2006-09-30 21:51:49 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Sara,
Nope.
2006-09-30 22:15:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 5⤋
I'm going to let my father answer this question.
I always think of it when I read such answers that have been posted here.
First understand that my father was a guest of Japan for 3 years during WW2. He was one of the youngest POW's there. He retired 20 years Air Force.
When I became a Marine my father was so proud he came to visit me at boot camp.
Years later when I became one of Jehovah's Witnesses I knew that hurt him, So when I asked him about it, this is what he said.
"Son, I spent my entire life defending your right to be anything you want, to say anything you want, If I was to complain or judge you for exercising your rights, My entire life would be a hypocrisy."
In my eyes my father is one of the great Americans. Our philosophies are not same today, but my love and respect for him is great.
2006-10-02 05:36:20 · answer #2 · answered by TeeM 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses are taught to be and aspire to be law-abiding, tax-paying, community-minded citizens in whatever land they live. In every nation, their neutrality simply does not allow nationalistic activity, or participation in the military.
Jehovah's Witnesses would rather be understood as being "pro-Messianic Kingdom" as their preferred government. In hundreds of countries for nearly a century, few earthly governments have objected to the concientious objection which Jehovah's Witnesses have consistently registered toward military service.
Typically, those that do choose to persecute Jehovah's Witnesses have found themselves on the ash heap of history.
As true Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses are happy to explain how Christianity is unique in that it has no provision for its adherents to engage in warfare. Those ostensible "Christians" who do so ignore the Scriptures and the teachings and example of Jesus Christ himself.
(Matthew 26:52) Jesus said to him: “Return your sword to its place, for all those who take the sword will perish by the sword
(Isaiah 2:4) They will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore.
(2 Corinthians 10:3-4) We do not wage warfare according to what we are in the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly
(Luke 6:27-29) I [Jesus] say to you who are listening, Continue to love your enemies, to do good to those hating you, to bless those cursing you, to pray for those who are insulting you. To him that strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/library/g/2002/4/8/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/library/t15/peaceful.htm
http://jw-media.org/beliefs/society.htm
2006-10-02 16:26:38 · answer #3 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In a country that maintains the freedom of religion, it cannot possibly be considered seditious to refuse to participate in a government run institution based on faith. If that were the case, then Christians would be considered "anti-American" based on many of their varied and sundry beliefs, as would ALL people of faith.
For instance, many faiths believe that abortion is a sin and actively try to impose laws against it, actively attempt to stop the legal businesses that perform abortions, and in extreme cases, bomb abortion clinics. However abortion is a legal activity in the United States. By your reasoning, pro-lifers would be considered anti-American for participating in any activity such as pro-life rallies, parades, pickets, or public speeches against what the American society as a whole has deemed legal and acceptable .
Until such a time as there is a mandatory term of enlistment for all Americans, they are doing nothing "anti-American".
-SD-
2006-09-30 22:09:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋
Well now religion is always a sensitive subject and this has to be looked at from the sides of the aforementioned religions. I dont think that it has anything to do with their patriotism but it is just a matter of how they decipher the bible. Some things they (not as a whole group but some) take literally...like...umm...turning sword into plowshears (not a good example I can't think of any right now)...and some is taken symbolically like the taking of the wine...now if you were to discuss the matter of their refusal with someone of that religion you would see what their views are. I just hate when people make judgement based up what they heard...go straight to the source...Hope this helped...
2006-09-30 22:09:59 · answer #5 · answered by The Evolution 2 · 2⤊ 5⤋
No more so than the Agnostics and Atheists that refuse to join the armed services due to their beliefs...
I thought America was about freedom? Freedom from oppression, freedom of religion, free speech... etc. Since when has Freedom come to be synonomous with Anti-American?
2006-09-30 23:53:08 · answer #6 · answered by Romney S 3 · 1⤊ 5⤋
When the Jewish high court ordered the apostles to stop preaching about Jesus, the apostles replied at Acts 5:29, "We must obey God as ruler rather than man." The early Christians were law-abiding people. But when their religious beliefs conflicted with man's laws, they always obeyed what God wanted them to do, although it cost many of them their lives to the lions in the Roman arenas. Jehovah's Witnesses obey the Bible at Isaiah 2:4 where it says that they "will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears." The last part of that verse said that they would "learn war no more." By following God's word about war, do you think that makes them anti-American?
2006-09-30 22:06:33 · answer #7 · answered by LineDancer 7 · 3⤊ 5⤋
I know Jehovah's Witnesses aren't anti-american. If you are anti-america you'd have to be taking action or inciting action against america. Jehovah's Witnesses are politically neutral. They do not fight in wars and refuse to join the armed forces because true Christians should not kill. There is a difference between being "anti"-something, that indicates action against it, and being neutral.
At Matthew 22:36-39, when Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus told them: "You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. The second, like it, is this, "You must love your neighbor as yourself."
So, as a follower of Christ (a Christian), you cannot justify killing your neighbor when you are commanded to "love your neighbor as yourself."
Plus Jesus said at John 13:34,35 "I am giving you a new commandment, the you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves."
The reason Jesus said that it is a new commandment was that he was telling his true followers that they should love other true followers so much that they would give their life for them, as he would later do. Also, this would be an identifying mark of true Christians that they have love among themselves.
Jehovah's Witnesses take these commands very seriously. They know that if they were to engage in warfare, they could kill other followers of Christ in other countries. This surely would not be following Jesus command to love one another like he loved them.
So no. Jehovah's Witnesses are not anti-america, or anti-any government. They are actually taught to obey authorities, as long as doing so does not go against God's laws. As another poster already mentioned, like the Apostles, they obey God as ruler rather than men.
2006-09-30 23:11:02 · answer #8 · answered by Kally 3 · 2⤊ 4⤋
If you mean against America, the answer is no. They love everyone in every country. No one chooses the country in which they are born and therefore should not be discriminated against because of it. They also choose not to participate in violence which might result in the taking of an innocent life. The Bible says that true Christians will "learn war no more" and they both choose to let the Bible guide their lives.
2006-10-01 01:47:08 · answer #9 · answered by Sparkle1 6 · 2⤊ 4⤋
Jehovahs Witnesses are not anti anything.They dont take up arms because they will not murder another human being.Nor will they support war in any form
Christians are admonished to love one another.
2006-10-01 02:16:51 · answer #10 · answered by lillie 6 · 3⤊ 4⤋
my my I just can not weight until you change into a sarah. Since america is a country that allows that freedom seems to me they are probably pro american. Wouldn't it be a nicer place if Bush had been Amish.
2006-09-30 22:03:24 · answer #11 · answered by icheeknows 5 · 3⤊ 5⤋