According to a Questions from Readers in the 11/1/1999 WT, voting in political elections is technically a matter of conscience. Of course, the article lays out numerous reasons why "mature Christians" would choose not to vote. Nonetheless, the article concludes that it is up to an individual's conscience.
But, in some threads on this board, I have seen statements to the effect that if a JW votes in a political election, he is exposing himself to disfellowshipping. Anyone with first- or second-hand experience on this?
Sincerely,
Olin Moyle's Ghost (of the "contemplating voting for Obama in '08" class)
Anyone get disfellowshipped for voting?
by Olin Moyles Ghost 10 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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Olin Moyles Ghost
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Seeker4
I have a friend who was disfellowshipped for joining the Republican party.
He probably would have been OK if he'd decided to become a Democrat...
S4
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5go
I'll find out Monday hopefully. Barring an act of car.
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ShirleyW
I distinctly remember in one ot the bound volumes between 1961-1964 there is definitely a statement (which I learned of thanks to you good guys on this site) that states that J dubs can vote if they want to, if any of you old timers still have the volumes and know what the particular date of the post and which publication it is please please let us know, but once again, thanks to one of our diligent apostates it was posted on this site from the "BV"s (either Craptower or Afake) from almost 50 yrs ago that Jdubs can vote , do I hear the sound FLIP, FLOP, FLIP FLOP, FLIP, FLOP, FLIP, FLOP .. . . . . .
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Olin Moyles Ghost
Seeker: Thanks for the info. I guess the elders could reason that joining a party is an act of disassociation like joining a church or the military or--God forbid--the YMCA.
For years, I have had a hard time seeing the scriptural basis for forbidding Christians from voting (probably because it doesn't exist). -
Pahpa
The Watchtower leadership is cautious in such matters because of the legal implications. For example, when a young JW joins the military the organization doesn't usually disfellowship the individual. But the action of this person will be interpreted as his desire to no longer be a part of "Jehovah's people." And he would be looked upon as one who "disassociated" himself. It may be similar with the person who chooses to vote. At the very least, he would be looked down upon as one who is very weak and unstable.
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The Doc 58
Does anybody like Ron Paul? (not that he has a chance in the election)
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AlyMC
There is very little you can be DF'd for if you don't advertise your choices ;) If you feel like voting, vote. There is no rule that you have to tell everyone what you did that day.
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thepackage
My buddy votes while he was an active JW, a few people new about it but nothing ever happened to him. He's no longer an active JW. I used to vote while i was an active JW but nobody knew about it.
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blondie
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/79622/1293273/post.ashx#1293273
JAVA
I'm sure there were many JWs disfellowshipped for having oral sex with their spouses--I know of one in our congregation. Voting is a big NO NO--I was kicked out for that crime.