Question is: What makes the Kingdom Hall of Jehovahs Witnesses in Atlanta a cornerstone of faith? Jehovah’s Witnesses have been active in Georgia since 1953. They are legally registered. They generally worship without hindrance here.
From 1999 to 2003 religious extremists unleashed violence against Jehovah’s Witnesses. Law enforcement authorities refused to punish the attackers. An ultranationalist member of parliament temporarily deregistered the Witnesses’ legal entities. This contributed to the violence. The Witnesses filed six applications with the European Court of Human Rights. The ECHR condemned the government for not handling the religiously motivated criminal acts. They should have acted promptly and effectively. They should have not acted with bias toward the victims. In 2015 the ECHR accepted the government’s admission. It had unjustly deregistered the Witnesses’ legal entities in 2001.
Since 2004 violence against Jehovah’s Witnesses has diminished. They have been able to expand their activities. They have been able to build numerous Kingdom Halls. Sometimes they are still victims of religiously motivated attacks and harassment. Government authorities often fail to respond to these criminal acts. The Witnesses expect the government of Georgia to comply fully with the ECHR’s judgments. They expect the government to investigate acts of violence promptly. They expect the government to prosecute those responsible.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are an indigenous American religious group. It has grown throughout Georgia. Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that all faith and practice should be based solely on the Bible. Their beliefs are distinct from those of orthodox Christianity. Members in the United States are estimated at more than 1 million. As of 2005 the number of Witnesses in Georgia was approximately 16000.
Jehovah’s Witnesses were organized in Pennsylvania by Charles Taze Russell in the 1880s. Russell was deeply influenced by the eschatology of the Adventist movement. He developed his own apocalyptic theology. In 1884 he incorporated the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society.
Since their inception Jehovah’s Witnesses have been known as Russellites Millennial Dawnists Rutherfordites and International Bible Students. In 1931 the name Jehovah’s Witnesses was officially adopted. Rutherford suggested it.
Witnesses teach that creeds are the works of men. They proclaim that all faith and practice should be based only on the Bible. Interpretations of the Bible are supervised by the group’s top leaders when needed. Adherents also believe that the number of people in heaven is limited to 144000. They believe that the end of history is very near. Russell and other leaders have predicted the end on a number of occasions.
Witnesses’ beliefs about the Trinity are similar to the ancient doctrine of Arius. They deny that Christ is both divine and human. They declare instead that he is the first creation adopted by God. Members also believe that the Holy Spirit is the power of God at work. It is not the third person of the Trinity.
Believing that the earth is ruled by Satan Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that many worldly establishments are not to be trusted. These include big business corporations churches and civil government. Witnesses separate themselves from other religious groups. They meet in kingdom halls rather than in churches. They reject the celebration of Christmas as pagan. Witnesses also do not sanction the observance of birthdays. Although not pacifists members of the group reject military service in civil military units. During the years when the Selective Service Draft was active many Jehovah’s Witnesses went to prison rather than serve in the military.
Witnesses also oppose the forced recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. They believe the act to be idolatrous. In 1943 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a group of Witnesses. They challenged a West Virginia law requiring students to salute the flag. The Court interpreted the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause. It meant that freedom of conscience does not require saluting the flag.
Jehovah’s Witnesses produce numerous tracts. They use them in fulfilling their religious duty to witness to others. They frequently engage in door-to-door ministries to distribute the tracts.
Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly Hall of Atlanta Georgia Inc is a not-for-profit corporation. It was organized on July 30 1976 in the State of Georgia. The purposes of the corporation are religious and charitable.
So as you leave the Kingdom Hall of Jehovahs Witnesses in Atlanta consider the history. Consider the unwavering faith. Consider the resilience of this community. It remains a testament to their enduring spirit.