God rejects worship that uses images or symbols, including the cross ("Idolatry" Ex 20:4-6.) They teach that when people die, they remain in the grave until God resurrects them after God's Kingdom, or government, is ruling over earth. They believe Jesus died on a pole (also called ' stake') rather than a cross. They do not believe that God is a Trinity. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that only 144,000 people will go to heaven (Rev 7:1-17,Rev 14:1) and that all the other people who obey God will live forever on a paradise Earth. Some of their beliefs, especially about who God is and what his plans are for humans and the earth, are different from what is taught in most Christian or Catholic churches. They later started publishing a religious magazine called The Watchtower. Since Jesus is the Founder of Christianity, they view him as the founder of their organization.-Colossians 1:18-20. The goal of Russell and other Bible Students, as the group was then known, was to promote the teachings of Jesus Christ and to follow the practices of the first-century Christian congregation. These beliefs were taught by Charles Taze Russell, a preacher who started a Bible study group in Pennsylvania in 1876. Their beliefs are based solely upon the Bible. They say that God's Kingdom (mentioned (thy Kingdom come) in the Lord's prayer) will restore God's original purpose for the Earth: bringing about peace for all humans who live by Bible standards. 83:18), will end crime, violence, sickness and death by destroying all wickedness in the world. They believe God, who's name is Jehovah (Ps. Jehovah's Witnesses are a religious group with more than eight million members around the world. Door-to-door messaging is also the only means of communication that is affordable for many small and poorly financed groups, and bans on door-to-door messaging effectively serves to silence these groups entirely.Ī copy of the ACLU’s amicus brief is available online at: Additional information about the ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief is available online at: in Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Netherlands The brief also argues that personal appeals made through door-to-door messaging have long been recognized as uniquely powerful means of communication, and there are no adequate alternatives available under Puerto Rico’s restrictive laws. “These laws dangerously limit access to places that for ages have served as forums for unfettered public discussion and communication.” “The public street has long been the archetype of a traditional public forum,” said William Ramirez, Executive Director of the ACLU of Puerto Rico. The laws not only limit the ability of religious adherents to spread their message of faith, but also prohibit, for example, door-to-door charitable solicitations and political canvassing. The brief also notes that the amount of constitutionally protected speech restricted by the challenged laws extends well beyond religious expression. The ACLU’s amicus brief, filed with cooperating counsel at the Washington, DC office of Mayer Brown LLP, argues that closing off public streets to outside speakers is an unprecedented intrusion on some of the most basic, fundamental rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. “These laws impose sweeping restrictions on free speech and religious exercise and strike at the heart of the First Amendment.” “The Jehovah’s Witnesses unquestionably have a constitutionally protected right to proclaim their faith on the public streets of Puerto Rico,” said Daniel Mach, Director of Litigation for the ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief. The federal lawsuit was filed by the approximately 25,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses in 318 congregations in Puerto Rico, as well as the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., the publisher of religious material that is often distributed by Jehovah’s Witnesses. The laws effectively prohibit Jehovah’s Witnesses from engaging in the door-to-door public ministry for which they are well known worldwide. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, supports a constitutional challenge to Puerto Rico laws, enacted in 1987, that authorize neighborhoods to deny citizens access to public residential streets by erecting walls and gates around them. Laws In Puerto Rico Restricting Access To Public Streets Violate First AmendmentĬONTACT: (212) 549-2666 YORK – The American Civil Liberties Union, its national chapter in Puerto Rico and its affiliates in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island filed a friend-of-the-court brief late Wednesday opposing unconstitutional laws that effectively ban Jehovah’s Witnesses from freely expressing their faith in the streets of Puerto Rico.
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