Jehovah’s Witnesses

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that death is not just the death of the physical body but also the
death of the soul. “When a person dies, he ceases to exist. Death is the opposite of life. The dead do not
see or hear or think. Not even one part of us survives the death of the body. We do not possess an
immortal soul or spirit.”

Dying and Cremation

As Witnesses believe in spiritual rather than physical resurrection, the faith does not have any
prohibitions against cremation. Generally speaking, a funeral or memorial for a Jehovah’s Witness
should be a simple affair, as similar as possible to the simple burial that was held for Christ. No wakes or
celebrations are to be held. Flowers are permissible but must not give the impression of a pagan
ritual.
Witnesses believe that Hell (as traditionally portrayed) does not exist. There is no place where
sinners are tormented after death - since their existence is over, nothing can be done to them or for
them. Witnesses also argue that it would be completely against God's nature to torture humans for
eternity. However, death is not the end of everything: each person can be remembered by God and
eventually be resurrected.

Learn more about Jehovah's Witness and cremation. Neptune Society. (2020, September 9). Retrieved
January 5, 2022, from https://www.neptunesociety.com/cremation-information-articles/jehovahs-
witness-and-cremation

When a person dies, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that their existence comes to an end. This is
attributable to the fact that the Bible clearly states that humans do not have an eternal soul that lives on
after the body dies.

Jehovas Witnesses believe in heaven, but do not believe in hell.

Unlike many other religions, JW believe that death is not just death of
the physical body, but also the death of the soul. When a person dies,
he ceases to exist. Death is the opposite of life. The dead do not see or
hear or think. Not even one part of us survives the death of the body.
We do not possess an immortal soul or spirit.”

After death, there is no place where sinners can be tormented because

their existence is gone and nothing can be done to or for them.
Witnesses also argue that torturing humans for eternity would be
entirely against God's nature.
Death, on the other hand, is not the conclusion of the story: each
person can be remembered by God and resurrected at some point.
Members believe that, “…at death, humans cease to exist. The dead know,
feel, and experience absolutely nothing.”[2] Death is compared to sleep,
because there is no consciousness, activity, or awareness of one’s
surroundings, and there is an expectation of awakening (resurrection).
Therefore death is not to be feared as the absolute end, because the dead
who are “in God’s memory” will be resurrected.
Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in a place called Hell or a realm of
eternal torment. They do believe in a heaven and the hope of going there.
Members are taught that only 144,000 “tested and tried” Christians will
actually go to heaven (to reign and rule with Christ as kings and priests.
based on Revelation 14:1-5),
Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe that the dead are conscious or that
they can have any influence on the living. They avoid such customs as
wakes, funeral celebrations and anniversaries, and sacrifices for the dead.
Funerals are conducted according to scriptural guidelines, and “unclean
practices” are strictly forbidden.