their beliefs are based solely upon the bible. these beliefs were taught by charles taze russell, a preacher who started a bible study group in pennsylvania in 1876. the goal of russell and other bible students, as the group was then known, was to promote the teachings of jesus christ and to follow the practices of the first-century christian congregation. since jesus is the founder of christianity, they view him as the founder of their organization.—colossians 1:18-20. they later started publishing a religious magazine called "the watchtower".