What are the major differences between Christianity and the Jehovah's Witness?

Clicky here and here.

Well thank you Vunessuh but that rather ends the conversation quickly.

@judochop I could be rather blunt about the two, but I chose to be respectful and do a little research for you instead.

@Vunessuh no, no, no I do thank you. I was not being sarcastic. I am reading through it now. I know there are some JW here in the group. I am opening this up for knowledge. I do not wish to bash any religion at all.

@judochop Here’s a chart.
I think if I’m not mistaken, Jehovah’s Witnesses are Christians and base their beliefs solely on God’s word, but the differences are in the teachings and perhaps the way they interpret the Bible.
The Christian Church accepts Jesus as Lord and JW’s do not.
True JW’s refuse to celebrate Christmas and birthdays, they don’t accept the Virgin Birth or Revelation and they believe that all others except themselves are damned and their religions are the work of Satan. At least, that’s the way I’ve always come to understand it. Don’t necessarily take my word, but I’ve come to find that they shun all other religions but still insist that they are Christians despite not loving everyone like the Bible apparently teaches.
But I’m an Atheist so what do I know..?
Not trying to cause a huge uproar with the way I’ve come to understand that religion.
Just stick to the links. :)

Another difference that I did not see noted in @Vunessuh‘s remarkable links is that Jehovah’s Witnesses believe you must earn your salvation.
Christians believe you cannot earn your salvation, and that salvation is a gift from the Lord.

Earning their salvation is the reason these people go door to door.

Their beliefs differ from mainstream Christian in significant ways, which is why many come to ask if they’re Christians in the first place.
This must be because they reject the notion that Jesus Christ is God or in any way worship him. Instead they worship Jehovah, a separate entity, supreme over anyone or anything. They reject the notion of the trinity. That father, son and spirit are really the same being. They believe we are in the End of Times and Armageddon is at hand, after which the few survivors will live forever here on Earth which will be made into a paradise. One thousands years after Armageddon humanity will achieve perfection and everlasting life.

I was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness so if you have any specific question I’ll do my best to explain their point of view.

There are many major differences.

Jehovah’s witnesses is a tiny branch of Christianity, the term for religions basing their beliefs on Christ’s teachings

JW’s preach at your door step the C’s preach everywhere they go.

It is much easier to get Christian girls into bed. Particularly the Catholic ones I recall.

The topic of Jehovah’s Witnesses reminds me of a joke I heard years ago:

A man arrives in heaven and as he is being shown around by an angel he notices a big, tall, solid wall structure. “What’s that wall for?”, he asks the angel, “Ssh”, replies the angel, “The Jehovah’s Witnesses think they are the only ones here.”

Clothing.

JWs believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God. They believe all of the bible and interpret it recursively.
JWs believe Jesus is a separate entity from God. God’s Son. Not a part of a trinity.
JWs believe theirs is God’s organization, in the same way that the the Jews were God’s people.
JW’s believe theirs is the only true christian organization and ALL other (including yours) religions (christian or otherwise) are under the power of the devil.

Salvation is acquired through joining/living by their faith specifically. Not simply by “being a good person.”

JWs don’t believe in a hell. Instead, “bad” people simply get eternally forgotten from god’s memory.
JWs don’t believe “good” people go to heaven. They believe man was made to live on a paradise earth, like adam and eve had. They believe “good” people stay asleep in death until after Armageddon.
JWs believe Armageddon will be when the earth is cleansed of sin and sinful people. At this point dead “good” people will be brought back to life, just like lazarus, into a new paradise earth.

Jehovah’s Witnesses are a (somewhat) dangerous cult while many forms of Christianity are not. According to Michael Shermer, who is a historian of science and author, a cult is characterized by

1) Veneration, glorification and inerrancy of the former or current leader to the point of virtual sainthood or divinity
2) Acceptance of beliefs and pronouncements on all subjects without applying critical thinking
3) Persuasive techniques from benign to coercive are used to recruit new followers and reinforce current beliefs
4) Hidden agendas exist and the true nature of the group’s beliefs and plans is obscured from or not fully disclosed to potential recruits and the general public
5) There is deceit, therefore recruits and followers are not told everything they should know about the group’s inner circle, and particularly disconcerting flaws or potentially embarrassing events or circumstances are covered up
6) Sometimes there is financial exploitation and recruits and followers are persuaded to invest money and other assets (in very rare cases there’s also sexual exploitation)
7) There is absolute truth which also means that the group has discovered final knowledge on any relevant number of subjects
8) Absolute morality is also being claimed, which means the group’s system of right and wrong thoughts and actions are are applicable to members and non-members alike. Those who strictly follow the moral code become and remain members and those who do not are dismissed or punished

Harp summarized this nicely a while ago:

“In the community of Jehovah’s Witnesses there is the element of coercion, in that social exclusion or public shaming is used punitively to keep members in line (enforcing the ban on taking blood transfusions, voting, etc.). But even more indicative is the ideological control exercised by the leadership. The ‘governing body’ has absolute authority in matters of doctrine, and their interpretations of scripture as spelled out in their copious literature are simply not to be openly questioned. Members meet three times a week to pore over this literature. Proselytization is required, and actual records are kept of each member’s monthly proselytizing activity. Prospective converts are offered free ‘bible studies’, which are nothing more than guided readings of the organization’s literature.”

those definitions for cult fit any religion, political group, corporation and often even friend groups.

I am a Christian and I have now been inviting the JW’s in to my home to discuss religion since summer. All that I can tell is that they preach from the Bible. I hold my Bible and they hold theirs. Not very much of a difference between the passages. I like them, just as much as I like my Christian brothers and sisters.

@ninjacolin – I strongly disagree.

Firstly, they don’t call themselves Christian. They have the man-made name of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Christian can be found in the scriptures and applies to those that follow Christ. If they were Christian, they would state so. Instead, this is another way they deny Christ.

You’ve probably not been introduced to their New World Translation. This is the bible published by Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Watchtower organization. Ask them to turn to John 1:1 in their version, and you will get a glimpse of this translation being altered to agree with their doctrine, that Jesus is not God. Few if any lingual scholars agree with this translations. Oh, they give you a list of them, but research and see this scholars have written letters requesting removal from WT references. They state they were quoted out of context, etc etc. In addition… one reference they used for John 1:1 was Johannes Greber. He was a spiritist that used the spirits (not Holy Spirit) to translate his new testament. The WT knew he was a spiritist, even spoke out against him, but used him as a reference anyway since he agreed with their doctrine. Careful little ears what you hear! :)

In addition, Jesus is not to be worshiped if you’re a JW. This goes against scripture. Every knee will bow to Him and He will be worshiped. The same praise given to God the Father in Revelation, is also given to the Son. Although the triunity of God can be seen throughout scripture, they devised doctrines to take that away from Jesus.

Don’t get me wrong… they KNOW the scriptures. They practice and practice and are taught how to answer specific questions with specific verses, although taken out of context, or quoted from their translation.

Be very careful. Please do you research. Plan on giving up family, friends, fellow Christian brothers and sisters, as they are considered to be under Satan’s control. You will no longer be allowed to pledge to the flag, be in organized sports, or anything considered a club. Forget about your birthday, Christmas, Resurrection Sunday or any other holiday. You will celebrate the death of Christ, but not be allowed to take communion, as you will not be in the elite group. You’re the 2nd class JW and have no hope of heaven. Just paradise earth. You will no longer be able to read ‘apostate’ material, that is, anything not published by the Watchtower organization. They are the ONLY ones (the Governing Body) that can read, comprehend and present scripture. Without them, you know nothing.

You will be required to go door to door. Oh, they’ll tell you that it is not mandatory, but you will not be considered an active member. They will ask you to take well known scriptures, and put a Watchtower spin on them.

Please… do your research. There are many helpful websites. Talk to your Christian brothers and sisters and your pastor.