Jehovah’s Witness Verdict Stalled

The latest attempt to ban activity of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Moscow through the courts stalled on March 12 when a judge put the case on indefinite hold.

The civil case has attracted international attention as the first test for Russia’s controversial 1997 religion law, which favors the Russian Orthodox Church. The case began in September and has been postponed several times.

The group has been accused of promoting religious discord, breaking up families, and posing a threat to society, though no clear evidence has supported the charges. The movement, founded in 1884, does not endorse the doctrine of the Trinity, the deity of Christ, or the legitimacy of human government.

According to a Jehovah’s Witness (JW) spokesperson in Moscow, Jaraslav Sivulski, the prosecution’s courtroom case consisted mainly of theological discussions comparing JW tenets to traditional Russian Orthodox teachings.

Sivulski says if the prosecution wins, then cases against other beliefs will follow. Influence will be felt in Ukraine and other former Soviet republics.

Jehovah’s Witness is one of Russia’s fastest-growing religious groups. World Churches Handbook estimates that Russia has 72,200 Jehovah’s Witnesses, but the group says it has 250,000 followers.

Copyright © 1999 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

Birth of a Troubled Conscience: A Christian Science upbringing. A shameful wartime act. And a God whose grace haunted Glenn Tinder into the kingdom.

Our Latest

Public Theology Project

What Horror Stories Can (and Cannot) Tell Us About the World

We want meaning and resolution—and the kind of monster we can defeat.

The Russell Moore Show

Paul Kingsnorth on the Dark Powers Behind AI

Are we summoning demons through our machines?

Welcome to Youth Ministry! Time to Talk about Anime.

Japanese animation has become a media mainstay among Gen Z. You may not “get” it, but the zoomers at your church sure do.

Review

‘One Battle After Another’ Is No Way to Live

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, the new film from Paul Thomas Anderson plays out the dangers of extremism.

Review

Tyler Perry Takes on ‘Ruth and Boaz’

In his new Netflix movie, Ruth is a singer, Boaz has an MBA, and the Tennessee wine flows freely.

To Black Worship Leaders, Gospel vs. Contemporary Worship Is a False Dichotomy

The discussion around Maverick City Music highlights how commercial success and congregational value are two different things.

Review

Needing Help Is Normal

Leah Libresco Sargeant’s doggedly pro-life feminist manifesto argues that dependence is inevitable.

Review

Don’t Give Dan Brown the Final Word on the Council of Nicaea

Bryan Litfin rescues popular audiences from common myths about the origins of Trinitarian doctrine.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube