If America has a draft, will Jehovah's Witnesses be excluded?

Question

Jehovah's Witnesses refuse to join the armed services and participate in politics.
If there is a draft, will Jehovah's Witnesses be excluded because it's against their religion?

Answer 1

All JW males obey the law and register for the draft, but do not serve. One thing to remember, unlike other religions, you cannot be baptized as a JW until you have gained a basic knowledge of the Bible, and are learning how to preach and teach. There is a written test. Every JW, male and female, are legal ministers, with all the rights there of under the Constitution.

As for the draft, remember, many countries have a draft. In France, if you d not serve you are jailed for four years, than you are drafted again. If you don't serve, you go back to jail for another four years, than do it all over again. Refusing is a life sentence.

Growing up, I've known ones who have served time in the U.S. for refusing the draft. It is up to a judge to decide whether a JW is enough of a JW to be granted leave, or go to jail. Consider this. In the Balkans, the Christian rule had a draft. Had JWs served in the military, here and there, than when we fought them over the genocide of the Muslims, JWs would have been fighting JWs, just like in WWII, when German Catholics and Lutherans were fighting American Catholics and Lutherans. Both of which had their priests bless the weapons used on their consecutive sides.

As for the comment of JohnC above, there are 3 million JWs in the world, most of whom look forward to everlasting life on a Paradise Earth, and exploring the universe. The 144,000 are servants, with no special positions, and most of whom have passed away in the last 20 years. When I was young, there were 3-5 person congregation. Now I don't think there are a 1000 still living on the planet.

Answer 2

Depends on the mood of the country at the time.

In WW2 and Vietnam many Jehovah's Witnesses went to prison for not serving in the military.

I find it interesting that during WW2 with the whole world at war, All governments were in agreement concerning Jehovah's Witnesses.

England, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Italy, Japan, all were throwing Jehovah's Witnesses in prison.

Did you know that Jehovah's Witnesses were in Nazi concentration camps (1938) before the Jews were sent (1939).

Answer 3

Jehovah's Witnesses practice strict neutrality with regard to politics and nationalism. In addition, they understand the bible to teach that a Christian must 'learn war no more' (Micah 4:1-4).

Globally, Jehovah's Witnesses are well-known as law-abiding persons. The Scriptures teach that Christians are in subjection to secular governments, although the Scriptures also teach that such subjection is RELATIVE to the unrestricted devotion which is owed to God.

(Romans 13:1) Let every soul be in subjection to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except by God; the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God

(Acts 5:29) We must obey God as ruler rather than men

(Exodus 20:5) I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion

Most "western" democracies arrange alternative service for conscientious objectors, such as Jehovah's Witnesses, in the place of otherwise mandatory military service. Jehovah's Witnesses have no objections to alternative non-military service, but prefer literally any punishment (including death) to compromising their religious principles.

Learn more:
http://www.jw-media.org/edu_videos/vcfi_e.htm
http://www.jw-media.org/edu_videos/vcut_e.htm
http://www.jw-media.org/vnr/5263723221/22812301.htm

Answer 4

Men who are Jehovah's Witnesses must register with Selective Service, but can also establish themselves as conscientious objectors, as can anyone else who is morally opposed to war, regardless of their religious affiliation.

From wikipedia:

In 1971 a United States Supreme Court decision broadened U.S. rules beyond religious belief but denied the inclusion of objections to specific wars as grounds for conscientious objection.[1] Some desiring to include the objection to specific wars distinguish between wars of offensive aggression and defensive wars while others contend that religious, moral or ethical opposition to war need not be absolute or consistent but may depend on circumstance or political conviction. Currently, the U.S. Selective Service System states, "Beliefs which qualify a registrant for conscientious objector status may be religious in nature, but don't have to be. Beliefs may be moral or ethical; however, a man's reasons for not wanting to participate in a war must not be based on politics, expediency, or self-interest. In general, the man's lifestyle prior to making his claim must reflect his current claims."[2]. In the US, this applies to primary claims, that is, those filed on initial SSS registration. On the other hand, those who apply after either having registered without filing, and/or having attempted or effected a deferral, are specifically required to demonstrate a discrete and documented change in belief, including a precipitant, that converted a non-CO to a CO. The male reference is due to the current "male only" basis for conscription in the United States.
COs willing to perform non-combatant military functions are classed 1-A-O by the US; those unwilling to serve at all are 1-O.

Answer 5

no , the government will not exclude them /us. They didn't exclude us from previous drafts .They may not exclude us ,but we will still not go to war .In the war of i Guss it was the Vietnam war they did A draft (not sure it's the right war there's been so many ),but we petitioned that we had a religious belief , cuz this country we say we are free to religion , and other things religion is one of the reasons that the first people came here for freedom of religion . so as we have in other times we will not go to war.,.

Answer 6

NO, they are conscientious objectors and are NOT exempt from draft. Two types of service are available to conscientious objectors, and the type assigned is determined by the individual's specific beliefs. The person who is opposed to any form of military service will be assigned to Alternative Service . The person whose beliefs allow him to serve in the military but in a noncombatant capacity will serve in the Armed Forces but will not be assigned training or duties that include using weapons.

Answer 7

I think there have been cases similar to this before, and I believe that they didn't have to go because of religious reasons. I could see the C.I.A. taking them in for questioning, like they did with the middle-eastern people that were arrested and tortured, until the Jehovah's Witnesses decide combat is better than torture and death. The U.S. has done stuff like that before so I could see it happening again.

Answer 8

where is it wrong in a country that has the siren of FREEDOM OF RELIGION , that you find fault with a religion that has taken it's stand against military service?
If you oppose the right of JW's to refuse military service, you yourself have taken a stand against the Constitution. You are now in defiance of what the US stands for. And as such should have your citezenship revoked, and be forcibly removed from this country. You are unpatriotic, a hypocrate, and a forgery of all that America stands for.
You should be ashamed of turning your back on the most exalted form of government on the earth!


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Answer 9

Why don't you ask a Jehovah's Witness next time they come to your door instead of asking people who don't know what they believe (like John C, who hasn't got the faintest idea judging by his answer!)

You don't ask your doctor how you should have your hair styled do you?
Direct your question to Jehovah's Witnesses

Answer 10

I've seen a lot of worms weasel their way out of honoring their obligation to the draft, including the egotistical, supposedly-great Cassius Clay(aka:muhammed ali), and other so-called "non-violent" liars. There's always the rotten ones in a barrel of apples, and the one I named above is the classic example, so, I'm sure there will be more worms like him, no matter what their so-called "religion" is. God Bless you.