Jehovah’s Witnesses Project By: Ina Amargo, Erica Bailey, Alana Bradbury, Tyson Haderlie, and Rachel LoPorto

History & Identity Erica Bailey

Identity Founded by Charles Taze Russell in 1870 Restored Teachings Believes that they are the true Christians They reject central teachings of historic Christianity Tyson Haderlie

History Charles Taze Russell started as a bible study Interested in studying Christ’s return Zion’s Watchtower Group became Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society in 1884 Tyson Haderlie

History The Scriptures Russell died in 1916 J.F. Rutherford (1916-1942) Millennial Dawnists  Jehovah’s Witnesses Awake Magazine Door-to-Door Nathan H. Knorr (1942-1977) Watchtower Bible School of Gilead Frederick William Franz (1977-1992) Milton G. Henschel (1992-Present). Tyson Haderlie

Introduction, Beliefs, Rituals & Practices Erica Bailey

Religion & Rituals The Jehovah’s Witnesses consider themselves Christians They do not honor religious symbols, such as the cross, They claim to follow the teachings of the Bible strictly They believe theirs is the one true religion For this reason, they attempt to convert others frequently They feel a sense of obligation to spread their teachings Door to Door Missionary Work Alana Bradbury

More Religious Practices Worldwide Over 7 million members They do note celebrate Christmas, birthdays, or other holidays Their only known celebration comes to honor the death of Christ Politically neutral Do not vote Do not salute flag Alana Bradbury

Health Beliefs & Practices More open to modern health care in recent years Blood transfusions is against their beliefs This is often is a point of conflict between witnesses and their health care providers Cautioned against using psychologists/psychiatric care Psychiatric medications are now considered acceptable if they are used strictly for correcting chemical imbalances in the brain the use of these medications is now likened to that of insulin, Witnesses think that death is an extension of life and most do not fear death Alana Bradbury

Language & Communication Style The language is dependent upon where they live Found world wide and in many languages They communicate openly and honestly Religious teachings at the forefront of their behavior They are considered polite and law abiding Alana Bradbury

Family & Community Erica Bailey

Family Every member is important Be humble Forgive one another Each member of the family can make life happy by imitating God in showing love None in the family are perfect, for all make mistakes. Be humble, asking one another for forgiveness. VOICEOVER SCRIPT The Jehovah’s Witness family is highly valued. They view every member of the family as important to the family structure. They teach that no one person in the family is perfect. They encourage each member to be humble and ask forgiveness of one another. Rachel LoPorto

Husband Head of the household Treats your wife with respect Honor your wife Husbands should treat their wives in the same way that Jesus treats his disciples Wives too deserve thoughtful consideration. Wives are the weaker vessel to whom husbands are commanded to assign honor. VOICEOVER SCRIPT In the Jehovah’s Witness family, the husband is viewed as the head of the household, which is a great undertaking. Husbands are taught to treat their wives with great respect. They are also taught to honor their wives as the husband’s sole priority. Rachel LoPorto

Wife Husband is the head of the household Do not belittle your husband Do not disagree over opinions Abide by your husband Respect your husband Love your husband Love your children Homemaker The head of a woman is the man, since all of us have a head to whom we must submit. She should not belittle what her husband does or try to take over his headship. women are “to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sound in mind, chaste, workers at home, good, subjecting themselves to their own husbands.” The wife should have deep respect for her husband. Whether her husband is a fellow believer or not, a wife is not showing disrespect if she tactfully expresses an opinion that differs from his. To love their husbands, to love their children, to be sound in mind, chaste, workers at home, good, subjecting themselves to their own husbands. VOICEOVER SCRIPT In the Jehovah’s Witness family, the wife is to observe the husband as the head of the household. She is instructed to avoid patronizing or disagreeing openly about her husband’s decision. The Jehovah’s witness wife is to abide by and respect her husband. She also is taught to love her husband and her children, a general practice amongst various cultures. The Jehovah’s Witness wife is encouraged to be a homemaker for her family as well. Rachel LoPorto

Children Trust in parents to protect you Be obedient Resist peer pressure Children need parents who will protect them from people who seek to harm them. By learning to be obedient, children will make their parents and their heavenly Father very happy. Satan, the Devil, uses peer pressure, which can be hard to resist. VOICEOVER SCRIPT The Jehovah’s Witness children are taught to trust in their parents to protect them. They are to practice obedience in the household. Also, they are instructed to resist peer pressure as it is a vice of the Devil. Rachel LoPorto

Community Practice giving, and people will give to you Doing good for others is self- gratifying Be a blessing to the community rather than a burden Practice giving, and people will give to you. . . . With the measure that you are measuring out, they will measure out to you in return. Doing good things for others boosts your self-respect and makes you feel the satisfaction that comes from giving. Add to this the noble desire to be a blessing to the community rather than a burden. All of this involves love and concern for others. VOICEOVER SCRIPT The Jehovah’s Witness is taught to give and do good in the community. They preach that in practicing giving, people will give to you. They also encourage doing good for others as it will boost your self-respect and you will feel the satisfaction that comes from giving. The Jehovah’s Witness should have a desire to be a blessing to the community rather than a burden, which involves love and concern for others. Rachel LoPorto

Family Health and Wellness Parents are the example for their children Parents needs to educate children about good health Couples need to be healthy for one another Health leads to a better way to serve God When parents set a good example in regard to healthful nutrition, cleanliness, sleep habits, exercise, and disease prevention, their offspring are likely to benefit. If we are healthy, we can serve God more actively. There could be no higher or more motivating reason to take care of one’s health. Couples need to remain healthy and strong to continue helping each other. Parents should support and train their children about the importance of health. VOICEOVER SCRIPT The Jehovah’s Witness family is a major part of maintaining personal health. Parents are taught to be a good health role model for their children, as well as educate them about the importance of good health. Couples are also instructed to remain healthy and strong to continue helping each other. The Jehovah’s Witness knows that if they are healthy, they can serve God more actively, which is the most important reason to take care of themselves. Rachel LoPorto

Pain, Diet and Customs Erica Bailey

Pain Accept the use of pain medication Response to Pain is standard Some may prefer holistic avenues to manage pain Response to Pain is standard Ina Amargo

Dietary Practices Only one major restriction: Meat can be eaten only if all blood is drained or cooked Ina Amargo

Social Customs Do not approve of Dishonesty Lying Gambling Stealing Sexual misconduct Substance abuse Sexual misconduct Witnesses do not approve of: masturbation sex outside marriage Sex outside marriage includes petting and oral sex. unnatural sex within marriage unchaperoned dates excessive public displays of affection homosexuality Substance abuse Smoking, chewing betel nut, and taking drugs for pleasure are wrong because they make people their slaves, they harm the body and they are unclean. Ina Amargo

Social Customs Do not approve of Angry behavior Superstitious behavior False Religions Birthdays Fear of the Dead Angry behaviour Witnesses do not approve of: Fits of Anger Violence Profanity Superstitious behaviour Witnesses should shun the teachings or customs of false religion Witnesses should not celebrate birthdays Witnesses should not be afraid of the dead Ina Amargo

Social Customs Do not approve of Drunkenness “Soiling the mind” Clean thoughts Drunkenness Soiling the mind Witnesses should avoid forms of entertainment that could soil their minds They should fill their minds with clean thoughts by studying God's Word Patient education   Ina Amargo

Case Study: Hypertension Education Erica Bailey

Case Study Mr. S. Claus is a male of undetermined age. He was admitted to the hospital three days ago with a diagnosis of pneumonia; however, he is being discharged home tomorrow. He reports that work has been very busy, and that he has been under a great deal of stress. Mr. Claus’ lungs sound just about normal, with no coughing or shortness of breath. While being in the hospital, it has been noted that Mr. Claus has had some high blood pressure with average readings around 145/102. Mr. Claus says to you the nurse “The doctor says I have high blood pressure, and that I need to make some changes in my life, can you tell me what that means?”. From your previous discussions with Mr. Claus, you know that he is a Jehovah’s Witness. What is the plan? Erica Bailey

Standard Interventions Suggest to the patient to establish a daily routine of taking his/her medications. Encourage a change in dietary habits. Help patient examine and modify his lifestyle (reducing stress and exercising regularly) Take Blood Pressure every day and keep a journal of the reading Erica Bailey

Hypertension Teaching for the Jehovah’s Witness Would not deny treatment They do not believe in “faith healing” Teach about side effects of medication Diet Modification There is no evidence to suggest that a Jehovah’s witness would deny medical treatment for HTN They do not believe in “Faith healing”, and would consider this medication necessary Important to teach them about the side effects of their medication, which in this case would be fatigue, N/V and reflux We would need to talk to Mr. Claus about is daily routines and diet. He states that there are a lot of cookies at his work this time of year. We could teach him about moderation; further continuing on about low salt, low fat diets. Witnesses do not eat bloody meat, so encouraging leaner meats would be right in line with their beliefs. Narrated and Applied to Case Study by: Erica Bailey Information from: Alana Bradbury and Tyson Haderlie

Hypertension Teaching for the Jehovah’s Witness Healthy  Serves God Better If he is healthier, he can be a better head of his household Role Model Narrated and Applied to Case Study by: Erica Bailey Information from: Rachel LoPorto

References

References Dubose, P. & Penton, J. (2002). Religious beliefs and healthcare decisions. The Jehovah’s Witness Tradition (1-16). Retrieved from: http://www.che.org/members/ethics/docs/1266/Jehovahs%20Witness.pdf Hypertension Education. (2013, January 1). Retrieved December 2, 2014, from https://my.intermountain.net/pen/Pages/home.aspx Jehovah’s Witnesses. (2011, March). You can improve your health. AWAKE! Retrieved from http://www.jw.org Jehovah’s Witnesses. (n.d.). The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, 1-4. Retrieved December 2, 2014, from jehova_witness.pdf Jehovah’s Witnesses. (2014). Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. http://www.jw.org

References Jehovah’s Witnesses: Do Jehovah’s witnesses break up families or build them up? (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2014, from http://www.jw.org Jehovah's Witness Ethics. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2, 2014, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/witnesses/witnessethics/ethics_1.shtml Jehovah’s Witnesses: How to make your family life happy. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2014, from http://www.jw.org Jehovah’s Witnesses: Why should I help others? (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2014, from http://www.jw.org Stroup,H. (1946). The Jehovah’s witnesses. The Journal of Religion (26, 3). P 220-222. Retrieved from: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1197173 Wilson, P. (2005). Jehovah's Witness children: when religion and the law collide. Pediatric Nursing, 17(3), 34-37 Jehovah’s Witnesses: How to make your family life happy. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2014, from http://www.jw.org   Jehovah’s Witnesses: Do Jehovah’s witnesses break up families or build them up? (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2014, from http://www.jw.org Jehovah’s Witnesses: Why should I help others? (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2014, from http://www.jw.org Jehovah’s Witnesses. (2011, March). You can improve your health. AWAKE! Retrieved from http://www.jw.org