What Teachers Should Know
- Jehovah Witness students may not stand or say the pledge due to the fact that they believe patriotism is a form of idolatry to be avoided.
- Any celebration of holidays or birthdays would need to be handled in advanced. Jehovah Witness parents may not want their children to participate in these types of activities.
Jehovah's Witness
by: Kimberly Wood, Amanda Herndon, Tamara Banks, Jamie Smith
Ways to Accommodate
- Teachers need to accommodate for these students during holiday celebrations. During the Christmas season, the teacher may have a winter celebration instead, so that Jehovah Witness students are not uncomfortable.
- A teacher also needs to communicate with parents about any celebrations that go on at school or in the classroom. An alternate plan for where this child should go during the time of the celebration could be created.
Beliefs
References
Ways to Accommodate Cont...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/witnesses/
http://carm.org/jehovahs-witnesses-beliefs
http://religiontranscends.com/2011/11/3-common-questions-about-jehovah%E2%80%99s-witness-students/
- During the Pledge, these students need to be allowed to sit or even step out of the classroom until the Pledge of Allegiance is over.
- If learning about a holiday that relates to culture, be sure to discuss with the student that the lesson is on the culture and not on the celebration of the holiday.
Characteristics/Traditions
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that:
God the Father (whose name is Jehovah) is "the only true God".
Jesus Christ is his firstborn son, is inferior to God, and was created by God.
The Holy Spirit is not a person; it is God's active force.
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus did not die on a cross but on single stake.
Modern Witnesses regard the Cross as a pagan symbol and do not use it, although it was accepted by the movement until 1931.
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that when a person dies, their existence completely stops.
Witnesses believe that Hell (as traditionally portrayed) does not exist. There is no place where sinners are tormented after death - since their existence is over, nothing can be done to them or for them.
- Over 7 million people are involved in Jehovah’s Witness.
- It was formed in 1870 by an independent group in Pennsylvania.
- The name “Jehovah’s Witness” was created from the book of the bible Isaiah.
- Baptism is a requirement
- They believe their religion is a restoration of first century Christianity
- Jehovah Witnesses do not observe holidays, such as Christmas, Easter, and birthdays.
- They use a translation of the Bible called The New World Translation.
- Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that actions such as saluting the flag, singing the national anthem, and saying the Pledge of Allegiance give reverence to one’s country, instead of God.
Characteristics Cont...
- They are known for their evangelism and witnessing, as they believe these things will lead to conversion of their religion.
- The church is strongly millennial and believes that humanity is now in the "last days," and that the final battle between good and evil will happen soon.
**Some of the opinions expressed in this video are not necessarily the views of each member of the group.