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Artur Artemyev Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kazakhstan Socio-historical and Theological Analysis Almaty, 2021 UDC 24 LBC 8635 A 86 Revised by the author. Artur Artemyev А86 Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kazakhstan. Socio-historical and Theological Analysis. Artur Artemyev Third revised and enlarged edition Almaty, 2021 - 424 p. For noncommercial use. ISBN 978-601-218-031-2 This monograph by Artur Artemyev, professor and religious scholar from Kazakhstan with a PhD in philosophy, focuses on a historical and theological investigation of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ life and worship in Kazakhstan. There are two previous editions of the monograph Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Historical and Theological Analysis. The first edition was published in 2002 and the second edition in 2010. In the last few years, this religious organization has undergone many changes. Therefore, the author considered it necessary to prepare a new edition of the monograph focusing on Kazakhstan only. This work is mainly addressed to lecturers of religious studies, master’s degree students, teachers, and government officials who implement policies in relation to neo- Protestant denominations and new religious organizations. The easy-to-comprehend presentation of the material also makes this monograph appealing to non-specialist readers interested in modern religion. UDC 24 LBC 8635 © A.I. Artemyev: text, 2020. © Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.: images, 2020 © Stormfront in Kazakh Steppe at Sunset, AKELA - FROM ALP TO ALP / Stocksy United: cover image © LLP “ИД Кочевники” ISBN 978-601-218-031-2 TABLE OF CONTENTS To the Reader ............................................................................................... 4 Chapter 1 The History of the Worldwide Religious Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses ....................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 2 Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kazakhstan. Historical Overview ................. 91 Chapter 3 Foundation of the Teachings. What Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe?........................................................................................................ 152 Chapter 4 Organizational Structure of Jehovah’s Witnesses ............................... 274 Chapter 5 Theocratic Education System. Jehovah’s Witnesses’ View of Secular Education ................................................................................ 318 Chapter 6 Characteristic Features of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Religious Consciousness and Lifestyle .................................................................. 334 Chapter 7 From Tolerance to Persecution and Anti-cultism. Questions about Accuracy in Terminology ........................................................................ 392 Conclusion.......................................................................................................457 About the Author..................................................................................... 471 TO THE READER The edition which you hold in your hands has its “predecessors:” Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Historical and Theological Analysishas two editions in Russian (published in 2002, with a revised and expanded edition in 2010) and one edition in Kazakh (published in 2011). However, because of the continuing development of their theology and worship, there have been many developments in the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the past few years. That is the first reason why a new edition was needed. Secondly, Jehovah’s Witnesses did not come to Kazakhstan in the 1990’s, as some “experts” are trying to prove. I am not afraid to say that they have been a part of the history of our country and our society for the past 100 years. Just think about it, now you can find a fourth- generation Jehovah’s Witness who was born in Kazakhstan. However, for some reason we still think they are “strangers” or “foreigners.” Myths and rumors have been created and spread about them which have nothing to do with reality. Jehovah’s Witnesses are often portrayed in a dark light. Some try to present them as fanatics; others present them as professional scammers who can entrap new converts by hypnosis and manipulation. At the same time, if someone is really trying to understand this subject and carry out an impartial investigation into this religious denomination, a wave of criticism crashes down on him, with accusations of being biased or affiliated with Jehovah’s Witnesses. But such a response only stirs up the interest of an honest researcher to explore the topic. Thirdly, we live in the information age. A number of new historiographic sources have become available on this topic—here and in foreign countries—in which the history, life, and beliefs of Jehovah’s 5 Witnesses are thoroughly studied. The organization itself has issued many books and is still actively collecting materials on its own history. Finally, and perhaps more importantly, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kazakhstan as a registered organization have their own separate, legal identity. They are connected to Jehovah’s Witnesses of other former Soviet republics in Central Asia only spiritually, as equal partners. These are the reasons why this edition is fundamentally different from previous versions, although some portions remain the same. Nevertheless, I want to emphasize that I do not belong to any religious denomination including Jehovah’s Witnesses. Moreover, I am not a man of faith even though I have studied religion for over 50 years. I have written more than 300 academic articles, educational brochures, and teaching materials on religious subjects, among them two volumes of Religious Study: Basic Background. History of Religion. Religion in Kazakhstan (2011). Some people ask me: “How can you study religion without being a religious man?” Usually, I answer: “I strongly believe that only a person who does not belong to any religious denomination can be a religious scholar in the truest sense of the word. Otherwise, he will be biased. He will consider a religious phenomenon consciously or unconsciously from the standpoint of his religious affiliation—which is the case for most scientific research today. However, there are some exceptions, when the maxim of the great, very religious, scientist Ivan Petrovich Pavlov is applied. He said that he did not allow God into his laboratory. Jehovah’s Witnesses’ point of view appeals to me: “Understanding the religious beliefs of another does not require that you accept or follow them, and to inform is not to proselytize.1” It is very important to respect the beliefs of one another. ¹ Jehovah’s Witnesses and Education – Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., 2015 – p. 2. 6 The Russian poet Yuri Levitansky wrote: “Everybody chooses for himself his belief, his woman and his road.1” Indeed, a man must decide for himself if he believes or not and choose which religion best fits his spiritual quest. I believe that there is one truth, but you can and should go towards it using different paths. It is, in other words, pluralism of approach united by a sincere desire to achieve it. However, in doing so, it is very important to preserve personal integrity and common decency. At different times in every society there has been a fight between tolerance and intolerance, open-mindedness and xenophobia. Our society is no exception. Occasionally, some people have tried to introduce us to a new enemy in our midst, a member of a sect who is responsible for all the problems in our life. We are encouraged to unleash all our pent-up frustration and anger upon this “enemy.” It sometimes seems that the media deliberately incite a real hysteria—there is no better word to describe big headlines that reveal danger coming from another “non- traditional religion.” Horrifying incompetence, unconcealed ignorance, use of insulting expressions and offensive tone when discussing religious topics—all create a negative attitude that can slowly destroy our social stability. In the minds of our people, especially young ones, it forms a syndrome of “aggressive intolerance” towards our neighbors. As a scientist and religious scholar, I strongly believe that now is the time to strengthen peace and harmony within our society. We must promote respect among people of different religious and cultural identities and reject ignorance and xenophobia—it is the duty of every citizen. We can do so by promoting education; we are often afraid of what we do not know. Knowledge is the best antidote to ignorance and xenophobia. Only a person with knowledge can really understand his neighbor and respect him. By no means should we demand that all people be impartial in their view of all religious denominations. The majority have their own ¹ Y. D. Levitansky. “Everybody chooses for himself…” Translated by Alexandra Shamarova, electronic ref., (https://levitansky.ru/poeziya/den-takoy-to/kazhdyy-vybiraet-dlya-sebya/). 7 religious ideas, and they will not like all religions. - On the other hand, a person will not change his religious beliefs just because some people do not like them. Anyone who seriously studies religious history knows that there have always been differences of opinion. In 1881, A. S. Prugavin, a well-known expert on the schism inside the Russian Orthodox Church, wrote: “People’s thoughts are thrashing about, always looking around for the right belief, for spiritual, intellectual food…1” At the same time, any church is true from the perspective of the people who