The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society produces a large amount of literature for use by Jehovah's Witnesses; their best known publications are the magazines, The Watchtower and Awake!. The Watchtower was first published by Charles Taze Russell, founder of the Bible Student movement, in 1879,[1] followed by the inception of the Watch Tower Society in 1881.[2] Following a dispute in the movement's leadership,[3] supporters of the Watch Tower Society's president, Joseph Franklin Rutherford, adopted the name Jehovah's witnesses in 1931.[4] Particularly since 2001, the literature produced by the Watch Tower Society has typically stated that it is "published by Jehovah's Witnesses".[5]
Along with books and brochures, other media are also produced, including audio cassettes, videocassettes, and DVDs. New publications are usually released at Jehovah's Witnesses' annual conventions.
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Literature for preaching
Most literature produced by Jehovah's Witnesses is intended for use in their evangelizing work, with a small selection of material available in over 430 languages. Their publications make extensive use of secular references and quotations from the Bible. Publications for preaching are also routinely studied by members, both privately and at their meetings for worship.
Their most widely distributed publications are:
- New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT), a modern-language translation of the Bible. This is the Bible translation primarily used by Jehovah's Witnesses.
- Awake!, published in over 80 languages, a general-interest monthly magazine covering many topics from a religious perspective. It has an average circulation of over 36.5 million copies per issue.
- The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom, published in over 170 languages semimonthy, focuses mainly on doctrine. With an average circulation of over 37 million copies, The Watchtower is the most widely distributed religious magazine in the world.[6] Since 2008, the issue dated 1st of each month is distributed to the public, and the issue dated the 15th is distributed only to members for use in the Watchtower Study.[7]
The Watchtower and Awake! magazines are both available in various audio and electronic formats, and some of the articles are available online. After the end of each year, the issues are collected and re-released in a printed annual edition, commonly referred to as a 'bound volume'.
Jehovah's Witnesses previously offered their literature for a price determined by the branch office in each country, to cover printing costs.[8] Since 2000, Jehovah's Witnesses have offered their publications free of charge globally.[9] Printing is funded by voluntary donations from Witnesses and members of the public.[10] Jehovah's Witnesses are instructed to invite donations when offering literature.[11]
Special-purpose literature
Some publications are designed for specialized use, such as the brochures Apply Yourself to Reading and Writing and Learn to Read and Write for assisting people in developing lands to learn read and write, and Good News for All Nations, which contains a simple Bible message in many languages.
Publications designed for specific religious groups are also used in their public ministry. The brochure Will There Ever be a World Without War? and the tract A Peaceful New World, Will it Come? are geared toward the Jewish community. The brochure The Guidance of God is directed towards those of the Muslim faith. Our Problems, Who Will Help us Solve Them? is targeted at invididuals witha Buddhist background, and Why Worship God With Spirit and Truth? is written for those with Hindu beliefs.
Literature for members
Some literature is produced only for use by Jehovah's Witnesses and is not distributed to the general public, such as the book Organized to Do Jehovah's Will, for individuals preparing for baptism. The Watchtower Library CD-ROM, containing many of the Watch Tower Society's literature published since 1950, is distributed only to congregation publishers. Certain publications are only made available to specific ranks within the organization, such as the instructional manuals for elders and pioneers, respectively entitled Pay Attention to Yourselves and to All the Flock and Shining as Illuminators in the World.
See also
References
- ^ Watch Tower, July 1 1879
- ^ The Watchtower, January 15, 1955, page 14, "Modern History of Jehovah’s Witnesses"
- ^ Jehovah's Witnesses: The New World Society by Marley Cole, pp. 89-90.
- ^ Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom, page 720, Noteworthy Events in the Modern-day History of Jehovah’s Witnesses
- ^ The Watchtower, 15 January 2001, pp. 28-31, How the Governing Body Differs From a Legal Corporation
- ^ The Watchtower, February 1, 2005, p. 32
- ^ Our Kingdom Ministry, July 2007, p. 1 Exciting Changes for The Watchtower!
- ^ Our Kingdom Ministry, October 1984 p. 8
- ^ Since 1990, the "complete donation basis" had been used in the United States; see Our Kingdom Ministry, May 1990, page 7.
- ^ 2001 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, page 18
- ^ Our Kingdom Ministry, January 2006, p. 5 "How to Offer the Bible Teach Book"
External links
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