by GBSJG 20 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Whether or not there are nominally Christian religions that don't take up military service, it is tough to get around Acts 10, where Cornelius is pictured as a Roman army officer of the Italian Band and he gets baptized by spirit just before being baptized by water. There is no hint that he had to retire first from his military service as a condition of baptism.
ANL
There are also religious groups like the Seventh-day Adventist who refuse to participate in combat but will perform service as medics.
ANewLeif
I'm afraid that many historians would disagree with you. E. Gibbons wrote in his History of Christianity: "They refused to take any part in the civil administration or the military defense of the empire. It was impossible that Christians, without renouncing a more sacred duty, could assume the character of soldiers, magistrates or princes."
The Doukhobors immediately came to mind, maybe because we have so many of them out here in western Canada.
Don't forget about the Plymouth Brethren--I believe that some of the offshoots are similar to the JWs in their "do not be entangled by the world" approach.
Baha'is are discouraged from military service as a career, however, they must be obedient to their govenment, hence if drafted they serve but if possible request non-combatant status. If that is not available they do as their govenment requires up to but not including renunciation of their faith. Tough to do in Islamic countries where they are considered heritics. carmel
Janes cant kill any living creature, and if they do then they are not called Jane. Though Sikhs can.
There are numerous religions that do not go to war. There is an article about this at http://jwfacts.com/index_files/war.htm They include:
> Moravians (one of the very first Protestant religions dating back to the 1500’s)
> Brethern (Dunkards) groups, including
> Church of the Brethren
> Anabaptist groups, including
> Mennonites (16 th century group numbering 1.5 million)
> Hutterites
> Schwenkfelders
> Bruderhof Communities
> Amish (numbering approximately 200,000)
> Society of Friends (Quakers)
> Doukhobors - 17 th century breakaway from Russian Orthodox
> Molokans – 17 th century breakaway from Russian Orthodox
> Some Pentecostal groups such as the Pentecostal Charismatic Peace Fellowship
> Seven Day Adventists
> Community of Christ
> Christadelphians
> Worldwide Church of God
> 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
> Anglican Pacifist Fellowship
> Methodist Peace Fellowship
> Baptist Peace Fellowship
> Orthodox Peace Fellowship
> Lutheran Peace Fellowship
> Presbyterian Peace Fellowship
It is important to realise that many of these religions forged the way for non-military service and were Peace religions well before JWs were thought of. Also some are far stricter in their stance, being pacifists, whilst JWs are just neutral.
Thou shalt not kill.....
yep, SDA, Nazarenes, some Wicca
