move here from somewhere else and become a citizen, if they refuse to say the pledge? (it is against their religion to say it)
2006-10-21 05:12:59 · 7 answers · asked by Heron By The Sea 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm a Jehovah's Witness, and here's the answer...
The pledge of allegiance involves pledging that you'll do whatever the country asks of you (by pledging your allegiance to the flag). Jehovah's Witnesses follow the scripture at Romans 13:1-4 which says:
"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. Therefore he who opposes the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God; those who have taken a stand against it will receive judgment to themselves. For those ruling are an object of fear, not to the good deed, but to the bad. Do you, then, want to have no fear of the authority? Keep doing good, and you will have praise from it; for it is God’s minister to you for your good. But if you are doing what is bad, be in fear: for it is not without purpose that it bears the sword; for it is God’s minister, an avenger to express wrath upon the one practicing what is bad."
The government serves a purpose: keeping a semblance of order so that the world isn't ruled by anarchy. We pay our taxes, follow the laws (even when we personally don't agree), and try to lead quiet lives.
However, there is Biblical precedence of circumstances where Christians' duties to God override their obedience to governmental authorities. When the early Christians were told to stop preaching by the authorities their response was: "We must obey God as ruler rather than men." (Romans 5:29)
If governmental authorities demand that we do something that God says is wrong, or demand that we not do something God has said we must do, they are overstepping their authority and God's will must be followed. Since the Pledge of Allegiance is an unqualified promise to follow the government's orders, we cannot make that pledge.
2006-10-21 05:27:03 · answer #1 · answered by Epitome_inc 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I don't know because I was born a US citizen. But that is a good question. Could the hypothetical Jehovah's Witness say the pledge as the original author wrote it without the "under God" (that line wasn't added until the 1950s in response to the McCarthy witchhunts, and reportedly, even the author's daughter was appalled at the addition)? The best place to ask is the immigration office.
As far as saying it in schools, it depends on where you go. When I attended private school, it was required. In public school, the pledge was never said once for any reason.
2006-10-21 05:20:03 · answer #2 · answered by Cinnamon 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I know that Jehovah's Witnesses have immigrated to this country, so I suspect that the Pledge is not required for citizenship. Honoring the laws, paying taxes, and not helping illegal immigrates enter the country is required. It can take decades for a JW to become a citizen, as they follow all the laws and don't enter illegally. But, JWs don't immigrate to this country in the kind of numbers other religions do, as America is still just another country facing the same fulfillment of prophesy that all the other countries are facing.
Here or in Russia, when the time of the end comes, every one is equal. There is a job to do there, and in every country, tearing down the old, and rebuilding it back into a paradise. So, why come here when there is little difference in the long term?
2006-10-21 09:11:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
So a long way it appears like you are now not getting any Australian solutions, if certainly a pledge is a demand. My wager is they could have a obstacle, however in step with Rousseau, any Christian could theoretically have the identical obstacle. And I think that logically, Rousseau is proper. I'm a Christian but I have loyalty to my nation -- ample to soak up a license to kill and protect it. Rousseau additionally mentioned I could make a nice slave considering that I care now not for the matters of this international besides and exist to delight God via my paintings right here on the earth. He's bought a factor. JWs comply with Rousseau at the conflict aspect, I do not know approximately the slave aspect. I do not comply with Rousseau on both aspect, and I do not know why. And I'm nonetheless a Christian. Government isn't God, however it acts like a faith normally. The JWs have extra of a obstacle with it than I do. The atheists could logically have much less of a obstacle with it considering that it could be the one factor to comply with external in their possess inhibitions -- which is not going to even exist, if you happen to believe approximately it. And I'm within the center, announcing, "I do not know."
2016-09-01 00:25:39 · answer #4 · answered by pointdexter 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses consider a "pledge of allegiance" to *ANY* human government or entity to be incompatible with the "exclusive devotion" they owe to the Creator.
(Exodus 20:5) I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion
The "loyalty oath" required of a new citizen only requires that he agree not to join any rebellion against the United States government.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/library/lmn/article_10.htm
2006-10-21 20:48:43 · answer #5 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't know that you have to say it to become a citizen, but I do know that school students DON'T have to say it if they don't want to.
I would surmise that one would not be forced to say it. This IS the US after all.
2006-10-21 05:17:08 · answer #6 · answered by . 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If they refuse to say the pledge, I'd say they are terrorists.
2006-10-21 05:14:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 7⤋