Jehovah's Witnesses

History of Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses developed from a Bible Student movement, which was formed in the late 1800s in the United States by Charles Taze Russell. By the early 1900s, the movement was internationally recognized. They received criticism from others, but kept going. As time went by, missionary work was emphasized more and more. Door-to-door visits were encouraged and various texts were published. The name "Jehovah's Witnesses" was coined in 1931 during a Bible Student convention led by Joseph Franklin Rutherford. During the World Wars, Jehovah's Witnesses received unfair treatment from Nazis. Since they refused to fight in World War II, they were beaten and treated badly in the US, as well. The group still receives criticism.