Jehovah's Witnesses

Interviewee: Ms. Minda Retamal

Group 9

Kristine Miles Bautista

Keena Alexa Garcia

Mary Jane Duenas

Riki Manglapus

Gherlyn Glorioso
I.History of Foundation and Development
• Jehovah's Witnesses in the Philippines originated
in the early 20th century and gained formal
establishment in the 1930s.
• Despite facing challenges during World War II,
they experienced significant growth and continued
to thrive in the Philippines.
• They are known for door-to-door evangelism,
public conventions, and literature distribution in
multiple languages, contributing to the global
presence of Jehovah's Witnesses.
 II. Total Number of Believers/Followers
(Philippines and Worldwide)

 Philippines - 457,245

 Worldwide - They have around 8.7

million active followers in 239 countries
worldwide.
 III. Areas of Presence (worldwide)
 North America: The United States and Canada have a substantial Jehovah's Witnesses
population. The movement has a long history in North America, dating back to its early
development in the late 19th century.
 Latin America: Countries in Latin America, such as Mexico, Brazil, and various Central and
South American nations, have significant Jehovah's Witnesses communities.
 Europe: Jehovah's Witnesses are present in many European countries, including Germany,
the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, and others.
 Africa: The movement has a growing presence in several African countries. Countries like
Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya have sizable Jehovah's Witnesses communities.
 Asia: Jehovah's Witnesses are active in various Asian countries, including the Philippines,
Japan, South Korea, and India.
 Oceania: Australia and New Zealand, along with other Pacific Island nations, have
Jehovah's Witnesses congregations.
 IV. Leadership Structure
The leadership structure of Jehovah's Witnesses is characterized by a hierarchical
organization that is centralized and governed by a group of appointed individuals.

Governing Body: At the apex of the leadership structure is the Governing Body, which is a
small group of men responsible for making doctrinal decisions and providing spiritual
direction for Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide

Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society: This organization oversees the production of
literature, the coordination of worldwide activities, and legal matters.

Branch Committees: Each country or region with a significant Jehovah's Witnesses

presence has a Branch Committee responsible for overseeing the activities in that area. The
Branch Committee is appointed by the Governing Body and is responsible for
administrative and organizational matters.
Circuit Overseers and Elders: Below the Branch Committee level are
Circuit Overseers and local Elders. Circuit Overseers are responsible for
overseeing a group of congregations within a specific geographical circuit.
Elders, on the other hand, are appointed men within individual
congregations who provide spiritual guidance and oversight.

Ministerial Servants and Regular Publishers: Ministerial Servants are

appointed men within congregations who assist Elders in various
responsibilities. Regular Publishers are members actively engaged in
spreading the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses, often involved in door-to-
door preaching and distributing literature.
 V. Main Teachings/Theology
Here are some of the main teachings and theological principles of Jehovah's Witnesses:

Unitarian Monotheism: Jehovah's Witnesses are known for their strict monotheism. They reject
the doctrine of the Trinity, asserting that God is a single, unified being, and they emphasize the
use of the name "Jehovah" for God.

Jesus Christ: While Jehovah's Witnesses acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the
Messiah, they do not believe in the traditional Christian view of the Trinity. They see Jesus as a
created being, the first and only direct creation of God, and not co-eternal with the Father.

Holy Spirit: Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the Holy Spirit is not a separate person but is God's
active force or energy that he uses to accomplish his will.
The Bible: The Bible holds central importance in the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses. They believe in the
literal interpretation of the Bible and consider it the ultimate authority. The New World Translation of the
Holy Scriptures, a translation produced by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, is the primary version
used by Jehovah's Witnesses.

The Kingdom of God: Jehovah's Witnesses believe in the imminent establishment of God's Kingdom on
Earth. They see Jesus as the future ruler of this kingdom and believe that it will bring about a paradise on
Earth.

Salvation: Jehovah's Witnesses believe in the possibility of attaining salvation through faith in Jesus Christ,
adherence to biblical principles, and active participation in the work of spreading their message. They
reject the concept of eternal torment in hell and believe in annihilationism for the wicked.
 VI. Rituals

Here are some key rituals or practices commonly observed by Jehovah's Witnesses:

Meetings: Jehovah's Witnesses regularly attend meetings at Kingdom Halls, which are their places of worship. Meetings include the
Public Talk, which is a discourse on a specific topic, and the Watchtower Study, where a specific publication is studied in detail.
Additionally, there are Congregation Bible Studies, Theocratic Ministry School, and Service Meetings to train and encourage members.

The Memorial (Lord's Evening Meal): Jehovah's Witnesses observe the Memorial annually on the date of the Jewish Passover. This is
their equivalent of the Lord's Supper or Communion. During this event, the emblems of unleavened bread and wine are passed among the
congregation. However, only a small number of Witnesses—those who believe they are part of the 144,000 "anointed class"—partake in
the emblems. The majority of Witnesses see themselves as the "great crowd" mentioned in Revelation 7:9, and they observe the event as
spectators.

Baptism: Baptism is an important step for Jehovah's Witnesses. Individuals are baptized by immersion in water after making a personal
dedication to Jehovah and understanding key teachings of the Bible as taught by the Watch Tower Society.

Door-to-Door Preaching: While not a formal ritual, the practice of going door-to-door to share their beliefs is a distinctive aspect of being
a Jehovah's Witness. Members engage in evangelism, offering literature and engaging in conversations with people in their communities.
 VII. Significant Celebrations

Christmas: Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas because they believe that the date of
December 25th has pagan origins and that the Bible does not command the celebration of Jesus' birth.

Easter: Similarly, Jehovah's Witnesses do not observe Easter, as they believe that the celebration's
timing and many of its customs have pagan roots.

Birthdays: Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays, based on their interpretation of biblical
accounts where birthdays are mentioned negatively (e.g., the accounts of Pharaoh's birthday in Genesis
and Herod's birthday in Matthew).

National Holidays: While Jehovah's Witnesses may respect the laws of the land, they typically do not
participate in nationalistic celebrations, salute flags, or engage in patriotic activities.
 VIII. Positions on Social Issues

Political Neutrality: Jehovah's Witnesses are known for their strict political neutrality.
They refrain from participating in political activities, such as voting in elections,
holding political office, or engaging in political demonstrations. They believe in
maintaining loyalty solely to God's Kingdom.

Military Service: Jehovah's Witnesses conscientiously object to military service. They

believe that their allegiance is to God's Kingdom rather than any earthly government.
Instead of military service, they may choose alternative forms of service if available in
their respective countries.

Blood Transfusions: Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions based on their

interpretation of biblical passages that prohibit the consumption of blood. Instead, they
may seek alternative medical treatments that do not involve blood transfusions.
 IX. Efforts on Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue

Exclusive Claims: Jehovah's Witnesses believe that they are the only true Christians, and they often
see other Christian denominations as being in error. Their teachings emphasize the idea of being the
only organization chosen by God.

Avoidance of Interfaith Activities: Jehovah's Witnesses typically avoid participating in activities that
involve collaboration with other religious groups. This includes formal ecumenical gatherings and
events that promote interfaith dialogue.

Non-Participation in World Council of Churches: Jehovah's Witnesses are not members of the
World Council of Churches or similar interdenominational organizations. They do not actively
participate in movements that seek to promote unity among different Christian traditions.

Independent Congregations: The decentralized nature of Jehovah's Witnesses congregations, each

operating independently under the guidance of a local body of elders, contributes to their limited
engagement in broader interfaith initiatives.