Video
Articles And Essays
Religion Behind the Scenes
Podcasts
Featured Writers
Buddhism
Catholic
Contemplative
Evangelical
General Christian
Hindu
Jewish
Latter-day Saint
More Voices
Muslim
New Visions
Pagan
Progressive Christian
Entertainment
Life Events
Book Club
Politics Blue
Docsology
Politics Red
Movie Club
Public Square
Family And Relationships
See All Topics
TOP COLUMNISTS
Jack Lee
Evangelical
Eric Richards
Latter-day Saint
Peter T. Chattaway
Entertainment
Sunil Daman
Hindu
Keith Giles
Progressive Christian
Roger Olson
Evangelical
Fr Matthew P. Schneider, LC
Catholic
see all columnists
NEW Patheos Answers
Faith Leaders Database
Anglican Episcopalian
Bahai
Baptist
Buddhism
Christianity
Confucianism
Eastern Orthodoxy
Hinduism
Holiness and Pentecostal
ISKCON
Islam
Judaism
Lutheran
Methodist
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
New Age
Paganism
Presbytarian and Reformed
Protestantism
Roman Catholic
Scientology
Shia Islam
Sikhism
Sufism
Sunni Islam
Taoism
Zen
See all religions
Research Tools
Comparison Lens
Preacher Resources
Teacher Resources
Newsletters
Books of the Bible Study series
History of the Bible
7 Day Prayer Challenge for Spouses
A Different Kind of Christian
Jesus is Love
Prayer Devotional
The Saints We Love
FaithChatter Conversation Cards
Featured Writers
Articles And Essays
Religion Behind the Scenes
Video
Podcasts
See All
RELIGION LIBRARY
Jehovah's Witnesses
Toggle navigation
Overview
Origins
History
Beliefs
Rituals and Worship
Ethics and Community
Early Developments
C.T. Russell (1852-1916) was a charismatic public speaker and prolific writer who traveled widely and founded the movement's principal publishing and distributing organization, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania.
Schisms and Sects
The Jehovah's Witnesses second president, Joseph F. Rutherford (1869-1942), centralized the organizational structure of the movement. Some groups preferred to maintain their local autonomy, opting out of the Society but maintaining their Bible Student identity.
Mission and Expansion
The international spread of the Jehovah's Witnesses began with visits to Europe by C.T. Russell, the movement's first organizer. Witnesses are now organized in as many as 235 countries and islands around the world.
Exploration and Conquest
Jehovah's Witnesses teach non-cooperation with what they view as Satan's power on earth, which at times has led to conflict with neighbors and governments. Witnesses have submissively endured persecution ranging from mob attacks to imprisonment in concentration camps.
Modern Age
The Jehovah's Witnesses is a global organization supported by the multinational operations of the Watch Tower Society. The Society's emphasis on publication and distribution of movement-related magazines, books, and pamphlets has benefited from 21st-century technological innovations.
Origins
Beliefs
Back to religion Library
editors picks
View All Columns
Evangelical
Before You Unplug or Sign Out for Good
Guest Contributor
Evangelical
What Is the Purpose of Spiritual Gifts, and How Do You Discover Yours?
Randy Alcorn
New Visions
5 Ways to Hear What God is Telling You
Tom Rapsas
Muslim
How Awake Are We? When Waking Up is Falling Asleep
Daniel Thomas Dyer
Latter-day Saint
"The Church supports the use of vaccinations"
Dan Peterson
Evangelical
Luther and the Beauty of Christ
Guest Contributor
Entertainment
The Soul of Gospel Music Explored in New Netflix Series "Voices of Fire"
DeWayne Hamby
Contemplative
Seven Ways to Think About Christian Mysticism
Carl McColman
Evangelical
Cancelling Alice Walker?
Philip Jenkins
Evangelical
Does God Have His Own Logic?
Roger E. Olson
Patheos
Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.
Close Ad
