THE "JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES" IS AGAINST VIOLENCE?

Translated from the original by Costas Balomenos

Joseph Rutherford, the second president of the Organization of Jehovah's Witnesses. Is distinguished with his bodyguards, keeping wands in their hands. And other Jehovah's Witnesses are holding wands (Newspaper «The Saturday Evening Post»)

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ptly been said by many and especially from former Jehovah's Witnesses, that the Internet will be the "tomb" of the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses “Watchtower”, because now through Internet, the world is informed not only for teaching that is full of lies, errors and contradictions, but also for debunking of behavior and practices on the part of Jehovah’s Witnesses, which formerly covered by the veil of mystery and myth. This has resulted in the developed countries, where there is a broad spread of Internet, thousands of Jehovah's Witnesses are leaving each year their organization, which explains why it is done and the "fierce" attack of the Organization against Internet, in order to prevent the browsing therein, from its members...

This “bleeding” with the fleeing of members of the organization, clearly illustrated and in the statistics of active members of Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world, that publishes annually by the organization itself. So in the most developed countries, the number of members of the Organization has declined dramatically in recent years. Indeed, in some of these countries, the decline has taken such dramatic proportions, since the active Jehovah's Witnesses are much less than it was thirty years ago! For example, in 1975 in Denmark, the active members of Jehovah's Witnesses amounted at 14.554, and in 2012, i.e. after almost 37 years of intensive propaganda and “continuous walking” of unpaid "bagman" for life of the Organization, this number approximates 14.411. In the above numbers must be taken into account the increase of the population of Denmark. In 1975 was 5.059.454, while in 2012 amounted to 5.550.000.

Well, it was a myth, that had been circulating over the years and unfortunately it circulate still on. A myth, which artfully is cultivating from the Jehovah's Witnesses, i.e. how good men and harmless are the Jehovah’s Witnesses, after they refuse to get caught weapon and to defend their lives. It’s a myth, which we have broken with our article “Jehovah's Witnesses shall refuse indeed the weapons and war?” in which we prove with documents, that neither against the war are not against guns.

But on a personal level, what happens? If someone Jehovah Witness had been attacked, how should you react? Must not resist at all in attacker and be subjected the consequences of this attack as painful to be, even for the own his life? I wonder what they say the forms of the Society on this issue? They turn and the left jaw when someone knocks them on the right jaw? Matth. 5:39.

The official publications of the Society “Watchtower”, through which is passing the teaching in the Jehovah's Witnesses, in June 1, 1968, pages 346-347, deals exactly with this issue. How should we act, if someone attacks us? According to what we have heard by now, which is widely circulated in the world, a Jehovah's Witness suffered brutal attack, while observing the rules of the Gospel must not be raise any resistance, whatever if it happens to him? Really, the “Watchtower” what advises him? So let's see what he says. Well, it writes word for word:

«But what if you are accosted by a violent person, one who begins to attack you? Then reasoning and peacefully handing over material possessions may no longer be enough. In this extreme situation the Christian is justified in protecting himself … True, a blow struck in self-defence might injure the assailant. But if it resulted in killing the attacker, this should not be intentional».

From the above we can see that the “fairy tales” that serve the Jehovah's Witnesses, that they don’t use violence to defend themselves “go walking”. As they go "strolling", and all relevant rules of the Gospel, which apply, but for ... others and not for them. Because, the Witness of Jehovah who suffered brutal attack, is called by his Society not only to defend himself, but it can kill and him who will attacking him! As well one woman a Witness of Jehovah can cause resistance and causing bodily harm, in order to avoid a rape as we read in the same form of the Society. Here is and document of organization, to not stay with you any doubt.

WHEN PERSONALLY CONFRONTED

However, there are times when difficulty cannot be avoided. For example, even in daylight hours you may be accosted by a robber who has a weapon. What can you do? You might try to reason with the robber, perhaps identifying yourself as a Christian minister, if you are one of Jehovah’s witnesses. Many times this has resulted in Christians’ being left alone and safe.

But what if that will not suffice, and the accoster is determined to get some money at all costs? Ask yourself: Which is more important, my money or my life? Can I continue to serve Jehovah without the money I may have in my wallet or purse? Can I continue to serve Jehovah without my life? The answer is obvious. Life is far more valuable. Hence, it is extremely unwise to endanger your life just for money. And since many robbers today will not hesitate to use violence if the victim resists, it is the course of practical wisdom to let them have the money.

This same thought holds true if a thief enters your home. If he has a weapon, you may have no opportunity to call the police for assistance. The thief may be after money or other material items only. Resistance could end up in injury or death for many members of the family, so it would be unwise to resort to what some might consider “heroics” to defend material things. The safety of yourself and your loved ones comes first.

But what if you are accosted by a violent person, one who begins to attack you? Then reasoning and peacefully handing over material possessions may no longer be enough. In this extreme situation the Christian is justified in protecting himself. If unable to get away, or if in his own home, he can ward off blows and defend himself, doing what he can to restrain the attacker. Of course, if there are several, or many attackers, even this defense may prove unsuccessful.

True, a blow struck in self-defense might injure the assailant. But if it resulted in killing the attacker, this should not be intentional. A Christian who might thus accidentally kill his assailant should recognize the seriousness of what has happened. Realizing that he may bear bloodguilt for what has happened, even though it was unintentional, he ought to go humbly to God in prayer to seek his forgiveness through Christ Jesus.

What can be done if your family or spiritual brothers and sisters come under physical attack in your presence? You could undertake resistance as much as possible if there were no other means of assistance available. Such may bring your life in danger, but as Jesus said: “No one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his soul in behalf of his friends.” (John 15:13) It might prove practical, depending upon the circumstances, to go for help instead of trying to handle the situation alone. If there is a large group attacking one’s family or Christian brothers, the wise course may be to get police help if that is available. So the course to follow depends upon the circumstances. And even the same situation may be handled in different ways by different ones. Each person will have to decide the best course to take depending upon what he knows of the situation at the moment.

ATTEMPTED RAPE

If you are a Christian woman, what should you do if, in spite of all precautions, you are set upon by a rapist? If you cannot deter him by reasoning, or by calling upon the name of Jehovah, then what? As a Christian you are under obligation to resist. This resistance includes screaming and creating as much disturbance as possible to try to frighten off the attacker and attract help. If the attack continues and you cannot break free to flee, then you would be justified even to inflict damage on your assailant if necessary. Resistance is imperative, because the rapist is after, not just money, but your virtue. An issue of integrity to Jehovah’s laws is involved here. So by no means would it be proper quietly to submit to rape, as that would be consenting to fornication.—1 Thess. 4:3.

Watchtower June 1, 1968, pages 346-347:  The Witness of Jehovah may kill him who attacks him.

Violence were brought by Jehovah’s Witnesses, resulting in to throw unconscious and a police officer(!) when they defended themselves in a mob attack, which became, during a Assembly which were making in Oregon of the United States. Where we read this? In another document of the Organization, the “Book of the Year 1975”, pages 184-185:

CHRISTIAN GATHERINGS DISRUPTED

During those turbulent years, Christians in the United States sometimes were assaulted while gathered peacefully for Bible instruction. That happened, for example, in Saco, Maine, during 1940. While Jehovah’s witnesses were in their second-floor Kingdom Hall there preparing to present a recorded Bible lecture on one occasion, a mob of 1,500 to 1,700 formed, according to Harold B. Duncan. He clearly recalls that a priest was with them, sitting in a car in front of the hall. “The fellow in the [adjacent] radio repair shop turned on every radio he could to full volume so as to drown out the talk,” says Brother Duncan, adding: “Then the mob started stoning the windows. The police in plain clothes with flashlights pointed the light beams on the windows to stone out. The police station was only a block and a half away. I went there twice and informed them of what was happening. They said, ‘When you people salute the American flag, we’ll give you help!’ The mob stoned 70 [small windowpanes] out of the hall and a stone as large as my fist just missed Sister Gertrude Bob’s head and took a corner of the plastered wall out.”

Mob violence also erupted during the 1942 assembly in Klamath Falls, Oregon. According to Don Milford, mobsters cut the telephone wires bringing a discourse from another convention city, but a brother having a copy of the talk immediately took over and the program went on. Finally, the mob broke into the hall. The Witnesses defended themselves and when the door was closed again, one attacker—“a large powerful man”—lay unconscious inside the building. He was a police officer and his picture was taken with his badge alongside his face. “We called the Red Cross,” says Brother Milford, “and they sent in two women with a stretcher and took him out. He was later heard to say, ‘I didn’t think they would fight.’” The police refused to aid the Witnesses, and it was over four hours before the mob was dispersed by the state militia.

“Book of the Year 1975”, pages 184-185: Jehovah’s Witnesses throwing unconscious a police officer.

But and in simple cases, the use of violence is not unknown for Jehovah’s Witnesses. The same form of the Organization, the “Book of the Year 1975”, pages 180-182, recounts us about the violence brought by Jehovah's Witnesses to fans of Catholic priest, because the latter created a fuss in assembly, in which he was speaking Joseph Rutherford, the second president of the Organization, interrupting him with voices. The persons responsible for maintenance of order  of Jehovah's Witnesses are called “usher”, not only evicted them naughtily from the hall using violence, but literally they broke the head of one of them with sticks, which had taken care to provide in advance as recounts with a dose of bragging and the form itself of Jehovah's Witnesses:

VIOLENT MOBS FAIL TO SILENCE PRAISERS OF JEHOVAH

While Jehovah’s witnesses were waging legal battles for freedom of worship and their right to preach the good news, in the field they sometimes came face to face with violent mobs. This was not without parallel, however, for Jesus Christ himself had experiences of that kind. (Luke 4:28-30; John 8:59; 10:31-39) Faithful Stephen suffered martyrdom at the hands of an angry crowd.—Acts 6:8-12; 7:54–8:1.

The worldwide Christian convention held on June 23-25, 1939, was viewed by hoodlums as an opportunity to harass God’s people. Direct wire connections linked New York city, the key city, with other assembly locations in the United States, Canada, the British Isles, Australia and Hawaii. While J. F. Rutherford’s discourse “Government and Peace” was being advertised, Jehovah’s servants learned that Catholic Action groups planned to prevent the public meeting on June 25. So, God’s people were ready for trouble. Blosco Muscariello tells us: “Like Nehemiah raising the wall of Jerusalem and supplying his men with both instruments to build and instruments to fight (Neh. 4:15-22), we were so armed. . . . Some of us young men received special instructions as ushers. Each was supplied with a sturdy cane to be used in the event of any interference during the main talk.” But R. D. Cantwell adds: “We were instructed not to use it unless it was a matter of being cornered in final defense.”

Though it was not known generally, Brother Rutherford was in poor health when he ascended the platform at Madison Square Garden in New York city that Sunday afternoon, June 25, 1939. Soon the talk was under way. Among the latecomers were about 500 followers of Roman Catholic cleric Charles E. Coughlin, renowned “radio priest” of the 1930’s, to whose regular broadcasts millions listened. Since the lower level of the auditorium had been reserved and filled with the Witnesses, Coughlin’s followers, including priests, had to occupy a top section of the balcony behind the speaker.

“There was no smoking elsewhere in the auditorium,” wrote a Consolation correspondent, “but eighteen minutes after the discourse began one man to the left front in this crowd lit a cigarette, and then another to the right front lit one; then the electric lights in this section only were blinked, and then in this one section only there were booings, screams and catcalls.” “I sat tense,” says Sister Edward Broad, “waiting for the confusion to spread all over the Garden. But as a few moments passed I saw that the trouble was confined to a group directly behind the speaker. ‘What will he do?’ I wondered. It seemed impossible for anyone to keep on speaking with things being thrown down on the platform and not knowing at any moment when the microphone might be taken away.” Esther Allen recalls that “wild howling and expressions of ‘Heil Hitler!’ ‘Viva Franco!’ and ‘Kill that damn Rutherford!’ filled the air.”

Would ailing Brother Rutherford yield to those violent foes? “The louder they yelled to drown out the speaker’s voice, the stronger Judge Rutherford’s voice became,” says Sister A. F. Laupert. Aleck Bangle remarks: “The Society’s president did not become afraid but courageously said: ‘Note today the Nazis and Catholics would like to break up this meeting, but by God’s grace cannot do it.’” “That was the opportunity we needed to break into heartfelt applause, giving the speaker our enthusiastic support,” writes Roger Morgan, adding: “Brother Rutherford held his ground to the end of the hour. We later thrilled every time we played recordings of that lecture in the homes of the people.”

C. H. Lyon tells us: “The attendants did their work well. A couple of the more obstreperous Coughlinites were rapped on the head with a cane, and all of them were unceremoniously hurled down the ramps and out of the auditorium. One of the Coughlinites rated some publicity in a daily tabloid the next morning, as they printed a picture of him with his head wrapped, as with a turban.”

Three Witness ushers were arrested and charged with “assault.” They were tried before three judges (two Roman Catholics and a Jew) of the Special Sessions Court of the City of New York on October 23 and 24, 1939. In court it was shown that the attendants had gone into the section of Madison Square Garden where the disturbance broke out in order to remove the disturbers. When the rioters attacked the ushers, they resisted and dealt firmly with some of the radical group. Witnesses for the prosecution made many contradictory statements. Not only did the court acquit the three ushers. It also found that the Witness attendants had acted within their rights.

“Book of the Year 1975”, pages 180-182: Jehovah's Witnesses engage in violence on a Catholics faithful.

And after all this, we have Jehovah's Witnesses, with bottomless audacity that distinguishes them, to speak ironically us because we want to defend ourselves and the honor of our family against of any foreign and hostile threatening!

Writer Christos Pal