Bryce Goodfellow

RELS-2400
Religious Minority Research Project
In the year 1870, Charles Taze Russell, along with others in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
would gather to Study the bible. Charles felt that, the word of God had been obscured by the
mainstream Christian churches. (Knox, 2011, p.160). There were several aspects of Christianity
that he fundamentally disagreed with such as the Trinity, burning of the world, immortality, and
the return of Christ in the flesh. (Knox, 2011, p.160). He began to create several publications,
prints, and books to explain his teachings and beliefs, most poignant his publication of the
magazine titled Zions Watch Tower and Herald of Christs Presence. Supporters of the
magazine began to meet together to study the bible and his publications and these groups became
known as Bible Students and they were first incorporated into the United States in 1984.
Russell passed away in October of 1916. Knox reported that the, annual report for the
year of his death informed readers that 22,158,000 copies of Bible Student Monthly had been
sold, the Photo Drama of Creation had been seen by twelve million viewers, and The Watch
Tower and Herald of Christs Presence was published in English, German, Polish, Swedish,
DanoNorwegian, and French. There were sixteen million copies of the Studies in the Scriptures
series in circulation and the Bible Students had branch offices in countries as far flung as
Australia. (Knox, 2011, p.161). This is proof of how strongly he felt that publication and
spreading The Truth was the most important thing to do and the best way to do so.
Since Russell has passed there has been four more presidents by the names of Joseph
Franklin Rutherford (1917-1945), Nathan Knorr (1945-1977), Frederick W. Franz (1977-1992),
and Don Alden Adams (2000-present). Rutherford made the most prominent changes to the
church at the point of his election. Knox explained that, His main aim was to create an

identifiable, disciplined organization. (Knox, 2011, p.161). He also changed the name at a
convention in Ohio in July of 1931 to Jehovahs Witnesses. This was based on the verse in
Isaiah stating, ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord.. Nathan Knorr heavily focused on teaching
witnesses to be comfortable speaking to the public about scriptures and Franz authored a great
deal of the literature that was published.
Much of the Jehovahs Witnesses history has to do with its opposition that it faced
throughout much of its growth. Fundamentally, it is required that, all members engage in
evangelism and abstain from participation in political and civic life. (Knox, 2011, p.158). This
has caused a great deal of conflict with both authoritarian governments and democratic
governments. This belief was explained by Russel in The Divine Plan of the Ages when he said
that Christ did not attempt to harness politics to affect change and that the apostles followed this
example.
At the helm of World War II, members were first persecuted because of their stance and
beliefs about military service. In 1918, the Witnesses claim to exemption from military duty
was on the grounds that all Witnesses are ministers because all Witnesses are expected to spread
Gods Word (Knox, 2011, p.175). This neutrality in War and government was apparent in their
persecution from the Nazis in Germany. Several were sent to concentration camps, deported, or
killed for their refusal to serve or take a political stance.
Along with political persecution, there has come a great deal of legal proceedings and
cases involving Jehovahs Witnesses. In January of 1914, there was a report published by the
ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) on the Witnesses civil liberties. This was on the bases
of the amount of discrimination and persecution that had been happening across the United
States. The report began with, Not since the persecution of the Mormons years ago has any

religious minority been so bitterly and generally attacked as the Jehovahs Witnesses (Knox,
2011, p. 174). There were several cases, as expected, that did not go their way such as the case of
Minersville School District v. Gobitis in 1940. This case allowed the expulsion of Witness
children from a public school because the students refused to salute the flag. A great deal of
persecution and attacks came from the belief system that Witnesses were part of Nazi Germany
and this was actually backed up by President Roosevelt. Other forms of non-violent
discrimination included dismiss[al] from employment, lack of defense from labor unions, and
loss of child custody. (Knox, 2011, p.174). While things didnt always go their way they did pave
the way for several civil liberty cases along the way. Several have said that their role has been
overlooked when it comes to expanding freedoms for Americans.
Along with discrimination from government there is of course the opposition from those
that have disassociated from the Society or been disfellowshipped. There is a great deal of
literature that those individuals have created and Witnesses refer to this as apostate literature. It
is clear that the aim is to help Witness readers escape from the Societys clutches and to find
Christianity. (Knox, 2011, p. 169).
Jehovahs Witnesses are said to have three main beliefs that go as follows: (1) The belief
that Jehovah is God Almighty, the creator of heaven and earth, a loving God whose name is to be
sanctified. (2) Jehovah god will shortly establish His kingdom rule over the earth in the hands of
His son, Jesus Christ, who will rule over the earth and restore it to paradisiacal conditions during
the 1,000 year rule. (3) The year 1914 marked the beginning of the last days of man-rule over
the earth and that Jehovahs Kingdom will shortly assert its ruler ship over the earths population
beginning with the destruction of man made governments. (Wah, 2001, p. 582). They are clearly

a Christian religion that is founded on the teachings in the Bible, which they have retranslated
and called the New World Translation of Holy Scriptures (NWT). (Wah, 2001, p.582).
Their church focuses heavily on literature and proselyting. The proselyting is done
because of the belief that, Christ would come when his word is ministered to the end of the
earth. (Knox, 2011, p.161). They are guided by what they call the Governing body that consists
of a small group of men, currently 7, and the President. Their international offices are located in
New York City in the borough of Brooklyn. Their worship meetings are done at Kingdom Halls
that are in your area of dwelling. This group controls all proselyting and literature. Around the
world the same study aids, bibles, weekly meetings, house to house ministry lessons, and
vernacular are the same. They have self reported that there are 7,313,173 members. (Wah, 2001,
p.584).
Adherents and Witnesses do not, accept blood transfusions, celebrate birthdays or
Christmas, salute the flag, or bear arms. (Knox, 2011, p.158). These are things that are known
well from mainstream media but other beliefs are not widely known outside of the Society.
However, one thing they do celebrate is the annual Memorial of Christs Death which occurs on
the Jewish Passover. This is also known as the Lords Evening Meal. In 2009 it was reported
that 18,168,232 people attended this occasion. (Wah, 2001, p.584).
With abstaining from traditional signs of patriotism and participating in wars many view
them in a negative light. However, The Witness view is that it is immodest to assume human
action might alter the divine plan. In 1938, Rutherford advised Witnesses not to struggle against
Hitlers forces: The totalitarian combine is going to get control of Europe and America. You
cannot prevent it. Do not try. Your safety is on the Lords Side. (Knox, 2011, p.168). Witnesses
have several practices and beliefs that they abide by such as theocratic organization, baptism,

loyalty at any cost, Restoration, the Bible, God as the Creator, Jesus Christ and his Second
Presence, and that after death the soul does not continue. Even with these in depth beliefs, some
of which are commonly accepted, it is likely that they will still be known as an extreme and nontraditional religion that has men proselyting on doorsteps with umbrellas.

Works Cited
Knox, Zoe. Writing Witness History: The Historiography of the Jehovahs
Witnessesand the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of
Pennsylvania. Journal of Religious History 35.2 (2011): 157-80. Web.
Wah, C.R. Jehovahs Witnesses and the Responsibility of Religious Freedom:
The European Experience. Journal of Church and State 43.3 (2001):
579-601. Web.