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Do Members of Jehovah's Witness Celebrate the US Independence Day?

Skwim

Veteran Member

"They do not, because it is considered patriotism. Jehovah's Witnesses reject any form of patriotism on the basis that their only alliegance is to Jehovah. It is also another way to set themselves apart from other branches of Christianity."
source

Thoughts . . . . . .

.
 

Earthling

David Henson
They also don't vote or serve in the armed forces, or perform any job where they would have to use a firearm. Like many atheist, they refuse to pledge allegiance to the flag.
 

John53

I go leaps and bounds
Premium Member
Like many atheist, they refuse to pledge allegiance to the flag.

Care to supply evidence of that statement? I've never heard of it before. Maybe I'm doing atheism wrong! But then again we don't have a pledge of allegiance to the flag, we pledge loyalty to Australia and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
 

Earthling

David Henson
Care to supply evidence of that statement? I've never heard of it before. Maybe I'm doing atheism wrong! But then again we don't have a pledge of allegiance to the flag, we pledge loyalty to Australia and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The American pledge of allegiance includes a pledge of loyalty to God. Americans are somewhat arrogant if you hadn't noticed.
 

John53

I go leaps and bounds
Premium Member
The American pledge of allegiance includes a pledge of loyalty to God. Americans are somewhat arrogant if you hadn't noticed.

You said flag which is what I was commenting on. If they won't pledge allegiance to a god then that is understandable. I'm married to an American and don't find them any more or less arrogant than the people from other countries.
 

Subduction Zone

Veteran Member
The American pledge of allegiance includes a pledge of loyalty to God. Americans are somewhat arrogant if you hadn't noticed.
Wow! Amazing projection. The "Under God" phrase was not originally in the Pledge. It was added during the Cold War.

Why do some Christians think that people objecting to them attempting to impose their religion on others is "arrogance"?
 

Earthling

David Henson
Wow! Amazing projection. The "Under God" phrase was not originally in the Pledge. It was added during the Cold War.

Your point being?

Why do some Christians think that people objecting to them attempting to impose their religion on others is "arrogance"?

The arrogance I was referring to was the concept that God was on our side, so, in that regard the arrogance would be the attempt to impose their religion on others.
 

Earthling

David Henson
You said flag which is what I was commenting on. If they won't pledge allegiance to a god then that is understandable. I'm married to an American and don't find them any more or less arrogant than the people from other countries.

I mean America as a nation. Imposing their will, dominating, meddling creating the United Nations. That sort of thing.
 

Subduction Zone

Veteran Member
Your point being?



The arrogance I was referring to was the concept that God was on our side, so, in that regard the arrogance would be the attempt to impose their religion on others.
I could have sworn that you had "atheists" in there and not Americans in that post. If there was no quick edit I do apologize for misreading your post.
 

Earthling

David Henson
I could have sworn that you had "atheists" in there and not Americans in that post. If there was no quick edit I do apologize for misreading your post.

No quick edit. I originally said Americans were arrogant, not atheists.

Now . . . American atheists . . . :p
 

Deeje

Avid Bible Student
Premium Member
"They do not, because it is considered patriotism. Jehovah's Witnesses reject any form of patriotism on the basis that their only alliegance is to Jehovah. It is also another way to set themselves apart from other branches of Christianity."
source

Thoughts . . . . . .

.

Patriotism and nationalism are two of the driving forces that make war possible. It is IMO, a competing, almost 'religious' response to any perceived threat, eliciting the same same strong emotional response in people.....that hand on the heart.....my country right or wrong.....I will salute the flag of my nation and kill to protect what it stands for....that isn't the standard by which JW's live. Some churches are very patriotic, but we never saw Jesus promoting that. (Acts 10:34-35) How do you love your enemies and at the same time support bloodshed? :shrug:

We support our nation by paying our taxes and not filling up the jails with murderers, thieves and drug dealers. No government ever has to worry about JW's ever trying to oppose them with weapons, because that is not what Christ instructed us to do. No person ever has to worry about getting shot by a JW because we don't carry weapons.

If Christ told us to love God, to love our neighbor and to love even our enemies...then that is what we should be doing. Christians do not have a nationality if they are citizens of God's Kingdom. They serve as ambassadors for that kingdom, which means having no part in the world's political activities.

The only thing we celebrate is what Jesus commanded us to....the memorial of his death....and it doesn't cost us anything. No hype, no rampant commercialism, no hypocrisy. We are simple people with a simple form of worship....like the one Jesus taught when he was here.

We pledge allegiance to one government, but it isn't on this earth. (John 18:36) We live by its rules and we try to be model citizens in whatever nation we reside in, because that's what it means to be a Christian.....a footstep follower of Christ.

Was Jesus a political figure? Did he meddle in the political system of his day, even when it was oppressing his own people? Did he recommend joining the military to fight for Jewish freedom? Would he approve of celebrating a day when there was mass bloodshed attached to that event? Was the bloodshed in any political war justified in God's eyes?

To my knowledge, God hasn't sanctioned a war for thousands of years.
 
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