanding brighter over time.

Organizational Structure

Main article: Organizational structure of Jehovah's Witnesses

Leadership

Jehovah's Witnesses are currently led by a Governing Body of ten men, whom they believe to be part of the "spirit-anointed" remaining ones of the "144,000", of whom there are only approximately 8500 remaining alive, whom they believe God has chosen to enter into a New Covenant with Him. The Governing Body (indirectly thought its departments) directs the operation of the 111 branches spread throughout the world . The majority (over 99%) of the 8500 "anointed" left on earth have no direct input in the Society's teachings, doctrines or practises, even though they are classed as "providing spiritual food and guidance" for all the millions of non-anointed members. Each branch has appointed overseers who travel among the various local congregations, spending a week with each congregation and giving spiritual encouragement through talks and one-on-one time spent with congregation members in their public ministry. Within each local congregation, appointed elders organize the congregation's public ministry, and the content and schedule of their five weekly meetings, based on publications and precedents set by the governing body. They also recommend "spiritually mature" baptized male members of the congregation for the positions of elder or ministerial servant, requiring the approval of higher levels of leadership. Elders deal primarily in religious instruction and spiritual counseling, whereas the ministerial servants assist elders in an administrative capacity, and perform other more technical aspects of the congregation's operations. Church offices are not distributed by votes among the grass roots membership, but follow the "theocratic" principle of top-down leadership. Elders are said to be worthy of "double honor," but are just as susceptible to judicial review if their actions come in to question as falling out of line with the established moral and ethical code of conduct expected of all members of the organization. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that their leadership council is obeying the orders of Jesus Christ and corresponds to the Council of Jerusalem.

Membership

As of August 2004, Jehovah's Witnesses have a practicing membership of more than 6.5 million individuals. According to data reported in the Annual Worldwide Statistics at the Authorized Site of the Office of Public Information of Jehovah's Witnesses: "While other religious groups count their membership by occasional or annual attendance, this figure reflects only those who are actively involved in the public Bible educational work."

This statistic is based on the service report completed by each active member, or publisher, every month indicating the amount of time they have personally spent in the ministry and other relevant information. (Publishers are both baptized and non-baptized persons who engage in the preaching work.) These reports are compiled and forwarded to the appropriate Branch Office. To be classed as an active member, and counted in the yearly collated figures, baptized members must serve at least one hour a month in the preaching work, or 15 minutes a month for elderly members, or those that are otherwise physically restricted.

In the United States, the Census Bureau estimates there to be 1.331 million people who self-identify as Jehovah's Witnesses (2001). The Jehovah's Witnesses claim that there are just over 1 million active members in the United States, which implies that about three-quarters of Jehovah's Witnesses are counted as active members. In 1990, the Census Bureau reported 1.38 million people who self-identified as Jehovah's Witnesses. The decline in membership in the United States is paralleled in other Western countries, such as Germany, but more than offset by rapid growth in Eastern Europe and the developing world.

Jehovah's Witnesses commemorate the Memorial of Christ's death (also known as the Lord's Supper) annually. Worldwide attendance at the 2004 celebration of the Memorial was 16,760,607. This is obviously in excess of the more than 6.5 million active members, but includes, inactive members, relatives, visitors, and interested persons. In the U.S., 2.3 million people were present, compared with 1.3 million estimated members (whether active or inactive). In addition, of the approximately 17 million in attendance, only 8,570 persons participated in eating and drinking the memorial emblems of the unleavened bread and wine. These are believed to be the "anointed ones," or "remnant" that are going to heaven out of a literal 144,000.

Beliefs and doctrines

See the related article Doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses for additional details.

Because of their reliance on the Bible as the source of their theology, many beliefs and practices are similar to those of mainstream denominations who also identify themselves as Christian; yet there are areas where their understanding or interpretation of the scriptures differ significantly. This is reflected in their beliefs. Some of the distinctive beliefs and practices of Jehovah's Witnesses include:

• Prominent use of the biblical name of God commonly rendered as Jehovah in English.
• Preaching from "house to house" (Matthew 24:14; 28:19-20)
• Not celebrating common religious or national holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• Belief that Jesus Christ is a created being, "Jehovah's first creation," rather than the uncreated second person of the Trinity. (See Arianism)
• Belief that the Holy Spirit is not the uncreated third person of the Trinity, but Jehovah God's active force.
• Belief that the number of Christians going to heaven is limited to precisely 144,000 where they will rule with Jesus as kings and priests over the earth. (Revelation 7:4; 14:1-4; 20:6)
• Belief that a "Great Crowd" of faithful Christians is now living that will survive the coming battle of Armageddon and have the prospect of living forever on an earthly paradise. (Revelation 7:9-17)
• Rejection of transubstantiation, consubstantiation, and a rejection of ritual consumption of bread and wine.
• "Abstaining from blood", most notably characterized by the refusal of whole blood transfusions. (Acts 15:20)
• Belief that the soul is mortal, and that death is a state of non-existence. In this they are similar in belief to Judaism.
• Belief that Hell is simply the common grave of all mankind and not a punishment of the wicked in some sort of afterlife.
• Belief that God has a visible organization, and that there is only one true religion that leads to life. (Matthew 7:13,14)
• Neutrality in secular politics and refusal to take part in elections or serve in the military.

Areas where Jehovah's Witnesses are similar to Protestant Christian denominations include:

• Belief in the inerrancy of the Bible, with a literal interpretation of the text.
• Rejection of theory of evolution. However, despite their stringent literal interpretation of the Bible, on this Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe that the universe and life on earth were created over 6 literal days of 24 hours each, they are in this way Old Earth Creationists. The view is incompatible with many Protestant denominations, but is not incompatible with Catholicism and the theological strain of Thomism.
• Belief that abortion is murder
• Belief that the current time is the "Last Days" or "End Times."

Areas where Jehovah's Witnesses are uncontroversial in Christian doctrine include:

• Worship of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
• Belief that the Hebrew Scriptures tell the history of the people of Israel as the beneficiaries of God's covenant and recipients of His Law, and prophecy the coming of Christ
• Belief that Jesus is the incarnate "Word made flesh."
• Belief that Jesus died to atone for the sins of humankind.
• Belief that premarital relations are sins.

Though having historical origins in various Protestant Christian movements in the United States during the 1800s, some of their doctrines are considered heretical and have sparked controversy.

Jehovah's Witnesses and the question of blood

Jehovah's Witnesses do not accept whole blood transfusions. This is based on their understanding of the Bible admonition to "keep abstaining from blood" (Acts 15:28, 29).

Although Jehovah's Witnesses do not take whole blood in any form including transfusions, they may according to the conscience of the particular individual accept certain blood fractions and derivatives. The Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, PA, provides a detailed list of these specific distinctions.

The refusal of blood transfusions is a significant issue among medical professional and others concerning Jehovah's Witnesses, especially when it involves members' under-age children. In some countries, laws may impose limitations on physicians on the ability to withhold or withdraw blood transfusions or blood therapy from minors, particularly in life-threatening situations; parents who have prevented children under their care from receiving blood therapy in life-threatening situations may face prosecution. Courts have ordered transfusions in some children, often the very young; whereas in other cases they have respected the declared choice of an under-age minor who is able to defend his or her own beliefs to the court in a manner that reflects a mature understanding and without undue influence from the parents.

Pursuit of medical alternatives to blood transfusion in cases involving Jehovah's Witness patients, including the use of erythropoietin to boost the red blood cell count, has afforded opportunities for medical advancement in the field of bloodless surgery.

See also Practices of Jehovah's Witnesses: Medicine and Health for additional information on this subject.

See also the NoBlood forum and wiki focused on the latest advances in blood management and avoidance since 1996.

Practices

See Practices of Jehovah's Witnesses for details.

Jehovah's Witnesses generally attend five meetings three times a week (totaling approximately five hours) in their local Kingdom Halls and in private homes. Larger gatherings (called assemblies or conventions) are held usually three times a year in facilities that are owned or maintained by the Watchtower Society or in ones that are rented, such as sports stadiums or auditoriums. Throughout the week, there are also meetings for "field service" (preaching work) where members meet either in homes or the Kingdom Hall to organize and pray prior to engaging in door-to-door or other forms of evangelism. On a daily basis, Jehovah's Witnesses are expected to meditate on spiritual things, often by aids such as "Examining the Scriptures Daily," which is a booklet with a scripture from the Bible, and commentary. Before meals, Jehovah's Witnesses commonly say a prayer, either silently when alone or aloud when at a gathering.

Aside from their worship practices, Jehovah's Witnesses are identifiable by what they abstain or refrain from doing. There is a general avoidance of practices that have nationalistic or "false religious" (from the Jehovah's Witness perspective) roots. These can be in such things as singing the national anthem at sporting events, to things as minor as not saying "bless you" when someone sneezes. They generally avoid celebrations of birthdays and holidays. Their only officially sanctioned celebration is the "Memorial of Christ's Death ." Adhering to these standards of behavior, Jehovah's Witnesses believe themselves to be faithful even in the seemingly small things (see Luke 16:10), and also set apart from "the world."

Culturally speaking, Jehovah's Witnesses seek to maintain a "clean-cut" image out of a desire to be acceptable representatives of God. They therefore often refrain from language which might be considered offensive. Similarly, their sexual behavior reflects conservative Christian views, such as sexual abstinence before marriage, and condemnation of homosexual practice. "Modesty" is heavily encouraged in daily dress, especially at spiritual events, where standards of dress are more formal (suit, tie, and slacks for men, skirts below the knee for women). In addition, entertainment with sexual, spiritistic, and/or violent subject matter is strongly discouraged. Further, though they are nonconformists in some ways, they seek to not appear to be "counter-cultural." Therefore, things like beards, long hair for men, or any dress or grooming for both men and women that appears "rebellious" or "immodest" is seriously discouraged, even outside of spiritual activities. A person violating these standards would risk providing a "bad witness," and would fail to mark him or herself as different from the secular and "false religious" world. This is in keeping with the scriptural admonition at 2 Timothy 2:9,10 (NWT), "Likewise I desire the women to adorn themselves in well-arranged dress, with modesty and soundness of mind, not with styles of hair braiding and gold or pearls or very expensive garb, but in the way that befits women professing to reverence God, namely, through good works." Note that Jehovah's Witnesses consider this admonition to apply, in principle, equally to Christian men as to Christian women.

Jehovah's Witnesses are known in many lands for their building work. International and regional building teams frequently undertake so-called "quick builds," construction of Kingdom Halls over the course of one or two weekends. Larger construction projects, including the building of regional Assembly Halls and Bethel office facilities, are carried out almost entirely by volunteer members.

The Witnesses are also noted for their racial and ethnic integration. Congregations are organized geographically, and members are encouraged to attend the Kingdom Hall in whose territory they reside, resulting in an ethnic mix broadly representative of local population. Anecdotal accounts of Witness outreach across racial lines are a common subject matter for the annual Yearbook of Jehovah's Witness. A notable example is the account of relief efforts to both Hutu and Tutsi Witnesses and non-Witness during the genocide in Rwanda and to Congo refugees. "Since 1994, Jehovah's Witnesses in Europe alone have sent more than 190 tons of food, clothing, medicine, and other relief supplies to the Great Lakes region of Africa." This humanitarian aid was not given exclusively to Jehovah's Witnesses. Others also benefited. For instance, the Witnesses distributed medicine and clothing to several primary schools and an orphanage near Goma. The orphanage is home to 85 children.

Jehovah's Witnesses and governments

Main article: Jehovah's Witnesses and governments.

Jehovah's Witnesses require that all members be law-abiding citizens, and make special emphasis on paying taxes. This is their interpretation of Romans 13:7:

Render to all their dues, to him who calls for the tax, the tax; to him who calls for the tribute, the tribute; to him who calls for fear, such fear; to him who calls for honor, such honor.

At the same time, however, they hold a stance of political neutrality. Examples of this detachment in practice include:

• refusal to salute the flag, or sing nationalistic songs
• refusal to serve in the military (including defense, or non-combatant roles)
• refusal to participate in political processes (including democratic ones), though voting is allowed under certain circumstances
• refusal to hold political office

One area that Jehovah's Witnesses have influenced public policy is in the area of freedom of religion. The Watchtower Society from the days of Joseph Franklin Rutherford has utilized the court systems of various countries to defend religious freedoms. In addition, they have occassionally organized letter-writing campaigns to protest persecutions, most famously those addressed to Adolf Hitler during the second world war and to certain African nations during the 1970s.

According to the book Judging Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses have helped to widen the definition of civil liberties in most western societies, hence broadening the rights of millions of people, due to their firm stand and determination. According to the preface to the book State and Salvation: One of the results of the Witnesses' legal battles was the long process of discussion and debate that led to the Charter of Rights, which is now part of the fundamental law of Canada. Thus Jehovah's Witnesses claim to have contributed more in the area of civil rights than any other religion.

Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses

Throughout their history, their beliefs, doctrines and practices have met controversy and opposition from the local governments, communities, or religious groups. Many Christian denominations consider the interpretation and doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses to be Heresy. By other critics, they have been accused of being a "cult". In addition, governments in the past have considered the religion as a subversive organization. See the article Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses.

Political and religious animosity against them has at times led to mob action and government oppression, including the targeting of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Holocaust.

On the milder side, there have been opposition by locals to the building of facilities (such as Kingdom Halls), and the holding of large conventions. In those circumstances, at times the reason is opposition to the religion, but at other times, they are more mundane, such as concerns about traffic congestion and noise.

For more details, see the article Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Jehovah's Witnesses and eschatology

Since their formation in the 1880s, leaders of the organization have sought to identify dates for end-time events such as the enthronement of Jesus as King in Heaven, the return of Jesus Christ, the return of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and for the "end of this system of things," culminating in Armageddon.

In the group's early period, during the late 1800s, Jehovah's Witnesses (then called Bible Students) believed that the return of Jesus Christ would be a visible, dramatic and world shattering event, a position also commonly held among many Christian groups. They believed that the "time of the end" (also called the "last days") had started in 1799, and that the culmination of Armageddon would occur in 1914 notes C1, and for nearly fifty years believed and taught that the date for Christ's enthronement as heavenly King had occurred in 1874. Many years later in 1930, the Witnesses' organization moved the dates forward, and believed the beginning of the biblical "last days" and the enthronement of Jesus Christ as King, had now occurred in 1914, not 1799 and 1874, and that his return in 1914 was invisible to all but those with "eyes of understanding." The Bible passage urging believers to watch for Jesus' return, which would come "in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11, KJV) is understood by Jehovah's Witnesses to be an invisible return, figuratively seen by the examination of prophecy and corresponding world events.

Other dates proclaimed to be time of God's judgement on humankind and the culmination of Armageddon, were 1915, 1918, 1920 and 1925. The return of Old Testament men including Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was an event anticipated by many Jehovah's Witnesses in the year 1925 based on writings in their Journal, The Watchtower, the book Millions Now Living Will Never Die notes C2, and various other Watch Tower Society publications. When these events did not occur, there was a period of discouragement and some left the organization at that time, but the majority saw it only as a temporary disappointment. In 1929 the second president of the Watch Tower Society, Joseph F. Rutherford, also called "Judge Rutherford", built a luxury villa in California called Beth Sarim for the claimed purpose of housing the prophets and godly men of old, who were expected to be physically resurrected after Armageddon to help with Christ's Millennial reign over the earth, even though they had failed to materialize as predicted in 1925. A local paper published a humorous with Rutherford about the villa in March 1930 notes C3. Rutherford used the villa himself for many years until his death in 1942, and in 1948 the luxury villa was sold.

During the 1960s and early 1970s, many Witnesses, stimulated by suggestive articles in their literature notes C4 and further encouraged by overzealous speakers at their assemblies prior to 1975, believed and hoped that Armageddon and Christ's thousand-year millennial reign would begin by 1975. While Witnesses were reminded by the Watch Tower Society in the Watchtower magazine of 15 August 1968, p. 501 that they had "not dedicated their lives to serve Jehovah only until 1975," many concluded to serve God with a date in mind. Although the view of Armageddon and Christ's millennium beginning in 1975 was never fully or explicitly supported by the Watch Tower Society, many in the organisations' writing department, as well as several leading Witnesses, Elders, and presiding overseers in the organisation, heavily suggested that Christ's millennial reign over earth would begin by 1975. Because of considerable speculation created by members of Watchtower Society and Witnesses in general, in 1974 just prior to the failure of the 1975 date suggested as the beginning of Christ reign on earth and Armageddon, the Watchtower magazine 15 October 1974 p. 635 quoted a prepared assembly talk, "Why we have not been told the Day or Hour" of when God will bring the end (Armageddon). This attempt to draw the Witnesses away from the "day or hour" had little impact on members already convinced.

While Witnesses have always been encouraged to increase the preaching work, and avoid secular life goals or careers that interfere with their spirituality, this emphasis was especially strong prior to 1975. Some Witnesses gave up jobs, notes C5 college, scholarships, and some imprudently sold their houses in the hopeful expectation that God's Kingdom would literally be established on earth in 1975 after the biblical Armageddon, encouraged by the Watch Tower Society: "Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end.-1 John 2:17." notes C6 It is worth noting that similar language persists in publications of Jehovah's Witnesses, who still hold that the time remaining in the present system is relatively short, and that having an active share in the preaching work is the best use of a believer's time.

Some Witnesses irresponsibly ran up debt hoping not to have to pay it back, and some unwisely spent their life savings believing that the 1975 date was a certain and unchangeable fact due to the many encouraging Watch Tower articles. notes C7 In spite of the Watch Tower Society's previous admonition that Witnesses should let 'nothing cause them to tire and give out (Watchtower, 15 August 1968, p. 501), there were many who left the organisation (or became inactive) due to the disappointment of Armageddon not coming in 1975, although the majority remained. The large numbers leaving or becoming inactive are seen as baptisms continued at over 100,000 per year (around 200,000 in 1976) but the organisation still continued to lose more members than it gained after 1975 for several years until 1979 when numbers started to recover and increase again.

In 1980, The Watch Tower Society claimed responsibility of the 1975 incident, they stated: "With the appearance of the book Life Everlasting-in Freedom of the Sons of God, and its comments as to how appropriate it would be for the millennial reign of Christ to parallel the seventh millennium of man's existence, considerable expectation was aroused regarding the year 1975. There were statements made then, and thereafter, stressing that this was only a possibility. Unfortunately, however, along with such cautionary information, there were other statements published that implied that such realization of hopes by that year was more of a probability than a mere possibility. It is to be regretted that these latter statements apparently overshadowed the cautionary ones and contributed to a build up of the expectation already initiated."—Watchtower magazine, 15 March 1980 p.17

Jehovah's Witnesses originally preached that the last days started in 1799 and were to end in 1914. This was revised after Armageddon did not occur in 1914 and they now preach that these are the biblical "last days" leading to Armageddon since the year 1914. They taught for many decades that the "generation alive in 1914 would not pass away before Armageddon came and the new system under Christ's rule started." This literal interpretation of the term "generation" in Matthew 24:34 was abandoned by the group in 1994, eighty years after 1914. The Witnesses' viewpoint of the "end of the world" differs significantly from that of other apocalyptic religions. While the Witnesses do believe that the present system of things is at its end, they do not believe that the earth itself will be destroyed or that all of humankind will be wiped out. Rather, they believe that only wicked mankind (including political, unbelievers, false religious organizations, and those who support them) will be eternally destroyed. For further discussion of this, see "Beliefs and Doctrines" above.

See also

• Organizational structure of Jehovah's Witnesses
• Practices of Jehovah's Witnesses
• Doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses
• Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses
• Legal instruments of Jehovah's Witnesses - A brief history of the legal corporations of Jehovah's Witnesses
• Jehovah's Witnesses splinter groups
• List of Christian denominations
• Christology
• Holy Spirit

Further Reading

Watchtower publications

See: Jehovah's Witnesses literature

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 presented through a wide variety of books, magazines and other publications. Their publications make extensive use of references and quotations from the Bible.

• New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT) is a modern-language translation of the Bible published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc (a legal entity in the service of Jehovah's Witnesses). This is the Bible translation primarily used by Jehovah's Witnesses.

• Awake!, published in 85 languages, is a general-interest semimonthly magazine covering many topics from a religious perspective. It has an average circulation of 22.8 million copies per issue.

• The Watchtower, Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom, published in 150 languages, focuses mainly on doctrine. With an average circulation of 26.4 million copies semimonthly, The Watchtower is the most widely distributed religious magazine in the world, and is available in various editions and media formats.

Both The Watchtower and Awake! are published simultaneously in dozens of languages. In addition to the formats mentioned above, both magazines are available in various audio and electronic formats and some of the articles from these magazines are available online. After the end of each year the issues are collected and re-released in a printed annual edition, commonly referred to as a bound volume. In addition to this, the Watchtower Library computer program contains several decades worth of articles for both magazines and is updated on an annual basis. (Until 2003, this was only done biennially.)

New books, brochures, and other items are released from time to time, major releases being announced at their annual conventions. Additionally, a number of audio cassettes, videocassettes, and DVDs have been produced featuring various aspects of the group's beliefs, practices, organziation, and history. Some of these also provide dramas based on various Biblical accounts. Recent years have seen a proliferation of material available on their website.

Non-Watchtower publications

Armed with the Constitution : Jehovah's Witnesses in Alabama and the U.S Supreme Court, 1939-1946 by Merlin Newton. Newton researches the contributions of two Jehovah's Witnesses -- a black man and a white woman -- in expanding the meaning of the First Amendment in 1940s Alabama. She examines two key U.S. Supreme Court decisions, as well as court records, memoirs, letters, and interviews of Jehovah's Witnesses. - Publisher: University Alabama Press; Religion and American Culture Series, Reprint edition (June 28, 2002). Paperback: 240 pages. ISBN 0817312285

Faith on the March by A. H. Macmillan. Written by Macmillan in 1957, he provides a first-person account of the early history of the modern day Jehovah Witnesses from his meeting of Charles Taze Russell in 1900 to the writing of the book. He served with three of the Presidents of Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society: Russell, Rutherford, and Knorr. - Publisher: Prentice-Hall, Inc. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 57-8528 (Englewood Cliffs, N.J. 1957)

Jehovah's Witnesses : Portrait of a Contemporary Religious Movement by Andrew Holden. A British sociologist, attempts to understand the strict and austere Watch Tower Society and its adherents, Jehovah's Witnesses. This is an academic ethnography that draws upon interviews with both adherents and ex-members. - Publisher: Routledge. ISBN 0415266092 (London, New York 2002)

Critical publications

Crisis of Conscience by Raymond Franz, a former Governing Body member of the Watch Tower Society for nine years (the highest level of Jehovah's Witnesses' organisation). This book gives a detailed account of the authority structure, practices, doctrines and decision-making practices Franz experienced while serving on the Governing Body. Franz gives a personal account of the inner conflict between loyalty to God and one's Christian conscience versus loyalty to a religious organization. - Publisher: Commentary Press. 420 pages. Hardback ISBN 0914675249. Paperback ISBN 0914675230. 4th edition (June 2002)

In Search of Christian Freedom by Raymond Franz. A follow up to the book Crisis of Conscience, Franz explores many doctrinal and ethical issues, including the nature of Christian Freedom. In it he explores various aspects of the Watch Tower's teachings, doctrines, and claims, comparing and contrasting them with Biblical scriptures. ISBN 0914675168 Publisher: Commentary Press (October 1991, internally updated in 2002)

The Sign of the Last Days - When? by Carl O. Jonsson & Wolfgang Herbst. A case against the Jehovah's Witness belief that the 'sign of the Last Days' began in 1914. Accompanied by historical figures for wars, famines, earthquakes and pestilences from past centuries, detailed world disaster statistics, and Biblical references. ISBN 0914675095 Publisher: Commentary Press (1 September 1987)

Where is the "Great Crowd" Serving God? by Jon Mitchell. A 32 page booklet by a former secretary to the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses that disputes the Jehovah's Witnesses' belief in two classes of salvation, i.e., the "Great Crowd" (earthly) and "The 144,000's" (heavenly). (See Doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses: Salvation) He covers the Watchtower's doctrines, and the Greek word Naos in a scriptural discussion explicating there is no biblical difference between the two groups' location. ISBN 9993518972 Publisher: Commentary Press (1 December 1992)

External links

Official websites of Jehovah's Witnesses

• Official Web Site of Jehovah's Witnesses
• Authorized Site of the Office of Public Information of Jehovah's Witnesses
• Jehovah's Witnesses - Who Are They? What Do They Believe? - Brochure on the official web site
• What Does God Require of Us? - Brochure on the official web site
• New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures - Online Bible on the official web site
• God's Name--Its Meaning and Pronunciation - Brochure on the official web site

Additional positive websites

• Jehovah's Witnesses World News Forum - Good World News From All Over the World Updated Every Day
• Jehovah's Witnesses United - The site was created so that scholarly information supporting the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society's teachings and the New World Translation could be collected in one location on the web.
• In Defense of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures:Index of Pages - This web site has the intention of defending the Bible translation known as The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.
• CESNUR, the Center for Studies on New Religions - CESNUR is an international network of associations of scholars working in the field of new religious movements. Its director is the Italian scholar Massimo Introvigne.
• West Virginia Board of Education Vs. Barnette et al. - Documentation of 1943 Supreme Court ruling regarding Jehovah's Witnesses' rights in not saluting the flag
• ReligionFacts.com - About Jehovah's Witnesses, including comparision chart with mainstream Protestant Christianity.
• Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance - About Jehovah's Witnesses.
• Beliefnet:Jehovah's Witnesses
• Thank Jehovah's Witnesses for Speech Freedoms short article outlining legal battles of Jehovah's Witnesses in the United States, resulting in greater freedoms for Americans as a whole (dated 30 March 2000)
• Interactive Map of the Worldwide Work Map showing JW numbers worldwide.

Resources Critical of the Group

• Quotes.Watchtower.ca A research and information web site devoted to collecting and preserving interesting and/or significant quotes from the publications of the Watch Tower Society, without explicit commentary or editorial. Many original Watch Tower Society source documents and references.
• Associated Jehovah's Witnesses for Reform on Blood A large site that that promotes changes to the Watch Tower Society's blood doctrine. Many original Watch Tower Society source documents and references.
• Free minds - Detailed discussions about Jehovah's Witnesses' doctrines, history, and claims from a critical perspective.
• Jehovah's-Witness.com A very large archived message board community discussing Jehovah's Witnesses and their Watch Tower organisation.
• Silent lambs - For those Jehovah's Witnesses who claim they were victims of sexual molestation within their religious organisation. Criticism of the Watch Tower organisation, and its controversial policies of how it deals with child molestation within the organisation.
• The Watch Tower's United Nations Controversy - Discusses the relationship of the Watch Tower Society with the United Nations, believed by JWs to be the "Image of the wild beast" of Revelation"
• Watchtower News A site that lists the most current news items involving Jehovah's Witnesses or the Watch Tower organisation
• Watchtower Observer - archived information board
• JW Files-Research on Jehovah's Witnesses A large researched site headed by subject grouping, with many original scans from the Watch Tower Society's literature, and discussing many important doctrinal and ethical issues from a critical perspective.
• Rick A. Ross Institute of New Jersey - Information The Rick A. Ross Institute has gathered about Jehovah's Witnesses

Notes, References and Sources

Click on the link to the left of the reference to go the place in the article referenced.

• 'The Awake "Faithful and Discreet Slave"', The Watchtower, July 15, 1960, p.436

• Membership and Publishing Statistics - Authorized Site of the Office of Public Information of Jehovah's Witnesses. Accessed August 8, 2005.

• US Census: Self-Described Religious Identification of Adult Population: 1990 and 2001 see Table 79, page 67. Accessed August 8, 2005.

• The 2004 Report of Jehovah's Witnesses Worldwide which shows the "memorial partakers" at the bottom of the spreadsheet. Accessed August 8, 2005.

• How Can Blood Save Your Life?. Accessed August 8, 2005.

• Jehovah's Witnesses Instrumental in Heart Surgery Advance - Accessed August 8, 2005.

• CHRISTIANITY IN ACTION: Amid Turmoil. An account of relief efforts by Jehovah's Witnesses in refugee camps in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo), Tanzania, and Burundi from 1994-1997. Accessed August 9, 2005.

• “How Are You Using Your Life?”, Our Kingdom Ministry, May 1974, Pg. 3, New York, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.

Eschatology Notes

• C1: A list of direct quotes from Watch Tower articles on their original beliefs on what the year 1914 held for humanity, unaltered, with date references, publication, and page numbers etc.

• C2 Online version of the Watch Tower Society's book, Millions Now Living Will Never Die!, published in 1920 by the

International Bible Students Association, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.

• C3: Humorous interview with Rutherford about his luxury Californian Villa, from San Diego Sun newspaper, March 1930.

• C4: A comprehensive list of quotes from Watch Tower 1975 articles, unaltered with date references, publication, and page numbers etc.

• C5: Scanned text discouraging higher education from the Watch Tower 22 May 1969, p.15

• C6: Scan of the Watch Tower Society Kingdom ministry leaflet, "How Are You Using Your Life?", May 1974.

• C7: List of quoted Watch Tower 1975 articles, unaltered with date references, publication, and page numbers etc, with some critical commentary.

• Jehovah's Witnesses