Jehovahs Witnesses, Stanley Milgram, the Nazis, and Obedience

A question for Jehovah's Witnesses (and anybody else who would like to answer) about conscience and authority

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Jehovah's Witnesses
• Nazis
• authority
• Stanley Milgram
• Psychology
• Religion
• Bible
• Watchtower

[hocrusan]

for sure the friends from the cong of this disfellow miss her or him so much. And they will be very happy if their friend will try her or his best come humblely to the Jehovahs organisation. I know it, cause my mom and aunt are disfellow also. and I miss them so much.

[nathanaelstacy1]

@hocrusan In other words, you've used 5 comment spaces to admit that, yes, you would obey unquestioningly. Thanks for your response, but it takes much less space to say, "yes." ;-)

[MumblingMickey]

Did you know for example that 50% of American believe (after a few white lies from the Gov.) that there were in fact WMD found in Iraq!... pretty amazing that!

A combination of the story before... and the ongoing psychology after... has given 50% of a population a 'safe house' to continue to believe that they are somehow 'morally' right...

Milgram also gave a lot of governments a new tool! So did Nazi Germany!

[nathanaelstacy1]

I've heard that a large percentage -- perhaps 50% or more -- believe that there were WMD's in Iraq, but I haven't heard, and I think I'd need a source to believe, that such a large percentage believe that WMD's were FOUND there. (Being there, and being FOUND there are different things.)

[MumblingMickey]

its a common feature of being 'human' Milgram proved HOW humans are communal and answer to authority... we probably weren't aware HOW MUCH we do it... but without this property of humanity...there would also be no civilization, no mobile phones, no cars, computers, etc. etc. Although there would also be no religions either!

[nathanaelstacy1]

To some degree, following authority is a good thing. It's good to obey speed limits, not throw garbage in the neighbor's yard, etc... But some people -- perhaps most people -- don't know where or how to draw a proper line. Building a civilization is a different thing than annihilating a neighboring civilization.

[sovern009]

@sovern009 Dude. I know that; you're preaching to the quire.Tell these guys(JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES) their dealing with the "Lucifer Syndrome".!! They have no clue that their blind obedience to a bunch of old white guys and one token,is diluting what the Christ was really trying to tell them in the first place.

[sovern009]

@nathanaelstacy1 Obedience vs American Freedoom, Hummm...

[hocrusan]

like what we have learned in the Bible. the Levi and the Priester have different oppotunities from the other tribes. and even for the Kings. the Kings are not allowed to do things what Levi and Priesters doing. Why? bec. so Jehovah God organised it. and we are a oranisation. humbleness is very important for us, we could simply be good but it`s hard to stay humble and to be humble.

[hocrusan]

JOrganisation too, we always get our spiritual fruit but sometimes we don`t simply understand it, but it doesn`t mean we will rebel against them. Bec we have or limit of understanding and each one of us is different. humbleness and thankfulness helped me to understand, what i didn`t understand b4. Showing it to his organisation means for me, that I will always be ready to show him my obedient and thankfullness to him.

[hocrusan]

It`s not bec the fruit is poisonous, bec rem what the angel did so they couldn`t drink the water of life. God want to know if they willing to obey him or not and respect his highest authority. Jehovah God cares those obedient and thankful one. we are free to understand alot of things and Jehovah God is willing to teach us. but still, we still have or limit.

[hocrusan]

as long that they will explain clearly and accurately from the bible, why not. I will tell you a story. Adam and Eve story. Gods forbidden them not to eat the fruit of knowledge between good and bad,, bec if they do they will die. why God will put those fruits near them, and its only a fruit no big thing.

[itpduder]

Hitler once said (and this is a basic quote) that Christianity is a protest against nature. Think about it. . . .and I'm not a Jehovah's Witness, but I have a high regard for their principles, a JW will not do the national anthem because of the idolatry. JW's were sent to camps. They were a threat to Hitler's want of obedience.

It is very difficult to no be obedient to authority, ESPECIALLY when in a group of people. For the 18 yr old German soldier, it was impossible to resist.