Jehovah's Witnesses believe there will be a ban on religion

[JehovahsWitness]

Jehovah's Witnesses have long pointed to what they believe is bible prophecy that there will eventually be political measures to restrict all outward manifestations of religious activity.

My question is:

- Do you believe the world will be a safer place if what they believe came true, ie an end to religioun (leaving personal belief a private matter)?

[2timothy316]

ANSWER: No.

I base my answer on history and several scriptures. Including:

Jeremiah 10:23 "I well know, O Jehovah, that man’s way does not belong to him. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step."

Proverbs 16:3 "Commit to Jehovah whatever you do and your plans will succeed."

Proverbs 20:24 "A man's footsteps are directed by Jehovah; How can a man understand his own way?"

Historically, people left to make their own individual laws or worship hasn't worked either. They either fall apart due to violence in their own community or another group comes in and wipes them out because people that don't come together in unity can't stop another group that does.

Leaving people to their own individual 'morals' will be disastrous. So Safer? No, it will be complete opposite. Just as disastrous as Satan, Adam and Eve when they all struck out on their own individual personal beliefs.

However, if some of those do take to heart Jehovah's ways shown in the Bible, they will find peace. Everything else not based on or ignore Jehovah's commandments will not succeed.

Though it might seem like the bringing down of religion will lead to peace and security it reminds me of 1 Thessalonians 5:3. "Whenever it is that they are saying, “Peace and security!� then sudden destruction is to be instantly on them..."

People today mistakenly think that it's the religions that are causing all the problems. When they remove religion as a factor, they will see it was never the religion but the people in it following their own heart's desire. Which is why it's important to make following Jehovah's Word the Bible our desire. So that when we are banned we are still unified.

[Peds nurse]

Hello JW!! I hope that all things are well in your world!

I don't think that the government, or anyone for that matter, can take away our religious freedoms. If God is a part of who we are, then His love echo's from every cell in our being. They can demolish all the churches, and ban people from speaking His name, but they cannot control our heart's cry to be in His presence. God is not limited by governing laws, nor is His presence contingent upon buildings.

[JehovahsWitness]

They can demolish all the churches, and ban people from speaking His name, but they cannot control our heart's cry to be in His presence. God is not limited by governing laws, nor is His presence contingent upon buildings.

Hello Ped,

Yes that is exactly how we interpret the prophecies, not a ban on belief (which is uninforcible), not even necessarily a ban on private meetings in personal homes for prayer and fellowship (that we cannot say for sure, we'll have to see how things pan out) but we do believe that there will be a ban on the organizations (the properties and buildings) on the institutions themselves.

JW

[2timothy316]

Hello JW!! I hope that all things are well in your world!

I don't think that the government, or anyone for that matter, can take away our religious freedoms. If God is a part of who we are, then His love echo's from every cell in our being. They can demolish all the churches, and ban people from speaking His name, but they cannot control our heart's cry to be in His presence. God is not limited by governing laws, nor is His presence contingent upon buildings.

Hey PN I hope you are well.

I agree with you here. Yet, while a government might not be able to take God from a person's heart, they can take away the freedom to meet together. Do you think that this restriction will have a positive or negative affect on the Earth's population as a whole?

[Divine Insight]

Jehovah's Witnesses have long pointed to what they believe is bible prophecy that there will eventually be political measures to restrict all outward manifestations of religious activity.

My question is:

- Do you believe the world will be a safer place if what they believe came true, ie an end to religioun (leaving personal belief a private matter)?

I think the world in general would clearly be a safer place if belief in religion truly came to an end. Obviously organizations like ISIS could not longer use religion as a means to recruit 'jihadists'.

There would be no such thing as a 'suicide bomber' who is under the belief that some God is going to reward them for having blown people up. This doesn't mean that secular-minded persons couldn't also resort to dying for a cause. But I think it would be far harder to recruit people to do this under a secular worldview.

~~~~~~

I think there is also a huge difference between asking if the world would be a safer place if religion ended, versus asking if the world would be safer if governments simply tried to force people to end their religious beliefs by making laws against religion.

These are two entirely different thing. Making laws against religion won't necessarily end religion. All it would do is make it an illegal activity that would most likely continue to exist illegally anyway.

This is why I would love to see Christians recognize the fallacy of Christianity on their own. This is something that isn't likely to happen any time soon to be sure, but just the same this is what needs to happen.

And why does it need to happen? Well, it needs to happen in-part if there is any hope of ever seeing Islam also being recognized as being nothing more than mythological fallacy.

Think about it. A Christian who claims to believe in Christ could NEVER convince Muslims that Islam is nothing more than a false mythology. These two religions are founded on the same mythology. At best a Christian could convince a Muslim to "convert" to Christianity, but they could never convince a Muslim that Islam is just a false mythology.

Before a Christian could hope to convince a Muslim that Islam is a false mythology they would need to first acknowledge to the world that they have also recognized that Christianity is nothing more than a false mythology.

I personally think this would be a GREAT thing for all of humanity if these religions were to truly end. Not because any government decrees them to be "illegal", but rather because people just came to their senses and realized that these religion cannot be true.

That is the only way to truly end these religious beliefs.

Having said the above I think governments can help people see that these religions are indeed absurd. Governments could surely cease giving religions any support or respect at all.

Why is the USA still swearing presidents in on a Christian Bible for example? How is that not a government ENDORSEMENT of a specific religion?

The Christians would go berserk if a Qur'an were used to swear a US president into office. Yet that USA claims to support RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. So if they are going to swear presidents in on Holy Books from religion why not change up which Holy Books they use every term?

I don't think they should be swearing presidents in on any religious Holy Books. That's the FIRST place they could stop supporting a SPECIFIC RELIGION.

They should also remove "In God We Trust" from all currency. Why is the government supporting the mythology of a God when there is no evidence to support such a fairy tale? Why not replace it with "In Fairies We Trust"?

Seriously. Where is there any EVIDENCE that any God exists? It may as well say, "In Fairies We Trust". It's just as absurd.

So yes, I think there a lot of things the Government can do to quite supporting religion in general, and Christianity specifically by having the presidents swear in on a Christian Bible.

They should also refuse to give tax exemptions for "religious" reasons. They can still offer tax exceptions for charities, etc. But no tax exemptions for "Churches" that are just going to preach fairy tales. Why should the government support the preaching of fairy tales over anything else?

I think there are a lot of things the Government can do to discourage religion without actually banning it or proclaiming it to be illegal. And I'm all for that!

Quit swearing in US presidents on a Christian Bible! That's the number ONE thing we need to do away with.

Could you just picture the outrage if Trump was asked to be sworn in on the Qur'an!

[Peds nurse]

[Replying to post 5 by 2timothy316]

When we remove God from anything, it can't be good. Over and over again, this was proven to be true in the Bible. When society says that they can do it on their own apart from God, is usually when things become their worst.

[Divine Insight]

Over and over again, this was proven to be true in the Bible.

A fairy tale cannot prove its own claims to be true.

[JehovahsWitness]

Over and over again, this was proven to be true in the Bible.

A fairy tale cannot prove its own claims to be true.

That might be the case but we are here in Theology, Doctrine, and Dogma discussing the bible so unless you are asking for proof that the bible is true (is that what you are asking? Are you asking "prove the bible is true"?)... I don't see how this comment is relevant.

JW

[2timothy316]

[Replying to post 7 by Peds nurse]

Agreed. I think the sad part is that many, when it comes to religion, their faith has been in the creature and not the Creator. So how people act when the 'creature' is gone might come as a shock to many. The Bible says there is a Great Tribulation coming that the world has never seen before and will never see again. This will without a doubt expose what people really run to with their religion gone. Will some rely on the governments? Scientist? Perhaps run to a military base? Will some rely on themselves, perhaps their firearms? Were should a person run?

"The name of Jehovah is a strong tower. Into it the righteous one runs and receives protection." Proverbs 18:10

If a person doesn't understand what it means to run to Jehovah, they should learn now! Building faith takes time and following His commandments doesn't happen overnight. It also reminds me of the 10 virgins. When the 5 lazy virgins came to the 5 faithful virgins and asked for lamp oil. The 5 faithful said they couldn't spare any oil and sent them away to go buy their own. But while they were away the bridegroom came. "Afterward, the rest of the virgins also came, saying, ‘Sir, Sir, open to us!’ In answer he said, ‘I tell you the truth, I do not know you.’" (Matt 25:11, 12) The moral is just like the 5 faithful couldn't give away their oil, no one can give another faith and trust in God at a moments notice. So too it will be during the time of greatest distress the world has ever seen.

For me, my religion is icing on the cake. It's a wonderful bonus! A brotherhood of peace and a place to hide from the crushing lawlessness of the world. It is also a place to become stronger and learn with encouragement of fellow like-minded people. But Jehovah is who saves people at the time of the end. I am quite aware simply being with my brothers and sisters is not what saves me. In fact I don't even know if being with my fellow worshipers will even be possible. I might not even get to be with my wife. Who truly knows what those days will be like?