Jehovah’s Witnesses
Jehovah’s Witnesses are the followers of a Christian-based religion perhaps best known for their ‘door-to-door’ evangelising activities. It is a millennialist religion, with followers believing that we are living in the last days and that Armageddon is fast approaching. Jehovah’s Witnesses are also known for their refusal of blood transfusions; for not voting or bearing arms; and for not celebrating Christmas, Easter or their own birthdays. In 2017, there were just over 8.4 million Jehovah’s Witnesses in 240 ‘lands and territories’ worldwide.
Jehovah’s Witnesses have two main legally incorporated institutions in the USA: The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, and The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. Other affiliated institutions include International Bible Students Association in Britain, Association les Témoins de Jéhovah in France, and Jehovas Zeugen in Deutschland in Germany. The names Jehovah’s Witnesses and Watchtower Society are sometimes used interchangeably but in this profile the term Jehovah’s Witnesses will be used.
We are indebted to Professor Eileen Barker, Founder and Director of INFORM (the Information Network on Religious Movements) and her team of researchers, for providing this new material in response to requests from RE teachers and pupils. INFORM can be contacted via www.inform.ac
The resources contained in the list of subjects below are a basic introduction to the facts and beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses.