Sons of Jehovah's Witnesses return from Iraq without welcome
Two brothers, Jason and Johel Woodliff, came back from Iraq with their comrades in a Marine Corps battalion that lost 48 members, greeted by a mile-long parade attended by thousands of strangers. But not by their family.
The brothers, their parents and J.R. Brown, director of public information for the Watchtower Bible Tract Society, all speak out about Jehovah’s Witnesses and military service.Two brothers, Jason and Johel Woodliff, came back from Iraq with their comrades in a Marine Corps battalion that lost 48 members, greeted by a mile-long parade attended by thousands of strangers.
But not by their family.
Thomas and Mia Woodliff, who are devout Jehovah’s Witnesses, were so upset by their sons’ decisions to join the Marine Reserves that they did not meet them at the airport upon their return last month.
“I begged my mother to come, but I knew she wouldn’t,” Johel said. “Several families know our situation and have taken us under their wing. My mom knows I’ll always have love for her. I believe love is unconditional.”
His brother is less forgiving.
“What’s the most important thing in the Bible? Love and family,” Jason asked. “It’s not like I blasphemed God or worshipped the devil. It’s just ridiculous to me.”
In a written statement, Thomas and Mia Woodliff respond:
“We love our sons and are saddened that they have expressed public disappointment regarding what should be a private, family matter, that is, our choice not to attend the recent homecoming party for the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines. As you know, we are Jehovah’s Witnesses and are neutral as to the political and military affairs of the world. We base our beliefs on Scriptures such as John 17:14, 16, Matthew 5:43, 44 and Matthew 26:52 among others. This means we are neither for nor against the political involvements of the 200-plus nations that we can be found in. This does not mean that we do not love the land in which we live, or that we disrespect the government or those in authority. We recognize that each nations ruling authority has the right to enact and enforce laws, make foreign policy and to purse its own sovereign interests. We simply choose not to participate.
However, we are generally known as exemplary taxpayers and citizens and we try to follow the laws of the land to the extent that our Bible-trained conscience will individually permit. Which leads us to the main point of our statement. Our two sons were taught to be peace-loving followers of Jesus Christ. Instead, they have chosen a different path. We respect their right to chose whatever lifestyle they wish. And we hope one day for reconciliation so that we can be a united family again. We have many fond memories of the abundant good times we shared together. In the meantime, please be assured that the current difference in point of view, and the separation in ties that has occurred as a result, does not mean that we love our children less.”
Graduates of Washington High School in Massillon, the Woodliffs said they had a strict upbringing based on their parents’ faith, and that the real trouble began when they announced their intentions to become Marines.
“When they found out I wanted to join, they were very upset about it,” said Johel, 20, who turned down a college scholarship to join the Marines in 2003. “I let them know that as I grew older, I had done some research on the religion, and that it didn’t abide with my beliefs.”
Jason, 23, claims that when he informed his parents in 2004 that he too intended to join the Marines, he was asked to leave the house.
“I was 18 years old, living by myself in a trailer,” he said. “I haven’t had a conversation with my dad in five years. For him, it’s 100 percent about the religion.”
Though the Bible is filled with accounts of battles and war imagery, J.R. Brown, director of public information for the Watchtower Bible Tract Society, confirmed that Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t participate in military service based on their interpretation of Scripture, and that the actions of the Woodliffs’ parents are consistent with the faith.
“As Christians, we’re neutral with respect to the conflicts that nations have,” he said. “Our neutrality is just in regards to conflicts of men. This doesn’t mean we’re adversaries. We try to (convey) that to the person as best we can, but because they’re usually partisan, they think we’re against them. That’s not the case. We’re truly neutral.”
Brown noted that numerous U.S. court decisions have recognized members’ right to neutrality.
“We’re not be feared,” Brown said, adding that the church is merely adhering to Jesus’ admonition to, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God, the things that are God’s.”
Brown acknowledged that family members who enter the military voluntarily, risk “disassociation.”
“We as an organization or local congregation do not initiate this action,” he explained. “Rather than ‘disfellowship,’ we use ‘disassociation’ as a term. That means the individual made a conscientious decision that he or she would no longer ascribe to the principles that we do. He or she has decided to take a side; the individual has left the position of ‘neutral.’ We look at disassociation as accepting the person’s decision to take a side.”
Given that the faith places a great deal of emphasis on the family, Brown concedes that others might see the policy as contradictory.
“It depends on how you look at your Christian responsibility,” he said. “We look at our responsibility before God as our first and foremost responsibility. As our creator, he comes first. We feel our position of neutrality is based on our love for him. If a family member does not accept the same decision, we feel they have to bear the consequences. It pains us. We’re human too.”
Brown said members must prioritize their allegiances.
“You have to decide who’s first in your life, is it God more than any human?” he said. “The fact is, we do not even put ourselves and our own interests ahead of God. He’s our creator. Our allegiance is first to him. In making that decision, it does at times create problems within the family. Husbands, wives, parents can be torn; there’s love there. But the apostle said we must obey God as ruler rather than man.”
The Woodliff brothers say they consider themselves nondenominational but still fervently believe in God. Johel Woodliff carries a camouflage Bible and wears a medallion of St. Michael, the warrior angel, on a chain with his dog tags.
“There are Scriptures written all over Iraq,” Johel said. “My favorite is John 15:13.”
“War shouldn’t be necessary, but war has existed since the beginning of man,” he said. “The Bible speaks of war constantly. King David was one of the greatest warriors. It shouldn’t be a necessity, but it’s a reality.”
Based on Associated Press and cantonrep.com articles
no jehovah witness should serve in the armed forces at all.it flys in the face of all the church teaches.if they were my sons i wouldnt be there for them either due to the fact they did not take wise counsle and stay true to their upbringing and to the church.
Why don’t you say something about the hatred the sons showed by joining the warring factions?
You should look at your Bible rather than at people. The Govering Body has used the srciptuers as their authority. Do YOU really believe that the Bible is God’s Word? Do you think a loving God would condone worldly wars that do not enjoy His backing? If parents decid eto lead by example so be it? How could they preach tolerance and condone intolerance? Warring groups show intolerance of divergent viewpoints. How can you live with that?
Just fixing spelling errors:
“the first command is this” and “all your soul and all your strength”
actually “the first command is thid love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with allyour soul and with all your shrength, thd second is Love your Neighbors as yourself”
they don’t speak badly about Jehovah Witness they found something that is unexplainable but here’s a hint to what they see 1 John 4:7-12 “dear friends let us love one another because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and Know God whoever does not love does not know God because GOD IS LOVE”
1John4:18-21 “there is no fear in love, but love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment the onwe who fears is not made in perfect love we love because he (God) first loved us.” this is what I found in my bible. (I have an NIV)
All christians around the globe should join forces and keep the pressure on the leadership of the watchtower society, we must keep exposing their hypocrisy and their opprerssion on peoples mind, we must not tolerate any longer, their abuses, totalitarism and psycological pressures on innocent and unsuspecting children, and families altogerher. We must seek the help of the gobernment, if possible; and the help from powerful institutions and individuals, until we achieve the goal of riding the globe from this evil scum called the “goberning body” This time though, we must not make the same mistake the reformers did after the protest of 1517, the “Big Fish” got away, because we did not stick together. this time lets finish the job.
has anyone seen the Southpark episode where Jehovahs Wittnesses were sent to hell with everyone else Question why was he wearing an Army Uniform?
Aahhh the intolerance of the JW’s shines through once again. Exactly the reason that I as a 13 year old (funny that even a child can spot it) decided not to follow the religion. They proclaim to preach love and acceptance (love thy neighbor, hate the sin not the sinner) and then shun and abandon anyone who doesn’t follow the “slave class” (for the unenlightened that would be the governing body…again..funny that so much is stressed on teachings of MEN and their biblical interpretations and not the word itself that is as it says is “unchanging”) in body AND thought. So basically love everyone unless the governing body says not to (very cult like isn’t it, isolationism, exclusion, etc). Makes me think back to the old watchtower I found in the attic from around 1904 or so (can’t remember exactly when) that talked about blacks being “not totally equal” to whites. I guess it’s only now that the “voice of god” get’s it right and not then, or the many other times throughout the past 100 years. But anyways back to the point at hand. Their parents weren’t asked to be part of, condone, nor do anything that would contradict their neutrality doctrine. They were simply asked to welcome their sons home after a very rough experience (2 tours in iraq and 1 in Afgan myself so I know of what I speak). Isn’t that the very essence of love? To celebrate the fact that their sons were alive and safe? I know what it feels like to stand there and watch everyone embraced in the arms of their loved ones. The tears of joy at seeing them after so long, and then walk away alone, climb in a car and drive to an empty apartment. But this story and many others only confirm my realizations as a child. I will not have any part of an “organization” wether it be secular or religious that teaches one thing (love) and then practices another. It is no less intollerant then the muslim religion that teaches anyone not a muslim is therefore an infidel regardless of their beliefs or morals (even if they are the same as the muslim faith). Jason and Johel, welcome home brothers. Stay safe and keep your head down. Semper Fi marines.
Sorry, but I understand both, mother and soldier too. Because he love mother and he did wish meeting her on airport. But American military service is still agressive and I aked Jason Could does military sevice in Iraq Jesus? Or Apostles? Wich of them say: “if war is coming , you must go in fight” ? Imagine Son of for example Gertruda named Helmut that he goes to SS-wafen or wehrmacht in WWII? And ask mother for uncoditional love? I respect her strong high moraly expretion.
That is all. Sorry for my bad english
This story hits home to me very well. I was brought up a “JW” my whole life and came to the same conclusion as the Woodliff brothers to go about alternative religious beliefs, and eventually joined the military. Even before, my mother, the only parent that is a “JW”, still supported me in my beliefs and still continues to talk to me. It is her own decision, not the religion’s, to remain supportive of me. She may not be active in military ceremonies that I am in, but she sent me what I needed while I was in Iraq, gave me support when going through rough times, and doesn’t persecute my father for supporting me further. I’m not saying the parents of the Woodliff brothers were wrong in not supporting them, it’s all in free will. I think that this maybe a little bit excessive towards the religion however. I may no longer be a “JW”, but I do accept the consequences of my decision. I lost all my friends growing up, my youth, as well as some family with my decision. I say, deal with it, I am. So your family didn’t show up to your homecoming parade, big deal. I think more people spent more time looking at the fact that they were “JW’s” than the fact that their unit lost 48 men. I may be out of the religion, but I still hold a high morals, and can be grateful for the fact that it did do me more good than bad. Quit spitting on the religion and find your happiness, not focusing on your hatred.
My son is a Marine, going to the university now, intending to return when he completes his schooling.
My son knows I have “unconditional love” for him. I didn’t know anything about “unconditional love” growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness. I know the organization of JWs teaches their people to love the organization (synonymous to God) and love of family and their children is secondary. It is one of the saddest things. Parents of grown children that are disfellowshipped/disassociated would also be banned from the organization if they even “talk” with them.
Laws in the Bible should point to “love,” as Jesus clarified, Love is the 1st commandment. This world is complex, never has been ideal, but family should always be there for each other!
i am sorry u are right but u do know what i am talking about. i ment too say dont forget what happened with jahu and jezebel all they found was a skull and the remains of her hands and feet. eaten alive by the dogs
her husband Ahab ,not Jahu. Jehu was the man who killed her and the rest of the baal worshippers.
this comment goes for all groups or individuals that destroy peoples lives for there own personal emotional or mental gain including witnesses and corrupt big buisness and corporations. DONT FORGET WHAT HAPPENED TO JAHU AND JEZEBEL AS THEY WENT TO BURY HER ALL THEY FOUND WAS A SKULL AND THE REMAINS OF HER HANDS AND HER FEET. after the countless number of lives jezebel destroyed along with her husband jahu she wasnt only thrown from that window. when she hit the ground the DOGS DEVOURED HER FLESH. IN THE END EVERYONE GETS IT. NO ONE ESCAPES NOT EVEN ME. BUT THE ONES WHO DESTROY LIVES GETS EATEN ALIVE. AND NO ONE CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HAHAHAHAHA
how sad the parents did not go and meet their sons. just because you don’t agree with your sons does not mean you should not accept them. let us follow Jesus Christ example,
your scriptures for denying war does not hold water, i can take any one scripture and make it fit, you must use the whole content to share, this is true in any religion not just jw.
may you resolve the issues with your children and not let satan fill your head with false interpretations.
jesus who???,
are you one of jehovah’s witnesses. I am and know for a fact that all anyone has to do is make an accusation and the accussed is removed from having any privileges as a jehovah’s witness. you’re on crack if you think the elders are going to wait unitl two witnesses comes forward. get some education before you repeat what you read on the internet.
as a matter of fact not only are they disciplined but they are never ever ever allowed to have positions of authority within the congregation unlike catholics where they just move the priest to another perish to infect the next group of kids
They don’t????
Well, have a look at what they actually teach about the Catholic Church, for example…
Funny, how JWs never make hate pages about other religions…
Noah,
A life lesson for you
It’s ancient philosopher….. People will take you more seriously if you spell things correctly.
a boy of 15 years old and some Bible for my church the name of my church is light house international the cherch is now open so we dont have money so i u to seend me some 20 copie through this adress kwabenya Atomic da jss po box ae 12ACCRA GHANA
wow, this sure has gone on another tangeant … back to the original story … I find it regretful that Jason and Johel’s parents did not come to greet them upon their return from Iraq. If children need the love and support from their parents, it’s surely at a time like this.
Jason and Johel, hats off to you for standing strong in your own beliefs, in working in collaboration for peace in the world. My thoughts are with you !
Disfellowshipers+apostates+demons are part of devil team
If you wanted to keep the congregation clean you would get rid of all child molestors in the congregations, not proctect them.
Time to wake up and smell the coffee
How can I say if all stories are true or not? What I do know for a fact is that whoever did it was disfellowshiped…people complain we do that, but it’s to keep things clean.
fri who;
Sorry, I am not up to date with xxx and Internet and computers. I expect that my children are pretty savvy about the language today. I am from another century and there are many subjects that you could debate and win hands down but there are those of us who would not catch your meaning. So you are younger and smarter and obviously enjoy demeaning those of us who are not up to your intellect. Do you glory in that?
fri who?? Anyway if the post was for me here is my answer.
In Jesus time he rode an ass, now people drive cars.
Your kids might have written xxx for kisses, however many things have changed over the past years , now we have computers and internet. I dont think your kids use xxx for kisses anymore do they? Please get back to your century my friend.
fri,
In my day kids signed their love letter with x’s and o’s and we all knew that the x’s meant kisses.
Where did you get kisses from????
What is this “xxx”??? Kisses??? You really are a funny guy!
If you got a dirty look from the librarian it was not because I made you laugh, most likely the librarian noticed the type of websites you visit (xxx??)
Ok this time you made me laugh and I got a very dirty look from the librarian…
You start my saying I am totally wrong and then you agree with pretty much everything I say.
Yes, I agree with you, and all your points are perfectly valid. The whole is a bit confusing though… If your house gets burgled I assume you would call the police, not Aunty Mabel or a local community preacher. So why the victims of these problems even discuss the whole thing in the assembly, is a bit odd, at least to me.
Yes, the way is handled is a problem for the leadership, and I do believe, as you do, it is quite wrong.
Manfred my friend, this is where you are totally wrong. The Jehovah’s witnesses still go by the old testament “2 witnesses” when an accusation of molestation takes place, therefore causing much abuse within their groups. If you are a sex predator you are not going to molest someone in front of 2 witnesses will you?
No, a group should not take fault when member/members do not follow the rules. However, they are quick to point it all the time in their magazines how the Catholics cannot be a true religion because of the sex scandal they came in the last 20 years of so. Funny enough they cannot see the same problem if not worst, that exists in their midst. Shall we call it hypocrisy? If it happens in the catholic church, “all Catholics are bad” if it happens within the Jw’s “it cant be true!”
Until this ideology (2 witnesses) is changed the organization should be led accountable for the crimes. If you know of something and allow it to continue you are as guilty as the sexual perpetrator.
Ok, I never thought I would come to the defence of Jehovah’s witnesses, and I am sure they never had a stranger one than me, who in general strongly disagrees with them.
Would you not agree that the misplaced actions of individuals, even if there quite a few of them, do little to “prove” or “disprove” a belief system?
I am quite sure that in their teachings JW would not support child abuse. The fact that some may have ignored this reflects first on these people themselves. What the organisation did about, that does reflect on their leadership first, and then only by reflection on the others.
There are also many decent, honest, hard working and kind JW. They may have got quite a few things into a muddle when it comes to beliefs, but none of us are perfect.
That fact that there is (or at least was) abuse going on, does indicate that not all is well, and indicates that they need to take long and hard look and decide what to do to stop themselves from being a haven for such people. I don’t think they got around to this yet. This says something about the leadership, but not necessarily about the little old lady going round her neighbourhood with her magazines.
To me a much more powerful argument is the fact that they made very specific predictions in the past, which they called prophecies. None of these appear to have come to pass. Now, this is shouting something, very loudly.
In addition, I could think of a lot more that can be said about their religion, but I, for one could not bring myself to judge a whole group on the basis of the actions of just some.
Please go to silentlambs and let me know if ALL these stories are exaggerated?
Elder Pleads Guilty to Sex Abuse
Mexico Elder Arrested for Sexual Assault
Australia Elder Jailed
Elder Cano Sentenced For Trying to Have Anal Sex
Brother Verse caught alone with 14 year old in door to door service
USA BrotherConfesses after two eye-witnesses
Brother Rick Mclean Named in New Lawsuit
Man Exposes Self at KH
Vicki Boer Testifies to convict father of abuse
“Pedophile Paradise-Why?”
Manhunt for JW abuser in California
“By the fruits you will know the tree!” Isn’t that a famous phrase of yours???
“By the fruits you will know the tree!” Isn’t that a famous phrase of yours???
Please remember the newspapers or courts can be consulted for the authenticity of the accounts.
I don’t want to sound self righteous but, think of it this way– if everyone were one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, there would be no war.
The bible clearly forbids war. Brothers killing there own brothers? Members of the same religion killing each other?
The only time warfare was allowed was in the old testement, which was backed by God. Since Jesus came, it has changed…The Jews are not his only group of chosen people now.
Granted, I don’t agree that the man’s sons should be ignored, but I do not agree with war. You cannot judge a whole group of people by one man’s actions.
Often, stories are exaggerated…especially by those who hate the group the story is about.
Is very rude to comment on their (there = a place) spelling
I IS VERY RUDE TO COMMENT ON THERE SPELLING,NOBODY SPELLS RIGHT ANYWAY.
we come knocking,because it says in the bible that, we are to preach far and wide. Jesus did it shouldnt we do the same.
anounymous, please remove you head from the WT’s ass, your breath stinks badly.
aposte? or did you mean *apostles?? see?? ur huk’d on fonix too. *Phonics101. classes start..
what gives you the right, to come a tap tap tapping on my door, I might add? attempting to push the JW beliefs down my throat? at any given moment? Did I:
A. fill out a come see me, I’m interested card?
B. ferverntly wave any one of you down?
C. call you?
… and ghee, what *gives you the FREEDOM to be so obnoxious? those who currently tread upon those foreign mid-Eastern soils today. “Judge Ye..Not To Be??” now *ask me WHY I’m not a Christian today.. the answer is pretty well self-evident. you might want to toss in a lesson of *Phonics as well. NO SOLICITING means just that > NO SELLING, Religious Denominations Included… Go figure..
Another JW who I must say should be considering the course “Spelling 101″.
The name Jehovah started being used in the last 200 years or by the witnesses, before that they would use lord, god etc…… Would it be fair to say the ancient philosopher you talk about was a jehovah’s witness also??? Haaaaaa…………ha…..haaaa.
I recall a saying of an anciant phylosopher I don’t remember his name it is the following: “I try not to laugh or cry for the human behaviour but to understand them” So the best thing we can dop is learn so much as possible and pray to God upon the metter trust that Jehovah enlights us with his active force or holy spirit and we see thing as He sees Jesus God most beloved son did so and now is the king (Psam chapter 2)
what dam hypocrites ! Men and women have died protecting the principles of the US constitution and those Tax concession leeches use that same constittution to defend there rights to exist ,they should at least pay the full amount of revenue to pay the administration that fights for the laws they are unwilling to defend!
Really, according to whom? Would that be because the JW God AKA The Watchtower Society (WTS) says so? Or perhaps are we to envision that you are somehow in cahoots with God? Hmm..let us ponder exactly the merits of this organization you protect. How about a game show to lighten things up?
Your first question could be:
How about the WTS prophecy fulfillment? Bzzz…WRONG ANSWER! Sorry nice try, the WTS hasn’t made one correct prediction. In fact you could try naming at least one? Next…
Perhaps the strong doctrinal foundations inspired of God? Bzzz…..WRONG AGAIN. I’m afraid that the WTS doesn’t have any biblical or scholarly knowledge to figure this one out either. None of their doctrines are true, let alone even rational. Perhaps you could prove one?
Care to go for broke?
Third question/statement could be:
It has to be the truth, since no other religion teaches from the bible.
Bzzz….WRONG AGAIN…Geez, sorry to say but you really suck at this game. You might find it interesting to note that there are many religions that teach from the bible; in fact some of these ONLY use the bible. They are not prone to promote the usage of their own publications, thus reinforcing any agenda they cast out as gospel. You have to seek these faiths; they don’t misconstrue scriptural passages to promote an ideology built on cult-like proselytization.
Well it appears your time is up and we need to move on to another contestant.
If you don’t mind, let me offer you some advice. First, before you rush off to fill in your Field Service Report based on your illegible & illiterate comments, please take a moment to realize that many of us here have been in your shoes, happy at one time to give up their freedom & individuality to a faith that not only meets, but exceeds all requirements of a false prophet. Then one day a strange thing happened….strange & foreign to you that is. WE WOKE UP. Simple, yet so true. Once we realized the false prophecy, hypocrisy, pedophile cover-up, irresponsibility, etc, we eventually had to make a moral decision. Do we uphold the high moral standards of God or do we continually swear our allegiance to an autocratic & tyrannical organization? Just in case you live in a bubble or perhaps a glass house, try questioning one of the WTS doctrines with an elder or fellow Witness. After all the WTS’ own publications state that we are to question everything, apparently we just can’t question them.
Now I realize it’s easier to be in denial and ignorant of certain easily known facts, however this does not preclude the presence of reality. Averting these facts is simply to be insensate & lacking in knowledge, unfortunately many JW’s reveal this through their ignorance & naivety, always ready to pounce on what they seem to perceive as their moment of glory/opportunity. This is manifested in the self-righteous non-Christian/non-compassionate attitude prevalent in banal & ineffectual comments made verbally or posted in forums such as this fine venue.
I genuinely do wish you & other JW’s the best, however I have to be honest in stating that I do not much care for comments posted with little discernment.
Thanks very much and God Bless.
I dont fear God and I am not afraid of the devil either!
Seems like a lot of people like to borrow part of my handle?
Anyway coyate non jw, you’re studying with JW’s I presume?
Their one & only true God is the Watchtower Society.
Could you perhaps learn to spell or maybe consult a dictionary?
Thank you.