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"Declaration of Facts"
Presentiamo il testo inglese ufficiale della "Dichiarazione dei Fatti", contente il testo della petizione indirizzata al Reichsregierung (governo tedesco) adottata ad una speciale assemblea dei Testimoni di Geova a Berlino il 25 Giugno 1933. Questo testo è conforme all'"1934 Year Book of Jehovah's Witnesses". Il volantino tedesco ha una frase che non è nel testo dell' "1934 Year Book"
Il testo in italiano è visibile in
questa pagina.
Il numero delle pagine ed i riferimenti sono stati mantenuti nel testo per permettere il collegamento al testo originale.
[131] [pagina] DECLARATION OF FACTS
"This company of German people, who are peaceable and law-abiding citizens
representing many others from every part of Germany, all of whom are earnestly laboring for the highest welfare of the people of this land,
being now duly assembled at Berlin this 25th day of June, A.D. 1933, do joyfully declare our complete devotion to Jehovah, the Almighty God, and to
his kingdom under Christ Jesus, whose shed blood bought the human race. We declare that the holy Scriptures set forth in the Bible constitute the Word
of Jehovah God given to men for their guidance in righteousness, and that the Word of God is the truth, and that it is of greatest importance that
man have a knowledge of his relationship to God. We ask to be judged by the
standard of the Word of God.
"Christ Jesus is Jehovah God's great Witness to the truth, and as his
faithful and devoted followers we are, by His grace, witnesses to the truth. The purpose of this Declaration is that we may present a true and
faithful witness before rulers and the people as to the name and purpose of Jehovah God and our relation thereto.
"We are wrongfully charged before the ruling powers of this government and
before the people of this nation; and in order that the name of Jehovah God may be exalted in the minds of the people, and that his benevolent purposes
be better understood and [132] our position fairly placed before the
government, we do respectfully ask the rulers of the nation and the people to give a
fair and impartial consideration to the statement of facts here made.
"The Scriptures plainly state that the chief opposer of Jehovah God and the
greatest enemy of mankind is Satan the Devil whose name is also that of Serpent and Dragon. It is written in the Scriptures that Satan, who has
long been the invisible ruler of this world, deceives and blinds the people to the truth in order that the light of and concerning Jehovah God and
Christ Jesus may not shine into the minds of men. (2 Corinthians 4:3,4)
Frequently by fraud, subtility and deception Satan has induced honest persons
to war with each other, in order that he might turn them all away from God and destroy them.
Above all things, the people need to know Jehovah God and his gracious provision for their general welfare.
JEWS
"By the term 'clergy', as used in our literature, reference is made to the
class of professed religious teachers, priests and Jesuits who employ improper political means to accomplish their ends and join forces even with
those who deny God and the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the same class to whom Jesus referred as his persecutors. We have no criticism of any honest
religious teacher.
"When Jesus went to the Jews to tell them of the truth, it was the Jewish
clergy, that is to say, the Pharisees and priests, that violently opposed him and persecuted him and caused him to be charged with all manner of
crimes and offenses. They refused to hear the truth, and addressing them Jesus said: "Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot
[133] hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father
ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of
his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the
truth, ye believe me not.' (John 8: 43-45) Although the Pharisees and priests then claimed to represent Jehovah God Jesus told them that they
were in fact the representatives of Satan the Devil.
"We have no fight with any persons or religious teachers, but we must
call attention to the fact that it is generally those who claim to represent God
and Christ Jesus who are in fact our persecutors and who misrepresent us before the governments and nations. As true followers of Christ Jesus we
are to expect such opposition, and we mention it here in explanation of why we have been misrepresented before the rulers of of this nation. To his
faithful followers Jesus said: 'Remember the word I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they [the false religious
teachers] have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.' (John 15: 20)
Furthermore, Jesus said that this same class of men would cause his true followers to be
wrongfully charged before the ruling powers, his language being: 'But take heed to yourselves: for they [false religious
teachers] shall deliver you up to councils [police power]; and in the synagogues
ye shall be beaten; and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a
testimony against them.' (Mark 13: 9) This explains why Jehovah God now permits his faithful witnesses to be misrepresented and persecuted,
namely, that those of a wrong spirit may identify themselves as opponents [134] of God
and thus bear witness against themselves. The same materialistic spirit that caused the persecution of Jesus Christ now exists and is back of the
persecution of us his faithful followers.
"It is falsely charged by our enemies that we have received financial
support for our work from the Jews. Nothing is farther from the truth. Up to this hour there never has been the slightest bit of money contributed to
our work by Jews. We are the faithful followers of Christ Jesus and believe upon Him as the Savior of the world, whereas the Jews entirely reject Jesus
Christ and emphatically deny that he is the Savior of the world sent of God for man's good. This of itself should be sufficient proof to show that we
receive no support from Jews and that therefore the charges against us are maliciously false and could proceed only from Satan, our great
enemy.
"The greatest and most oppressive empire on earth is the Anglo-American
empire. By that is meant the British Empire, of which the United States of
America forms a part. It has been the commercial Jews of the British-American empire that have built up and carried on Big Business as a
means of exploiting and oppressing the peoples of many nations. This fact particularly applies to the cities of London and New York, the stronghold
of Big Business. This fact is so manifest in America that there is a proverb concerning the city of New York which says: 'The Jews own it, the
Irish Catholics rule it, and the Americans pay the bills.' We have no fight with any of these persons mentioned, but, as the witnesses for Jehovah and
in obedience to his commandment set forth in the Scriptures, we are compelled to call attention to the truth concerning the
same in order that the people may be enlightened concerning God and his
purpose.
"It is said that our books and like literature, when circulated amongst the
people, constitute a danger to the peace and safety of the nation. We are certain that this conclusion is due to the fact that our books and other
literature have not been carefully examined by the rulers and hence are not properly understood. We respectfully call attention to the fact that these
books and other literature were written originally in America and the language therein used has been adapted to the American style of plainness
of speech and, when translated into German, the same appears to be harsh. We admit that the same truths might be stated in a less blunt and more
pleasing phrase, and yet the language of these books follows closely the language of the
Bible.
"It should be borne in mind that in the British Empire and in America the
common people have suffered and are now suffering greatly because of the misrule of Big Business and conscienceless politicians, which misrule has
been and is supported by political religionists, and hence the writers of our books or literature have endeavored to employ plain
language to convey to the people the proper thought or understanding. The language used, however, is not as strong or emphatic as that used by Jesus
Christ in denouncing the oppressors and false teachers of his time.
"The present government of Germany has declared emphatically against Big
Business oppressors and in opposition to the wrongful religious influence in the political affairs of the nation. Such is exactly our position; and
we further state in our literature the reason for the existence of oppressive Big Business and the wrongful political religious
influence, because the Holy Scriptures plainly declare that these oppressive
[136] instruments proceed from the Devil, and that the complete relief
therefrom is God's kingdom under Christ. It is therefore impossible for our literature or our work to in any wise be a danger or a menace to the peace
and safety of the state.
"Our organization is not political in any sense. We only insist on teaching
the Word of Jehovah God to the people, and that without hindrance. We do not object or try to hinder anyone's teaching or believing what he
desires, but we only ask the freedom to believe and teach what we conceive the
Bible
to teach, and then let the people decide which they wish to believe.
"To know Jehovah God and his gracious provision for mankind is of most
vital importance to all persons, because God has declared in His Word that where there is no vision or understanding of his Word the people
perish.(Proverbs 29: 18) We have devoted our lives and our material substance to
the work of enabling the people to gain a vision or understanding of God's Word, and therefore it is impossible for our literature and our work to be
a menace to the peace and safety of the nation. Instead of being against the principles advocated by the government of Germany, we stand squarely
for such principles, and point out that Jehovah God through Christ Jesus will bring about the full realization of these principles and will give to
the people peace and prosperity and the greatest desire of every honest
heart.
"Our organization seeks neither money nor members, but we are a company or organized body of Christian people engaged solely in the benevolent work of
teaching the Word of God to the people at the least possible cost to them. Our organization was originally incorporated in the United States of
America [137] in 1884 under the name of the WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY,
and in 1914 incorporated under the laws of Great Britain by the name of the INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION. These are merely the corporate
names of our organization for legally carrying forward its work. The Scriptural name by which we are known is 'Jehovah's witnesses'. We are
engaged solely in a benevolent work. The purpose of our organization is to aid the people to understand the Bible, which discloses the only possible way
for the complete relief and blessing for mankind. Our organization has extended its work throughout the earth. The education, culture and
upbuilding of the people must and will come through the agency of God's kingdom concerning which we teach as set forth in the Bible. The salvation
of the people depends upon the true knowledge of and obedience to Jehovah God and his righteous ways.
"The people are in great distress and in need of help to understand the
reason for their unhappy condition and what is the means of relief. The
Scriptures, when understood, make this matter clear. Instead of collecting money from the people and using the same to erect great buildings and to
support men in luxury, we print the gospel message of God's kingdom and
carry it to the homes of the people that they may, at the least inconvenience to themselves, gain a knowledge of God's purposes concerning
them.
"A careful examination of our books and literature will disclose the fact
that the very high ideals held and promulgated by the present national government are set forth in and endorsed and strongly emphasized in our
publications, and show that Jehovah God will see to it that these high ideals in due time
will [138] be attained by all persons who love righteousness
and who obey the Most High. Instead, therefore, of our literature and our work's being a menace to the principles of the present government we are
the strongest supporters of such high ideals. For this reason Satan, the enemy of all men who desire righteousness, has sought to misrepresent our
work and prevent us from carrying it on in this land.
"For many years our organization has put forth an unselfish and persistent
effort to do good to the people. Our American brethren have greatly assisted in the work in Germany, and with money freely contributed, and
that at a time when all Germany was in dire distress. Now because it appears that Germany may soon be free from oppression and that the people
may be lifted up, Satan, the great enemy, puts forth his endeavours to destroy that benevolent work in this land.
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
"The language in our books or literature concerning the League of Nations has been seized upon as a reason for prohibiting our work and the
distribution of our books. Let us remind the government and the people of Germany that it was the League of Nations compact that laid upon the
shoulders of the German people the great unjust and unbearable burdens. That League of Nations compact was not brought forth by the friends of
Germany. In America at one time the public press announced that 140,000 clergymen had set aside a certain period of time in which a
concerted movement was to be made, and which was made, to induce the American people to fully endorse the League of Nations. It was the
[139]Federation of Churches in America that issued a manifesto stating that the
'League of Nations is the political expression of God's kingdom on earth', and which by them was substituted in the place and stead of God's kingdom
under Christ. It was in America that our organization under the visible leadership of its president pointed out emphatically that the League of
Nations is not an institution of Jehovah God, because it is oppressive and unfair and nothing that proceeds from Jehovah God could be oppressive and unfair.
It was that condition, existing at the time, which called forth the language that appears in our books concerning the League of
Nations and also calling attention to the fact that such League of Nations compact can
never bring about the relief and blessing of the people, because such relief and blessing can come only by adhering strictly to the principles laid
down in God's Word and in the manner which Jehovah has pointed out.
"For almost half a century our strictly Christian organization has carried
on its work in various parts of the earth. Its books are published in more than 50
languages, and upward of 140 million of these books are in the
hands of the people. For more than thirty years our books and literature have been distributed throughout
Germany, and millions of these are now in
the hands of the German people and are read by the people, all of whom will bear testimony to the fact that these
books, based strictly on the Bible,
are of great help to them and upbuild them and give them hope for a realization of the blessings which Jehovah God long ago
promised. In all
these years of our work, and in the wide distribution of our books and
literature, not one instance can be truthfully cited wherein our work or
literature has been a menace to the government or has in any wise endangered the peace and safety of the
nations.
[140] "The endeavors of our organization being exclusively confined to bearing
testimony to the name and Word of Jehovah God, it would be entirely inconsistent for us to attempt to exert any political influence in the
governments of this world or to do anything that would endanger the peace and safety of the
nation. We have no desire nor inclination to do anything
except to carry out our divinely given commission to proclaim the Word of Jehovah
God.
"In America, Canada and other parts of the British Empire the political
clergy, priests and Jesuits have persistently persecuted and continue to persecute those of our
organization, and that without just cause or excuse; and
we have every reason to believe that a like influence has been subtilly employed by the great enemy Satan to misrepresent us and our work
in Germany. We remind you that in the years past the political clergymen have
brought more sorrow upon the German people than probably any other class of
men. We have no desire to fight with the clergymen, but we do ask that the
ruling powers of the nation judge us not by the misrepresentation of such
men, but that we be judged according to the Word of God and the
work we are doing consistent therewith. Jehovah God persecutes no one, but permits each
one to choose his own course, holding him responsible for his acts according to
knowledge. Jehovah God has emphatically expressed his anger
against those who do persecute others who are trying to serve him; and this proves that those who persecute us do not represent
God, but that they are
incited so to do by the enemy of God and man.-Psalm 72:4
[GREAT TRUTHS
"The Holy Scriptures, viewed in the light of present-day events which are
in fulfilment of divine prophecy, [141] disclose that: The time has arrived when Jehovah will make his name known to all creation and vindicate his name and
clear it from the defamation which Satan has placed against that holy name. (Psalm 83: 18) When Jesus Christ, the Vindicator, ascended into heaven
Jehovah commanded him to wait until his due time to put the enemy down. That period of waiting has now come to an end and God has sent forth his
beloved Son to oust the enemy and rule in righteousness. (Psalm 110:1-4; Hebrews 10:12,13) The world, or uninterrupted rule, of Satan has ended,
and this began to be evidenced by the World War in 1914, and since then until now is the time when the gospel of the Kingdom must be told to the
people. (Matthew 24: 3,14) Satan has now been cast out of heaven and down to the earth and now confines his operations to the earth in an endeavor to
blind the people to the truth and destroy them, and that is the reason for the present-day sufferings of humanity. The prophetic words of Jesus now
apply: 'Woe to the inhabiters [the rulers] of the earth, and of the sea [the people in general]! for the devil is come down unto you, having great
wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.'-Revelation 12:12.
"The people of Germany have suffered great misery since 1914 and have been
the victims of much injustice practiced upon them by others. The Nationalists have declared themselves against all such unrighteousness and
announced that 'Our relationship to God is high and holy'. Since our organization fully endorses these righteous principles and is engaged
solely in carrying forth the work of enlightening the people concerning the Word of Jehovah God, Satan by subtilty endeavors to set the
government against our work and destroy it because we magnify the importance of [142]
knowing and serving God. Instead of our
organization's being a menace to the peace and safety of the government, it is the one
organization standing for the peace and safety of this land.
"We beg to remind all that the great crisis is upon the world because the
transition period from bad to good is at hand, and the hope of the world is God's kingdom under Christ, for which Jesus taught his followers to
constantly pray: 'Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is done in heaven.'
"The power of Jehovah God is supreme and there is no power that can
successfully resist him. His time to exercise his power in the interest of
humanity and to the vindication of his great name is here. In this connection we respectfully call
attention to the admonition and warning of Jehovah God, both to the rulers and to the people, which applies to this
very hour, wherein he says: "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.... Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings; be instructed, ye
judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.'-Psalm 2:6,10-12.
'"The present government having declared adherence to the aforementioned
high ideals, we are persuaded that the rulers do not desire to knowingly resist the progressive witness work to the name of Jehovah God and his
kingdom which we are now carrying forward. If our work is merely that of men, it will fall of its own weight. If it is of Jehovah God and being
carried forward in obedience to his commandment, then to resist it means to fight against God.-Acts 5:39.
[143]"We therefore appeal to the high sense of justice of the government and
nation and respectfully ask that the order of prohi bition against our work and our literature be set aside, and that opportunity be given us to have a
fair hearing before we are judged. We respectfully ask that the government appoint a committee of impartial men to hold conference with a
committee of our organization and that a fair and impartial examination of our
literature and our work be made, to the end that all misunderstanding may be removed and that we may be mutually helpful to each other and that we may without hindrance
obey Jehovah God's commandment now applying to us, to wit: 'Go through, go through the gates;
prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up
a standard for the people.'-Isaiah 62:10.
"The peoples of Germany are a God-fearing people and should not be deprived
of an opportunity to learn of Jehovah God and of his gracious provision to bring lasting peace, prosperity, liberty and everlasting life on earth to
all those who know and obey him. Let all who love God work together to the honor and vindication of his name. All who take a contrary course must take the responsibility before God; but as for us we will
serve Jehovah forever.
"RESOLVED, that copies of this Declaration be respectfully delivered to
high officials of the government and that the same be given wide publication to the people, that the name of Jehovah may be further known."
In tempi recenti alcune frasi di questa dichiarazione sono state oggetto di dibattito a motivo dell'uso strumentale che ne hanno fatto alcuni oppositori dei Testimoni. Pertanto, rimandiamo ad alcuni documenti dell'epoca, commenti da parte di storici imparziali (non Testimoni di Geova), opinione di ricercatori ... sul contesto storico di questa dichiarazione in modo che ognuno possa farsi un opinione informata.
Documenti disponibili on-line sul tema della Dichiarazione:
Nuovo!
"Annuario
dei testimoni di Geova del 1934". Questo
testo spiegava già nel 1934 i motivi storici della dichiarazione.
Nuovo!
Testo
italiano della "Dichiarazione
dei Fatti".
"Erklärung",
volantino contente il testo della petizione indirizzata al Reichsregierung
(governo tedesco) adottata ad una speciale assemblea dei Testimoni di
Geova a Berlino il 25 Giugno 1933.
Nuovo! Lettera d'accompagnamento tradotta in italiano che accompagnava la Dichiarazione dei Fatti, adottata alla speciale assemblea dei Testimoni di Geova a Berlino in data 25 Giugno, 1933. Scritta dall'ufficio filiale tedesco.
Punto 24 del Programma del Partito Nazista. Questo documento permette una maggiore comprensione storica della dichiarazione di Berlino del 1933.
Articolo
della stampa nazista contro i Testimoni di Geova: Zelanti
Studenti Biblici? Religiosi Bolscevichi?
Sono disponibili on-line altri articoli sul tema della Dichiarazione:
Articolo "I
testimoni di Geova: Coraggiosi di fronte al pericolo nazista"
pubblicato da Svegliatevi! [un periodico dei testimoni di Geova] che
analizza nel dettaglio questa dichiarazione. [La versione proposta
on-line dal nostro sito ha anche una bibliografia ]
Nuovo! I
Testimoni di Geova "hanno tentato d'Ingraziarsi", come altre chiese, "il Favore" di Hitler e dei Nazionalsocialisti poco dopo il loro "Avvento al
Potere"? Parere di Storici. Italiano / Tedesco.
E' possibile accedere al lungo studio
sui Testimoni di Geova sotto il nazismo della Prof. Cristine King nel
libro "LO STATO
NAZISTA E LE NUOVE RELIGIONI: CINQUE STUDI DI CASI DI NON-CONFORMITA’"
[THE NAZI STATE AND THE NEW RELIGIONS: FIVE CASE STUDIES IN
NON-CONFORMITY] di Christine E. King tradotto in italiano Autorizzazione
dell'autrice - Capitolo 6 - Capitolo
7 - oltre alle note
e alle appendici.
RESISTENZA SPIRITUALE DELLA
CONVINZIONE CRISTIANA NELLA GERMANIA NAZISTA. IL CASO DEI TESTIMONI DI
GEOVA. Rivista: Journal
of Church and State, Spring 1999. Contiene
una analisi testuale della dichiarazione.
Nuovo! Massimo
Introvigne, noto studioso di
religioni, affronta il problema della dichiarazione e dell'antisemitismo.
Estratti dal suo libro "I testimoni di Geova.
Già e non ancora".
Una docente risponde alle accuse sul tema compromesso
tra testimoni e nazisti. in un newsgroup sull'olocausto. Luglio
2001
Dichiarazione dei
fatti: Fu un tentativo di compromesso?
Articolo inviato da un
collaboratore
Nuovo! LA DENUNCIA!
-
In questa pagina sono riportate alcune citazioni di pubblicazioni diffuse dai testimoni di Geova che provano come sin dal 1933 coraggiosamente essi denunciassero la barbarie nazista
Sono in preparazione altri
articoli . . .
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