Jehovah's Witnesses Explained in 2 Minutes

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, and the Jehovah's Witnesses who follow their teaching, are discussed in this short video.

[pixieburton]

Trying to condense the JW’s into two-minutes must have been a major undertaking. I would have never thought this one was possible.

[skepticsandscoundrels]

Ex-JW here. This was factual and unbiased. Thanks for the video!

[sonnystephens]

I once went on a first date with a guy who said for us to date I’d have to convert to JW. I said thanks but no thanks and never saw him again. My gramma visibly went pale when I told her how my date went lol. I was no religion at the time. I met a nice boy and got married and am now a Bible believing Christian who believes in salvation through faith in the grace of God & Jesus Christ’s shed blood on the cross.

[BrockSamson]

May these lost men and women find Christ.

[sdnlawrence]

I like this style: "the facts and just the facts" given quickly.

[TheArake]

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.””
(Matthew 11:28–30 ESVi)

[arhabersham]

Finally, and unbiased depiction of what the JW tenants actually are. Thank you!

[joywebster]

I heard something from a fairly well known person, she and her young family attended the JW assembly for a number of years. This followed the dissolution of the local gospel church. She didn't pay much attention to the JW theology, HER FAMILY WANTED COMMUNITY. ( they were eventually asked to leave). But to me this a a key insight how some of the fringe groups attract young families that has been forgotten by mainstream denominations. They offer a strong community for the whole family to be part of, not just Sunday services. So i share it for those who have a burden for those lost in certain joyless, punitive groups.

[honesttruth]

Thank you for doing this in under 2 minutes. I honestly probably wouldn't have watched it otherwise

[mattm]

Very true. Also true is the JW missionaries are HIGHLY trained with answers to common objections so if one chooses to engage with them in a dialogue, be prepared to defend your position. Their views as easy to show are anti biblical but they are masters of dialogue so some study of their theological points of views are highly encouraged.

One point you could easily get them on is when you open the door, and they offer you a watchtower tract, offer them some literature as well...they will likely reject it and say they have already read it or know it...then respond with well then why should I accept your literature.

The vast history of failed prophecies is enough for most people to see this is not a truth bearing organization.

[mattm]

Almost a sure sign of a cult...rejection of reading contradicting literature. Basically check your brain at the door and believe only what we say...quite different than Paul's commendation of the Berean believers.

[cosmos]

I haven't been part of a church for many years, but I love your videos. Very informative!

[Bryman]

Before my bother killed himself he said “ it’s too late to get reinstated. The ends coming and I can’t get my life together before parade “. That church killed. My brother

[morielrorschach]

From one of Jehovah's Witnesses, I appreciate that you can present a view that contradicts your own without getting derogatory. Thank you. However, I'd want to add a bit of comment:

1- I appreciate the opening, that Russell was just a guy with a publishing company. He was NOT a saint or prophet or anything of the sort. He just started a movement to question popular opinion and tradition and get back to what Christ actually taught in the bible.
2- I wouldn't really say "The Watchtower sets the doctrine of the group." The Watchtower magazine is a study guide. Things explicitly in the bible are doctrine. It's fair that two very important concepts where we differ from popular churches is that we are not trinitarian and believe that salvation is a resurrection to eternal life, and the lack of salvation is simply the lack of life: death. Not dying and spending eternity in heaven/hell. The book of Daniel (particularly chapter 4) is doctrinally important, but the idea that it points to 1914 (and what it means to point to 1914) is a human attempt to explain what Daniel 4 could mean. Daniel 4 is doctrine, our attempt to understand it is fallible speculation.
3- Same with the "Doctrines are established by it's governing body" statement. Their role is to organize the congregation and approve study material, not to set doctrine. They have responsibility, not authority. We're expected to give prayerful consideration to the studies offered, but they've said repeatedly over the last century that they are NOT infallible, and expect readers to first and foremost be loyal to God above all men, including them. They're not above the congregation, they only have a role of leadership WITHIN the congregation.

4- One amendment to the cross part: We note that the word used is "Stauros." This torture stake could be of any number of shapes, including but not limited to crosses. It COULD have been a simple upright stake. Or tree. Or a fixed Cross, sure. Or an X or a Y or a living tree or anything else. The point is the scripture doesn't specify a shape and we should not fixate on the shape itself, but the meaning of him giving up his life. Personally, what seems to fit the text as written and makes the most logical sense to me is that Jesus did NOT walk up carrying a whole cross OR stake, but was already strapped to a Roman patibulum (a removable crossbeam he'd already be strapped to when lead up to a simple permanent stake).

5- Not sure where you get the "God (The Father) has a spirit body and is not present everywhere" statement?

6- The 144, 000 are simply the ones described in Revelation chapters 7 and 14. The little flock purchased from the earth to be kingdom priests, as opposed to "the great crowd which no one is able to number." Whatever their role is, or the duration of their role is up for speculation as it's only briefly mentioned in a couple parts in Revelation. But yes, we believe in the resurrection.

7- The "For salvation works are necessary" point also fundamentally misses the point. Salvation is a free gift. But, people who claim to submit to God should ACTUALLY submit to God. The full book of Romans clarifies the intricacies of this in very good detail, particularly chapters 5/6.

Next few points are pretty fair, although "shunning people who leave" is a bit of a misrepresentation. Only if you were an ordained minister of the church AND you "not only leave, " but either live in unrepentant sin or join a contradictory religion, THEN you would be acknowledged as "no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses" and then congregational ties are severed unless you choose to return. This doesn't mean family ties, it's not grounds for divorce, parents are still responsible to care for their dependents, people should still be courteous, and disfellowshipped people should never be insulted or harassed or badmouthed behind their backs or anything like that. They're just not congregational brothers or sisters, and if they choose to continue coming to meetings, they won't be called on during the study review.

8- "Not allowed to read anti-watchtower literature" is also fair, but sometimes misrepresented. Yes, we read outside literature. We also read literature that disagrees with us. We're advised not to waste our time with literature that's blatantly biased and extremely polemic. If it's intentionally hostile literature intended to tear people down... we consider it best to just avoid it. Respectful disagreements in the realm of 1 Peter 3:15 is FINE. We WANT people to ask questions and look into the bible, even if it's to disprove us. We DON'T want to just "convert people to our dogma." We want people to get closer to God and study the truth. Everyone's imperfect, and to whatever extent we're wrong, we would RATHER you believe "the truth" than "our opinion." Because we've critically analyzed all available interpretations of scripture for so long, we're rather confident that we're the closest to what Jesus taught available today. If there were a group more accurately following Jesus, a faithful Jehovah's Witness would be obligated to go to that group and follow Jesus the best they can.

[Xochiyolotl]

Well done. Of necessity, due to time constraints and everything, it is 1000 miles wide and a centimeter deep but, you hit everything that was important.

[mmccbbmcb]

The testimony of countless victims of this appalling cult stand as a witness against this organisation.
Families torn asunder. Friendships destroyed. Marriages ruined. Documented child abuse. The trail of destruction left by the watchtower organisation reveals a darkness deep within.

[TimBlack]

Exactly the quick explanation I was looking for - thank you!

[JDsVarietyChannel]

I am a witness for Jehovah, but I am not a Jehovah's Witness

[BobTheBuilder]

So much heresy in just 2 minutes! I hope everyone who is trapped in this finds their way to true faith.

[spxfabien]

Thank you for doing what the title actually says!