May 15, 2013 WT up on jw.org now

Gayle

Has article, page 32 which states about their 'neutrality' policy

Although our position as Christian neutrals may not have been fully understood by our brothers nearly a century ago, they sought to please Jehovah God.

This is aggravating, as the WTS had 'policy' for so many years that JWs could not do 'alternative' service. This was under threat that the young JW boys would be DA'd. They had no true personal choice.

I saw how some went to prison and the WT would not let them personaly choose "alternative" though the judges would plead for them to do so. Now, that policy changed.

It is clear, again, how the leadership always blame "the brothers" for "misunderstanding," yet the fault lies in the leadership.

GRrrrrrh! How they always escape any accountability.

Newly Enlightened

I Had to laugh about this quote from pg 12:

ALWAYS DISPLAY QUALITIES THAT HONOR GOD 16 We also play a part in drawing people to Jehovah when we display such qualities as long-suffering, love, and kindness. Some who observe us may desire to learn about Jehovah, his purposes, and his people. The attitude and conduct of true Christians stand in sharp contrast with the mere outward show of godly devotion of those whose worship is often nomore than a hypocritical ploy. Some religious leaders have become wealthy by defrauding their flocks, using much of the money thus obtained to acquire expensive homes and automobiles —and in one case, an air-conditioned dog kennel. Indeed, many who claim to be followers of Christ have no inclination to 16. Why do such qualities as long-suffering, love, and kindness touch people’s hearts? Give an example. “give free.” (Matt. 10:8) Instead, like the wayward priests of ancient Israel, they “instruct just for a price”—and much of what they teach is unscriptural. (Mic. 3: 11) Such hypocritical conduct does not reconcile anyone to God.

BluesBrother

To be fair, the article is discussing WW1. At that time ,as far as I know the position was not clearly defined and some did accept alternative service.

WT May 15 2013

"Frank Platt, a Bible Student who had agreed to undertake noncombatant duties, was subjected to prolonged and vicious persecution when sent to the front. Atkinson Padgett, who learned the truth shortly after enlisting, also suffered brutal treatment by the military authorities for refusing to engage in combat.

Although our position as Christian neutrals may not have been fully understood by our brothers nearly a century ago, they sought to please Jehovah God. Those mentioned by name in this report set a fine example of neutrality during an especially difficult “hour of test.” (Rev. 3:10)—From our archives in Britain."

By WW2 it was not allowed by the WTS. Nowadays certain types of a/service are allowed as a conscience matter if one is not under the arm of the millitary....The pendulum swings one way and then the other....

zeb

and the fate of 'young boys' going into prisons is never mentioned. But the society doesnt see sex abuse does it.

leaving_quietly

"air-conditioned dog kennel"... Nowadays I find that laughable. A small conditioner at one of those big-box stores is what... $99 USD?

pontoon

But their brand new indoor olympic size pool and ball courts and gym at Wat Farm is OK

fiddler

So I guess Judge Rutherford also didn't fully understand the issue of neutrality??

What about the 1933 'Declaration' to Hitler that the was written up in the 1934 YB

http://www.watchtowerdocuments.com/documents/1934_Year_Book.pdf (I think it starts on about pg. 131.)

JW apologists will say that it had no politics nor anti-Semetism suggested in it but I beg to differ. I came to the same conclusions as James Penton. a former elder, who brought this issue up with the governing body in the 1980's and got disfellowshipped. I guess it created quite a stir in Canada! He seemed to have been still a very active Christian and got his own little breakaway group going but regardless........he made some valid points about that declaration. http://ed5015.tripod.com/JwJamesPenton108.htm

and excerpt here:

The Watch Tower Society has long attempted a cover-up of the most dishonest sort. While your organization properly censures other religious communities for their compromise with and support of Nazism, ittries to claim that Jehovah's Witnesses, and Jehovah's Witnesses alone were never guilty of such compromise. Yet history tells a different story. The "Erklarung" or "Declaration" published by the Watch Tower Society at the Berlin Convention of Jehovah's Witnesses in June 1933 is, in itself, clear evidence that the Society’s president, Judge J. F. Rutherford, as accompanied by N.H. Knorr, manifested anti-Semitism, hostility to Great Britain and the United States and to the League of Nations. Furthermore, the "Erklarung" clearly states that Jehovah's Witnesses supported the aims of the Third Reich.
In addition to the "Erklarung", there is the evidence of the Society's letter to Hitler sent on or immediately following June 25, 1933, and the public statements made about the Berlin convention by Conrad Franke in lectures through out Germany some years ago. All of this I have made public in my book Apocalypse Delayed (1985) – which I know has been read at Watch Tower headquarters both from court documents and inside reports – and in the spring 1990 issue of The Christian Quest. So it is impossible for responsible members of your organization not to know the facts. Thus the August 22 Awake! is nothing short of an historical abomination.
I am aware of the feeble attempt of the 1974 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses to exculpate Judge Rutherford and the Watch Tower Society in Brooklyn by claiming that the Society's German branch overseer, Paul Balzereit, "weakened" the "Erklarung". But the "Erklarung" or "Declaration" was published in both the German and English versions of the 1934 Year Book of Jehovah's Witnesses as an official statement of the Watch Tower Society. So it is impossible to believe that it was not sanctioned by Rutherford and the man who succeeded him as the Society’s president, N H Knorr. Therefore, the leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses of that time attempted to commit what amounted to spiritual whoredom with the Third Reich in the fashion of the two sisters, Oholah and Oholibah of Ezekiel 23, according to the Society’s own teachings