PHCerebellum
Eternal Poster
Consider the following regarding prominent religious leaders and the war in Ukraine:
- “The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, has not said a word against Russian aggression. . . . His Church’s systematic propaganda campaign about Ukraine has been utilised in Putin’s justification for war.”—EUobserver, March 7, 2022.
- “Patriarch Kirill . . . has sent his strongest signal yet justifying his country’s invasion of Ukraine—describing the conflict as part of a struggle against sin.”—AP News, March 8, 2022.
- “Ukrainian Orthodox Church leader, Metropolitan Epiphanius I of Kyiv, on Monday blessed his people to ‘fight against the Russian invaders’ . . . [He] also stated that killing Russian soldiers isn’t a sin.”—Jerusalem Post, March 16, 2022.
- “We [the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO)] * support the Armed Forces of Ukraine and all our defenders, we bless them in their defense of Ukraine from the aggressor, and offer our prayers for them.”—UCCRO You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. Statement, February 24, 2022.
What do you think? Should religions that claim to follow Jesus Christ encourage their members to go to war? What does the Bible say?
The history of religion in war
History shows that religion has often condoned, justified, or even promoted war while pretending to work for peace. For decades, Jehovah’s Witnesses have exposed such religious hypocrisy. Consider some examples cited in our publications.- “You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.” shows how the Roman Catholic Church was responsible for massacres committed in the name of God and of Christ.
- “You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.” describes an example of how religion failed to prevent tribal warfare, even genocide.
- The articles “You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.,” “You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.,” and “You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.” explain how Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant clergy have supported both sides of many wars.
Should Christian religions support war?
What Jesus taught: “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) “Continue to love your enemies.”—You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..Consider: Can a religion claim to obey Jesus’ commands about love and at the same time encourage its adherents to kill others in war? For the answer, read the articles “You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.” and “You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.”
What Jesus said: “My Kingdom is no part of this world. If my Kingdom were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be handed over.” (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) “All those who take up the sword will perish by the sword.”—You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..
Consider: If Christians were not to fight even to protect Jesus, should they take up arms for any other reason? Read the article “You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.” to see how early Christians faithfully followed Jesus’ example and teachings.
What will happen to religions that promote warfare?
The Bible teaches that God rejects religions that claim to represent Jesus yet do not follow his teachings.—You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..- The book of Revelation shows that God holds such religions responsible for the deaths “of all those who have been slaughtered on the earth.” (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post.
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Log in or register now.) To learn why, read the article “You do not have permission to view the full content of this post.
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- Jesus indicated that all religions rejected by God will be destroyed for their bad works, just as a rotten tree producing rotten fruit “is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) Read the article “You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.” to learn how this will happen.
Jehovah’s Witnesses Are Different
In Russia and Ukraine, as in the rest of the world, Jehovah’s Witnesses obey Jesus’ commands to remain You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. and to You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.. For this reason, we do not participate in or support this conflict or any other. Because of our determination to stick to our Bible-based beliefs, some Witnesses are being persecuted. (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) For example, the Russian government has thrown many Witnesses into prison and even tortured some. Our places of worship have also been seized.- Watch the four-minute video You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. to see how Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia are being persecuted for their faith.
- Jehovah’s Witnesses have a long record of neutrality. Watch the video You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. to see how they remained neutral despite great persecution in Nazi Germany and the former Soviet Union.
* Footnotes - The UCCRO, or Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, includes 15 churches representing Orthodox, Greek and Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Evangelical denominations as well as Jews and Muslims.