@EndofMysteries - Jwfacts has a good section on religions with similar beliefs to WTS.
'Global preaching work' my arse! I wonder how the ministry is going in North Korea, Saudi Arabia or China?
Jehovah's Witnesses are the only people who don't practice war and who preach worldwide!
by EndofMysteries 40 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
-
-
LoveUniHateExams
'Pacifism is not a virtue. It is the moral equivalent of seeing a woman being beaten and walking by on the other side' - fantastic comment!
I'd never thought of it like that before.
-
TJ Curioso
This article can be a great a great help to respond to that kind of talking:
How can you find the true religion?
http://4jehovah.org/dialogue-6-how-can-you-find-the-true-religion/
-
designs
There are many levels of Pacifism. Non-aggression, Non-violence, Opposition to war, absolute pacifism.
-
LoveUniHateExams
Good point, designs, I hadn't thought about the 'many levels of Pacifism' either.
-
westiebilly11
they promote worship of a god who sanctioned war/mass murder as a form of ethnic cleansing....old testament..
-
snare&racket
I would go back to them with the RAND CAM financial records from the American SEC which show The Watchtower and Tract society owning the majority of shares in a military company, specifically a NAVY funded company that built stealthy quiet engines for drones and underwater vehicles.
I showed it to my friend, he wrote to bethel and they admitted owning it but claimed they owned it in error.
Next I would show them 'The Decleration of Facts' a famous letter from Rutherford to Hitler that no Jw knows about. simply google it. It was sent as a pamphlet and also written in a yearbook back in the early 20th century. They even apologised for the anti-semitism in a Watchtower article in the 90's, right before they made a claim for some funding from the European holocaust fund.
Here have a taste....
"The greatest and most oppressive empire on earth is the Anglo-American empire. By that is meant the British Empire, of which the United States of America forms a part. It has been the commercial Jews of the British-American empire that have built up and carried on Big Business as a means of exploiting and oppressing the peoples of many nations. This fact particularly applies to the cities of London and New York, the stronghold of Big Business. This fact is so manifest in America that there is a proverb concerning the city of New York which says: 'The Jews own it, the Irish Catholics rule it, and the Americans pay the bills.' We have no fight with any of these persons mentioned, but, as the witnesses for Jehovah and in obedience to his commandment set forth in the Scriptures, we are compelled to call attention to the truth concerning the same in order that the people may be enlightened concerning God and his purpose."
"The present government of Germany has declared emphatically against Big Business oppressors and in opposition to the wrongful religious influence in the political affairs of the nation. Such is exactly our position; and we further state in our literature the reason for the existence of oppressive Big Business and the wrongful political religious influence, because the Holy Scriptures plainly declare that these oppressive instruments proceed from the Devil, and that the complete relief therefrom is God's kingdom under Christ. It is therefore impossible for our literature or our work to in any wise be a danger or a menace to the peace and safety of the state."
"Instead of being against the principles advocated by the government of Germany, we stand squarely for such principles, and point out that Jehovah God through Christ Jesus will bring about the full realization of these principles and will give to the people peace and prosperity and the greatest desire of every honest heart ... A careful examination of our books and literature will disclose the fact that the very high ideals held and promulgated by the present national government are set forth in and endorsed and strongly emphasized in our publications, and show that Jehovah God will see to it that these high ideals in due time will be attained by all persons who love righteousness and who obey the Most High. Instead, therefore, of our literature and our work's being a menace to the principles of the present government we are the strongest supporters of such high ideals."
Many religions preach, some even door to door, but most think going door to door is overtly forward and inefficient. Street preaching and preaching from the pulpit has long been mechanisms of teaching in religions, only now being re-adopted by Watchtower. Watchtower have only had a public orientated magazine for a few years, study editions of the Watchtower and the shallow, patronising Awake have been useless in informing people.
As for pacifism, there are religions built around pacifism.
So there is one religion out there,that preaches constantly and does not go to war. it is ironically and worryingly the closest religion I have seen to the Watchtower. jW's look at this group and know that they share much so pretend to not notice them....The Westboro Baptist Church does not go to war and preaches!
As a JW I was supporting the ultimate war, the ultimate slaughter of most of mankind, by praying for and supporting the idea of a god returning to destroy everyone that didn't bow down. Screw that !
-
The Searcher
I'd ask them why they were using God's name as their identifying mark, rather than Jesus' name!
Also, ask them them how Christianity spread across the world BEFORE 1919 - missionaries such as David Livingston!
-
Rattigan350
Syme is right "they consider themselves citizens of "God's government" and thus cannot serve in another government's army"
But the problem with that is that they seek and benefit from the Allies in WWII to rescue them from the Nazis.
Get someone else to do their dirty work.
-
blondie
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/war.php
Jehovah's Witnesses and War
"Who are no part of the world and learn war no more? Again, the historical record of the 20th century testifies: only Jehovah's Witnesses." Watchtower 1992 Apr 1 p.12
The Watchtower is quick to point the finger at other religions for their involvement in war, labelling their followers as "children of the Devil slaughtering their spiritual brothers" (Awake! 1985 Dec 22 p.10). Witnesses are proclaimed as unique, the only loving religion on earth and the only one abstaining from particpation in warfare.
"In our century, which religion has obeyed this law of love? Surely not the religions of Christendom, for they have slaughtered one another by the tens of millions in two world wars and other conflicts. Jehovah's servants are unique in obeying the rule spoken by Peter and other apostles to a high court: "We must obey God as ruler rather than men." (Acts 5:29)" Watchtower 1990 Feb 1 p.22
"Who in our time demonstrate such obedience to Gods commandments on love? Who have been persecuted, imprisoned, thrown into concentration camps, or executed because they would not take up weapons against fellow believers or even unbelievers of other nations? The record of this century's history answers: only Jehovah's Witnesses." Watchtower 1989 May 1 p.28
Many religious groups do not participate in war
This self-proclamation of uniqueness is far from correct; numerous religious organisations do not participate in warfare. These statements are another area that highlights the dishonesty of the Watchtower in attempting to convince their followers that they are unique and alone are acceptable to God.
What most Jehovah's Witnesses do not seem to be aware of is;
- There are a number of religions that do not participate in war
- Witnesses are neutral but not pacifists
- There is Biblical support for engaging in war
Religions not engaging in War
The best known religions for their stance against war are the historic peace churches - Society of Friends, Mennonites and Brethren. In addition are a number of nineteenth century groups that share a similar historical background to the Watchtower Society. Every major Christian denomination also contains pacifist factions. Christian churches known for their stance against war 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 (16th century group numbering 1.5 million)
- Hutterites
- Schwenkfelders
- Bruderhof Communities
- Amish (numbering approximately 200,000)
- Society of Friends (Quakers)
- Doukhobors - 17th century breakaway from Russian Orthodox
- Molokans - 17th 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
In addition to this list are other peace churches that have become extinct or almost extinct such as Shakers.