Jehovah's Witnesses funeral services typically take place within a week of the death. The service is held in the Kingdom Hall and is led by the Congregation Elder. The service is brief (generally between 15 and 30 minutes) and the body of the deceased is usually present.
Jehovah's Witnesses may select to have either a burial or a cremation following the funeral services in the Kingdom Hall. At the graveside or crematorium chapel, the scriptures are referenced and a prayer is read.
Jehovah's Witnesses' Funeral Etiquette
Men usually wear a suit while women usually wear a conservative dress. Funeral Tone — Funeral practices are kept reserved and modest with no display of economic status of the deceased. Mourning is expected to not be overly somber as in the religion, death is not a negative event.
Therefore death is not to be feared as the absolute end, because the dead who are “in God's memory” will be resurrected. Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in a place called Hell or a realm of eternal torment. They do believe in a heaven and the hope of going there.
Cremation is acceptable to Jehovah's Witnesses because of the belief that Jehovah has the ability to restore anyone whether they were cremated or buried. The Bible does not state what should be done with the body after death.
The Jehovah's Witnesses funeral service is similar to other Christian faiths but lasts only 15 or 30 minutes. The funeral usually takes place within a week after death. At the service, men wear a suit and tie, and women are expected to dress modestly, but neither needs a head covering.
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that salvation is possible only through Christ's ransom sacrifice and that individuals cannot be saved until they repent of their sins and call on the name of Jehovah. Salvation is described as a free gift from God, but is said to be unattainable without good works that are prompted by faith.
Jehovah's Witnesses demand high standards of morality within their ranks. Their view of sexual behavior reflects conservative Christian views. Abortion is considered murder. Homosexuality, premarital sex, and extramarital sex are considered "serious sins".
Jehova's Witness Burial Ceremony
Any cemetery is suitable and there are no particular rituals that should be performed. That said, another brief session of scripture and prayer led by the elder at the graveside is a common practice among Jehovah's Witnesses.
The Memorial includes a talk on the meaning of the celebration and a sharing of unadulterated red wine and unleavened bread by those who have been chosen to rule with Christ in heaven.
Though the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses might be different from what you're used to, it doesn't have to stop you from sending a heartfelt message of sympathy. They may hold onto the ultimate hope of seeing their loved ones again, but it doesn't mean that they don't feel the loss.
Jehovah's Witnesses strive to follow the Golden Rule by treating others the way they themselves would like to be treated. —Matthew 7:12.
If you didn't dress modestly, you'd start getting in trouble. Later, some rules on clothing extended to men (tight pants were too “homosexual”). But when I was a Jehovah's Witness, tight pants for men were not yet in fashion, so the women got most of the counsel, as we did in many other parts of our lives, too.
Jehovah's Witnesses reject foods containing blood but have no other special dietary requirements. Some Jehovah's Witnesses may be vegetarian and others may abstain from alcohol, but this is a personal choice. Jehovah's Witnesses do not smoke or use other tobacco products.
Additionally, the Witnesses hold the belief that Jehovah was the creator of all. Furthermore, they do not celebrate birthdays or religious and national holidays. The major Jehovah's Witnesses holiday memorializes the day when Jesus Christ died comes around Passover and Easter moments.
They limit contact with non-Jehovah's Witnesses
JWs are advised not to join groups or teams outside the faith and are also discouraged from higher education.
Jehovah's Witnesses accept medial and surgical treatment. They do not adhere to so-called “faith healing” and are not opposed to the practice of medicine.
At a Jehovah's Witness funeral, mourners are expected to wear simple clothing in muted colors.
6. They limit contact with non-Jehovah's Witnesses. Followers are discouraged from having close relationships with those who are not part of the faith.
Jehovah's Witnesses adhere to the Bible's view of marriage and divorce. Monogamy between one man and one woman and sex only within marriage are requirements in the Witness religion. But Witnesses do permit divorce in certain cases, believing that the only valid ground for divorce and remarriage is adultery.
Based on a literal interpretation of scriptures such as Revelation 14:1–4, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that exactly 144,000 faithful Christians go to heaven as spirit creatures to rule with Christ in the kingdom of God.
"Some people think we knock on doors to change their religion," he said. "We teach the Bible. We look for those who may have a question about the Bible, such as why we get sick or why we die, questions people have. For those who have their own religion, we move on."
Marc John Jefferies, who you'll recognize from films like “Losing Isaiah,” “Get Rich or Die Tryin'” and “Notorious,” was raised in the Jehova's Witness faith as a child. Like sister Serena, Venus was also raised in the Jehovah's Witness faith by their parents.
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that a human must not sustain his life with another creature's blood, and they recognize no distinction "between taking blood into the mouth and taking it into the blood vessels." It is their deep-seated religious conviction that Jehovah will turn his back on anyone who receives blood ...