Jehovah’s Witnesses and Race/Ethnic Groups

Cynthia L. Mills

College of Humanities/ETH125

Juancho A. Lim, PH.D.
January 24, 2014

Jehovah’s Witnesses and Race/Ethnic Groups

The Jehovah’s Witnesses have their own set of beliefs set forth for them by The Watchtower Organization. They are taught not to think for themselves but to submit to the Watchtower Society teachings. If they question any of the teachings they are considered weak in the faith. Disfellowshipping is another belief factor that they use to control their members. An individual can also be marked if they do something wrong. They do not believe in blood transfusions for themselves or their children. The saluting of the flag of any nation, saying the pledge of allegiance, taking notice of the national anthem in any way, running or holding public office, voting, or serving in the military is totally forbidden. The Jehovah’s Witnesses are not allowed to celebrate any holidays or birthdays, claiming that they all have pagan roots. They are not allowed to associate with non-Witnesses including family. They do not believe in the Trinity, or in Hell. They believe that Jesus Christ was crucified on a stake, not a cross. (Towerwatch Ministries, 1999-2013).

The Jehovah’s Witnesses place a high value on moral living and teach that these standards must be upheld in order to be saved (The Watchtower, 2002). No gambling is allowed, which includes, the lottery, horse racing or bingo. They do not allow abortions. They condemn war and participation in war. They condemn sex before marriage, adultery, homosexuality, and incest. (The Watchtower, 2011). The Jehovah’s Witnesses do not worship Jesus, they worship the Almighty God. They do not believe in the Trinity, they follow a strict monotheism, in which: Jehovah is the Supreme Being (Towerwatch Ministries, 1999-2013). Some of the beliefs and practices that are not shared in the same way between the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Protestant Christianity, community for instance are the Bibles that
Jehovah’s Witnesses and Race/Ethnic Groups are used, Jehovah’s Witnesses-New World Translation, Protestant Christianity-NIV, KJV, NRSV, etc. God, Jehovah’s Witnesses-Jehovah, Protestant Christianity-Trinitarian God. Trinity, Jehovah’s Witnesses-Rejected, Protestant Christianity-Affirmed. Second chance after death, Jehovah’s Witnesses-Yes, Protestant Christianity-No. It seems the only thing that is agreeably between the two is the resurrection of Christ, and they both believed that Christ was resurrected ("Jehovah's Witnesses vs. Mainstream Christianity", 2004). Jehovah’s Witnesses have made an impact on the medical profession by not accepting blood transfusions, the system has spearheaded bloodless surgery techniques in hospitals. According to NBC news report, in a Pennsylvania hospital they have been offering bloodless procedures to Jehovah’s Witnesses for at least 15 years. They have seen enough advances in equipment and other changes that they have been able to offer the procedures to the public. The popular culture has also been affected. The door to door routine of the Jehovah’s Witnesses has hit the dialogue of some TV shows, “The Simpsons, and an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy.” Court cases have won for religious freedom with the help of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. In 1940, two children were expelled from school for refusing to salute the flag on religious grounds. In 1943, the courts reversed their decision and decided it was a violation of the First Amendment rights. This case continues to influence court rulings (Burroughs, 2009). In 2008 two school teachers were not rehired once the principal found out they were Jehovah’s Witnesses. They asked for a day off to attend a Jehovah’s Witnesses convention. In December, the principal demanded the entire faculty attend a mandatory Christmas activity, saying she did not care what religion anybody was. The teachers did not attend because it was against their religion. When it came time to renew the next year they were told they were
Jehovah’s Witnesses and Race/Ethnic Groups not being renewed due to reduction in force and a lawsuit was filed. Another case in 2010, a Jehovah’s Witness employee at a department store was hired and then later asked to don a Santa hat and apron. She told them it was against her religion, and she was fired (Bhasin, 2012). This research has taught me the Jehovah’s Witnesses are a religion of their own. I have experienced them a couple of times, and they have not been enjoyable. This information has opened my mind to what they believe, and every religion has that right to believe what they want as long as they do not pressure or push it on other people. God gave us a mind of our own, and we make the choice ourselves as to what we want to believe and follow. The early Jehovah’s Witnesses did not have segregation or racists policies against the Blacks (African descent). They recognized the human family as one race no matter the color, race, or ethnicity. The culture practices are the same all around the world, in the words of Jesus, Matthew 22:37-39, where he said, “you must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind”: This is the greatest and first commandment. The second, like it, is this, “you must love your neighbor as yourself.” The blacks originally joined the evangelical churches, Methodist, Baptist, or Presbyterian. Later, (1790-1815), at camp meetings, slaves and free blacks attended the evangelical Protestantism. Following the creation of the Sothern Baptist Convention in 1845, the initiation of missionary work took place among slaves. The first independent black church in North America was established in South Carolina sometime between 1773 and 1775. Approximately 90% belong to black-controlled organizations. The remaining belonged to various organizations including Jehovah’s Witnesses (Swatos, Jr, 1998).

Jehovah’s Witnesses and Race/Ethnic Groups An African American Jehovah’s Witness that has contributed to the American culture greatly by his music was Michael Jackson. He made such an impact on this world through his music and influenced so many. After doing the short film of Thriller he said he would never do it again, and he wanted to do what was right, and a lot of people were offended by it. He pulled the remaining copies off the shelves and stopped all distribution of it in all countries around the world (, 1984). The Watchtower itself has discriminated against the African American in the early years. A brief history timeline had been published in the Society’s literature showing some interesting information. Such comments as, “the white race is superior, and Caucasians have greater intelligence and aptitude.” In 1927, an article is published attacking The Story of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, saying that the author had been manipulated by spirits and said the book was the work of Satan ("A Brief History Of Racism In Watchtower Publications", 2012). When I first started reading about the way Jehovah’s Witnesses relationships were with the African Americans I was quite pleased. I was shocked by the end when I found the timeline and the discrimination that took place against the African Americans. Both Jehovah’s Witnesses and African Americans have experienced rejection. The Jehovah’s Witnesses, because of the way they spread their word. They go door to door trying to reach people, having doors slammed in their faces. People look at this as an act of infringement on their rights. The African Americans still get rejected to this day, because of the color of their skin, and their history with the whites as slaves. I have decided that people are always in one way or another are going to discriminate or be prejudice against someone or someone is going to

Jehovah’s Witnesses and Race/Ethnic Groups discriminate or be prejudice against someone else. We do not live in a perfect world, and I do not believe we will ever live in one.

References
A Brief History of Racism in Watchtower Publications. (2012). Retrieved from

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/scandals

Bhasin, S. (2012, August 30). Former teachers, Jehovah's Witnesses file discrimination lawsuit

against school district. Naples News. Retrieved from

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/aug/30
Burroughs, D. (2009). What Ways Did Jehovah's Witnesses Contribute to American

Culture?. Retrieved from http://people.opposingviews.com

Jehovah's Witnesses vs. Mainstream Christianity. (2004). Retrieved from

http://www.religionfacts.com/jehovahs_witnesses/comparison

Swatos, Jr, W. (1998). Encyclopedic of Religion and Society. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press.

(1984, May). Famous Jehovah's Witness African American Celebrities . Awake!, (),

19-20.

The Watchtower, . (2002). Cleanliness; What Does It Really Mean?. Retrieved from

http://www.Jw.org

The Watchtower, . (2011)Practices That God Hates. Retrieved from http://www.Jw.org

Towerwatch Ministries, . (1999-2013). Highlights of the Beliefs of Jehovah's

Witnesses. Retrieved from http://www.towerwatch.com/Witnesses/Beliefs