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Are Jehovah's Witnesses allowed to vote?


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As far as I know, GB is not against voting, as the principle by which decisions are made, have to make.
But GB uses this "democratic principle" of making a decision, about something that is tailored to the/by "majority", in a way that have "higher meaning", "sacred goal". There are several levels where decisions are made by this "democratic means", by voting. It is at GB level. At the director level of certain departments. At the elders level. At assembly level.
Less important items are often put to the vote in front of the assembly (rank and file members). Of course, the elders presents something in such a way that membership is moved to vote in according to a decision already in line by the elders (or some higher then elders), and only formal confirmation is required/made through voting and resolution.
Making decisions within an organization is actually a matter of how "politics" is carried out by those who are high in the hierarchy.
Thus, within the religion is not carried out "political politics", but "religious politics". :)))
Perhaps it would be better to "throw a cube" (throwing dice, stone, beans or what ever else), as this kind can reduces the impact of human, of various clans and streams within a group. In fact there is a biblical precedent that would allow such way,  how to run a "corporate governance" policy (in religious, financial and other matters).

It is primitive, demode ( démodé ), old fashion way but gives a lot of fun. 

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THE WATCHTOWER (SIMPLIFIED EDITION) APRIL 2016https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/watchtower-simplified-april-2016/maintain-neutrality-in-a-divided-world/#?insight[search_id]=a2dfe6ab-0328-4e

Yes, the way the question was asked is as if we are brain dead or something. We can do whatever we want. But the real question why would we if we truly love Jehovah as our God. And believe that his ki

I think the question is not so stupid. Ask any Jehovah's Witness in Greece and will tell you that the voting was forbidden in the past. And even now some brothers and sisters advertise in the preachin

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16 hours ago, Srecko Sostar said:

democratic principle

So how does this stem into the realm of politics and the like when those who actually know what The Didache is, Sostar?

Religious politics? Can you give a vital example of this being done by any non-Conservative Christians outside of the mainstream?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_principle

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@James Thomas Rook Jr. A tad bit off topic, but still somehow pertains to topic, I do not know if you are following everything that is Russia also, but a bit of relation, granted that the RoC was the Cog among Cogs in the wheel that got JWs banned in Mother Russia, the RoC made another move as of recent: https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-church-flexes-secular-muscle-restitution-push/29440944.html

That being said, I have to go deep diving on all things Russia in the Russian Language again,to get more information. Время идти на рыбалку.

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So put it in plain English for a simple man like me please. Have the GB done a U turn on this subject of voting ?

Was it that JW's were not 'allowed' to vote or they would be disfellowshipped ?  And now is it that JW's can chose for themselves in they vote of not ? 

Did people actually die or get injured because the GB said they could not vote ? 

In simple English please. Is this another U turn by the GB ? 

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On 11/9/2018 at 1:15 PM, The Librarian said:

Here is an example of one JW exercising his right to vote in the USA

Is it the old woman? I don't see any brother voting. I know voting is secret but if he is so proud of doing it as the celebrities are posting at their social media, or as he wants us to know addressing us to the photo of Goliath,  why he did not post a photo of him with the PIN I voted or any other sign? Is he affraid that elders get him into a committee? 

 

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Must stop using the word "allowed" and at the same time saying it is a personal decision or a matter of conscience.   "Allowed" has the connotation that someone is making the decision for you and you don't need to study the Bible and come to a conclusion.

Using the word "allowed" shows that persons don't understand Christian freedom and that one has to have knowledge and  based on that knowledge make their own decision. Everyone uses his Christian freedom based on the understanding gained from Romans chapter 13. Christians  put Jehovah God first and also respect the superior authorities which were allowed to rule by God to keep order in the earth until his Kingdom arrives. How each Christian does it is for him to decide.

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Thanks for the lesson, what is the term you propose to use? I don't speak English well, so I would be happy to know.

Because if I ask: Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Vote?

The answer is yes because I know the case of a brother who did it,  and I know that such brother got reproved for doing that. 

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Do Jehovah's Witnesses vote?  This is correct

They vote at Christian meetings and at their place of work when decision-making  takes preference into consideration.

 

Do Jehovah's Witnesses vote in political elections? 

 Each one decides in accordance with his Bible-trained conscience.

 

*** w99 11/1 pp. 28-29 Questions From Readers ***

How do Jehovah’s Witnesses view voting?

There are clear principles set out in the Bible that enable servants of God to take a proper view of this matter. However, there appears to be no principle against the practice of voting itself. For example, there is no reason why a board of directors should not take a vote in order to arrive at decisions affecting their corporation. Congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses often make decisions about meeting times and the use of congregation funds by voting with a show of hands.

What, though, of voting in political elections? Of course, in some democratic lands, as many as 50 percent of the population do not turn out to vote on election day. As for Jehovah’s Witnesses, they do not interfere with the right of others to vote; neither do they in any way campaign against political elections. They respect and cooperate with the authorities who are duly elected in such elections. (Romans 13:1-7) As to whether they will personally vote for someone running in an election, each one of Jehovah’s Witnesses makes a decision based on his Bible-trained conscience and an understanding of his responsibility to God and to the State. (Matthew 22:21; 1 Peter 3:16) In making this personal decision, the Witnesses consider a number of factors.

....

Bold text - mine

The whole article is quoted in a comment above by Mr. Jack Ryan

 

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14 hours ago, Melinda Mills said:

Must stop using the word "allowed" and at the same time saying it is a personal decision or a matter of conscience.   "Allowed" has the connotation that someone is making the decision for you and you don't need to study the Bible and come to a conclusion.

Using the word "allowed" shows that persons don't understand Christian freedom and that one has to have knowledge and  based on that knowledge make their own decision. Everyone uses his Christian freedom based on the understanding gained from Romans chapter 13. Christians  put Jehovah God first and also respect the superior authorities which were allowed to rule by God to keep order in the earth until his Kingdom arrives. How each Christian does it is for him to decide.

JW's use the word allowed, and people talking about JW's use the allowed, because it is 'what is allowed and what isn't' by the GB.

The GB are dictators. That is a simple fact.  The GB make rules that is another simple fact. JW's have to submit to the GB rules or get disfellowshipped, another simple fact.. Anyone questioning the GB is disfellowshipped for 'causing a division in the congregation' that is another simple fact.

You need to wake up and see the reality of the JW Org and it's GB. It's a bit like saying that Germans in 1940 could talk against Hitler and disobey him. Yes of course physically they could, but they would die for it. And in the JW Org congregants ae told they will get disfellowshipped / spiritually die, if they go against the GB and against the Org. 

So the word 'allowed' is the right word to use when referring to the GB and the JW ORG.. .

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So does the GB disfellowship itself when it understands better something it said in the past and changes it?  For example, the superior authorities are Jehovah God and Christ Jesus, now it is the governmental authorities.  They are brothers who understood what this meant before the GB.  That is why all this inquisition should stop. People can believe what they wish to. They don't have to spread everything to cause disorder. 

 

 

 

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@The Librarian @Melinda Mills

Bible students are being taught this with the book Keep yourself in God's love. The picture of the brother entering to a church to vote this month  (entering to a church, that should be another topic ?) mentioned in the other post was from USA, so far I know this country is not a land when voting is compulsory. 

 

Voting in political elections. True Christians respect the right of others to vote. They do not campaign against elections, and they cooperate with elected authorities. However, they remain resolutely neutral with regard to the political affairs of the nations. (Matthew 22:21; 1 Peter 3:16) What should a Christian do in lands where voting is compulsory or in a situation where feelings run high against those who do not go to the voting booth? Remembering that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego went as far as the plain of Dura, a Christian, under similar circumstances, may decide to go to the booth if his conscience permits. However, he will take care not to violate his neutrality. He should take into account the following six principles:

  1. Jesus’ followers are “no part of the world.”—John 15:19.

  2. Christians represent Christ and his Kingdom.—John 18:36; 2 Corinthians 5:20.

  3. The Christian congregation is united in belief, and its members are bound together by Christlike love.—1 Corinthians 1:10; Colossians 3:14.

  4. Those who elect a certain official share responsibility for what he does.—Note the principles behind the words recorded at 1 Samuel 8:5, 10-18 and 1 Timothy 5:22.

  5. Jehovah viewed Israel’s desire for a visible ruler as a sign that they had rejected Him.—1 Samuel 8:7.

  6.   Christians must have freeness of speech when speaking to people of all political persuasions about God’s Kingdom government.—Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20; Hebrews 10:35.

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102008085#h=7:0-13:169

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