What Is The Difference Between Christianity And Jehovah Witness?
Christianity and Jehovah Witness may sound like similar religions, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Although they have some fundamental similarities, they are vastly different in content and practice. This article will attempt to illustrate the differences between the two faiths, so that the reader may be informed and make their own educated decision.
One of the most glaring differences between Christianity and Jehovah Witness is the belief of their faiths’ central texts. Although both draw on the Bible, the scope and interpretation is where the distinction is made. Christianity aligns with the Protestant belief of having faith in Jesus as the Christian savior, and taking the Bible’s text as scriptures to promote good and forbid evil. However, Jehovah Witness don’t follow the traditional Bible canon, instead making use of a different compilation of the Bible which is improved with other religious materials. They also reject the traditional Christian belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and equal to the Father.
Another sea of difference among the two religions is the particular practices and worship methodology. Christians often use prayer and ritual to praise God and uphold their faith, whilst Jehovah Witness do away with rituals and instead seek to follow God’s instructions as best they can, ideally in a practical sense. Moreover, Jehovah Witness consider Jesus to be the archangel Michael instead of son of God, and as such celebrate his death rather than commemorate it as Christians would.
When it comes to matters of life and death, the major distinction between Christianity and Jehovah Witness is the view on life after death. Christianity, upon death, allows for the soul to ascend to Heaven or fall to Hell according to the measure of one’s faith in Jesus. Conversely, Jehovah Witness see humans being rewarded with everlasting life on a paradise Earth upon death. This idea of an earthly paradise is based on their scripture interpretations and beliefs, in contrast to a purely spiritual ascent for Christians.
A further difference between the two has to do with their view of other faiths. Christianity allows for freedom of religious belief and practices without judgement, whereas in contrast, Jehovah Witness consider all other religions to be unbiblical and forbidden. As such, they may consider some other religious beliefs and practices to be demonic or satanic.
Views On Scripture
Of course, there’s a great divide between the two faiths when it comes to the discussion of scripture. As previously stated, Christian scriptures consist of the traditional Bible, whilst Jehovah Witness believe in the bulk of the Bible but also use a variety of other books to supplement it, such as the New World Translation Bible. This strengthens the faith and provides further insight into matters such as teachings on morality and right action.
Moreover, one mustn’t forget that while Christianity and Jehovah Witness may disagree on specifics, they share a common bond in the form of the Bible. The very fact that they both turn to the Bible to read the word of God lends credence to the idea that they are, at their core, the same religion. This implies that adherents should not spend too much time worrying over theological differences, but rather look to spread a notion of religion, love and understanding.
Doctrine of Salvation
The path to salvation is another great divide between Christianity and Jehovah Witness. For Christianity, faith in Jesus Christ and an act of repentance and baptism is required for the eventual ascension to Heaven. On the other hand, for the religion of Jehovah Witness, faith and acceptance are paramount, as it follows that one does not need to be baptized in order to receive salvation. Instead, traditional Christian rituals are seen as having pagan origins and therefore excluded from the path to salvation. This highlights the inconsistency between the two faiths.
The other path to salvation as per Jehovah Witness is performing good works and actively helping others, which is a basic tenet of their faith. The followers view helping other people as an act of faithfulness that God will reward down the line, rather than a direct one-time way to achieve salvation. Consequently, this view of service to others is an important means of obtaining salvation.
Theology and Outlook
Lastly, while they may appear similar in the aspect of their worship of Jesus Christ, Christianity and Jehovah Witness differ greatly in the way they view other religious beliefs. Christianity is open to interfaith dialogue, whilst followers of Jehovah Witness may judge other beliefs as not befitting their definition of a Christian religion. Christians maintain this outlook by expressing faith in Jesus through prayer and charity to all of God’s flock, whether the religion is a follower of the Christian faith or not. On the other hand, Jehovah Witness focus on propagating their own faith, disregarding interfaith dialogue and actively encouraging believers to spread their own scriptures.
Nevertheless, creating a strong faith identity helps followers of either religion remember the role of Jesus in their lives. Christianity also reinforces the Scriptures, as they are seen as documenting Jesus as the savior of mankind, while Jehovah Witness promote the idea of service and good deeds as the path to salvation. This provides followers of both doctrines a more well rounded approach to faith that allows them to better comprehend the tenets of Christianity in a more complete sense.
Intensity of Conviction
The level of conviction behind the two faiths is one of the areas where they differ greatly. It’s documented that many followers of Christianity are content with leading a secular life but still holding onto their Christian beliefs as an optional lifestyle. On the contrary, followers of Jehovah Witness pursue a lifestyle of vehement religious identity, for example by refusing to celebrate holidays or be involved in celebratory practices. Although it is important to respect different levels of conviction and belief, it is also necessary to point out the rigidity of the Jehovah Witness faith.
Furthermore, behaviours of adherents of Jehovah Witness may be deemed extreme in some cases, for example some extreme cases of shunning family members who no longer share the faith. This behaviour stands in contrast to Christianity’s more open view that all are welcome to the House of God, with love and respect being paramount.
Relationship With Other Faiths
When it comes to the relationship between Christianity and Jehovah Witness and other faiths, it’s clear that the former is far more open to differing perspectives and approaches. Christianity embraces religious and ideological variety, while Jehovah Witness largely regard other faiths and beliefs as immoral and wrong. Additionally, there are the issues of proselytism and fundamentalism associated with the faith, which don’t instill the same degree of awe for the religion as in Christianity. As such, it’s easy to conclude that Christianity is more tolerant of differences and peaceful in coexistence than Jehovah Witness.
Moreover, Christianity also embraces spirituality, including the notion of talking to God directly, something which is carefully discouraged in Jehovah Witness. Jehovah Witness only recognize God’s prophets and messengers as the guides and communicators with God, while they reject the individual connection with and to the Creator. Thus, if one wishes to exercise their right to speak directly to their Creator and receive guidance, Christianity is the more favorable option.
Distinguishing Guidelines
To put it simply, Christianity and Jehovah Witness may be similar in their belief in God, however, their interpretations of the Scriptures and resultant behaviours in life differ greatly. Guidance on prayer and worship, understanding of the afterlife and view on other faiths separate the two religions, making them distinct from each other. In the end, it’s for each individual to decide for themselves which religion appeals more to their sensibilities.
Differences in preaching also separate the two faiths. Whereas Christianity admits followers of all backgrounds, sects, faiths and creeds, Jehovah Witness follow a more focused approach and consequently only recognise their own doctrines, which may create an ‘us vs. them’ mentality. What’s more, the two faiths also differ in their view of the resurrection of Jesus Christ as Christians celebrate Jesus’ return to life as a miracle, while Jehovah Witness refer to Jesus’ resurrection as a powerful symbol of enduring faith.
Social Engagement
The two religions differ in their social engagement, as Christianity is a much more free-flowing faith that encourages its followers to take part in non-religious occurrences such as festivals and celebrates. On the other hand, Jehovah Witness often refrain from taking part in these activities as they feel that these activities are a distraction from their beliefs and dedication to God. They are also restricted in their views of physical intimacy, as Jehovah Witness forbid intercourse outside of marriage, which is markedly stricter than conventional Christianity.
Additionally, another point of difference between the two faiths is the view on donations and charity. Christianity encourages donations that are both selfless and generous, in order to help those in need. Conversely, Jehovah Witness only accept donations from the members of their own faith, and are stricter in the type of activities they don’t accept donations for.
Moreover, another distinction between Christianity and Jehovah Witness is the doctrine of preaching. Christians often use preaching as an opportunity to draw more people to their faith, while Jehovah Witness use it challenge other religious ideologies, often refuting them and restricting members to their own faith. The aforementioned activities and attitudes differ significantly between the two faiths.
Impact On Global Affairs
When drawing lines between Christianity and Jehovah Witness, it is inevitable that their impact on global affairs form a great deal of their distinction. One may conclude that Christianity’s reach and adherence is greater, partly due to its stance on defending the oppressed, forgiving enemies and accepting those of differing beliefs, as opposed to the more barricaded posture of Jehovah Witness. Consequently, it’s easy to verify that Christianity has had a greater impact on global affairs than its counterpart.
Further, Christianity also celebrates a vast array of festivals and holidays, of which the faithful can fully partake in, which obviously differs to the terms set out by Jehovah Witness with regards to these matters. Lastly, the vast web of churches across all nations, which is pivotal to Christianity, is nowhere to be found with Jehovah Witness. Therefore, it’s evident that Christianity, in output and reach, overtakes Jehovah Witness in all areas globally.
