Oath or Pledge of Allegiance

The oath of allegiance is another area where Watchtower regulations vary inconsistently, depending on the situation.[1] This has resulted in suffering for some followers that has been avoided by others, most noticeably the Governing Body.

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United States Oath of Allegiance

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation, or purpose of evasion; So help me God.”
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Watchtower publications continue advise against pledging allegiance to any government other than God’s Kingdom.

“The Joliet, Illinois, “Herald-News” quotes a local spokesman for one group affected by the law as saying: “Jehovah’s Witnesses, not only in this country but throughout the world, always take a neutral stand towards the government. It’s not that we don’t have respect for this country. It’s just that you won’t find Jehovah’s Witnesses saying a pledge of allegiance to any country.”” Watchtower 1980 Feb 15 p.30

“Yes, Jesus preached and gave his allegiance to "the kingdom of the heavens," "the kingdom of God." Following Jesus’ footsteps as sincerely dedicated Christians, Jehovah’s witnesses have no alternative but to keep separate, "without spot from the world." Since they can give their allegiance only to Jehovah God and his kingdom, they feel obligated to refrain from participating in any action that gives such devotion to political leaders.” Watchtower 1968 Feb 1 p.73

The oath has been described as from the Devil and a religious expression.

“Furthering his deceptive schemes to over- reach the people where democracies are supposed to exist, the Devil brings forth other idolatrous schemes setting the state above God, and brings into operation compulsory flag-saluting, oaths of allegiance to be taken by those who are native citizens of the state, bestowing honor upon men, and particularly magnifying politics and religion and religious leaders.” Watchtower 1939 Jun 15 p.185

“The courage of some schoolchildren is tested when they are called upon to recite a pledge of allegiance to the country or to the flag. Since such a pledge is virtually a religious expression, Christian children have boldly resolved to act in a way that pleases God, and their fine record has been heartwarming.” Watchtower 2003 Mar 1 p.9

“… oaths of allegiance are all religions”. Golden Age 1932 Aug 31 p.745

The following Watchtower articles include quotes that liken swearing allegiance to the flag to a religious act.

““The Christians, however, strong in their faith, would take no such oath of loyalty. And because they did not swear allegiance to what we would to-day consider as analogous to the Flag, they were considered politically dangerous.”…Yet national emblems bear such likenesses, and they are viewed as sacred, which means that saluting them takes on a religious significance.” Watchtower 1962 Nov 15 p.700

“Christians refused to . . . sacrifice to the emperor’s genius—roughly equivalent today to refusing to salute the flag or repeat the oath of allegiance.” Watchtower 1975 Aug 15 p. 497

Since Witnesses globally have suffered following this Watchtower interpretation of neutrality, it is worth enquiring what the Governing Body decreed for situations that affected themselves personally. Regarding gaining citizenship or applying for a passport they decreed that pledging the oath was considered to be acceptable.

“Because Christians can be loyal both to God and to earthly governments they can take oaths of allegiance to defend the Constitution, as is required of citizens in some countries in order to get a passport.” Watchtower 1964 Sep 15 p.551

“We see no reason why one desiring to assume citizenship in this country should not take the oath of allegiance.” Informant 1938 Special Jul p.4

Prior to the early 1970s, American citizens seeking passports were required to pledge the oath of allegiance.[2] In the matter of applying for a passport, Governing Body members created a separate ruling regarding the pledge, avoiding inconvenience. Included are scans of Governing Body President Nathan Knorr’s signature below the Oath of Allegiance on his passport application.

If the Governing Body reasoned that signing the oath to receive a passport was for the greater good, allowing them to travel and advance the kingdom work, could they not have reasoned the same for the sake of saving humiliation of their followers at school and lives in Malawi?

CONCLUSION
The Watchtower arbitrarily determines what being “no part of the world” entails. In the case of followers, a membership card in Malawi was considered part of the world. Yet as an organisation, the Watchtower does not consider that its ownership of billions of dollars of property being part of the world. Nor does it consider making use of the Supreme Court, an arm of politics, as being part of the world.

http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/malawi-mexico-oath-allegiance.php

Cc: BERNIMORE Jessicha

Hmmm