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Over the past few decades, Jehovah’s Witnesses have become a household word. Maybe it’s because we’ve become accustomed to seeing Jehovah’s Witnesses knocking at our front doors, educating others about their religious beliefs in schools. Maybe you have some family members or relatives who are Jehovah’s Witnesses. Today, there are over 7 million people who adhere to the Jehovah’s Witness faith. It has become quite a popular religion indeed.
While members of the Jehovah’s Witness faith seem sincere in their religious practice, its leadership has come under criticism in recent years by former members and those who have studied some of their beliefs. Is there some hidden dark secret lurking in the history of Jehovah’s Witnesses that the general public and the members themselves may be unaware of? Let us take a closer look at this organization in order to fill in the missing blanks!
For the most part, the popular religions of the West are nothing more than a form of spiritual capitalism. Ignorantly, many are unaware that the term “god” originally was a title designated to an ancestor shaman once he/she died and began dwelling in the invisible realms. Under normal circumstances, descendants of the deceased shaman would make offerings to him/her, so that their ancestor could grow strong in the invisible realms and blessed their descendants. During the Biblical times, however, a few of these ancestor spirits created a scheme to ensure the wealth of their descendants. If the descendants of these ancestral spirits were to conquer other people and force their religion upon them, their ancestor’s spirit can grow unusually stronger and provide greater blessing for the select few descendants who would have as their servants all who believed in the descendant’s ancestor, but was themselves not an heir. This is why we find that today’s elite are descendants of the gods of the world’s most popular religions. For more information and references on this topic, please read our article entitled, Does Religion Hinder Human Evolution?
I have family who are members of the Jehovah’s Witness faith, so I had done research on the organization in years prior. During my initiatory studies in esoteric Shinto, I was somewhat surprised to discover that in the inner circles of some Eastern esoteric schools, Jehovah’s witnesses, out of all Western religions, are specifically regarded as being under the influence of cursing and wandering spirits. When one looks at the overall history of the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization and their religious beliefs, the influence of these wandering spirits can be easily seen. Here are a few points that clearly reveal the Jehovah’s Witness religion as the product of wandering spirits:
1. Jehovah’s Witnesses are not a theocratic organization. Many Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that they are being guided by an organization that is under the direction of the Creator. First, as discussed in our Does Religion Hinder Human Evolution? article, Jehovah is a god and god and the creator are not the same thing. Whatever force that is guiding Jehovah’s Witnesses has them believing that as an organization, which is said by them to be Jehovah’s only representative on earth, you can go out and make false predictions and still be the only true messenger of Jehovah. What then is the meaning of a false prophet?
Jehovah’s Witnesses, in regards to their past false prophesies, will say “the light gets brighter and brighter.” That may be true for a person who uses logic, someone who is not under divine inspiration, but nowhere in the Bible is it recorded that a person under the influence of Jehovah made false predictions because they did not understand the content of the message. I don’t think Daniel wrote the Book of Daniel with a unique understanding of what he wrote. Nor did the Apostle John write the Book of Revelation knowing the meaning of what he wrote, yet, that did not affect the accuracy of their prophesies. So saying that inaccuracy in a prediction is due to the light getting brighter is a whimsical excuse to fool the weak-minded. The April 1st 1972 edition of the Watchtower magazine, pages 197-198, states:
“So, does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them of dangers and to declare things to come? These questions can be answered in the affirmative. Who is this prophet? . . . This “prophet” was not one man, but was a body of men and women. It was the small group of footstep followers of Jesus Christ, known at that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah’s Christian witnesses . . . Of course, it is easy to say that this group acts as a “prophet” of God. It is another thing to prove it,”
According to The Watchtower magazine, the main journal of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jehovah’s prophet today is known as the International Bible Students, and later as Jehovah’s Witnesses. This means that this organization was guided by Jehovah, since the days that it was known as The International Bible Students, and later as Jehovah’s Witnesses. Let us take a look at what Jehovah’s prophet has to say in modern times.
Jehovah’s Witnesses have a past filled with racism. Who would ever think that Jehovah’s prophet would succumb to racist views in modern times? Charles Taze Russell, the founder of The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and the Bible Student Movement, a group which Jehovah’s Witnesses emerged from, had this to saying a Watchtower article dated 1904:
The above words are the least of the Watchtower’s organization’s woes, as written by its founder Charles Taze Russell. In an online article entitled, A Brief History of Racism In Watchtower Publications, we find the following:
“A telling insight into Russell’s attitudes towards race came in another Watchtower article in 1902. That article, entitled “The Negro Not A Beast,” attempted to banish the extremely offensive idea being promulgated in a book of the period that black men and women were somehow on a par with animals. Despite its tacit opposition to this outrageous concept, the Watchtower’s riposte was tainted by more than a hint of racist ideology.”
The Bible versus Evolution p.30:“(God) has specially blessed and favored certain branches of the Aryan race in Europe and America. But the fact, that the white race has been more abundantly blessed with the light of the Gospel than others, is not to be understood to signify that when members of other races heard and appreciated the Gospel, they were repulsed or rejected by the Lord. While the elect Church will probably be composed chiefly of the highly favored white race, nevertheless, it will probably have in it representatives out of every kindred, people and tongue.”
Golden Age 1929 Jul 24th: “Is there anything in the Bible that reveals the origin of the Negro? It is generally believed that the curse which Noah pronounced upon Canaan was the origin of the Black race. Certain it is that when Noah said, ‘Cursed be Canaan, a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren,’ he pictured the future of the Colored race. They have been and are a race of servants.. There is no servant in the world as good as a good Colored servant, and the joy that he gets from rendering faithful service is one of the purest joys there is in the world.”
So here it is that the said “Jehovah’s prophet,” The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, exhibited displays of racism during its developing stages, publicly, until the desegregation laws wee established in America. Of course, the Jehovah’s Witnesses will easily dismiss this history as “the light gets brighter and brighter,” as a way to justify a false prophesy, something unheard of and unprecedented in the Bible. The Jehovah’s Witnesses appear to be a multi-cultural organization, but in none of their publications do we find the heavenly-class depicted as anything other than European:
The Jehovah’s Witnesses appear to be a multi-cultural organization, but in none of their publications do we find the heavenly-class depicted as anything other than European.
Meanwhile, we find the depiction of the most so-called African-Americans in a pamphlet entitled “Spirits of the Dead.” I guess there are so many black people depicted in this pamphlet since the term negro comes from the word negromancy, meaning one who invokes the dead. Below are some excerpts from the pamphlet:
The images above are from the pamphlet Spirits of the Dead. Ironically, it is the only piece of literature published by the Jehovah’s Witnesses where a large number of blacks appear in.
2. Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Leadership Expressed Written Admiration for Nazi Leadership. Many of our readership may be familiar with the horrors of human life that occurred in Nazi Germany. Unfortunately, many people who identified themselves as Jehovah’s Witnesses and Jews faced some of the most notorious crimes and levels of torture in human history. You would think that during this time, leaders of the Jehovah’s Witness religion would be making efforts to accommodate those of their faith after undergoing such horrible conditions, but this was not case. During the mid-1930’s, President of the Watchtower and Bible Tract Society, J. F. Rutherford wrote the following letter to Adolph Hitler, showing his empathy for the Nazi party and the ideals, which were the very same ideals that caused the Holocaust:
“The Brooklyn headquarter of the Watchtower Society is pro German in an exemplary way and has been so for many years. For that reason, in 1918, the president of the Society and seven members of the board of directors were sentenced to 80 years in prison, because the president refused to use two of the magazines published in America under his direction for war propaganda against Germany. These two magazines, “The Watchtower” and “Bible Student” were the only magazines in America which refused to engage in anti-German propaganda and for that reason were prohibited and suppressed in America during the war.
In the very same manner, in course of the recent months the board of directors of our Society not only refused to engage in propaganda against Germany, but has even taken a position against it. The enclosed declaration underlines this fact and emphasizes that the people leading in such propaganda (Jewish businessmen and Catholics) also are the most rigorous persecutors of the work of our Society and its board of directors. This and other statements of the declaration are meant to repudiate the slanderous accusation, that Bible Researchers are supported by the Jews.
The conference of five thousand delegates also noted – as is expressed in the declaration – that the Bible Researchers of Germany are fighting for the very same high ethical goals and ideals which also the national government of the German Reich proclaimedrespecting the relationship of humans to God, namely: honesty of the created being towards its creator.
The conference came to the conclusion that there are no contradictions when it comes to the relationship between the Bible Researchers of Germany to the national government of the German Reich. To the contrary, referring to the purely religious and unpolitical goals and efforts of the Bible Researchers, it can be said that these are in full agreement with the identical goals of the national government of the German Reich.
We are looking forward to your kind approval, which we hope to receive soon, and want to assure our highest respect to you, honorable Mr. Reichskanzler.
Yours faithfully, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society Magdeburg”
What is so ironic about all of this is that Judge Rutherford, successor to Charles Taze Russell as president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract society wrote in Reconciliation(1928) page 14:
“The constellation of the seven stars forming the Pleiades appears to be the crowning center around which the known systems of the planets revolve even as our sun’s planets obey the sun and travel in their respective orbits. It has been suggested, and with much weight, that one of the stars of that group is the dwelling-place of Jehovah and the place of the highest heavens;..”
The Nazis also place special emphasis on the Pleiades constellation, as Rutherford even calls it the “dwelling-place of Jehovah.” Many people involved in the demonic science of Ufology, associate Pleiades with the Nordic race.
3. Jehovah’s Witnesses and The Occult. Jehovah’s Witnesses often violate Jesus motto: “Whoever is without sin, let him cast the first stone.” They are constantly casting stones, negative thoughts, at those who do not adhere to their beliefs and at individuals who left their organization. In many ways they have become today’s pharisees. To make matters worst, many who are a part of this organization a left unaware of its occult aims. There main journal is called The Watchtower. This is what Wikipedia has to say under the topic Watchtower:
What I find most interesting about the above quote is that a “watchtower” is magic can also be a symbol of the stars that rule the four fixed signs of the zodiac, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius. These are often seen in their symbolic guise of the four living creatures that appear in Revelation Chapter 4. However, these correlations were known in ancient times as the of the Egyptian canopic jars, dated a thousand years before the Book of Revelation was written, but lets compare the two:
Canopic jars of Neskhons, wife of Pinedjem II. Made of calcite, with painted wooden heads. Circa 990–969 BC. On display at the British Museum
These same fixed constellations of the zodiac are represented by the four prominent stars Fomalhaut, Aldebaran, Regulus, and Antares.
Fomalhaut = Aquarius = The Face of a Man = Charles Taze Russell (First President of the Watchtower Bible Tract Society) born February 16, 1852 in the sign Aquarius.
Antares = Scorpio = The Face of the Eagle = Joseph Franklin Rutherford (Second President of the Watchtower Bible Tract Society) born November 8, 1869 in the sign of Scorpio.
Aldebaran = Taurus = The Face of the Bull = Nathan Homer Knorr (Third President of the Watchtower Bible Tract Society) born April 23, 1905 in the sign of Taurus.
Regulus = Leo = The Face of the Lion =Milton George Henschel (Fifth President of the Watchtower Bible Tract Society) born August 9, 1920 in the sign of Leo.
Virgo = Throne of God = The Mother of God =Frederick William Franz (Fourth President of the Watchtower Bible Tract Society) born September 12, 1893 in the sign of Virgo.
Tarot Card: World XXI
“A naked woman hovers or dances above the Earth holding a staff in each hand, surrounded by a green wreath, being watched by various creatures. In older decks, these are usually a human face or head, a lion, an ox, and an eagle, the symbols of the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Or astrologically speaking, the human head represent Aquarius, the lion represents Leo, the ox represents Taurus and the eagle Scorpio. (these four signs are the fixed signs in terms of astrology – which can allude to the four corners of the earth, the four elements, etc.) It also holds reference to the vision of Ezekiel of the “throne” or “chariot” of God in the Old Testament. The four figures in the corners of the card are also referenced in the Book of Revelation, 4:7, where the throne of God is described: “And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.” The World represents an ending to a cycle of life, a pause in life before the next big cycle beginning with the fool. The figure is at once male and female, above and below, suspended between the heavens and the earth. It is completeness. It is also said to represent cosmic consciousness; the potential of perfect union with the One Power of the universe. It tells us full happiness is also to give back to the world, sharing what we have learned or gained.” Wikipedia.
4. Jehovah’s Witnesses harbors the highest level of sexual offenders that any other religious organization. More than 23,000 people child sex abuse. It is such a situation that Wikipedia has a page dedicated to the issue, entitled, Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Handling Child Sex Abuse. What happy to the lovely group said to be possessed with Jehovah’s holy spirit? How could Jehovah’s modern-day prophet harbor 23,000 sex offenders? All these things illustrate that Jehovah’s Witnesses are under the influences of wandering spirits.
13 thoughts on “Jehovah’s Witnesses: The World’s Largest Demonic Organization”
Good work…really good article.
Even in my country I met these “witnesses” who preach the truth while destroying families and lives.I believe that one that more of these people will be free from this organization.
You write “Charles Taze Russell, the founder of The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and the Bible Student Movement, a group which Jehovah’s Witnesses emerged from, had this to saying a Watchtower article dated 1904” is not at all true. Ch. T Russell did not found the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Pleas go have a look at history books and read enough available material on the net by the original bible Students and by the continuation of groups of bible Students and bible Scholars.
I would also want to remind you and your readers that the International Bible Students has no connection at all with the Jehovah Witnesses, like you want your readers to believe. They are not associated with the Jehovah Witnesses.
Thank you Marcus Ampe for you comment it is very much appreciated. When I was a little boy, the writings of Charles Taze Russel were in the Kingdom Hall’s library. As time past and Russell’s work became discredited by historians and scholars, The Watchtower was presented with a problem and then tried to distant themselves from Russell as much as possible. Now Russell is called “first editor” of the The Watchtower. History is very clear on the beginnings of the Watchtower, which are denied by newcomers to the organization:
“Beginning in July 1879 he began publishing a monthly religious journal, Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. The journal is now published by Jehovah’s Witnesses on a semi-monthly basis under the name, The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. In 1881 he co-founded Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society and in 1884 the corporation was officially registered, with Russell as president. Russell wrote many articles, books, tracts, pamphlets and sermons, totaling approximately 50,000 printed pages. From 1886 to 1904, he published a six-volume Bible study series originally entitled Millennial Dawn, later renamed Studies in the Scriptures, nearly 20 million copies of which were printed and distributed around the world in several languages during his lifetime.[3] (A seventh volume was commissioned by his successor as society president, Joseph Rutherford, and published in 1917.) The Watch Tower Society ceased publication of Russell’s writings in 1927,[4] though his books are still published by several independent groups.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Taze_Russell)
I did not say Russell was not the founder of Zion’s Watchtower. I said he was not the founder of the Jehovah Witnessess. The Zion’s Watchtower of which I got magazines until early 21st century also had nothing to do with the Watchtower magazine of the Jehovah Witnesses. True the first Zion’s Watchtower magazines, the same as the Christadelphian bible Students publications like the Wide Margin King James Version and the Diaglot were in the JW -library, but this did not make our movement related to them.
It is not because the several Bible Student movements have the same root that they would agree with the founding fathers of the Jehovah witnesses Organisation.
The Bible Students International, the Bible Students Association, Bible Students Union, Russellites and the many other bible Students like the Bible Scholars and Christadelphian Bible Students consider the Jehovah Witnesses a schism of the first and second American Bible Students Groups. We do know the JW claim not to have schisms in their group but when you look how many splinter-groups came into existence after the death of Ch.T. Russell it is no surprise at all we encounter today still old but also new BS-groups and JW-Groups.
Rutherford was the one who brought the schism motor rolling and he can be considered as the founder of the JW-organisation.
The Jehovah Witnesses Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, which is headquartered in Brooklyn, NY was founded later than you say.
Pastor Charles Taze Russell (1852 – 1916) was the founder of Zion’s Watch Tower magazine and Herald of Christ’s Presence in 1879 and Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society in 1881. Then there were there were Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society (1884-1896) and the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society (1896-1955); He was not the founder of Jehovah’s Witnesses. After his death in 1916 many Bible Students no longer wanted to work with the Watch Tower Society, they wanted to stay with Russell’s teachings from 1876 – 1916, these retained the name Bible Students. Other Bible Students wanted to move forward and make new changes so in 1931, they embraced the distinctive name Jehovah’s Witnesses who got their Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania (since 1955).
We do agree that the Bible Students of today are not the same as the Bible Students from Pastor Russell’s day (1870 – 1916). Many of the current Bible Students will not even fellowship with other Bible Students. For the most part the current Bible Students and Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t have anything to do with each other.
@ Marcus Ampe….thanks for your response! can you email me at warlockasylum@gmail.com thanks!
Charles Taze Russell is the founder of the International Bible Students but not the founder of the Jehovah Witnesses. The International bible Students Association nor we do have anything to do with the Jehovah Witnesses. We do agree we do have a similar source and because we both take the bible as our Guide we do have similar teachings, but as you shall be able to notice, when you look at our our believes, we totally do not accept a human body as being a special selected Being to be “The Faithful Slave of God” who everybody has to follow.
The Jehovah Witnesses came from Rutherford his movement after he created a schism in the bible Student Movement.
Russell is often depicted as racist who was prejudiced against black people; one of the quotes usually presented is one sentence from the the Watch Tower, August 1, 1898, page 230, which reads:
The negro race is supposed to be descended from Ham, whose special degradation is mentioned in Genesis 9:22,25.
This sentence is often quoted without its context and placed in the context of rascism, and in that context, the idea is being presented that Russell was a racist. In effect, it would seem to leave the impression that Russell was stating that the black race is specially degraded. Actually, Russell simply states a fact, that the general supposition held by most Bible believing Christians claims that the Negro (meaning “black) race is descended from Ham. Indeed, this was a true statement, since it was indeed the general supposition amongst most Christian leaders of his day, and is still the general supposition to this day.
The statement is part of his answer to a question regarding Genesis 1:28; the thought many read into that verse that the earth already had a race of people on earth before Adam. Russell showed from the scriptures that all nations have come from one (Adam), and indeed that all races developed from Noah.
We present below the entire question and Russell’s answer below (Bible book names expanded to aid searches):
Question. In Genesis 1:28 and similar passages the word “replenish” seems to indicate that the earth had been peopled before Adam’s creation. Is there anything in the claim of a pre-Adamic race? or that some of the more barbarous nations are not Adam’s offspring?
Answer. You would find it of advantage when such questions come up to consult Young’s Concordance and show the advocate of any erroneous view the definitions there given, and also other passages in which the word in question occurs. If “replenish” be the meaning here, it should fit the other instances in which the word is used; but it does not. The proper rendering of the word is fill.–See margin.
The Scriptures are positive in the declaration that Adam was the first human being. In 1 Corinthians 15:45,47, he is called the first man. In Acts 17:26, it is stated that God “made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth;” in other words, all the peoples of the earth are descended from Adam, no matter how different in color, stature, intelligence, etc., they may now be.
Furthermore, the entire testimony of the Bible must needs be set aside to give color to such a theory: for the Scriptures record that present races had their start in father Noah and that only his descendants survived the flood. And in the New Testament our Lord and several of the Apostles corroborate this record– of Noah and the flood. The negro race is supposed to be descended from Ham, whose special degradation is mentioned in Genesis 9:22,25.
Russell does not state why he added the remark concerning the black people, but a little research reveals that there were (and are) some professed Christians who were claiming that the black race were not descendants of Adam, and that they were created before Adam as beasts of the field, and Genesis 1:28 is one of the scriptures sometimes presented to allegedly support that claim.
Russell more thoroughly refutes this claim in the studies entitled: The Negro Question and “The Negro Not a Beast.” Those studies show that Russell was far ahead for his time in refuting racist theories. Many even claim that the black man was created without a soul, as they would claim for the beast of field (this whole idea is unscriptural, since the Bible states that all the animals have soul — being, and thus, are souls just as man is a soul. One claim is that the black man was put on earth — as a beast of the field — to do the heavy work for the white race. Usually, according to this theory, the black race was not descended from Adam, and thus Jesus did not die for them. Others would claim that Jesus did die for them, evidently with the thought that all the animals are dying in Adam. Russell was, in effect, countering these kinds of claims by showing that all nations are from one man, and that all nations are descended from Noah and Noah sons. But if the supposition that most Bible-believing Christians to is true, that the black race were descendants of Ham, then it should obvious that the black race is descended from Adam just as the white race, and therefore black people are also redeemed by the blood of Jesus. This was Russell’s argument.
Thus examined, it should be apparent that Russell’s statement was actually against racism, not in support of racism. The quote above, amongst many other quotes, is often given as examples of racism concerning the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization, based on the assumption that Russell stated such according the doctrine of the alleged “Jehovah’s organization,” as that doctrine is taught by the Jehovah’s Witnesses. In truth, Russell never believed in, and actively opposed the use of, such an authoritarian organization as was developed by Joseph Rutherford after Russell died. Russell spoke his words as his own, and he did not endeavor to force his thoughts upon anyone; indeed, he continuously insisted that one should accept or reject his words based on the Bible, not simply because he said it.
On the other hand, there is another view that is also promoted concerning this matter that, as far as we have been able to ascertain, Russell never mentions: there were (and are) some blacks who, looking at the same scripture (Genesis 1:28), that have claimed that the black race was before Adam, and that they were originally the superior race. Russell, in effect, although not necessarily intentionally, countered this claim also.
The Degradation of Ham
Russell referred to the degradation of Ham; how was Ham degraded? His degradation could be viewed as being twofold:
Genesis 9:19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from these, the whole earth was populated. 20 Noah began to be a farmer, and planted a vineyard.
Genesis 9:21 He drank of the wine, and got drunk. He was uncovered within his tent.
Genesis 9:22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.
Genesis 9:23 Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it on both their shoulders, went in backwards, and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were backwards, and they didn’t see their father’s nakedness.
Genesis 9:24 Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done to him.
Here, we find that Ham degraded himself by his conduct toward his father. Ham evidently did not just happen by and accidently catch a glimpse of his father in the nude. The record states that Noah “knew what his younger son had done to him.” His conduct, whatever it was, involved more than just accidently catching a glimpse of his father, and Noah’s reaction shows that whatever Ham had done, is was degrading conduct. To avoid degrading themselves this way, his brothers, with their backs toward their father, approached him in order to clothe him.
Regardless, it is a matter of Scriptural record that Noah then degraded Ham with his following statements:
Genesis 9:25 [Noah] said, “Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants will he be to his brothers.”
Genesis 9:26 He said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Shem; Let Canaan be his servant.
Genesis 9:27 God enlarge Japheth, Let him dwell in the tents of Shem; Let Canaan be his servant.”
There is nothing in this curse that says, as many have claimed, that God cursed the descendants of Ham with black skin. No, the curse was on Ham’s firstborn son, Canaan, that Canaan was to be a servant his brothers. Nothing is said about cursing Canaan or his children with black skin, nor was Russell (in the statement quoted at the beginning of this study) saying that the black race itself was under some kind of “special degradation.”
Did Russell believe that the black race came from Canaan? In the Watch Tower of April 15, 1902 (page 216), Russell stated: “We are not able to determine to a certainty that the sons of Ham and Canaan are the negroes; but we consider that general view as probable as any other.” (“The Negro is Not a Beast”) The general view at that time amongst Christians of most denominations was that the Negro race were descendants of Canaan. However, Russell also stated:
It is generally conceded that Noah’s son, Ham, went southward, locating in Africa. The strong rays of the sun would evidently affect the complexion of his offspring. We read that afterwards Ham had a son whom he named Kush. The word Kush means black, and it is very probable that he was so named because of his color, and that he was the first black man. In harmony with this we find that the black race comes from Africa. Shem, another son of Noah, remained near the Mediterranean Sea, and from him sprung the millions of Armenia, Persia, Assyria and Egypt. — “The Negro Question”, as reprinted in Harvest Gleanings Vol. I, page 509
Thus, Russell came to believe that it is “very probable” that the black race descended, not from Canaan, but rather from Ham’s son, Cush. This is actually more in keeping with the general view that the Ethiopians were descendants of Cush. It was not Cush, however, upon whom Noah pronounced the curse, but rather Canaan.
See:
Russell mentioned how the strong rays of the sun would evidently affect the offspring of Ham. Russell, however, probably did not know of the ozone field, and how the absence of such a field after the flood of Noath’s day would have caused rapid genetic changes in all life on earth, which could possibly account for the appearance of various races after the Great Deluge.
We suggest that one do a careful study of the following articles and writings of Russell, not because we would necessarily agree with every word that he stated, but because they show that he was confronting the false teachings concerning races that were prevalent in his day:
The Negro Question
The Negro Not a Beast
To examine what Russell actually stated about the black people and races, we provide search links through Google to sites that contain Russell’s works, so that one may examine what he said in context. Please note that search results are not perfect; unrelated material may also appear, as well as things written by others than Russell himself. Please be careful so as to not attribute to Russell something that was not said by Russell.
mostholyfaith.com
negro
caucasian
colored people
colored brethren
Possible Related Posts:
Russell’s Refutation of “The Negro a… A look at some claims being made that Charles Taze…
Can Restitution Change the Ethiopian’s Skin? Was Charles Taze Russell being racist in reproducing this article?
The Color Line Found Necessary This article is often quoted with claims that Brother Russell…
Volunteer Racism? One of the series of posts that discuss the claims…
Satan’s Illuminati Bloodline This study examines the theories of an alleged “illuminati bloodline”…
Please do not forget that Charles Russel lived in a very racist period in history.
The entire New World country was heavily influenced by racism.
We also would like to remember you and your readers that never Russell nor his direct followers claimed to have the only truth in them nor to be perfect. They were human beings and like any other human being had imperfections.
In case Charles Russel made statements that would seem racist by our standards today we have to consider him to be placed in his days with his culture and the culture of the people around him. As we ourselves are influenced by thoughts of the day Russell was imperfect, and would have been influenced to one degree or another by the world around him.
For those who have seen Abraham we have undergone enough changes in history. Things which seemed all-right to say before World War II became burned after it and where looked dubious. Certain words which where usual in the 1950 and had no negative meaning, like nigger, became considered racist afterwards. words like coloured, black, negro, mullate, alochtone, a.o. may not be used any more; The last few years it even became very ridiculous and changing so often that some of the older generations in Belgium do not know anymore what they may say or use words which where considered normal when they where younger are considered not to be used to day.
In our lifetime as an example of how statements that seemed innocent in the past are viewed as racist today also in the United States, the use of the terms “colored” and “negro.” Both of these terms were viewed as acceptable and even accepted by African-Americans in genneral as being ok, and non-racist. However, just a few decades later, both terms are not only frowned apon, they are concidered extremely bigoted. Even the use of the term “black” in America is becoming less favourable lately we heard and in England it is also considered blasphemous. So, if Russel made statements, or used terms that seem racist today, I am sure that it was merely a reflection of what was current at the time. Russel would have been aware of the teachings in the Bible that ALL people of ALL nations can be approved by God and that we are all created in the image of God. Knowing also his history and the Biblical history he would have known that the first human beings did not at all look like us Caucasians and that Jesus was not at all a white man either.
Thanks Belgian Biblestudent for visiting the website and making such comments. Why is it that the understandings of Russell and others must fit into the context of the progression of modern society if they were truly inspired by the ‘creator?’ This standard of racism was the standard in the English world, but not for the rest of the world. It should also be considered that there were many who did not agree with such actions. Race is an invention man for his own aims.
It is understandable that Russell statements only reflected the sum of his experience and that too should also be brought forth as his spiritual understanding.
I am both! i thought it may be to discuss your perspectives in an interview, if you are available for that? i think some people could benefit from some of your knowledge on the subject.
Good work…really good article.
Even in my country I met these “witnesses” who preach the truth while destroying families and lives.I believe that one that more of these people will be free from this organization.
Depression, Self-harm or even suicide is what happens if you don’t want to be involved like your parents/family.
True occurrence.
You write “Charles Taze Russell, the founder of The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and the Bible Student Movement, a group which Jehovah’s Witnesses emerged from, had this to saying a Watchtower article dated 1904” is not at all true. Ch. T Russell did not found the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Pleas go have a look at history books and read enough available material on the net by the original bible Students and by the continuation of groups of bible Students and bible Scholars.
I would also want to remind you and your readers that the International Bible Students has no connection at all with the Jehovah Witnesses, like you want your readers to believe. They are not associated with the Jehovah Witnesses.
Thank you Marcus Ampe for you comment it is very much appreciated. When I was a little boy, the writings of Charles Taze Russel were in the Kingdom Hall’s library. As time past and Russell’s work became discredited by historians and scholars, The Watchtower was presented with a problem and then tried to distant themselves from Russell as much as possible. Now Russell is called “first editor” of the The Watchtower. History is very clear on the beginnings of the Watchtower, which are denied by newcomers to the organization:
“Beginning in July 1879 he began publishing a monthly religious journal, Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. The journal is now published by Jehovah’s Witnesses on a semi-monthly basis under the name, The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom. In 1881 he co-founded Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society and in 1884 the corporation was officially registered, with Russell as president. Russell wrote many articles, books, tracts, pamphlets and sermons, totaling approximately 50,000 printed pages. From 1886 to 1904, he published a six-volume Bible study series originally entitled Millennial Dawn, later renamed Studies in the Scriptures, nearly 20 million copies of which were printed and distributed around the world in several languages during his lifetime.[3] (A seventh volume was commissioned by his successor as society president, Joseph Rutherford, and published in 1917.) The Watch Tower Society ceased publication of Russell’s writings in 1927,[4] though his books are still published by several independent groups.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Taze_Russell)
I did not say Russell was not the founder of Zion’s Watchtower. I said he was not the founder of the Jehovah Witnessess. The Zion’s Watchtower of which I got magazines until early 21st century also had nothing to do with the Watchtower magazine of the Jehovah Witnesses. True the first Zion’s Watchtower magazines, the same as the Christadelphian bible Students publications like the Wide Margin King James Version and the Diaglot were in the JW -library, but this did not make our movement related to them.
It is not because the several Bible Student movements have the same root that they would agree with the founding fathers of the Jehovah witnesses Organisation.
The Bible Students International, the Bible Students Association, Bible Students Union, Russellites and the many other bible Students like the Bible Scholars and Christadelphian Bible Students consider the Jehovah Witnesses a schism of the first and second American Bible Students Groups. We do know the JW claim not to have schisms in their group but when you look how many splinter-groups came into existence after the death of Ch.T. Russell it is no surprise at all we encounter today still old but also new BS-groups and JW-Groups.
Rutherford was the one who brought the schism motor rolling and he can be considered as the founder of the JW-organisation.
The Jehovah Witnesses Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, which is headquartered in Brooklyn, NY was founded later than you say.
Pastor Charles Taze Russell (1852 – 1916) was the founder of Zion’s Watch Tower magazine and Herald of Christ’s Presence in 1879 and Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society in 1881. Then there were there were Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society (1884-1896) and the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society (1896-1955); He was not the founder of Jehovah’s Witnesses. After his death in 1916 many Bible Students no longer wanted to work with the Watch Tower Society, they wanted to stay with Russell’s teachings from 1876 – 1916, these retained the name Bible Students. Other Bible Students wanted to move forward and make new changes so in 1931, they embraced the distinctive name Jehovah’s Witnesses who got their Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania (since 1955).
We do agree that the Bible Students of today are not the same as the Bible Students from Pastor Russell’s day (1870 – 1916). Many of the current Bible Students will not even fellowship with other Bible Students. For the most part the current Bible Students and Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t have anything to do with each other.
@ Marcus Ampe….thanks for your response! can you email me at warlockasylum@gmail.com thanks!
Charles Taze Russell is the founder of the International Bible Students but not the founder of the Jehovah Witnesses. The International bible Students Association nor we do have anything to do with the Jehovah Witnesses. We do agree we do have a similar source and because we both take the bible as our Guide we do have similar teachings, but as you shall be able to notice, when you look at our our believes, we totally do not accept a human body as being a special selected Being to be “The Faithful Slave of God” who everybody has to follow.
The Jehovah Witnesses came from Rutherford his movement after he created a schism in the bible Student Movement.
Russell is often depicted as racist who was prejudiced against black people; one of the quotes usually presented is one sentence from the the Watch Tower, August 1, 1898, page 230, which reads:
The negro race is supposed to be descended from Ham, whose special degradation is mentioned in Genesis 9:22,25.
This sentence is often quoted without its context and placed in the context of rascism, and in that context, the idea is being presented that Russell was a racist. In effect, it would seem to leave the impression that Russell was stating that the black race is specially degraded. Actually, Russell simply states a fact, that the general supposition held by most Bible believing Christians claims that the Negro (meaning “black) race is descended from Ham. Indeed, this was a true statement, since it was indeed the general supposition amongst most Christian leaders of his day, and is still the general supposition to this day.
The statement is part of his answer to a question regarding Genesis 1:28; the thought many read into that verse that the earth already had a race of people on earth before Adam. Russell showed from the scriptures that all nations have come from one (Adam), and indeed that all races developed from Noah.
We present below the entire question and Russell’s answer below (Bible book names expanded to aid searches):
Question. In Genesis 1:28 and similar passages the word “replenish” seems to indicate that the earth had been peopled before Adam’s creation. Is there anything in the claim of a pre-Adamic race? or that some of the more barbarous nations are not Adam’s offspring?
Answer. You would find it of advantage when such questions come up to consult Young’s Concordance and show the advocate of any erroneous view the definitions there given, and also other passages in which the word in question occurs. If “replenish” be the meaning here, it should fit the other instances in which the word is used; but it does not. The proper rendering of the word is fill.–See margin.
The Scriptures are positive in the declaration that Adam was the first human being. In 1 Corinthians 15:45,47, he is called the first man. In Acts 17:26, it is stated that God “made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth;” in other words, all the peoples of the earth are descended from Adam, no matter how different in color, stature, intelligence, etc., they may now be.
Furthermore, the entire testimony of the Bible must needs be set aside to give color to such a theory: for the Scriptures record that present races had their start in father Noah and that only his descendants survived the flood. And in the New Testament our Lord and several of the Apostles corroborate this record– of Noah and the flood. The negro race is supposed to be descended from Ham, whose special degradation is mentioned in Genesis 9:22,25.
Russell does not state why he added the remark concerning the black people, but a little research reveals that there were (and are) some professed Christians who were claiming that the black race were not descendants of Adam, and that they were created before Adam as beasts of the field, and Genesis 1:28 is one of the scriptures sometimes presented to allegedly support that claim.
Russell more thoroughly refutes this claim in the studies entitled: The Negro Question and “The Negro Not a Beast.” Those studies show that Russell was far ahead for his time in refuting racist theories. Many even claim that the black man was created without a soul, as they would claim for the beast of field (this whole idea is unscriptural, since the Bible states that all the animals have soul — being, and thus, are souls just as man is a soul. One claim is that the black man was put on earth — as a beast of the field — to do the heavy work for the white race. Usually, according to this theory, the black race was not descended from Adam, and thus Jesus did not die for them. Others would claim that Jesus did die for them, evidently with the thought that all the animals are dying in Adam. Russell was, in effect, countering these kinds of claims by showing that all nations are from one man, and that all nations are descended from Noah and Noah sons. But if the supposition that most Bible-believing Christians to is true, that the black race were descendants of Ham, then it should obvious that the black race is descended from Adam just as the white race, and therefore black people are also redeemed by the blood of Jesus. This was Russell’s argument.
Thus examined, it should be apparent that Russell’s statement was actually against racism, not in support of racism. The quote above, amongst many other quotes, is often given as examples of racism concerning the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization, based on the assumption that Russell stated such according the doctrine of the alleged “Jehovah’s organization,” as that doctrine is taught by the Jehovah’s Witnesses. In truth, Russell never believed in, and actively opposed the use of, such an authoritarian organization as was developed by Joseph Rutherford after Russell died. Russell spoke his words as his own, and he did not endeavor to force his thoughts upon anyone; indeed, he continuously insisted that one should accept or reject his words based on the Bible, not simply because he said it.
On the other hand, there is another view that is also promoted concerning this matter that, as far as we have been able to ascertain, Russell never mentions: there were (and are) some blacks who, looking at the same scripture (Genesis 1:28), that have claimed that the black race was before Adam, and that they were originally the superior race. Russell, in effect, although not necessarily intentionally, countered this claim also.
The Degradation of Ham
Russell referred to the degradation of Ham; how was Ham degraded? His degradation could be viewed as being twofold:
Genesis 9:19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from these, the whole earth was populated. 20 Noah began to be a farmer, and planted a vineyard.
Genesis 9:21 He drank of the wine, and got drunk. He was uncovered within his tent.
Genesis 9:22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.
Genesis 9:23 Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it on both their shoulders, went in backwards, and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were backwards, and they didn’t see their father’s nakedness.
Genesis 9:24 Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done to him.
Here, we find that Ham degraded himself by his conduct toward his father. Ham evidently did not just happen by and accidently catch a glimpse of his father in the nude. The record states that Noah “knew what his younger son had done to him.” His conduct, whatever it was, involved more than just accidently catching a glimpse of his father, and Noah’s reaction shows that whatever Ham had done, is was degrading conduct. To avoid degrading themselves this way, his brothers, with their backs toward their father, approached him in order to clothe him.
Regardless, it is a matter of Scriptural record that Noah then degraded Ham with his following statements:
Genesis 9:25 [Noah] said, “Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants will he be to his brothers.”
Genesis 9:26 He said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Shem; Let Canaan be his servant.
Genesis 9:27 God enlarge Japheth, Let him dwell in the tents of Shem; Let Canaan be his servant.”
There is nothing in this curse that says, as many have claimed, that God cursed the descendants of Ham with black skin. No, the curse was on Ham’s firstborn son, Canaan, that Canaan was to be a servant his brothers. Nothing is said about cursing Canaan or his children with black skin, nor was Russell (in the statement quoted at the beginning of this study) saying that the black race itself was under some kind of “special degradation.”
Did Russell believe that the black race came from Canaan? In the Watch Tower of April 15, 1902 (page 216), Russell stated: “We are not able to determine to a certainty that the sons of Ham and Canaan are the negroes; but we consider that general view as probable as any other.” (“The Negro is Not a Beast”) The general view at that time amongst Christians of most denominations was that the Negro race were descendants of Canaan. However, Russell also stated:
It is generally conceded that Noah’s son, Ham, went southward, locating in Africa. The strong rays of the sun would evidently affect the complexion of his offspring. We read that afterwards Ham had a son whom he named Kush. The word Kush means black, and it is very probable that he was so named because of his color, and that he was the first black man. In harmony with this we find that the black race comes from Africa. Shem, another son of Noah, remained near the Mediterranean Sea, and from him sprung the millions of Armenia, Persia, Assyria and Egypt. — “The Negro Question”, as reprinted in Harvest Gleanings Vol. I, page 509
Thus, Russell came to believe that it is “very probable” that the black race descended, not from Canaan, but rather from Ham’s son, Cush. This is actually more in keeping with the general view that the Ethiopians were descendants of Cush. It was not Cush, however, upon whom Noah pronounced the curse, but rather Canaan.
See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cush_%28Bible%29
Russell mentioned how the strong rays of the sun would evidently affect the offspring of Ham. Russell, however, probably did not know of the ozone field, and how the absence of such a field after the flood of Noath’s day would have caused rapid genetic changes in all life on earth, which could possibly account for the appearance of various races after the Great Deluge.
We suggest that one do a careful study of the following articles and writings of Russell, not because we would necessarily agree with every word that he stated, but because they show that he was confronting the false teachings concerning races that were prevalent in his day:
The Negro Question
The Negro Not a Beast
To examine what Russell actually stated about the black people and races, we provide search links through Google to sites that contain Russell’s works, so that one may examine what he said in context. Please note that search results are not perfect; unrelated material may also appear, as well as things written by others than Russell himself. Please be careful so as to not attribute to Russell something that was not said by Russell.
mostholyfaith.com
negro
caucasian
colored people
colored brethren
Possible Related Posts:
Russell’s Refutation of “The Negro a… A look at some claims being made that Charles Taze…
Can Restitution Change the Ethiopian’s Skin? Was Charles Taze Russell being racist in reproducing this article?
The Color Line Found Necessary This article is often quoted with claims that Brother Russell…
Volunteer Racism? One of the series of posts that discuss the claims…
Satan’s Illuminati Bloodline This study examines the theories of an alleged “illuminati bloodline”…
Please do not forget that Charles Russel lived in a very racist period in history.
The entire New World country was heavily influenced by racism.
We also would like to remember you and your readers that never Russell nor his direct followers claimed to have the only truth in them nor to be perfect. They were human beings and like any other human being had imperfections.
In case Charles Russel made statements that would seem racist by our standards today we have to consider him to be placed in his days with his culture and the culture of the people around him. As we ourselves are influenced by thoughts of the day Russell was imperfect, and would have been influenced to one degree or another by the world around him.
For those who have seen Abraham we have undergone enough changes in history. Things which seemed all-right to say before World War II became burned after it and where looked dubious. Certain words which where usual in the 1950 and had no negative meaning, like nigger, became considered racist afterwards. words like coloured, black, negro, mullate, alochtone, a.o. may not be used any more; The last few years it even became very ridiculous and changing so often that some of the older generations in Belgium do not know anymore what they may say or use words which where considered normal when they where younger are considered not to be used to day.
In our lifetime as an example of how statements that seemed innocent in the past are viewed as racist today also in the United States, the use of the terms “colored” and “negro.” Both of these terms were viewed as acceptable and even accepted by African-Americans in genneral as being ok, and non-racist. However, just a few decades later, both terms are not only frowned apon, they are concidered extremely bigoted. Even the use of the term “black” in America is becoming less favourable lately we heard and in England it is also considered blasphemous. So, if Russel made statements, or used terms that seem racist today, I am sure that it was merely a reflection of what was current at the time. Russel would have been aware of the teachings in the Bible that ALL people of ALL nations can be approved by God and that we are all created in the image of God. Knowing also his history and the Biblical history he would have known that the first human beings did not at all look like us Caucasians and that Jesus was not at all a white man either.
Thanks Belgian Biblestudent for visiting the website and making such comments. Why is it that the understandings of Russell and others must fit into the context of the progression of modern society if they were truly inspired by the ‘creator?’ This standard of racism was the standard in the English world, but not for the rest of the world. It should also be considered that there were many who did not agree with such actions. Race is an invention man for his own aims.
It is understandable that Russell statements only reflected the sum of his experience and that too should also be brought forth as his spiritual understanding.
Checking who is who, avoiding bad experiences I had in the past by too soon reacting to questions to e-mail with my ordinary post I found messiah’el bey for https://plus.google.com/u/0/113027639483572525007/posts and https://plus.google.com/u/0/s/warlockasylum. Are you one of them or both?
I am both! i thought it may be to discuss your perspectives in an interview, if you are available for that? i think some people could benefit from some of your knowledge on the subject.
Yes thanks good info