Article - Does the Witness stance on WAR prove they are the true religion?

by jwfacts 27 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  stevenyc

  Well, considering that Jesus' disciples carried swords around with them ...
  
  steve
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  5go

  Well, considering that Jesus' disciples carried swords around with them ...
  
  steve

  Not onlt that but didn't jesus command them to after he was gone that and a food pouch
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  Leolaia

  Under Rutherford strict neutrality and non participation in war and civilian service was enforced.

  Non-participation in war and civilian service, yes. But Rutherford was absolutely not "strictly neutral" in political matters. He railed incessantly against fascism (cf. the booklets Judge Rutherford Uncovers Fifth Column and Fascism or Freedom) and equally defended American democratic ideals while decrying governmental institutions. I don't think these statements can be viewed as politically neutral:

  *** w18 6/1 p. 174 May 30 For Prayer and Supplication ***

  In accordance with the resolution of Congress of April 2nd, and with the proclamation of the president of the United States of May 11, it is suggested that the Lord's people everywhere make May 30th a day of prayer and supplication. God was graciously pleased to cause the nation to be formed and to grow under the most favorable conditions in the world for the preservation of liberty, civil and religious. This is the land divinely "shadowed with wings" -- over-shadowed by the providential watchcare of God's word -- where God has lifted up an ensign on the mountain (kingdom), and where he has blown the trumpet message of the truth. Here the love of truth has for three hundred years attracted from all quarters of the world people who love God, love the Bible and love religious liberty. Here, practically alone of all the nations, exists in the fundamental laws of the land the safeguard that so long as the Constitution stands no law may be made nor any governmental action taken prohibiting the free exercise of religion, or abridging the freedom of speech or the press. Countless blessings have flowed to devout people through the wise provisions of the laws of the United States, blessing whose influences have been felt to the remotest corners of the earth... Let there be praise and thanks-giving to God for the promised glorious outcome of the war, the breaking of the shackles of autocracy, the freeing of the captives (Isaiah 61:1) and the making of the world safe for the common people.

  *** g38 11/16 p. 17-19 Counsel by J. F. RUTHERFORD ***

  In opposition to the Kingdom the Devil has brought forth the corporate state or totalitarian government ruled by visible and arbitrary men with the Roman Catholic Hierarchy as its spiritual overlord working hand in glove with such men as Mussolini and Hitler. The ambition of this crowd is to rule the world. As I stated in London on September the 11th, this combine will get possession of England. Since then the facts show that it is already an almost accomplished thing.

  There is a determined effort on the part of the same crowd to grab control of America and rule it, change the Constitution or abolish it entirely, and take away all the liberties of the people. The ROMAN CATHOLIC HIERARCHY, therefore, is in fact a political institution bent on taking away the liberties of the people and ruling arbitrarily. This operation they are carrying on under the cloak of religion because the people have been led to believe all these years that religion and Christianity are one and the same.... Knowing the facts which I do and failing to speak of them, I would be a traitor to the American people and an unfaithful servant of the Lord. My purpose in calling attention to the derelictions of the Catholic organization is this: that the people may get their eyes open to the fact that their liberties are at stake, and not only that, but, following in the course that the Hierarchy is leading them, they are headed for certain destruction.... I deem it my duty both to man and God to do this thing because I know every interest of the human race is at stake and the fundamental principles of the American government which have been held dear to the American citizens so long are in jeopardy and it now seems a certainty that the people are going to lose their liberties.

  *** g39 11/29 p. 13 Let America Mind Its Own Business ***

  A country which allows millions of acres of its best farm and grazing land to blow into the Atlantic and wash into the Gulf has not enough patriotism in its make-up to tell others how to love their fatherland. A country that lets millions of its children cry for fruit and bread and milk and meat while taxing milk bottles, bread baskets, fruit jars and the rest of the pantry, to pay honest husbandmen for plowing under food, burying pigs and murdering heifer calves, has neither brain nor heart to still the bitter crying of the children of other lands.

  *** Judge Rutherford Uncovers Fifth Column [1940], pp. 14-17 ***

  Here I am going to venture what will be the result of this fanatical, devlish procedure to destroy democracies, destroy freedom of press and freedom of speech, and destroy all publishers of the truth. I base my conclusion not upon human wisdom. I do not claim to have any inspiration higher than others who are devoted to the Lord. I base my conclusion upon the Word of Almighty God, whih is true.... Based on this authority, I stated in a public address in Paris more than three years ago that the Nazis and Fascists would overrun France. That has been accomplished. I stated in a public address in Berne, Switzerland, that the Nazis and Fascists would in time grab Switzerland. Watch for that to be accomplished in the near future. At a public address in London, which was transmitted throughout the British Empire, and was delivered in 1938, I stated that the Nazis and Fascists were bent upon destroying the British Empire, and that that would be accomplished. The Nazis have planted their agents throughout the earth. The Roman Catholic Hierarchy have planted their men in every big newspaper office in America, and their men in every department of the government of the United States. Their purpose is to seize the government of the United States, as Holland and other countries have been seized... The United States was established as a Christian nation, not as a religious nation. It was established by men who loved God and His Kingdom, and who prayed and worked for righteousness. The Supreme Court of the United States, in Church vs. United States, explicitly stated: "This is a Christian nation." Other decisions support that conclusion.... America, with the other nations, is in for the worst trouble it has ever had, and the ones most resprehensible for bringing that trouble upon America are those men who compose the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, which men have hypocritically claimed to represent God, but who, in fact, represent the Devil. The American press will not publish the truth because the press is either owned or controlled by the power and influence of the Hierarchy and allies.

  Then there were things like Rutherford injecting himself into the Bonus Army affair in Washington D.C., or reporting communications from extremist groups in the US (such as on p. 10 of The Crisis, 1933, possibly displaying foreknowledge of the Business Plot), and displaying outright hostility towards segments of the government. It doesn't come as a surprise that J. Edgar Hoover wanted Rutherford detained should there come a "time of national emergency".
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  yaddayadda

  For all of Jehovah's Witnesses faults, I have to side with Proplog on this one. They are hypocritical for their harsh judgmentalism, but their neutrality in times of war is most commendable. Its one of the few things I think JW's should be given a bit of credit for, no matter how much you despise them.
  
  Attempts to justify Christians killing during wartime are always very weak. They always resort a lot of tenuous scriptural arguments and rationalisations.
  
  If you want to undermine JW's claim to being the true religion through their not going to war, then do so by positive arguments, eg, there are many Christian individuals and a few other smaller denominations that refused to take up arms also. But arguments that try and justify war are obscene.
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  jwfacts

  Some interesting and varied comments. Leo, well spotted, I will ammend that sentence.

  I would like some opinions on whether the article adequately addresses the issue. I get the feeling that I should highlight in more detail the efforts and persecutions of the peace churches.
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  Who are you?

  Though I can not help but admire the strength of individual Witnesses that suffered refusing to go to war, it must be recognised that Witnesses are neither Pacifists nor the only ones that take a stance against war. Additionally, the Watchtower message can hardly be considered neutral or one of love.

  Being neutral only when it serves your needs is hardly noble and commendable. If they are so neutral why wouldn't they vehemently object to their own concoted notion that billions will die at Armeggedon? What about Rutherford's letter to Hitler? They are self serving frauds.
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  jwfacts

  Here are some more examples.. Every major Christian denomination has Pacifist factions

  · Pax Christi – A Catholic peace movement

  · Fellowship of Reconciliation - A group formed in 1914 to unite pacifists regardless of denomination. All major religious denominations have affiliated associations including

  o Anglican Pacifist Fellowship

  o Methodist Peace Fellowship

  o Baptist Peace Fellowship

  o Orthodox Peace Fellowship

  o Lutheran Peace Fellowship

  o Presbyterian Peace Fellowship
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  Kenneson

  If Jesus came to show us a better way and that way is to love our enemies and not kill them in war, than how does anyone justify his killing of his enemies in war by quoting from a largely symbolical book of Revelation? How can he expect us to love our enemies if he can't love his own?