I have quite a few friends who choose not to vote based on their religious beliefs, but the reasoning is quite different than what you list for Jehovah's Witnesses. They derive their beliefs roughly from the anabaptist tradition (not to be confused with baptist), which also spawned what are now known as the Amish and Mennonite communities.

At its most basic, their decision not to vote is derived from a commitment to pacifism. In this case, pacifism is a belief that there is no such thing as redemptive violence---all violence, even taken in self defense, is believed to be a sin. As such, there is no such thing as a "just war." The claim, which I think is a reasonable one, is that despite any rhetorical promises of democratic freedom, no nation-state will allow a pacifist to be elected to its highest political offices, as it is anathema to the state's security. The matter of conscience comes down to whether or not you believe you can participate in a system without endorsing it. Most anabaptists think you can't, so by participating in the election, you are endorsing a system that relies on violence for its own maintenance. Thus, many pacifists choose not to participate in political elections.

I'm not attempting to defend the belief here, simply explain it. If you want a more detailed treatment, you could read the recently published "Electing Not to Vote" from Wipf&Stock Publishers

Rhesuspieces00,

You bring up an excellent point. As Jehovah's Witnesses, we believe that the fundamental issue in the universe is sovereignty. The basic issue in the Garden of Eden was Satan's assertion that Adam and Eve did not have to follow the rules laid out by God.

As a result, according to 1 John 5:18, the whole world of human society is lying in the power of the wicked one. No human has the power, or the wisdom to effectively govern ourselves. We never have had it and we never will. Mankind's affairs will progress from bad to worse regardless of who is in office. This will be true until Jehovah God finally allows his designated King, Jesus, to destroy these pathetic attempts to replace divine rulership, with human rulership. When that happens, Jesus will completely bring to ruin those ruining the earth. - See Revelation 11:18.

If we were to vote, that would mean that we would be taking an opinion on the direction of human affairs. It means that I would take part in governing, since voting is a means of enforcing the "will of the people". It is logical then that I would share responsibility for the bad decisions that these elected leaders make.

I said that human society will continue to get worse. Because of that, it is critical that we all understand that there is no hope for improvement outside of God's Kingdom. To have any involvement in the affairs of this world would be like rearranging the deck chairs of the titanic. That is why for my part I respectfully abstain from even the appearance of involvement in the political affairs of all nations that are currently in opposition to the Earth's rightful King, Jesus.

Democracy and republicanism (the ideas, not the parties) require participation of the citizenry in the control of government.

Regardless of how sincerely felt, the views of these people are anti-democratic, destructive to the continued existence of liberal government (again the idea and not any partisan ideology), and unfitted for membership in a democratic republic.

If God has taught us anything through history, it is that we have to work to achieve a fair and just polity, Those holding their heads above such trivial concerns on religious grounds are arrogant in their outlook, condescending to the rest of us on whose shoulders their fine lives stand, and offensive to the modern viewpoint.

There are many reasons why civilizations fade. Most reliable among them is that the people get persuaded by misguided religious leaders that justice, security and well being during human lifetimes are not important, not possible or only possible if we vest religious leaders with the power over secular affairs.

All of these ideologies are obnoxious and dangerous.

I, for one, do not excuse this privileged athlete from her civic responsibilities because she say her religion keeps her from participating in them. I don't think we should be forcing such participation, but we sure as hell should be pointing our fingers at them and calling them what they are: pre-modern thinkers who, if they prevailed in society, would throw us back into the dark ages.

She's no role model when it comes to civic duties.

no it is NOT critical at all to give up hope on this world- do you even realize what a WRONG/EVIL/DEVIL idea that is, this type of ideology lets you seperate yourself ONLY in your own mind- not in REALITY. help yourself and the rest of us, wake up! we are all children of the earth whether you can conciously admit it or not.

The first Democracy was in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve voted by their actions to make their own rules for behavior.Look how well that has turned out for world history. For many ignoring God's opinion and adjusting one's way of doing things independantly of what YOU may interpret the directions God has given you (as if you know what is best for you and the rest of the world better than God does) is not an option. It does say in the Bible to give Caesar his things but to give God His. And it clearly says to obey God as ruler rather than man. Let each follow his conscience and be tolerant of other's views.

You just answered a question I had concerning Jehovah Witnesses. I asked a JW why it was that they call Jesus Jehovah rather than Jesus Christ or Son of Man the Holy Spirit? She read me a (one/single) verse out of her bible stating (Ps. 83:18) That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth. You say Jehovah God will allow his designated King, Jesus,...This, to me, implies, JW's don't view God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit all as one and the same...why is that?

If scriptures claim it to be so, then all true Christian organizatons should claim it as well.....if not.....then I would have to categorized them with a cult system and beliefs...

Let us observe some scriptures and claims here...

The doctrine of the Trinity — that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are each equally and eternally the one true God — is admittedly difficult to comprehend, and yet is the very foundation of Christian truth. Although skeptics may ridicule it as a mathematical impossibility, it is nevertheless a basic doctrine of Scripture as well as profoundly realistic in both universal experience and in the scientific understanding of the cosmos.

Both Old and New Testaments teach the Unity and the Trinity of the Godhead. The idea that there is only one God, who created all things, is repeatedly emphasized in such Scriptures as Isaiah 45:18:

“For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; …I am the Lord; and there is none else.”

A New Testament example is James 2:19:

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well; the devils also believe, and tremble.”

The three persons of the Godhead are, at the same time, noted in such Scriptures as Isaiah 48:16:

“I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; From the time that it was, there am I; and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.”

The speaker in this verse is obviously God, and yet He says He has been sent both by The Lord God (that is, the Father) and by His Spirit (that is, the Holy Spirit).

The New Testament doctrine of the Trinity is evident in such a verse as John 15:26, where the Lord Jesus said:

“But when the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father, He shall testify of me.”

Then there is the baptismal formula:

“baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19).

One name (God) — yet three names!

JESUS — That Jesus, as the only-begotten Son of God, actually claimed to be God, equal with the Father, is clear from numerous Scriptures. For example, He said:

“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8).

HOLY SPIRIT — Some cults falsely teach that the Holy Spirit is an impersonal divine influence of some kind, but the Bible teaches that He is a real person, just as are the Father and the Son. Jesus said:

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will show you things to come” (John 16:13).

TRI-UNITY — The teaching of the Bible concerning the Trinity might be summarized thus. God is a Tri-unity, with each Person of the Godhead equally and fully and eternally God. Each is necessary, and each is distinct, and yet all are one. The three Persons appear in a logical, causal order. The Father is the unseen, omnipresent Source of all being, revealed in and by the Son, experienced in and by the Holy Spirit. The Son proceeds from the Father, and the Spirit from the Son. With reference to God's creation, the Father is the Thought behind it, the Son is the Word calling it forth, and the Spirit is the Deed making it a reality.

We “see” God and His great salvation in the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, then “experience” their reality by faith, through the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit.

Though these relationships seem paradoxical, and to some completely impossible, they are profoundly realistic, and their truth is ingrained deep in man's nature. Thus, men have always sensed first the truth that God must be “out there,” everywhere present and the First Cause of all things, but they have corrupted this intuitive knowledge of the Father into pantheism and ultimately into naturalism.

Similarly, men have always felt the need to “see” God in terms of their own experience and understanding, but this knowledge that God must reveal Himself has been distorted into polytheism and idolatry. Men have thus continually erected “models” of God, sometimes in the form of graven images, sometimes even in the form of philosophical systems purporting to represent ultimate reality.

Finally, men have always known that they should be able to have communion with their Creator and to experience His presence “within.” But this deep intuition of the Holy Spirit has been corrupted into various forms of false mysticism and fanaticism, and even into spiritism and demonism. Thus, the truth of God's tri-unity is ingrained in man's very nature, but he has often distorted it and substituted a false god in its place.

source: christiananswers.net

I would have to agree, as Christians, we have to do what is right....and if she were right....then the passing of the rights for homosexuals to legally marry would put that accountability on all of those Christians who fail to get involved......It is very clear that men (man/woman) should not be lovers of themselves and to just stand by and not voice anything at all is just as well agreeing with it and condoning it. I use homosexual marriages as an example because it is going on now as we speak, I am sure their are numberous other examples I could use but this one comes to mind at this very moment.

It is our right and our obligation to do what is right with the guidance from the Lord Jesus to vote for the one who we feel is fit to do the just thing and let God deal with our President if he should do wrong....afterall, we will all be held accountble for all of our actions, that being, whether we act or we don't act.

What if you TRULY believe NEITHER candidate is going to make decisions that you feel agree with your believes? Who's to say how any one particular man, or president, will change over 4 years.

Power = corruption.

You guys claim you know what "God's rule" in a democracy looks like and then you say things that convince me that you are exactly wrong about what God wants in our democracy. I have just as strong beliefs as you and I think the exact opposite of what you propose: how do we work that out in a democracy? Instead of a free people trying to reach consensus on issues facing us, aren't we "true believers" always condemned to resisting one another as a service to God? Must not one version of "God's will" emerge to capture the coercive power of the state and impose Godlessness on everybody--especially those who disagrees with you about what God's will is?

You say it is because some Christians aren't involved enough that we have Gay marriage and other things your preachers turned ward bosses pound down at you from the pulpit. Is everyone opposed to you on social issues an apostate? Is everybody who doesn't agree with you a sinner?

Democracy assumes the best idea will emerge from an open free discussion of policy choice, but if you already know God's will, what is the point of even discussing anything? How can you possibly accept the other guy's perspective if he is either an apostate or a purposeful sinner--Eve in the garden?

People whose religion requires they sit out participation in the democratic processes are best fitted for living under dictators, but they are not dangerous about their democratic passivity. People who enter every discussion of social issues with the certainty that they personally know God's will on the issue are dangerous. What is the point of all the discussing and tolerating of other peoples' views when you know God's own mind? The only question is how to impose it on the planet.

The very definition of the dark ages is that it was a time when all answers were deduced from authoritative religious texts rather than approaching real world problems with an open mind. Giving onto Caesar in a democracy means turning a suspicious eye on anybody who tells you that he knows what God's will is.

It is one thing to try and perfect your personal soul. It is another to try and capture the coercive power of the state to impose your religious views on others.

Somehow, I think God doubt you really know much about what he really wants.