Why the Jehovah's Witnesses don't want you to know about their founder...
TradCatKnight: Why the Jehovah's Witnesses don't want you to know about their founder...
Why the Jehovah's Witnesses don't want you to know about their founder:
Charles Taze Russell.
Charles Taze Russell, founder of the sect known as "Jehovah's Witnesses" (or "Russellites"), was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1852. He explains the origin of his religion as follows:
"Let me begin... at the year 1868 when, as a member of the Congregational church and of the Young Men's Christian Association, I began to be shaken in faith regarding many long-accepted doctrines... Among other theories I stumbled upon Adventism. [The sect founded by Mr. William Miller in 1829, who preached that Christ would come again in 1840]. Thus I confess indebtedness to Adventists as well as to other denominations." (Watch Tower, July 1906; cited in The Jehovah's Witnesses, Hebert Hewitt Stroup [New York: Columbia University Press, 1945, pp. 5,6.])
Although there is no unified historical record concerning the founding of the Witnesses, according to a WatchTower Yearbook, "a few Christian persons met together in a little house in Pennsylvania to discuss the Scriptures relative to the coming of Christ and His Kingdom" (ibid., p. 4). This Bible study group bestowed upon Russell the title "Pastor". In court. Russell was asked, "Now; you never were ordained by a bishop, clergyman, presbytery, council, or any body of men, living?" Russell answered, "I never was." (Walter Martin, The Kingdom of the Cults [Minn.: Bethany House Publishers, 1985, pp. 4-5.])
Russell was never a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses religion, and he was definitely not the founder of that religion. Russell did not believe in such a relgion; he did not view the Bible Students as a religion. Russell preached against such an organization as Rutherford created after Russell died. Rutherford created the Jehovah's Witnesses organization by rejecting the no-organization, no authority …More
Russell was never a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses religion, and he was definitely not the founder of that religion. Russell did not believe in such a relgion; he did not view the Bible Students as a religion. Russell preached against such an organization as Rutherford created after Russell died. Rutherford created the Jehovah's Witnesses organization by rejecting the no-organization, no authority, and atonement views of Russell. Thus, Russell preached against the kind of message that Rutherford invented. Walter Martin is very highly biased and unreliable source for information. For links to some of research related to Russell and the JWs: rlctr.blogspot.com/p/jws.htmll
