Many people are familiar with the concept of Christianity, but fewer people are familiar with the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses. While Both religions trace their origins to Judaism and the teachings of Jesus, there are some major differences between Christianity and Jehovah’s Witnesses. From their belief in God to the concept of salvation, this article will present the key differences between these two religions.
1. Belief in God
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that God is a single being who is referred to as “Jehovah”. He is considered the completely sovereign ruler of the universe and is all-powerful. Christianity, on the other hand, generally believes in the “Trinity” of God, which is that God is a single entity composed of three parts: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jehovah’s Witnesses also believe that Jesus is the son of God, but they reject the notion of him being equal to God.
2. Salvation and Eternal Life
The concept of salvation and eternal life is another important difference between the two religions. For Christians, the idea of salvation and eternal life is largely centered on the sacrifice of Jesus. They believe that those who believe and accept him as their savior will have their sins forgiven and will have eternal life in Heaven. Jehovah’s Witnesses, however, believe that salvation is earned through hard work and the faithful observance of their beliefs and practices.
3. Heaven & Hell
Regarding the afterlife, Christians believe that Heaven and Hell both exist, and that a person’s fate is determined by their faith and actions in life. Jehovah’s Witnesses, however, reject the notion of an afterlife, instead believing in a literal understanding of the Bible’s teaching that death is just unconsciousness from which one might be resurrected. They believe that only those who have been faithful to the teachings of Jehovah will be resurrected in Heaven.
4. Religious Practices
Christianity and Jehovah’s Witnesses also have different religious practices. Christians typically worship in churches, conduct baptisms, partake in communion and make confessions of faith. Jehovah’s Witnesses abide by many of these ceremonies as well, but they additionally engage in preaching, door to door evangelization and distributing pamphlets as part of their worship.
5. Holidays & Celebrations
The two religions also differ in how they celebrate holidays and special occasions. Christianity celebrates holidays such as Easter and Christmas, while Jehovah’s Witnesses reject these holidays as they believe they are rooted in paganism. Jehovah’s Witnesses also observe their own holidays such as the Memorial of Christ’s Death and the party of the Annual Commemoration of Christ’s Death.
6. Authority
As far as religious authority goes, Christianity believes in the authority of the Bible, but also has other authorities such as priests and ministers, who interpret the Bible for the laity and advise on Church doctrine. Jehovah’s Witnesses, however, acknowledge only one authoritative source: the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. This organization is responsible for setting Church doctrine and interpreting the Bible according to their beliefs.
7. Countries & Cultural Practices
Lastly, Christianity is practiced all over the world in a variety of cultural forms, while Jehovah’s Witnesses are mainly concentrated in the United States and Western Europe. They have specific cultural practices and values such as not participating in politics, not celebrating national holidays, and not being involved in the military. They also adhere to a strict dress code and abstain from alcohol, smoking, and involvement in sports.
8.Appearance
Appearance is another notable difference between Christianity and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Christianity does not have a strict dress code and is open to a variety of different styles. Jehovah’s Witnesses, however, abide by their own dress code and generally dress conservatively. Men are to wear long pants and collared shirts and women are to wear skirts or dresses below the knee and modest tops.
9.Birthdays
Another common difference is the celebration of birthdays. Christians often observe birthdays with celebrations and gift-giving, but for the most part, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays. This is due to their interpretation of Old Testament passages which suggest that the celebration of birthdays was associated with paganism.
10.Medical Practices
Lastly, a major difference between Christianity and the Jehovah’s Witnesses concerns medical practices. Christians tend to advocate for medical interventions and practices as they can bring healing and restoration to one’s body. However, Jehovah’s Witnesses generally adhere to their own teachings on medical practices and reject blood transfusions as it is forbidden within the religion.
