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Revision as of 22:06, 12 August 2002 by Clutch (talk | contribs) (proseletizing to evangelizing)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian denomination founded in the 1870s by Charles Taze Russell. They are known for their racially-diverse, close-knit brotherhood and door-to-door evangelizing.
They call their gathering places "Kingdom Halls" instead of churches. Their most distinctive beliefs are a historical premillenialism (see Eschatology), and an interpretation of the year 1914 as marking the return of Christ as a King in heaven; and an Arian christology. They derive all their doctrines from two axioms: the first, that a Creator exists and is characterized by love, justice, wisdom, and power. The second axiom is that the Bible is the only current communication from the creator, Jehovah, to humankind.
They use a translation of the Bible that they comissioned in the early twentieth century, known as the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. Many Christian groups claim they mistranslate parts of the Bible to support their own beliefs; a particularly disputed point is their translation of John 1:1, where they refer to the Word as "a god", rather than the translation "God" preferred by many English-language versions of the Bible. For every objection raised, there are counter-arguments as to why their translation is valid. Translation of ancient texts is a discipline in constant flux, being continually refined by current archaelogical discoveries and research.
The Jehovah's Witnesses have frequently been involved in legal controversy. They have refused to salute flags, to pledge allegiance to states, to serve in military organizations, to have abortions, and most controversially in recent years, to receive blood transfusions. All of these acts are disallowed by their faith. The issue of vaccination, and all other medical issues not covered by their beliefs, are left for individual members to decide for themselves. However, refusing needed medical treatment is frowned upon where the treatment doesn't involve partaking of blood.
Many Jehovah's Witnesses were killed by the Nazis during the Holocaust for their refusal to compromise their faith. At the same time many were sent to jail in the United States for refusing to participate in the military.
Jehovah's Witnesses adopted their current name in 1931. They were originally known as Bible Students. Their world headquarters is located in Brooklyn, New York. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. acts as their legal representative. As of the year 2000, Jehovah's Witnesses claim a world-wide membership of more than six million active individuals.
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