The Watch Tower Society has made various unfulfilled predictions about major biblical events, such as Christ's Second Coming, the advent of God's kingdom, and Armageddon. The organization has been criticized regarding biblical translation, doctrines, and alleged coercion of its members. Persistent legal challenges by Jehovah's Witnesses have influenced legislation related to civil rights in several countries. Some Jehovah's Witnesses have been persecuted, and their activities banned or restricted in some countries. The group's position on conscientious objection to military service and refusal to salute state symbols (like national anthems and flags) has brought it into conflict with some governments. Reinstatement is a long process, which may be mentally and emotionally draining. Expelled individuals may eventually be reinstated to the congregation if deemed repentant by congregation elders. Former members may experience significant mental distress as a result of being shunned, and some seek reinstatement to keep contact with their friends and family. Disfellowshipped and disassociated people may eventually be reinstated. Baptized people who formally leave are considered disassociated and are also shunned. Ĭongregational disciplinary actions include disfellowshipping, their term for formal expulsion and shunning, a last resort for what they consider serious offenses. They consider human society morally corrupt and under the influence of Satan, and most limit their social interaction with non-Witnesses. Witnesses commonly call their body of beliefs "The Truth" and consider themselves to be "in the Truth". They prefer to use their own Bible translation, the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. They do not observe Christmas, Easter, birthdays, or other holidays and customs they consider to have pagan origins incompatible with Christianity. They reject Trinitarianism, inherent immortality of the soul, and hellfire, which they consider unscriptural doctrines. They consider the use of God's name vital for proper worship. Jehovah's Witnesses are known for their door-to-door preaching, distributing literature such as The Watchtower and Awake!, and for refusing military service and blood transfusions. Rutherford made significant organizational and doctrinal changes, including adoption of the name Jehovah's witnesses in 1931 to distinguish the group from other Bible Student groups and symbolize a break with the legacy of Russell's traditions. A leadership dispute after Russell's death resulted in several groups breaking away, with Joseph Franklin Rutherford retaining control of the Watch Tower Society and its properties. The group emerged from the Bible Student movement founded in the late 1870s by Charles Taze Russell, who also co-founded Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society in 1881 to organize and print the movement's publications. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the destruction of the present world system at Armageddon is imminent, and the establishment of God's kingdom over earth is the only solution to all of humanity's problems. The denomination is directed by a group of elders known as the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, which establishes all doctrines. As of 2022, the group reported approximately 8.5 million members involved in evangelism, with 19.7 million attending the annual Memorial of Christ's death. Jehovah's Witnesses is a nontrinitarian, millenarian, restorationist Christian denomination.
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