Kingdom Hall

The cult of Jehovah's Witnesses has major ceremonies like the Memorial Celebration Annual Supper , and baptism.

It includes regular attendance at meetings of the congregation who stand in the halls of the Kingdom, their places of worship.

He spends a lot of importance to spirituality and personal relationship with God, Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas or other holiday which they emphasize the pagan origins, apart from marriage, wedding anniversaries or the death of Jesus.

The main ceremony of the worship of Jehovah's Witnesses is the "Memorial" of the death of Christ , also called "Lord's Supper" or "Commemoration".

It is celebrated each year on 14 Nisan, the date of Passover , that is to say, the ^14th day of the first lunar month according to the Jewish calendar the time of Christ, after sunset. During this annual ceremony, the last Supper is shown by Christ's injunction to "do this in remembrance of him" . This celebration is traditionally followed by an exhortation to come to attend the following Sunday which is pronounced a "special public speech."

Places of worship and sacred art

Jehovah's Witnesses have no sacred art, doctrine displays a depreciation of artistic research. Their worship is simple and somewhat emotional places of worship are primarily designed to be functional .

Kingdom Halls

The Kingdom Hall is the place of worship of Jehovah's Witnesses. This is a public building where sometimes meet more than one congregation. It is not specially decorated and has an architecture variable from place to place, but is primarily designed to be fun and functional. This place is generally composed of a large room where the crowds gather to hear the speaker, a room called 'secondary' smaller is used in the Theocratic Ministry School.

Their construction and maintenance are supervised in most countries of the world by building regional committees. The purpose of such committees, which usually consist each of five to seven people experienced in construction activities, is to coordinate the efforts of those involved to provide places of worship both attractive and functional, and that to the shortest possible price. Given an increasing demand for places of worship of Jehovah's Witnesses, the regional building committees have emerged around the mid- 1986 , and the Watchtower Society , the global leadership of the religious movement, began coordinate this activity. In 1987 , 60 regional building committees were formed throughout the United States , then these committees have become internationalized, and branches of the Watchtower Society have received detailed information on this subject . From September ¹ this year, in France , there were five committees of regional building Kingdom Halls to be appointed by the Watchtower Society .

They are mostly old (local supervisors) who are selected to serve on these committees, and in general most of them also have experience in areas such as real estate, engineering, construction, affairs, security and other areas. The building committee should be consulted if the congregations :

• They want to choose a land to build their own Kingdom Hall, they must also consult the district supervisors and elders of neighboring congregations.

• They planned to renovate and improve an existing Kingdom Hall .
• They want to expand their facilities (for example to accommodate a number of congregations gathered at district assemblies and special meetings a day).

The committee then evaluates the suitability of a construction project possible by purchasing the land and materials and will collate the skilled labor among the faithful in more than 65 specialist trades. They work as volunteers, without compensation . Eventually, disaster, committees can ask their volunteers to participate in relief work to their co-religionists, as was the case in 1999 in the islands of the Caribbean .

In 1992 , the regional building committee appointed by the Society helped to build Kingdom Halls in South Africa , in Germany , in Argentina , in Australia , in Canada , in Spain , in France , in Britain , in Japan and Mexico. When he had to appeal to other subsidiaries to build a Kingdom Hall, steps have been taken at the global headquarters of the Watchtower Society. In some parts of the world, new rooms were built in a few days, elsewhere in a few weeks or months. The number of workers involved in construction has been reduced through these committees: there were rarely more than 200 at the same time, and these were present only when needed them .

The press has occasionally mentioned the construction committees in connection with the construction of a Kingdom Hall ^{, ,} .

Songs

In 2009, the meetings start on time, with a hymn. He asks them to be singing this song up if possible, without particular formulation.

Hymns of the Kingdom are the hymns that the Jehovah's Witnesses use as part of their weekly meetings. The 225 songs are currently used written about all aspects of Christian service. All are based on a verse Bible. The songs are different from each other, but are solemn in nature. The melodies are made to express different expressions. Some are like to express a walk, others as hymns. Some are more animated than others. Musical expression is enhanced by the singing of hymns. No choir was founded by the movement.

Normally, three songs each lasting about three minutes at the meetings are sung to the Kingdom Hall: indeed, they open and conclude with a hymn and a prayer , and the two parts of the meeting are separated by the singing another song. The songs are selected based on the themes discussed during the meeting schedule below or above. Usually the songs introducing the Theocratic Ministry School, Reunion service and study Watchtower are chosen by the organization. The number of the song of the study The Watchtower is listed on the second page of the magazine, while that of the Meetings service is mentioned within the newsletter, The Ministry of the Kingdom. In contrast, the hymn of Public discourse is generally chosen by the speaker himself. The songs are also on the agenda of meetings and sometimes in different events at Bethel.

In marriages of faithful, Jehovah's Witnesses use songs appropriate Praise Jehovah from the collection of our songs rather than the traditional wedding march. The funerals of Jehovah's Witnesses also often include the singing of a hymn suitable to the occasion.

The movement published a hymnal for the first time in 1879 , called Songs of the Bride, then reissued regularly . Initially, the Bible Students have used several well-known hymns and songs. They also used very famous melodies they have adapted to their own texts. These songs were often performed by several famous composers, including Ludwig van Beethoven and Joseph Haydn. Since then, the practice of using music in their meetings saw a lot of development. In the late 1930s , they stopped performing the song as part of worship at local meetings. In 1944 , the practice was reintroduced, and since that time the organization has put more work into making the entire collection of songs specifically to Jehovah's Witnesses. The melodies and texts are now all made by the faithful members of the organization.

Until the late 1970s, the Watchtower Society used an orchestra to accompany the singing of hymns, including at meetings of district, district or international. Thus, a Witness enjoying playing the music could integrate this orchestra. However, the organization decided in the early 1980s to disband these orchestras, saying that the faithful who composed them were spending too much time practicing and not enough in spiritual activities. Thus, these bands have been replaced by audio tapes played at the piano .

The current compilation of hymns , entitled Praise Jehovah by our songs, includes 225 songs. It was released in English in 1984 , in French in 1986 and was presented in other languages in the following years. Various textual revisions have also occurred; recordings on cassettes and CDs were produced. The composers of the melodies and lyrics are the faithful from countries like the UK , the Australia , the Brazil , the Canada , the Denmark , the USA , the Finland , the France , the Italy , the Japan , and Germany . The names of composers are not included in the songbook, the same way as other publications of their authors remain anonymous. However, the hymn No. 29 today, entitled "Forward Witnesses!" was composed by a devotee named Erich Frost, while he was in a concentration camp during the Nazi. Is August ¹1948 to the United States that this song was performed for the first time, by a choir composed of students from the ^11th class of the School of Gilead at graduation .

The Watchtower Society teaches its followers to respect the hymns as part of their worship in their own right. Thus, for example, the songs are not used for dancing or adapted versions rock . In 2005 , singer and guitarist George Benson had recorded Songs of the Kingdom (Kingdom Songs) with his friends. In The Kingdom Ministry March 2005 , the Watchtower Society said she disapproved of the CD .

Biblical Representations

Jehovah's Witnesses reject the worship of images, Kingdom Halls do not have statues or crucifixes, considered a pagan symbol. In the field of graphic arts, Jehovah's Witnesses have developed a characteristic type of representation, in a style reminiscent of naive art , representing many biblical scenes, however they are not intended for decoration of places of cult, but the illustration of publications for the study of doctrine.

We must also mention the realization, at the time of Charles Russell, a film recounting the stories of the Bible, the Photo-Drama of Creation. This presentation consisted of still and moving images with synchronized musical recordings of speeches and broadcast through phonographs.

The Bible clearly condemns the use of images or statues or even a crucifix, which is why the Jehovah's Witnesses do not accept the use of sacred images in worship, because the Scriptures clearly say that it is imperative not worship images of men, but believe and do the will of God, but how? With the spirit and truth!

Support regular meetings

Meetings of the congregation

Meeting of the congregation

Two meetings are held weekly in congregations and are usually divided into two sessions, especially on weekends and evenings . These meetings, which are usually held at the Kingdom Hall, aim "mutual encouragement and spiritual edification" of each member of the congregation through the study of the Bible. The publications of the movement are generally used to frame them: it is to promote exchanges between members of the congregation following a precise schedule of topics and subjects to be treated. These meetings provide ongoing training for all, including children, teaching them to respond to critical arguments. The Watchtower Society attaches great importance to these meetings and encourages members to attend as regularly as possible, believing that the spirituality of these depends . All these meetings are started and closed with a prayer service and the singing of a song from the collection of 225 hymns Praise Jehovah by our songs, which adds to the duration of the meeting itself, which makes a total of 3:30 since January 2009. The Watchtower Society encourages his followers to prepare well before attending, for example to highlight the answers to questions for the study of The Watchtower.

Public discourse

This "public discourse" on a biblical theme is presented by a man he experienced following a detailed plan (consisting of a frame of arguments and Bible verses) provided by the Watchtower Society. It is often at this meeting that newcomers are invited as well as other ancient cities. It takes 30 minutes (since 2008, formerly 45 minutes), followed by the study of The Watchtower and the singing of a hymn serves as a transition when the two successive meetings. The themes of the speech are displayed in the halls of the kingdom, weeks in advance, and the date. Additionally, each congregation its own list of speech.

Study of The Watchtower

The "Study of The Watchtower "is an important link in the teaching of Jehovah's Witnesses , The Watchtower is considered one of the main instruments of the faithful and discreet slave , represented by the Central College of Witnesses Jehovah to deliver his 'spiritual food'. The study questions are directed by former while reading the magazine is headed by a male speaker. Each of its articles deal generally a matter of doctrine, worship, behavioral or prophetic. The reader reads each week designated paragraph of a recent article, then ask the former printed in the journal relating to that paragraph and the assistance is requested to respond by drawing on this passage. Those present are entitled to ask a specific question on paragraph studied, although it is not well accepted. The meeting lasts one hour.

Theocratic Ministry School

The "Theocratic Ministry School", a meeting of type 'school', aims to train the Jehovah's Witnesses for preaching through simulations, to help students (men, women and children "Witnesses or sincere supporters ") to improve their presentations and allow the most talented to become speakers and qualified teachers. The benefits of students are valued and recorded in a form of personal advice oratories and former head of the meeting said everyone orally areas for improvement. The meeting lasts 45 minutes is followed by the Meeting of the service of a identical duration. Registration for this school is for baptized members who want to start or not to preach, who are regular meetings and whose belief, conduct and dress rules adhere to the Witnesses. Moreover, in 2010, enrollment in this school is always preceded by a confidential interview with a former to make a tune as "interrogation."

Meeting Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses

Meeting Service

During the "Meeting Service", we study the recommendations of the organization, using an internal bulletin: The Ministry of the Kingdom, whose parts are made by several members of the congregation having the qualities deemed to do so. It was during this meeting that are advertised all the measures taken by the congregation, including excommunication , reinstatements, arrivals of new members, baptisms , appointments. Are also addressed in the latter, material and fiscal issues, such as resolutions voted by show of hands about the use of the donations received by the congregation.

The Bible Study of the congregation

From January 2009, before the Theocratic Ministry School, held "The Bible Study of the congregation" which lasts 25 minutes, at the Kingdom Hall. A representative of the congregation leading the study of a manual published by the Watchtower Society that will cover topics more dogmatic. This meeting is held with a system of questions and answers similar to the study of The Watchtower. In 2010, the book reviewed is titled "Come, follow me." It is a book about the spiritual and religious work of Jesus.

SPECIAL WEEK (visit the Supervisor of District)

Each constituency has a roving supervisor who directs that district, and for two times a year he visits each congregation. His visit is to assess the entire congregation, a development is also planned with the old "meeting with the elders and ministerial assistants. There is also a special meeting with the pioneers, full time during this meeting the pioneers receive leadership and guidance to be more practical and effective in the field. During this week's meetings are often shared in three days Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Staff meetings are held daily in the morning and afternoon under the direction of the supervisor district. So this week full of spiritual food allows you all to regain strength and move forward in these last days.

Personal Bible Study

This study is conducted at home by each proclaimer of the congregation. The organization of Jehovah gives sage advice to conduct a personal study each week. Thus in this study one can review the materials to do during the meetings to prepare for the study of the Watchtower and also see their spiritual needs.

Service full time

Evangelists to conduct full-time service pioneer Standing under the direction of society. We must therefore respect the 840 hours per year which amounts to 70 hours per month. These pioneers must be spiritually strong. They are very consistent in the service field and set an example for other proclaimers of the congregation. These pioneers organize appointment service in streets, parks etc. ... He spend much time preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

The attendants in the congregation

For the proper management of government records so assistants are appointed to serve the congregation by example:

attendant as: accounts, territories, publications, periodicals, library, etc. ...

There are also other tasks: microphones, sound systems, the greeting, order etc. ...

The former give other tasks for the coordination meetings of the congregation.

Cleaning

At the end of meetings, a group of members designated weeks in advance, are working to clean the room.

Meetings

Assembly District

At these weekly meetings plus three annual meetings, and that Jehovah's Witnesses urge to attend. The schedule of meetings, based on a different Bible verse for each day, consists of several speeches relating to biblical questions, interviews, testimonies of faithful copies, demonstrations, a summary of the article Tower custody of the week (Sunday afternoon) and the status of accounts; speech baptism of new members takes place on Saturday late morning. All three meetings are as follows:

• a "Special Assembly for a Day" (riding) a Saturday or Sunday, organized a meeting room or in a rented room;

• an "Assembly constituency" of two days, Saturday and Sunday, organized a meeting room or in a rented room;

• a "District Assembly" for three days from Friday to Sunday during the summer, most often organized in a municipal stadium, sometimes in a room or meeting room rental; In some countries, there may be several District Assemblies, on different dates, but with the same speech. Originally, these rallies lasted one week. It was during this meeting that seem new publications published by the Watchtower Society. On Sunday morning, a drama depicting an episode Bible is shown in period costume. Resolutions are sometimes subject to the audience Sunday afternoon at the end of the program. Sometimes the content of the meeting is broadcast on a local radio station. Some years in some countries, district assemblies are renamed "International Assemblies" as they welcome the delegations of the faithful from around the world and / or all the hosts. In 2006 , the assembly, which had the theme of deliverance is near! / I>, has been a global campaign inviting the public through home distribution of a print.

Baptism

The baptism is for future Jehovah's Witnesses in age to ask the most important step critical to their religious commitment. It is for them, the only way to position themselves for the official name of Jehovah and to dedicate their life as well. This is the only way that Jehovah's Witnesses offer to escape the destruction of the "system of things wrong" during the present great battle of Armageddon , Jesus will deliver that to establish thereafter a paradise on earth. One can read in the book knowledge that leads to life eternal, p180 . However, for the Jehovah's Witnesses , Baptism is not a sacrament and does not purify itself of sins . Based on the Gospel according to Matthew 28:19,20, baptism must be "in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit", that is to say according to them, not believing in the doctrine of the Trinity , but in the sense that the candidate must recognize the position and authority of Jehovah God as the Creator and his heavenly Father, the function and authority of Jesus Christ as Son of God, Redeemer and King, and the action of the holy spirit or active force of Jehovah particular to understand the Bible , to preach and to manifest different qualities . Long before the baptism , the neophytes called "friend of truth" (that is to say, he who has a Bible study at home and regularly attends meetings of motion) may apply to be named "non-baptized proclaimer "This will allow him to participate in the work of evangelization and thus identify a Jehovah's Witness. The former will verify their knowledge level biblical and lifestyle to see if it qualifies as issued by the movement. Generally be expected then that, within a reasonable period of some months, the prospective member asks to be baptized.

To be baptized, the candidate must first have vowed to Jehovah in prayer , then apply mainly to the supervisor-president of his congregation. Three former successively visit the applicant to ask the 104 questions in the book Organized to do the will of Jehovah, the latter designed to test knowledge of the future called the doctrine of the movement. The elders will also ensure that the candidate lived a life consistent with the directives of the Bible as the religious movement understands. If his answers are satisfactory, it will be admitted to baptism.

Baptisms are performed in the regional assemblies (three year), the candidate is baptized by immersion. In 2006 , the annual report published by the Watchtower Society reported 248,327 baptisms worldwide, including 2,507 for France.

History

Since the beginning of its existence, the religious movement was considered appropriate that anoints each believer is to say, with the hope to live in heaven, be baptized. However, in 1934 , he indicated that the class of people with earthly hope, and she called the 'Jonadab' should also be baptized:

"A Jonadab should dedicate himself to Jehovah , and be baptized? Answer: It is certainly right that Jonadab dedicated to fulfilling the will of God. No one will ever life if he does well. Baptism or immersion in water is only a symbol that shows a man devoted himself to fulfilling the will of God, which is why baptism is not cons-indicated . "

Originally, the baptisms of Jehovah's Witnesses are frequently practiced in rivers or in pools or tubs of faithful. For years before 1930 , each candidate for baptism received a long dress with ankle straps, to put over her bathing suit, or a long black coat buttoned up to his neck and wrists .

Requirements

Steps

To be baptized, the candidate must first :

• Acquire knowledge biblical sufficient as taught by the religious movement;

• Repentance, which includes having regret, remorse, for having done or not having done something to get a good conscience and to be comforted by God's sense of guilt. It should produce "works that are appropriate to repentance" in the words Bible.

• Conversion, which involves giving up his former lifestyle, give up worship of other religions , to comply with the commandments of God as understood by the movement and to dedicate this one is an exclusive attachment. The conversion must change the way of seeing things, the objectives, the state of mind.

• Devote himself to God with all my heart. The offering of oneself to God means to set apart a sacred goal. In a prayer solemn, he expressed to God for his decision to devote an exclusive devotion forever and devote his life to serving.

Question of baptism

Second, it must apply mainly to the coordinator of the college of elders of his congregation. Three former successively visit the applicant to ask the 104 questions in the book Organized to do the will of Jehovah, the latter designed to test knowledge of the future called the doctrine of the movement. The former will also ensure that the candidate lived a life consistent with the guidelines of the organization.

These questions fall into three main parts :

• Part I is entitled "Teaching elementary Bible." New questions are about God (his name, his qualities, is to reject the idols to worship, etc.), four in Jesus Christ (its position, the value of his sacrificial death, etc.), two on the holy spirit Four of the Kingdom of God, four on the Devil, a rejection of the spiritualist practices, one on the human soul, three on the concept of sin, three relating to death and four on the resurrection and the hope possible for humans.

• Part II is entitled "The just demands of Jehovah." Five questions relating to marriage, five on the respect for life (rejecting abortion , murder , suicide , blood transfusions , an attitude where sexually transmitted diseases ), one's attitude vis--vis the Sabbath , four on behavior with his coreligionists, eight questions on the morality (rejection: stealing, lying, drugs , sexual practices outside marriage, gambling, overuse of alcohol), four on the behavior in case of sin (one on excommunication), one on idolatry, nine out how to behave with respect to the surrounding world ( political neutrality , choice of work and entertainment, conduct vis--vis other religions and festivals).

• Part III is called "The order established by Jehovah." Five questions related to one's place in the family, five in behavior vis--vis governmental authorities, six of the organization in the congregation (place of Jesus Christ and the "faithful and discreet slave") seventeen of the acts of worship (meetings, evangelism, Bible studies, baptism, prayer).

Finally, some subsidiary questions remind the candidate how to behave during the baptism and the importance thereof.

If the applicant's responses are satisfactory, it will be admitted to baptism.

• a change in the term "supervisor president" is now coordinator of the college of elders. Each congregation has a coordinator who oversees all of the college of elders. (It applies the guidelines of the Society Jehovah).

History of the ceremony

The baptisms are performed in the regional assemblies of Jehovah's Witnesses who are held three times a year.

Speech

The discourse of baptism, which usually takes place on Saturday late morning, lasting half an hour. Before it begins, candidates have been invited to sit in the front row of the meeting reserved for them. At the beginning of the speech, the former pronounces it wishes to welcome the candidates in these terms:

"On behalf of the international family of brothers, we are very happy to wish you, dear candidates for baptism, a warm welcome. "

Then, he recalled the path leading candidates for baptism and explains what it will mean in their lives, making clear however that it is only the beginning of their Christian race, as the concept of religious movement. Towards the end of the presentation, the candidates for baptism are asked to stand, then two questions called baptismal vows, ask them, which they must respond collectively in a loud voice:

• "On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and have you devoted to Jehovah to do his will? "

• "Do you understand that you are devoting to God and making you baptize you identify with a Jehovah's Witness and you unite the divine organization, led by the Holy Spirit? "

Candidates answer both questions affirmatively and are generally warmly applauded by the audience. He then states that " Immersion

The candidate then headed to the place of immersion, usually a pool inside the Assembly Hall, where cabins are available to them to wear their bathing suit. Generally, only one man, one old , immerses the candidate in baptism , except in special cases (for safety or health very precarious candidate) . The former falls into the water, wearing shorts and a white shirt with short sleeves and hosts one by one the candidates for baptism, to whom he asked to hold your nose. Each candidate was baptized by full immersion and is immediately back up. Very often, television screens are available to the public inside the auditorium so that it follows the event. Family and friends sometimes take pictures. The newly baptized regaining the auditorium are generally warmly welcomed and embraced by their co-religionists. They will now be called 'brothers' or 'sisters' followed by their name when participating in worship .

For Jehovah's Witnesses , the baptism is a moment both serious and joyful. To prove the solemn nature of this gesture, they show that Jesus prayed at his baptism from the Gospel according to Luke 3:21. However, according to them, the Bible does not teach that the baptism must be a dark or sinister event, or special postures requiring the recitation of texts. It is also not required to wear a white dress or black, but street clothes who discovers too body shapes or T-shirts with slogans or advertising will not be considered suitable. Furthermore, on leaving the water, the faithful should not make gestures or individuals behave as if it had won a great victory. The religious movement does not properly judge an event of victory, wheezing, a bouquet of flowers or an evening in honor of one who was baptized .

The new disciples now appear on the baptismal register maintained by the secretary of the congregation to which they belong. In Communications of the Meeting of service following an announcement will be made to officially inform the faithful of the newly baptized.

Baptism of children

The baptism is not restricted to young children, but children who were able to assimilate the teaching given by the movement. In practice, some are baptized at the age of 10 years, and others are not yet 15 years (others wait even later). It is quite conceivable that a child has successfully integrated all the necessary knowledge to his baptism , they are repeated very frequently in meetings held in the congregation and the study of publications of the Watchtower Society.

Note that, in practice, children are not compelled as a whole to become Jehovah's Witnesses. As noted by Nathalie Luca, an anthropologist at the CNRS , "sociological research has shown that very few of these children themselves became Jehovah's Witnesses, which shows that they are not completely alienated by the group" . This is confirmed by a sociological survey of the SOFRES : among all households with children, only 27% have all their children baptized, and some 28% of them .

History of baptismal vows

The wishes asked of candidates during the christening speech has been changed three times over time:

• In the 1960's :

• • "Have you admitted to God that you are a sinner in need of salvation and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation proceeds from him, the Father, through His Son Jesus Christ? "

• • "On the basis of that faith in God and his way of hello, have you devoted unreservedly to God to do his will henceforth as he reveals to you through Jesus Christ and the Bible under the enlightening power of holy spirit? "

• In 1970 :

• • "Have you accepted that you are a sinner in need of salvation from Jehovah God? And did you recognize that this salvation proceeds from him, by his Redeemer, Jesus Christ? "

• • "On the basis of that faith in God and his means of redemption, have you committed unreservedly to Jehovah God to do his will henceforth as you is revealed by Jesus Christ and the Word of God illuminated by 'holy spirit? "

• In 1973 :

• • "Have you repented of your sins and have you back, grateful to Jehovah that you are a sinner condemned in need of salvation, and have you admitted to the Father that salvation comes from Him and through His Son Jesus Christ? "

• • "Having faith in God and His gift of salvation, have you dedicated to him without reserve to accomplish his will henceforth as he reveals to you through Jesus Christ and in the pages of the Bible illuminated by 'holy spirit? "

• In 1985 (still in force) :

• • "On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and have you devoted to Jehovah to do his will? "

• • "Do you understand that you are devoting to God and making you baptize you identify with a Jehovah's Witness and you unite the divine organization, led by the Holy Spirit? "

These changes are very important now, being baptized, we identify now a Jehovah's Witness only member of the Watchtower Society. In this last formulation of baptism , we are committed to the organization that is supposed to be led by the Spirit of God. These points are the subject of criticism by opponents of the Church .

Views on Baptism in other churches and that of infants

The Jehovah's Witnesses do not recognize the baptism administered by other Christian denominations because they have lessons that are different from those proposed by them. Thus, it has no value and the faithful must be baptized according to the requirements of Jehovah's Witnesses to be integrated into the religious movement .

Baptism performed on newborns as in the Catholic Church is for them ineffective for four reasons relating to substance and the form :

• It is imposed by the family;

• The baby was not a conscious person at his baptism ;

• He had no knowledge "informed" of biblical teaching;

• The baptism was administered, not by immersion, but spray.

Statistics

In 2006 , the annual report published by the Watchtower Society reported 248,327 baptisms worldwide, including 2,507 in France , 465 in Belgium , 306 in Switzerland.

At the international meeting Kiev held in 1993 , 7402 people were baptized, which is the number of baptisms highest at a meeting organized by Jehovah's Witnesses .

References

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