Jehovah's Witnesses And Their Contribution To American Culture

Religious and Ethnic Diversity

November 15, 2013

Religious and Ethnic Diversity
Religion is something that many people around the world practice. There are many different types of religion and each religion have their own beliefs and practices. I wanted to learn more about Jehovah’s Witnesses; this is a religion that I am unfamiliar with.
Jehovah’s Witnesses consider themselves to be Christian, they base their practices and beliefs on their own translation and meaning of the Bible (Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 2013). Jehovah’s Witnesses call themselves this because God’s name is Jehovah; they feel it is only right to call him by his name. A witness is a person who proclaims views or truths of
They perceive themselves as a religious group re-establishing the form of Christianity that was formed in the first century. They are very adamant that their teachings derive from the Bible itself and not any one person (Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 2013). Jehovah’s Witnesses have contributed to American culture in a couple different ways, one being through disaster relief. Their assistance in disaster relief has helped both those of their religion and those not of their religion but, they take care of those within their faith/religion first. Jehovah’s Witnesses also played a big role in religious freedoms. For example, children saluting the flag in the classroom; Jehovah’s Witnesses brought a case to the Supreme Court stating that it violated First Amendment Rights (Burroughs, 2008-2013). Another way that Jehovah’s Witnesses has contributed to American culture is through the medical field. Jehovah Witnesses cannot accept blood transfusions, so a Pennsylvania hospitals found ways to offer bloodless surgeries and procedures to Jehovah’s Witnesses; they have been doing this for over fifteen years. It is because of this and all the upgraded and growing technology that hospitals are able to offer bloodless surgeries to the public as well (Burroughs, 2008-2013). I have learned a great deal by researching and gathering information about
They like to celebrate major life events, and they do so very elegantly with bright colors, music and dancing. It is very common at Hispanic/Latino celebration to see Mariachi’s; these are dancers and musicians playing Mexican folklore music and having dancers in native bright colorful dresses. It really is quite beautiful to see and hear. Other things that Hispanics and Latinos have brought to American culture are things like crafts, such as terra cotta pots or planter and sculptures and also piñatas, a paper mache decoration that hold candies and toys. Hispanics and Latinos have added a so much to American culture not only with their traditions but also with their religious beliefs. Hispanics and Latinos are very religious, majority share the religion of Catholic. The main celebrations of Hispanic religion are: Lent called, Cuaresma; Holy Week called, Semana Santa; Christmas called, La Navidad; Three Kings Day or Los Tres Reyes Magos. Some Americans and other races/ethnicities also share and celebrate these holidays as