TRUE FAITH JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
 
      (Investigator 122, 2008 September)

 

 
 

True Faith Jehovah's Witnesses is an organized East European JW schism, which rejected the Watchtower Society-led, main group of JWs after Communism collapsed in 1990.

 

TFJWs are estimated at 5,000 to 100,000. Rumania has the largest number estimated at up to 35,000. Smaller numbers are in HungaryPolandUkraine and Russia and outposts in West Europe and North America

 

TFJWs preached JW doctrines underground during the Nazi era and the Cold War but failed to keep up with new "truth" promulgated in the New York headquarters. With communication re-established in 1990 they realized that many doctrines were radically different and much of the "divine truth" that they had been persecuted for was now error.


They concluded that the Governing Body and WTS had abandoned “true faith” and compromised, and apostatized, and led JWs astray, and betrayed their East European brethren. 

 

TFJWs perceived JWs as morally lax, overindulgent in wine and parties, permissive of child abuse, and as hypocrites for denouncing the United Nations while having signed up as a Non-government Organization.

 

TFJWs still use WTS publications published up to 1961, including Russell and Rutherford, and reprint and study Rutherford's books. They view Jehovah and Jesus as the superior authorities (Romans 13:1) — a doctrine JWs revised in 1962 — and denounce big business, government and religion. They believe in a soon-occurring Armageddon followed by a new Earth where a "great crowd" will live in paradise ruled by Jesus and a "little flock".

 

TFJWs permit more freedom of conscience and dissent than JWs do and are more ready to dialogue with dissidents. Preaching is encouraged but not compelled. Preaching is directed at family, friends, and the public in streets and parks. The house to house method of JWs is employed infrequently.

 

They are structured like the main organization with congregations, circuits, and pioneers. "Elders" are older men respected in their congregation but are not appointed by a centralized hierarchy. There are no formal committees that judge and disfellowship — each congregation decides for itself whom to associate with. Blood transfusion and tobacco are preached against, but non-conformity is not enforced with excommunication. Internet photos of TFJW conventions show women wearing head coverings.

 

Critics and ex members of TFJWs, however, view them as narrower and more legalistic than the WTS-led JWs. TFJWs are in effect still "Rutherfordites" — JWs of the1930s — and it’s unlikely they'll expand much.

 

Schism is nothing new among JWs. Theirs is one of the most divisive religions due to failed prophecies and ever-changing "truth" and several hundred groups — some with over 10,000 members — have split off.

 

                                                                                                                                    (BS)


Make sure of all things regarding JWs on this website:
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Dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses at:
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