Jehovah’s Witnesses - I need some information. Can you help?
I have a currently open question. In answer to that already open question, someone stated that there have been Jehovah’s Witnesses murdered for their beliefs. That concerns me inasmuch as I do not think anyone should ever be murdered for their beliefs, and wonder how that could be.
What I would like for someone to do is to share some stories of that happening, with enough specific detail that I can verify those stories if I need to. Saying something like “John from Russia was killed because he was going door to door” will not do at all. In fact, something like that makes me doubt that it happened at all and believe that it is probably nothing more than a made-up story. If you are going to share a story, then give me the person’s first and last name, the specific city and country and the year, month and day of the month that incident occurred. It would also be helpful if you could share some Internet links for me to check.
Finally, I would like to know when and where the first Jehovah’s Witness was murdered for his or her beliefs, a year-by-year breakdown of statistics giving the numbers murdered in each year since then and although if I am given that obviously I can add the numbers together, a grand total of the numbers that have been murdered. As far as the year-by-year breakdown of statistics, although obviously you cannot provide the numbers for full year of 2012, I would like the total number for 2011 and the total number for this year so far.
I will be picking Best Answer for that other question sometime later today, but the last day or two and the next day or two at least are going to be extremely hectic and full for me. Regarding what I need now, I can probably find the information myself, but it may take me hours to do so, hours I do not have. I am hoping that one of you can fill in some blanks for me.
And once again, I welcome both personal stories and Internet links as well as currently-available books or other publications.
Thank you very much for your help. I am seriously considering the information that I have gotten so far, and I am wondering where my next step will take me.
2012-06-29T09:57:29Z
@Lizzy, Telling me that what I am asking cannot be answered within the confines of this forum and then not telling me where I can go to get the information without personally traveling thousands of miles and visiting a distant city at great expense is skirting very close to dodging my question. I am not saying that it is a dodge, but it is getting very close to one. I seriously need some serious answers, and if the Jehovah's Witnesses are going to use people being murdered for their beliefs as one of the criteria for claiming that they are the sole representative for Jehovah on earth, then it seems to me they are shirking their responsibility by not making that information readily available. I need some clear-cut answers, not nebulous clouds that are impossible to cut through and impossible to see through.
2012-06-29T10:03:26Z
@ available, is 38555 a significant number? This will probably be my last chance to had Additional Details and/or respond before tomorrow. I am perfectly willing to go to a Kingdom Hall, but since others will be reading my question and the answers, I am hoping to have someone put some or all of what I have asked here so that others can benefit.
2012-06-29T10:15:05Z
I HAD to add this. Too many typos!
This will probably be my last chance to add Additional Details and/or respond before tomorrow.
Not "This will probably be my last chance to had Additional Details and/or respond before tomorrow."
?2012-06-29T10:19:34Z
Favorite Answer
Jehovah's witnesses would not support the Nazi party in Germany during Hitler's reign, so many were put into consentration camps for this reason, in fact JW's were among the first ones in the camps, it is a shame that many other churches did not stand up to Hitler!
Many were executed as a result.
Read the Article: "Jehovah's Witnesses Courageous in the Face of Nazi Peril" http://www.watchtower.org/e/19980708/article_01.htm
Religious Persecution in Georgia How Much Longer? http://www.watchtower.org/e/20020122/article_01.htm
Actually, I do know the first Jehovah's Witness who was killed because of his beliefs. First of all Jehovah's Witness is a descriptive title that we took in the 1930's. But we are no different from any servant of God including people like Moses and Noah. The first servant of God that was ever killed was Abel. Cain was jealous of him because he was righteous and had God's approval.
Well seriously you're undertaking a huge project that cannot possibly be answered in the confines of this forum.
The first witness murdered for their beliefs, I have no exact record of, however 10,000 witnesses were killed for their beliefs in the holocaust in WWII. This information is available at the holocaust museum in DC.
To be honest sir, I seriously doubt you even looked anywhere outside of presenting this on YA! I can google this subject information and get 100s of websites giving you the exact information you are asking for. You want to be argumentative fine, but Im not interested in engaging you in such a manner.
*** The Earth has Hadenough***2012-06-30T17:15:45Z
If you really want to know something like this, I would think you would than go study on it. I don't think most would want to spend the time looking that up. Or give something of your own you found. I don't think most have an answer to things like that- Do you know who the first black slave was that was killed? And how many? How about Jews? How many Christians have been killed in Muslims countries even in "just" the last 5 years? Who was the first? > The fact these others and the wittiness have been persecuted is of no question. Even today many countries have put bans on their preaching work. The penalty of such is harsh in some if not death.
No doubt even for some others groups as well, being in a country where freedom and expression of speech is not encouraged can land you in prison or dead, That's not new and still happening in some areas.Do you think it's not?
What I can say I've seen few religious group LESS focused on harm to anyone than Jehovah's Witnesses. They don't war. I always wonder why if people are going to criticize, why not pick on some of these others who do harm others and for their beliefs. Like the Muslims who killed many Christians just for being Christians . .Such a study question as yours and all you ask might belong more in a blog. Here it might look more like perhaps you hope to stump which would reveal you could be just another anonymous hater who like to internet troll on a religion just like some do on race and other things. Some even try to disguise that but are..I hope not but If you like that image and it pleases you-I would feel sorry for you.
If your serious that go to the web-and look. That would be my suggestion. And know one has to weed though much garage to get facts as there is much misinformation out there too. Much personal bias too. I see it all the time in my field of work.
Here's a start look it up
Political and religious animosity against Jehovah's Witnesses has at times led to mob action and government oppression in various countries, including Cuba, not to long ago Alabama in the United States that case reached the courts for violent beatings, , Canada, Singapore and Nazi Germany. I remember those.
Their religion's doctrine of political neutrality has led to imprisonment of members who refused conscription (for example in Britain during World War II and afterwards during the period of compulsory national service). You might want to look there. If I remember right some camps didn't even care if they had enough water and food.
During the World Wars, Jehovah's Witnesses were targeted in many areas for their neutrality. Activities of Jehovah's Witnesses have previously been banned in the Soviet Union and in Spain, partly due to their refusal to perform military service. Their religious "activities" are currently banned or restricted in some countries, for example in Singapore, China, Vietnam, and many-many Islamic states. You might want to look up their neutrality Or these other countries.
According to the journal, "Social Compass," which says and this I did look for you as I have some journals in my bookmarks."Viewed globally, this persecution has been so persistent and of such an intensity that it would not be inaccurate to regard Jehovah's witnesses as the most persecuted religion of the twentieth century" --------look it up. Find out why they would write that--who they are.
The claims which is disputed by some, as deaths resulting from persecution of Christians of other denominations during the twentieth century are estimated to number 26 million. Where does that number come from ? Ever wonder? How sad is that?
It must be known by you that deaths are not the major measure of how harsh persecution is. You do know that don't you? Because your question makes me question if you do have any idea of that. To most deaths count doesn't mean much when you look how long persecution goes on from some nations-Haters. Are you a part of that hate ? Looking to find fault, to stump, to ridicule- that would be sad
If you look you will find some of the answers. You are concerned this maybe happening ? Death is wrong but persecution is okay?? O you don't believe persecution of Christians or JW has happened?
I would say blog this--it's more a question formatted to that, if someone wants to research it they will of course you should too. Not a bad question for an inquiring mind
I think when we do are own research though we often learn more.This is one of those type questions you should. We are not going to nip pick why are we? Anyways, Some countries came right to my mind, didn't have to look, I thought of the Journal too as Hate crimes I too like you claim find it disturbing. Yes, The fact these others and the wittiness have been persecuted is of no question. Even today many countries have put bans and will imprison people on their preaching work if not kill them out right for just believing,. .
the deaths of jw members in Malawi was all due to corporate rules & regulations. The jw leaders did not allow them to purchase a government card equivalent to a social security card, while at the very same time members in Mexico were being allowed to purchase a government card stating that they had served in the military reserves.
a former member of their elite "governing body"(the men that call all the shots for the entire organization), Raymond Franze wrote a book, "Crises of Conscience", in this book he tells of his experiences being a member of the governing body. This book jw's refuse to acknowledge and will never research anything that is said about the governing body or their publishing company, The watchtower Bible & tract Society.