Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian denomination founded in the 1870s by Charles Taze Russell, now governed by a Governing Body headquartered in Warwick, New York. The organization publishes extensively through the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, and members are widely recognized for their door-to-door evangelism and distribution of publications including The Watchtower and Awake! magazines.
Distinctive beliefs include the use of God's name "Jehovah," rejection of the Trinity doctrine, belief that only 144,000 will rule in heaven while the remainder of the faithful will live on a paradise earth, refusal of blood transfusions, and political neutrality including non-participation in military service and elections. Members celebrate the Memorial of Christ's death but do not observe birthdays, Christmas, or other holidays.
The organization has attracted significant attention regarding its disfellowshipping (shunning) practices, handling of child sexual abuse allegations, failed end-times predictions, and policies on blood transfusions. Both devoted members and those who have left have produced extensive resources examining these issues from their respective perspectives.