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Communiques' Number Four
Bible Students
Coordinating Committee
For Religious Objectors
And Selective Service Concerns
Communiqué
#4 deals with points you should be aware of in answering the three
important questions on Conscientious Objector Form 22.
Question 1.
Describe your
beliefs, which are the reasons for your claiming Conscientious
Objection to combatant military training and service or to all
military training and service.
Question
(1) asks which of your beliefs are the reasons for your being a
Conscientious Objector. List your beliefs, for example:
1.
Belief in God. State why you are required to obey His will
above all others. Acts 5:29
2.
Love for your fellow man. Give scriptures that show the
sanctity of human life. This would involve God’s commands
against the shedding of human blood and the New Testament concept
of loving, not killing one’s enemy.
3.
Belief in God’s future Kingdom as the only solution for all
of mankind’s problems. No matter how noble man’s
endeavors, only God’s kingdom will solve all humankind’s
problems. Explain that by being a Consciences Objector you are
being a witness for God’s Kingdom by
living Kingdom principles now. John 18:36
4.
List any other beliefs and how they affect your being a
Conscientious Objector.
Follow
this with a list of all the scriptures you can find that are
opposed to killing. For example, following are a list of
scriptures against killing:
Gen.
9:6; Matt. 5:39,44; 7:12; 22:37-40; Luke 6:27-33; Rom. 12:19;
13:8,10; 1 Cor. 4:12; 13:4-7; Gal. 5:14; 1 Thess. 5:15; 1 Pet.
2:21-23; 3:9; Rev. 13:10.
These
Scriptures only prove that you are opposed to combatant service.
If you are also opposed to noncombatant service and all military
training, state this clearly and list all the reasons for your
additional stand of being opposed to noncombatant service and all
military training. For example:
1.
Military manuals define noncombatant service as part of the total
destructive power of the military.
2.
Give scriptures and reasons why you believe taking a military oath
is wrong. Rom. 6:16
3.
Give scriptures and reasons why you might believe it is wrong to
wear a military uniform. 2 Cor. 10: 3-5; Eph. 6:11-13; Reprint
5755
4.
Any other reasons or scriptures you have that show your
conscientious objection to noncombatant service.
Conclude
with a general statement to the effect that you are thankful to be
living in a country that permits civilian work in lieu of military
service.
Question
2.
Describe how and when you acquired these beliefs.
This
question seeks to find out how long ago and in what way
you came to your present convictions against military service. If
you were raised in a Bible Student home, emphasize your training
since early childhood from Christian parents. Mention the
important part Bible Student meetings, conventions, seminars and
camps played and how certain elders contributed to this training.
List truth literature, such as the writings of Pastor Russell.
Mention Conscientious Objector meetings at conventions. Also
mention the date of the letter you wrote to your committee and
your ecclesia stating that you are a Conscientious Objector.
Question
3.
Explain what most clearly shows that your beliefs are deeply
held. You may wish to include a description of how your beliefs
affect your way of life.
You
are expected to reach as far back in your life as possible to
provide evidences of your sincerity and depth of your CO
convictions. For example:
—Perhaps
you refused to go hunting with your friends because you felt it
was wrong.
—State
your regular attendance at meetings and the number of times per
week.
—Point
out how this demonstrates your depth of conviction.
—Perhaps
you never took ROTC in high school because, although it was
popular, it violated your principles.
—Attendance
at various conventions, seminars and camps is important.
—Did
you limit your activities with your friends because you didn’t
approve of their actions?
—Did
you refrain from smoking, drinking, swearing and drugs even
though it made you a “fish out of water” with schoolmates?
—Did
your religious activities and beliefs prohibit some of the
normal school socials and activities?
—Did
scruples against defense work limit your income or opportunities
of employment during summer vacation or now that you are in full
time employment?
—How
long has religious literature been a habitual part of your
reading?
—Did
you ever write an essay in school on war or on conscientious
objection? Essays
on other religious subjects are good.
—How
has your Conscientious Objector convictions affected your choice
of a profession?
This
will give you an idea of some of the possibilities for answering
this question.
All
19 and 20 year-olds should take the necessary time to answer these
three questions now, before the nine-day rush period, when you
receive the Conscientious Objector’s Questionnaire. In fact it
would be good for all 18-25 year-olds to answer these questions
now and place them in your personal CO file.
“Remember
now your Creator in the days of thy youth."
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