Are Jehovah’s Witnesses an American religion?
Are Jehovah’s Witnesses an American religion? In 1874 Charles Taze Russell, an American, established a religious group known as Bible Students. The name, ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses’ was introduced in 1931 at the convention in Columbus, Ohio by Judge Rutherford, the 2nd president of the Bible Students. Russell was born in 1852 and was raised as a Congregationalist but was persuaded by Adventist William Miller that the second coming was due around 1843. When 1844 came and went without the anticipated parousia he withdrew from the Adventsit movement (which went on to become the Seventh-Day Adventist Church under the leadership of Ellen G. White). The original doctrines come from Adventism (American): No such thing as a place of eternal torment (hell-fire) Those who are unsaved will simply be annihilated There is no immortal soul – when you die you know nothing Jesus is Michael the Archangel However, unlike Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses denounce the Trinity, claiming is is a pagan
