Why is There Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses?

Why is There Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses?


Author: Fleur Hupston
Published: May 8, 2009


Throughout the history of Jehovah's Witnesses, their beliefs and practices have spurred controversy and opposition all over the world. Why do they face such opposition?

Persecution has been a recurrent experience of the Jehovah's Witnesses since its foundation. Political and religious animosity against them has at times led to mob action and government oppression, in countries such as Cuba , the United States , Canada and Nazi Germany.

Activities of Jehovah's Witnesses have previously been banned in the Soviet Union and in Spain and they are still banned in several countries such as China , Vietnam and many Islamic states.

Ken Jubber writes that, "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."

Jehovah’s Witnesses do not seek to be persecuted or hated and they do not enjoy the hardships — fines, imprisonments, beatings even executions. They desire to lead a calm and quiet life, they appreciate the religious freedom they have in most lands to carry on with their worship and preaching activity and are generally known to be honest, law-abiding citizens in every country they reside in. Why, then, are they objects of hatred?

Politically Neutrality and Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah’s Witnesses act upon their religious beliefs in ways that make them unpopular with some. They remain neutral towards the politics and wars of the nations and will not get involved in taking up arms to kill other human beings.

Sometimes this has been wrongly taken to mean that the Witnesses are disloyal citizens. But as a whole, Jehovah's Witnesses will obey the laws of the land to the fullest extent without political involvement or the sacrifice of human life — Jehovah's Witnesses refuse conscription.

"Perhaps the most notable thing about the Witnesses is their insistence upon their primary allegiance to God, before any other power in the world,” points out Dr. C. S. Braden in These Also Believe.

Jehovah's Witnesses Are Targets of Accusations

The accusations lodged against Jehovah's Witnesses sometimes take the form of lies or twisted presentations of their beliefs. Misinformation and unjustified attacks of their beliefs have led some to persecute and punish members of this religion in some lands.

For example, because Jehovah's Witnesses seek non-blood medical treatment that is in harmony with their desire to obey the Bible’s command to "abstain from blood," (Acts 15:29) they have wrongly been labeled “child murderers” and “a suicide cult.”

But the fact is that Jehovah’s Witnesses place a high value on life, and they seek to obtain the best available medical care for themselves and their children. One accusation holds that numerous children of Jehovah’s Witnesses die each year as a result of refusing blood transfusions, though some claim that this allegation is unfounded.

In addition, research in 2006 shows that there are over 100,000 doctors in the United States alone that offer some version of bloodless treatment to all patients regardless of religious beliefs, providing Jehovah's Witnesses with a viable alternative treatment.

Religious Opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses

In many instances, the principal instigators of persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses have turned out to be religious opposers who have used their influence with political authorities and the media to try to suppress the activities of the Witnesses.

For example, they zealously preach the good news of God’s Kingdom, but people often misunderstand their zeal, viewing their preaching as “aggressive proselytizing.”

Jehovah's Witnesses have fought legal battles the world over to protect their right to worship and preach.

As Dr. Charles Haynes said, “We all owe the Jehovah’s Witnesses a debt of gratitude. No matter how many times they’re insulted, run out of town, or even physically attacked, they keep on fighting for their (and thus our) freedom of religion. And when they win, we all win.”


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Sources:

Jubber, Ken (1977). "The Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Southern Africa ". Social Compass, 24 (1): p.121.
Cox, Archibald (1987). The Court and the Constitution. Boston , MA : Houghton Mifflin Co.. p.189.
Dr. Charles Haynes, First Freedoms: A Documentary History of First Amendment Rights in America (2006) and Religion in American Public Life.
Jehovah's Witness Official Website.