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1870-1916 Charles Taze Russell and his associates formed a Bible study group in the 1870 s in Allegheny . Originally, the " Bible Students " as they were known in Russell's day, focused their evangelizing work on proclaiming that Christ's Second Presence had begun invisibly in 1874 . As part of the dawning of the Millennium, Christ was believed to have been enthroned as King in 1878 , and the destruction of religious organizations and governments was expected by the year 1914 , to be followed by the establishment of a world-wide paradise. Though their interpretation of prophetic dates has changed through the years, Eschatology has remained a major focus. Based on their current understanding of Bible Chronology , Jehovah's Witnesses have retained the year 1914 but now believe it marked the year for Christ's Second Advent and the beginning of the " End Times ." They believe that Armageddon is near, which drives the urgency in their preaching work. Born into a Presbyterian family, Russell had nearly lost his faith until it was rekindled by contact with some Second Adventists (one of the spiritual heirs of the Millerites ). Adventist ministers Jonas Wendell , George Storrs and George Stetson were early influences. In 1876 Russell met Nelson H. Barbour and subsequently adopted Barbour's understanding of biblical chronology. Russell provided financial backing for Barbour and became co-editor of Barbour's magazine ''Herald of the Morning''. Breaking with Barbour in 1879 over the concept of Substitutionary Atonement , Russell soon began publishing his own magazine ''Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence''. Known as "Pastor Russell", he formed a legal entity which developed into the Watch Tower Bible And Tract Society Of Pennsylvania in 1881 , and in 1884 it was incorporated with Russell as president. Over several years, many millions of copies of ''Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence'' were distributed in several languages to proclaim Christ's presence and the dawn of his Millennium. In addition, his six-volume work, originally entitled ''Millennial Dawn'' but later changed to ''Studies in the Scriptures'', established the fundamental doctrines derived from their Bible study. (As a consequence, the Bible Students were sometimes called "Millennial Dawnists".) In 1914 Russell founded the International Bible Students Association in Great Britain . 1916-1942 Russell died in 1916 , and in the following year, the movement was divided by schisms due to significant Doctrinal Changes . Those who rejected the changes in organization and doctrine became known as the Associated Bible Students , referring to themselves as simply " Bible Students " to this day. In 1918 , a Bible Student convention was held independently of the Watchtower Society. At the second convention, a few months later, the Pastoral Bible Institute was founded and began publishing ''The Herald of Christ’s Kingdom''. The magazine continues to be published today. By 1928 nearly 75% of Bible Students had fled from the changes in place by Pastor Russell´s successor. In ''). Throughout their history, the beliefs, doctrines and practices of Jehovah's Witnesses have met controversy and opposition among societies and other religions, including orthodox Christian groups. Many religious groups consider the interpretation and doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses to be false teachings (''see also Heresy ''). Although the term " Cult " is problematic and generally carries strong negative connotations, conveying disdain and prejudice without having any valuable, substantive content, many persist in using it to label groups such as Jehovah's Witnesses, perhaps for these very reasons. So it is not surprising then that the Witnesses are sometimes mentioned on lists of " Cult s" made by self-proclaimed "experts." The reasons given, if any, vary. Some typical ones are that their (JW's) religious beliefs are different from those normally held by the majority of Christians, or because of issues with their organizational structure, or because of their positions on blood transfusions. Others claim the Witnesses' status as a cult is derived from recruitment and indoctrination techniques, including alleged " Brainwashing ". The critics make the controversial claim that Jehovah's Witnesses strips its believers of free will. The irony is that this is in fact in direct contradiction of Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs, as they believe that Free Will is one of the greatest gifts humans have received from Jehovah God. They teach that each human must make the voluntary choice to serve God or not. Jehovah's Witnesses have often been the subject of religious and political controversy. Political and religious animosity against them has at times led to Mob Action and Government oppression, including the Targeting Of Jehovah's Witnesses In The Holocaust and widespread criticism from those of other faiths. [http://www.jw-media.org/ In the United States in the late 1930s and into 1940, mob violence against Jehovah's Witnesses became widespread and rampant. On 16 June 1940 , the United States attorney general, Francis Biddle, made a radio broadcast over a coast-to-coast network in an effort to quiet the mob action. Here is an excerpt from that statement: " . . . Jehovah's witnesses have been repeatedly set upon and beaten. They had committed no crime; but the mob adjudged they had, and meted out mob punishment. The Attorney General has ordered an immediate investigation of these outrages. The people must be alert and watchful, and above all cool and sane. Since mob violence will make the government's task infinitely more difficult, it will not be tolerated. We shall not defeat the Nazi evil by emulating its methods." Strong resentment and anger were sometimes directed at the group (then called Bible students) in the 1910s and 1920s due to the Watch Tower Society's outspoken manner, members carrying placards outside many churches, and in the streets proclaiming the imminent destruction of church members, along with both church and government institutions if they did not flee from "false religion" was not an uncommon sight. Typical examples of the Watchtower's attitude are found in the Watch Tower Society's book publication ''The Finished Mystery'' (SS-7), 1917 edition: "Also, in the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by millions, it shall be that any that escape shall come to the works of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the downfall of 'Christianity.'" ( Page 485 ) "The people who are the strength of Christendom shall be cut off in the brief but terribly eventful period beginning in 1918 A.D. A third part are 'burned with fire in the midst of the city.' Fire symbolizes destruction. . . .After 1918 the people supporting churchianity will cease to be its supporters, be destroyed as adherents, by the spiritual pestilence of errors abroad, and by the famine of the Word of God among them." (Pages 398, 399) The Bible Students believed religion was a "racket and a snare" and refused to be identified as a 'religion' for some time. Under Rutherford, Jehovah's Witnesses experienced rapid growth. Rutherford was known for bold rhetoric. In his preaching, he coined the phrase "Religion is a snare and a racket," heavily denouncing the Catholic Church and Christendom generally, modern Judaism and national governments. Under his leadership, the Society developed a legal staff (which is utilized to this day), and battled successfully in US and Canadian courts to establish their rights to preach their religion. These legal battles resulted in significant improvements in freedom of speech and religion in the laws of both countries. (See, e.g., '' Cantwell V. State Of Connecticut '', '' Chaplinsky V. New Hampshire '', '' West Virginia State Board Of Education V. Barnette ''.) 1942-PRESENT Nathan Homer Knorr became president of the Watch Tower Society after Rutherford's death in 1942 . Known as an efficient administrator, Knorr emphasized ministerial training in the local congregations and also founded the Watchtower Bible School Of Gilead for training missionaries. Knorr's Vice-President Frederick William Franz became the chief theologian for the Witnesses and was credited as being the principal translator of the '' New World Translation Of The Holy Scriptures .'' Witness membership rose from 115,000 to over 2 million under Knorr's leadership. The leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses was reorganized in 1975 and the power of the presidency passed on to the Governing Body . Subsequent presidents of the Watch Tower Society after Knorr's death in 1977 have been Frederick William Franz , Milton George Henschel and Don A. Adams . However, doctrinal and organizational decisions since 1975 have been made by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses. REFERENCES |
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