"According to Jehovah's Witnesses leaders in Yerevan, at the end of the reporting period, 78 of their members remained in prison for refusal to perform military service or alternative labor service on conscientious and religious grounds. Representatives of Jehovah's Witnesses stated that all of the prisoners had been given the opportunity to serve an alternative to military service rather than prison time but had refused because the military continued to retain administrative control over the alternative service...The Law on Alternative Service allows conscientious objectors--subject to government panel approval--to perform either noncombatant military or labor service duties rather than serve as combat-trained military personnel. The law took effect in 2004 and applies to subsequent draftees and those serving prison terms for draft evasion. A January 2006 amendment to the Criminal Code criminalizes evasion of alternative labor service. However, conscientious objectors continued to maintain that military control of the alternative labor service amounted to unacceptable military service."
http://www.a1plus.am/en/?page=issue&iid=64245 (Armenian site)
[12:07 pm] 22 September, 2008
International Religious Freedom Report 2008
So jws are still refusing alternative to military service & in jail?
by rebel8 8 Replies latest jw friends
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rebel8
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yknot
This is a 'spiritual strenght' test.....
Strong = Total refusal
Weak = Alternative Service
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ninja
hey yknot
Strong = Total refusal
Weak = Alternative Service
sleeping with the colonel....governing body material -
Tired of the Hypocrisy
I think that being a conscientious objector is fine. So you don't want to shoot, stab, or incinerate other human beings. I see nothing wrong with working in a logistics unit or especially as a medic. WTF is wrong with these idiots. I knew a guy back in NM when I was a kid who refused service during the Viet Nam war in 1969. He went to jail and was praised from the platform. He did his time and came out. His dad was a servant (elder back in the day) and so the story went on and on about how wonderful his son was and how none of us better sign up to fight and shame his perfect son. He didn't come out of jail a strong Soldier of the Watchtower but rather he left the troof for his homosexual svengali lover that he met in the clink...
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yknot
Excellent point Ninja!
Wonder if the "Berta" still is prefered...
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Tired of the Hypocrisy
As long as they were sentenced to the alternative service instead of to prison it was okay.
What kind of loyalty is that to Jah?
No, don't volunteer but if you are forced then go ahead and serve Satan. It's booshit.
girls, don't let him touch you there, but if he forces you then it's ok.....
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dozy
I think that all JWs will take alternative service if the option exists. The issue in Armenia is that alternative service isn't really alternative as it is , to all intents & purposes , run by the military , so is unacceptable to many (including Quakers , some Baptists & others , as well as JWs). The WTS is trying to appeal through the European Court of Human Rights...
Background ... http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/civilsociety/articles/eav031006.shtml
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blondie
*** w96 5/1 pp. 19-20 Paying Back Caesar’s Things to Caesar ***
Civilian Service
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However, there are lands where the State, while not allowing exemption for ministers of religion, nevertheless acknowledges that some individuals may object to military service. Many of these lands make provision for such conscientious individuals not to be forced into military service. In some places a required civilian service, such as useful work in the community, is regarded as nonmilitary national service. Could a dedicated Christian undertake such service? Here again, a dedicated, baptized Christian would have to make his own decision on the basis of his Bible-trained conscience.
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It seems that compulsory service was practiced in Bible times. One history book states: "In addition to the taxes and dues exacted from the inhabitants of Judea, there was also a corvée [unpaid labor exacted by public authorities]. This was an ancient institution in the East, which the Hellenistic and Roman authorities continued to maintain. . . . The New Testament, too, cites examples of corvée in Judea, showing how widespread it was. In accordance with this custom, the soldiers pressed Simon of Cyrene into carrying Jesus’ cross [torture stake] (Matthew 5:41; 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26)."18
Similarly, citizens in some countries today are required by the State or by local authorities to participate in various forms of community service. Sometimes this is for a specific task, such as digging wells or building roads; sometimes it is on a regular basis, such as weekly participation in cleaning up roads, schools, or hospitals. Where such civilian service is for the good of the community and is not connected with false religion or is not in some other way objectionable to the consciences of Jehovah’s Witnesses, they have often complied. (1 Peter 2:13-15) This has usually resulted in an excellent witness and has sometimes silenced those who falsely accuse the Witnesses of being antigovernment.—Compare Matthew 10:18.
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What, though, if the State requires a Christian for a period of time to perform civilian service that is a part of national service under a civilian administration? Here again, Christians must make their own decision based on an informed conscience. "We shall all stand before the judgment seat of God." (Romans 14:10) Christians faced with a requirement of Caesar should prayerfully study the matter and meditate on it. It may also be wise to talk the matter over with mature Christians in the congregation. After this a personal decision must be made.—Proverbs 2:1-5; Philippians 4:5.20
While engaged in such research, Christians would consider a number of Bible principles. Paul said that we must "be obedient to governments and authorities as rulers, . . . be ready for every good work . . . be reasonable, exhibiting all mildness toward all men." (Titus 3:1, 2) At the same time, Christians would do well to examine the proposed civilian work. If they accept it, will they be able to maintain Christian neutrality? (Micah 4:3, 5; John 17:16) Would it involve them with some false religion? (Revelation 18:4, 20, 21) Would performing it prevent or unreasonably limit them from fulfilling their Christian responsibilities? (Matthew 24:14; Hebrews 10:24, 25) On the other hand, would they be able to continue to make spiritual progress, perhaps even sharing in the full-time ministry while performing the required service?—Hebrews 6:11, 12.
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What if the Christian’s honest answers to such questions lead him to conclude that the national civilian service is a "good work" that he can perform in obedience to the authorities? That is his decision before Jehovah. Appointed elders and others should fully respect the conscience of the brother and continue to regard him as a Christian in good standing. If, however, a Christian feels that he cannot perform this civilian service, his position should also be respected. He too remains in good standing and should receive loving support.—1 Corinthians 10:29; 2 Corinthians 1:24; 1 Peter 3:16.22
As Christians we will not cease to render "to him who calls for honor, such honor." (Romans 13:7) We will respect good order and seek to be peaceful, law-abiding citizens. (Psalm 34:14) We may even pray "concerning kings and all those who are in high station" when these men are called upon to make decisions that affect our Christian life and work. As a result of our paying back Caesar’s things to Caesar, we hope that "we may go on leading a calm and quiet life with full godly devotion and seriousness." (1 Timothy 2:1, 2) Above all, we will continue to preach the good news of the Kingdom as mankind’s only hope, conscientiously paying back God’s things to God.
http://www.watchtowerinformationservice.org/militaryservice.htm
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CoonDawg
My uncle spent 2 years in prison for the dubs in El Reno, OK. Today, he says he still wouldn't have fought, but he'd have fled to Canada. He's not a pacifist, but just didn't believe it was a just war. Then again, my dad - while he was going to meetings down here -- knew some elders who actually caved and went in to the military and served in Vietnam. One of them said he didn't have the guts to go to prison, but when he was in combat, he made sure to always shoot over the heads of the enemy so as not to kill. My dad nearly went to prison, but his draft board broke the law in trying to ship him off to tha Nam. He finally ended up getting his exemption.