Patriotism...The American Flag...Pledge of Allegience...Are they Wrong???

LuciousJ

I'm confused about the whole 'patriotic' do's & don'ts. What is the REAL take on it....is it wrong to have anything patriotic? Is it wrong to say the 'pledge of allegiance'? Is hanging the Amer. Flag outside wrong? I need some good factual-based answers on this one.....especially since school just started.......Thanks!

LuciousJ P.S. I've read some research on it, but I'm just still confused. Does it really come down to a conscious decision?

acadian

Hi LJ, wrong compared to what? It all depends on your core beliefs, you don't give any info on your background. If you consider yourself christian, then you are a citizen of God's government the Kingdom of Heaven, and Jesus said you can't follow two masters. If you are a American citizen go right ahead and follow the Consitution, which says you can do pretty much whatever you want as long as you don't harm anyone else or their property. If you think man's government is good follow them. there yoke is heavy. If you think God's government is good follow that. his yoke is light. Blindly following any government is a mistake. Peace Acadian

greendawn

Since any nation has a good and a bad side it is not necessarily bad to do those things since one may be willing to work on the good aspects of the nation.

M.J.

I think the WTS position on this is heavily slanted as a black and white issue. Like the story of the Jewish boys in Babylon not worshipping the statue of Neb as being equivalent to saying the pledge.

Is pledging loyalty to a nation the same as worshipping it?

It is a fact of life that we have a number of loyalties, and they follow a heirarchy of importance.

The important thing to one who claims loyalty to God is that God is at the top of the heirarchy. This does not automatically mean that one should renounce all loyalty to one's family, one's neighbor, or one's community. It just means that God takes first priority when there is a conflict.

lovelylil

I agree a lot with Acadian. I do not like extreme forms of Patriotism where people get riled up thinking they are so much better than others just becuase of their origin of birth. Or when they believe that God is blessing only their nation as apposed to all the others. All men are equal in God's eyes and in whatever land you live, if you do what is right and good - this is acceptable to God.

Although I appreciate the fact that I do live in the U.S. and I fully obey the laws and constitution of this country - the only kingdom I give my full heart and support to is the heavenly one. Lilly

M.J.

I think people can become true buttheads when they take ANY group affiliation too far. Whether it's nationalism, religion, race, sports, etc. IMO, JWs most definitely qualify!

AK - Jeff

I have not decided this one fully yet. I think about it often though.

I tend to fall into the Acadian and MJ and Lovelylill camp on this - parts of all of the view they express.

I also have the feeling that once I am lied to [specifically by the WTS], I tend not to trust much that comes from that source again.

I am leaning toward a moderate ground on this one at the moment - not the patriotic, my country right or wrong position, nor the passive, I am completely uninvolved witness ideology either. In the middle for me. I know the lines about moderates - but I can't help it for the time being.

If I ever hang a flag it will because I love the values of my country - If I ever vote it will be because I want to see my community prosper. I think there is nothing related to 'worship' in any of that.

Empathetically - I imagine most exjw's go thru this period of sorting regarding the 'biggie' issues we were pounded with all our witness lives.

Jeff

Atlantis

"Make Sure Of All Things Hold Fast To What Is Fine"/1965/Watchtower Bible & Tract Society. Owners publisher page here: http://suprfile.com/src/1/33uweua/neutrality-10001.jpg Christians Are No Part of World, Do Not Take Sides in Its Political Affairs Early Christians avoided all political involvement Page 353 here: http://suprfile.com/src/1/33vu1mt/neutrality-20001.jpg God's Servants in All Lands Refrain from Any Form of Idolatry With God's approval, faithful Hebrews refused to render homage to a State emblem Page 354 here: http://suprfile.com/src/1/33w2fpy/neutrality-30001.jpg What national flags and flag ceremonies are Page 355 here: http://suprfile.com/src/1/33wght1/neutrality-40001.jpg Attitude of early Christians toward patriotic ceremonies Page 356 here http://suprfile.com/src/1/33wq9dk/neutrality-50001.jpg Servants of Jehovah Under Divine Command to Walk in Ways of Peace Attitude of early Christians toward military service Page 357 here: http://suprfile.com/src/1/33wxljl/neutrality-60001.jpg Nevada-

pennycandy

It shouldn't be a God's-government-or-my-country's-government issue. When I respect the flag, I respect the secular authorities God lets rule. I don't worship the flag, I don't worship the country, I don't compromise any Bible principles by showing allegience or displaying a flag.

I think our conditioning to avoid anything patriotic is part of the WTS instilling the ever-present "us versus them" attitude.

Geronimo

EYE PLUNGE ALLERGIC
TOE THE FLAB
OAF THE EWE KNIGHT TURD STATUS OVEN ANTARTICA
ANT TOE THE REDUNDANT
FORT WINCH HIT SANDS
JUAN NATIVE,
UNDERGARMENT,
WAFT LAVATORY ANT JUST TITS FORT OWLThat's how they do it in the Big City. Honest. G

Patriotism...The American Flag...Pledge of Allegience...Are they Wrong???

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