You may wonder what an article about Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW) is doing on a prison website. Fact is, of all the many religious sects around the world, JW are the most active in prisons. What’s more, they will target foreign inmates and not exclusively the local majority. There is certain to be an English speaker among their ranks, if not a fellow countryman.
They will offer one-on-one bible study on a weekly basis. The bible and material used is their own. Their New World version is not a whole lot different from other standard versions but with the word ‘God’ changed to ‘Jehovah’. They will point out that Jehovah is similar to the original Greek word, and that the Jews of old were reluctant to use a personal name for God for fear of causing offence.
There are Christian bible scholars who believe the original five translators of the New World bible could not read Greek, Hebrew or Aramaic. JW would reply that even if that were true, they translated under divine inspiration. Most modern bible translations are made by persons from different Christian sects to avoid bias.
JW members have absolutely no doubt that theirs is the only true religion. Other faiths have got it wrong. This makes them particularly dogged in their search for new members from all faiths, to save from destruction before it is too late.
JW are an easy target for ridicule and it is not difficult to see why. I have attempted to present them in a nonjudgmental light with the reasons for their behaviour and doctrine. I have divided into two sections, Practices and Beliefs.
Practices
1) JW do not accept blood transfusions
This is the most commonly known fact about JW. In the book of Leviticus, God makes it clear to Moses that blood of any kind is sacred and personal. For this reason, JW will not eat rare steak or any food where blood is present.
JW carry a plastic card in case of serious injury, which states that a blood transfusion is to be refused.
This is a very tricky area. I brought up the subject with my pastor. If a non-member had acute leukemia where stem cells from a close JW relative with the same blood type was the only treatment which might save their life, would the JW have to refuse? He was unable to answer.
2) They do not celebrate birthdays or religious holidays
There is no evidence to suggest that Jesus was born on December 25th. For a start, it would have been too bitterly cold for shepherds to sleep outside with their flocks. The early Christianized Romans tagged the day on to a long pagan festival commerating a certain goddess.
As for birthdays, the bible only mentions two, both which resulted in a death. The best known is of the daughter of King Herod requesting the head of John the Baptist.
JW do give presents to their children, but on a random day decided by themselves.
3) You have to qualify to become a JW
To become a JW, you need to have attended bible study sessions and prove you have sufficient understanding of their bible teachings.
Baptism means immersing your body fully in water. You then become an accredited worshipper or ‘regular pioneer’.
Being a member requires an obligatory 30 hours of preaching a month, often going door to door with the monthly JW Watchtower magazine.
4) JW officers receive only pocket money
JW have a strict hierarchy. Above regular pioneers are special pioneers, elders, circuit supervisors, national committee members etc. up to the three senior elders in Brooklyn HQ. The organization is modelled partly on first century AD Christians.
All members holding office are volunteers and donate to the JW organization. However, basic material needs such as rent, meals and health expenses are taken care of.
5) Women are not allowed to take office
This comes from a letter from Paul to a congregation in the New Testament forbidding any woman from becoming an elder.
6) JW members cannot enlist for the army
Korean prisons are full of JW members who refused to do military service.
50,000 JW members died in the Holocaust
An estimated 100,000 JW members were sent to concentration camps after refusing to renounce their beliefs. They were hated by the Nazis because they had refused to enlist in World War One and continued to do so. Goebbels was reported as having said to a JW member, “Your god may rule the skies but here on earth we’re in charge.”
7) JW do not vote in any elections
JW believe that all human governments have been infiltrated and influenced by Satan.
8) Immorality is not tolerated
Sex outside marriage will often result in expulsion from the organization. When this happens, the family of an expelled member is not allowed to even talk to the expelled relative even while living in the same household. This is a constant source of serious problems.
JW members are encouraged to report misappropriate behavior to their elders. Loyalty to the organization often outweighs family ties.
9) Divorce is allowed
Divorce is allowed but only in the case of infidelity by the wife, not the husband. King Solomon had hundreds of concubines.
Husbands are head of the household and wives should obey their husband’s decisions.
10) Homosexuals are banned
Bible passages can be found condemning homosexuality. (At the same time, possessing a slave is not condemned, but you are encouraged to treat them humanely).
11) JW are allowed to drink alcohol
The bible makes many references to wine. Any kind of alcohol is allowed in moderation but drunkenness is a sin.
Mormons are forbidden alcohol and caffeine.
12) They dress smartly at all times
You will never see a JW in a t-shirt and jeans. They dress smartly and modestly at all times, particularly the women. It is a mark of respect to their Creator.
13) They do not usually socialize with nonmembers
I do not know if this is a set rule, but apart from the workplace where they have to interact with colleagues, they tend to spend their leisure time exclusively in the company of other JW. Contamination by the outside world is another consideration.
14) They respond fast to natural disasters
Like any organization, JW have a database of all their members. When a natural disaster strikes, volunteers are promptly dispatched to the area to help where they can and of course verify the safety of their members. The most recent example was an earthquake in Nepal.
JW members will also be found in places with large refugee populations. The Greek island of Lesbos is one of them.
Detractors would say they are preying on vulnerable people. JW would say they are offering spiritual guidance in times of great hardship.
15) Some members live in residential homes
JW.org have established a number of ‘Bethel’ around the world. The name is an old Hebrew word meaning ‘house of God.’
Board, lodging and personal expenses are provided but nobody receives a salary. Everyone is assigned a task, from kitchen assistant to printing press operator. JW material is sent electronically to Bethels where it is translated from English into the local language.
16) There are no religious artefacts in their place of worship
JW congregations all over the world have a weekly (Sunday) service. They worship in a building known as a Kingdom Hall, usually built by members themselves. The meeting lasts about 90 minutes. The first half hour is a sermon by a member. The rest of the meeting is a question and answer session from a designated printed article in Watchtower magazine. A microphone is passed around and members are all encouraged to actively participate by answering the written questions directed by a moderator.
Answers to every question are written below that same question in Watchtower. An answer very different from the one given is not acceptable. Critics maintain this is a primitive form of brainwashing.
There are no statues in a Kingdom Hall. The bible clearly states that God instructed Moses not to make carved images of himself. The issue of the crucifix is dealt with below.
This belief is shared by the numerous Born Again Christian and evangelical sects.
Beliefs
a) Jesus was crucified on a stake
The cross, or crucifix, is an ancient Celtic, pagan symbol. JW believe that Jehovah would never have allowed his only son to die on a pagan artefact.
Accordingly, JW do not make a sign of the cross when praying, either to Jehovah or Jesus Christ.
b) Jesus Christ and Michael the Archangel are one and the same
JW claim that Michael the Archangel was the first spirit creature that Jehovah created. They have drawn a connection between the two because Michael is mentioned in the small book of Jude which is directly before the final book of Revelations. In the same way, they do not believe in the Trinity. Jehovah and Jesus are separate entities. The Holy Spirit is used by Jehovah to impart wisdom.
A JW will point out that the concept of a trinity is not originally Christian but borrowed from the older Hindu religion.
c) There is no hell
The bible actually makes very few references to hell. It mentions Gehenna, a burial ground outside Jerusalem where bodies were dumped. JW believe that a good God would never allow the existence of hell.
d) The dead have no consciousness
JW do not believe in a soul which ascends into the spirit world. Any spirits as such experienced on earth are demons.
e) Prayer should not interfere with God’s plan
Leaving aside the difficult theological issue of free will v predestination, many Christians of all denominations believe that God has special plans for each and every one of us. References are made to this in the bible by Isaiah and Micah. Luke states that God knows the number of hairs on our head.
Prayer is a natural if not automatic cry for help in adverse situations whether for ourselves or for other afflicted persons. JW believe that when we fall into dire situations like illness or imprisonment, it is not right to pray for deliverance because it may run contrary to Jehovah’s plan. Rather, we should pray for strength to endure the hardship.
f) The end of the world (Armageddon) is nigh
This is the most controversial of all JW beliefs.
The book of Revelations is a surreal description of the lamb Jesus Christ and his army of angels descending to earth to destroy the wicked and unbelievers, including Satan and his followers.
Only true believers (JW) will survive, and be given a home. Their loved ones will be resurrected, because Jehovah has the power to do this. Pious folk from centuries ago will also be resurrected. There will be no more pain or death. People will live for ever in love and harmony, with a government headed by Jesus Christ in place of human governments.
The founder of JW, using some unique calculations from the book of Daniel, prophecized that the world would end in 1914. That same year, a battle allegedly took place in heaven resulting in Satan and his followers being banished to earth. Jesus followed them down and set up a messianic government, waiting to take over after Armageddon.
Since 1914, JW have forecast the end of the world on at least 3 occasions.
Matthew prophecized the world would end when earthquakes, famine and war intensify. JW believe we are now living the final days.
Some JW members believe Covid-19 is the end of the world by pestilence, prophecized by Luke
“There will be great earthquakes, and in one place after another food shortages and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and from heaven great signs.”
g) Only 144,000 will go to heaven
In the Old Testament, mention is made that 12,000 of each of the 12 ancient tribes of Israel will be guaranteed places in heaven.
These ancient tribes no longer exist, so JW believe places are vacant. There is no way of knowing how many there are in heaven already.
After Armageddon, the 144,000 will reign in heaven along with Jehovah.
The most important event in the JW calender is the Memorial Day which corresponds to the Last Supper. At the service, a plate containing a piece of unlevened bread and a glass of wine is passed among the congregation. Only a person who truly believes they are worthy of ascending to heaven will partake of the meal.
There are 8.68 million active JW worldwide, more if you count those who attend meetings but are not baptized. The USA has the most at 1.3 million, Nigeria has the highest number per head of population. In Europe, only Germany, Italy and Ukraine are in the top 15 countries
with JW populations.
There are rumours that JW.org are in financial difficulties. Even before covid hit, the number of ‘special pioneers’ (full-time financially assisted members) was being substantially reduced.
If a JW approaches you in prison, should you accept his offer of bible study?
I did not hesitate. Anything to help pass the time, I thought. I also felt guilty at how little I actually knew about what is in the bible. I ended up reading it from cover to cover twice. I cannot say I enjoyed doing so, much of it is tedious and the Old Testament surprisingly full of sex and violence although not spelled out in graphic detail. The wrath of Jehovah in the OT contrasts starkly with the gentleness of Jesus in the NT.
The New Testament is easier to read and offers some very practical advice on how we should live our life.
I did not warm very much to my first JW pastor but he very kindly agreed to receive and bring me money and medications sent by my wife from our home country. This came about as an unexpected consequence of doing bible study. He found a new daytime job and had to quit visiting me but found me a replacement who I have a better relation with.
No visits have been allowed since February 2020 because of covid but I still receive kind assistance and weekly Watchtower articles from him.
Finally, what kind of people are Jehovah’s Witnesses? The answer will depend on what you think of JW.org. “Nice people, wrong Jesus”, was a comment I received from one of a group of Christians trying to miraculously heal the sick in the name of Jesus Christ in a hospital ER I had been taken to with dengue fever.
Setting aside what I may really think of their beliefs, I can testify that they are kind, humble, unassuming and scrupulously honest individuals. I will never slam a door in their face again. Compared to the inmates I am locked up with, they all deserve a place in heaven.
Finally, two questions you may wish to reflect and comment on :
1) Are JW beliefs harmful to children, particularly regarding the impending end of the world?
2) Do JW perform a useful function in society at large?