Last week, during my theology class, I had a discussion about Jehovah’s Witnesses and their doctrines. One student asked if this religion is similar to Catholism.
This question sparked an interesting discussion as students explained some of the differences between the two religious groups.
Since I was well-versed in both groups from my interactions in theology school and church missions, I gave them a detailed comparison between the Catholics and Jehovah’s Witnesses.
I also decided to write this article for those interested in understanding the differences. So, let’s compare Jehovah’s Witness vs. Catholic.
The Bible does not provide specific scriptures which dive into details about Jehovah’s Witnesses and Catholics. However, notable differences in factors like baptism exist since Catholics conduct baptism at infantry while Jehovah witnesses conduct it on adults with full knowledge of the doctrine. They also share a similarity in the faith and dedication towards spreading the gospel.
In this article, I aim to explore the different characteristics of Jehovah’s Witness and Catholics, using them to identify their differences and similarities.
Please keep reading to understand the difference between the two denominations and much more!
What’s the Difference between Jehovah’s Witnesses and Catholics?
Jehovah Witnesses |
Catholics |
Jehovah’s Witnesses strongly believe in the existence of one God |
Catholics strongly believe in the existence of the Holy Trinity, which is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. |
They have no leadership structure with labels but instead have a governing body. |
They have leadership structures with titles like bishops, priests, deacons and Catechists. |
They have no formal worship services but instead hold kingdom hall meetings. |
They have formal worship services, which include a liturgical process that includes reading the scriptures, offerings and receiving the communion. |
They strictly do not get involved in celebrations of any kind. |
They are allowed to celebrate all the religious holidays and feasts and even engage in birthday celebrations. |
They focus on spreading the word through door-to-door evangelism. |
They can conduct evangelism through after-church meetings and missions. |
They have strict laws that do not support divorce. |
Catholics can allow annulment and divorce depending on the circumstances being faced. |
Differences in the beliefs between Jehovah’s Witnesses and Catholics
Death and resurrection
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that dead people have no feelings and there is nothing to be experienced. They imply that dead people await judgment day, where they will be resurrected and reunited with their families and loved ones. However, Catholics believe in the death and resurrection concept.
Most Catholics believe in the existence of an afterlife where the righteous receive eternal life, and those involved in sin are sent to hell, where they are bound to be punished for all eternity.
Some Catholics imply that what happens after death depends on your relationship developed with God.
Baptism
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe baptism should be done on adults who fully understand the religion and its teachings. They baptize through immersing an individual in water after proving their knowledge about being a Jehovah’s Witness.
On the other hand, Catholics conduct their baptism at an infant level, and they imply that it cleanses the child and leads them to live a spiritual life, and they are baptized by sprinkling water on their heads.
Jesus Christ
Jehovah’s witnesses know about Jesus Christ and acknowledge that he is the son of God but do not preach beyond that.
They do not believe that Jesus possess significant power and God has a single nature. However, Catholics believe in Jesus Christ as part of the Trinity and believe in the influence he had in saving humanity and restoring eternal life.
They believe in Jesus Christ because he was sent by God, died on the cross and deliver mankind of their sins.
Trinity
Jehovah’s Witnesses do not associate with the Trinity concept and instead believe it to be unbiblical. They believe that Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit should be considered separate since God has a singular nature.
On the other hand, Catholics believe in the Trinity and the existence of God in three entities.
What are the similarities between Jehovah’s Witnesses and Catholics?
According to the theologians, the main similarity between Jehovah’s Witnesses and Catholics is that they worship one God. They both rely on the Bible to obtain scriptures that should guide them in their everyday life.
They might have a difference in the Bible versions used, but they share the same faith. Jehovah’s witnesses and Catholics believe in the significance of community and assemble together to worship and read scriptures together.
Another similarity shared between Jehovah’s Witnesses and Catholics is that they are both against concepts like abortion that question the ethics in society.
What do Jehovah’s Witnesses think about Catholics?
Jehovah’s Witness believers disagree with some of the catholic doctrines and do not agree with the religion. They believe they have different worship practices because Catholics believe in the Trinity, and Jehovah’s Witnesses trust in God’s one true nature.
They think that Catholics are theologically different because of how they celebrate Christian holidays like Easter and Christmas, while the latter does not have any celebrations.
Jehovah’s Witnesses think that most of their beliefs conflict. Most theologians speculate that Jehovah’s Witnesses have a negative perspective of the Catholics because of their beliefs like heaven, hell and purgatory.
What do Catholics think of Jehovah’s Witnesses?
Most Catholics think that Jehovah’s Witnesses have a different religious path and practices and are entitled to have their perspective.
Catholics think that the difference in theological practices should not prevent both religions from spreading the word of God to other people.
Catholic believers think the distinctive differences should not eliminate the chances of developing religious connections with the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Which one is more popular between Jehovah’s Witnesses and Catholics?
Theologians believe that Catholics are more popular as compared to Jehovah’s Witnesses. They believe that the various holidays celebrated by Catholics are widely known, which makes them quite prominent.
They also suggest that Catholicism is among the first religious denominations to exist and thus has a huge congregation.
Catholics also believe in the leadership system, which helps them become popular because the leaders ensure that ethics and moral concepts are upheld.
Jehovah’s Witness is less popular because they strictly believe in no celebration and focus on door-to-door evangelism.
It is suggested that most people are skeptical about door-to-door evangelism, and very few are open to listening to Jehovah’s Witnesses.
As a Christian, you are encouraged to pray to God for guidance and assistance in selecting a denomination which will help you build your faith and embrace the righteous path.
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.