From: "herb sutter" <herb.sutter@canrem.com>
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: jws and their blood h
Date: 13 Aug 92 15:37:31 EST
Reply-To: "herb sutter" <herb.sutter@canrem.com>
Distribution: talk
Organization: Canada Remote Systems

Hello, Kent; thanks for the reply!  You responded:

In <1992Aug6.184753.27276#gallant.apple.com>, ksand@apple.com (Hacker)
writes:
>In article <1992Aug5.937.24428@dosgate> herb sutter,
>herb.sutter@canrem.com writes:
>>Bottom line:  Jehovah's Witnesses are the only worldwide religious group
>>that can truthfully claim it kept complete neutrality and complete
>>noninvolvement with the world's strife.  At the same time, other
>religions
>
>You are now excluding many Buddhist sects and many other groups that
>neither
>I or you have ideas above. Your statement is false.

I realise that historical groups (e.g., Anabaptists) sometimes held to
strict neutrality as well, and we certainly respect that.  However, I
deliberately phrased it "_worldwide_ religious group" because, to my
knowledge, there is no other religion which, to a man, refuses to have any
part in war (in this case, World War II) even under pain of imprisonment
and death -- not just in one or a few countries, but literally hundreds.

If you like, I'll also say "the only worldwide Christian group" to further
emphasise who really is fulfilling Isaiah 2:2-4, Micah 4:2-4, John 13:35,
Matthew 24:14 and 28:19,20, and others.  All of them speak of what true
Christians would be doing, particularly in the last days; what other
`Christian' religion can say all of its members have beaten their swords
into ploughshares, so that they not even "learn" war any more?  What other
church can say all of its members are preaching publicly worldwide
specifically about the Kingdom of God?

In fact, what other church can say it lives up to Jesus' definition at
John 13:35 alone?  For instance, in WWII at their own clergy's urging,
American Lutherans killed German Lutherans, Italian Catholics killed
Canadian Catholics, and so on... does this show they are really Jesus'
true followers, disciples of the Lord who said, "by this all will know
that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves"?  When they
kill their own spiritual brothers because they are wearing a different
uniform?  And not only that, but claim God is on their (either) side and
pray to Him for victory against their own parishioners in other lands?
Jehovah says that he does not listen to such prayers (Isaiah 1:15).

I am less familiar with the religious aspects of WWII in the Far East, but
did not Chinese Buddhists kill Japanese Buddhists (and vice versa, and
Shintoists, and Taoists, etc.)?

I appreciate your point, but would just remind that I attached a magnitude
and universality to my criteria -- which, to the best of my knowledge, no
other religious group can truthfully say it has met.  I am open to
correction on this, though I have stated this opinion publicly and often
and have never yet seen any other group come remotely close.  I don't mean
that belligerently, but only to show that I've made efforts to verify this
for myself and have urged others to do the same.  I feel that such a
uniqueness is truly refreshing -- and, as it turns out, quite
unparalleled.  Does that not make one wonder which must be the true
religion?

Thanks again for writing.  I'm looking forward to hearing back!

Take care,

Herb

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:DeLuxe2 1.12 #9091 * File not found.  Should I fake it? (Y/N)
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