James Penton
Encyclopedia
James Penton is a professor emeritus of history
at the University of Lethbridge
in Lethbridge
, Alberta
, Canada
.
Born in April 1932, Penton was raised as a fourth-generation Jehovah's Witness
. He gradually came to disagree with the teachings of the religion during the 1970s and was eventually excommunicated, or disfellowshipped. While still a member, he wrote a book entitled The History of Jehovah's Witnesses in Canada.
Writing in the Toronto “Star”
of October 4, 1976, Stuart Shaw
mentions the book “Jehovah’s Witnesses in Canada: Champions of Freedom of Speech and Worship,” by James Penton, associate professor of history at the University of Lethbridge
. Shaw explains that it discusses the intense persecution of the Witnesses in that country from 1939 to 1956, “first at the instance of the federal government and then at that of the government of Quebec
.” When Jehovah’s Witnesses were banned in Canada on July 4, 1940, he says: “Prime Minister Mackenzie King’s official explanation was a typical piece of gobbledygook
, from which emerged only a suggestion that the sect was somehow impeding the war effort.”
Referring to the recent book, however, and shedding some light on the underlying cause, Shaw comments: “Penton argues convincingly, citing official correspondence and documents of the period, that the real reason was entirely different. The King government was under heavy clerical pressure—from the Roman Catholic Church
in particular, but also from some Protestant clergymen—to suppress these ‘heretics.’”
The nationwide ban on the Witnesses ended in a few years, though persecution of them continued. Nonetheless, their ultimate success in ‘defending and legally establishing the good news’ benefited many. Interestingly, Shaw commented: “The law of sedition has been clarified so that it can no longer be used to harry people for their religious beliefs alone. The power of provincial and municipal governments to harass religious groups has been largely nullified.
“Freedom of religion
and freedom of expression generally are a good deal safer than they were 25 years ago. And for that all Canadians—whatever they think about their theology—owe the Witnesses a debt of gratitude.” (and until his expulsion, within the organization as well) as an excellent account of the Canadian history of Jehovah's Witnesses
.
Since leaving the organization, he has authored at least two more books, edited two journals, and written five articles
about the Jehovah's Witnesses. The first book was titled Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses. In 2004, his book Jehovah's Witnesses and the Third Reich: Sectarian Politics under Persecution was published. Historian Detlef Garbe, director at the Neuengamme (Hamburg) Memorial describes this book as being based on "aversion" and "assumptions" and thus perhaps 'lacking scientific objectivity.'
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
at the University of Lethbridge
University of Lethbridge
The University of Lethbridge is a publicly-funded comprehensive academic and research university, founded in the liberal education tradition, located in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, with two other urban campuses in Calgary and Edmonton. The main building sits among the coulees on the west side of...
in Lethbridge
Lethbridge
Lethbridge is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada, and the largest city in southern Alberta. It is Alberta's fourth-largest city by population after Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer, and the third-largest by area after Calgary and Edmonton. The nearby Canadian Rockies contribute to the city's...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Born in April 1932, Penton was raised as a fourth-generation Jehovah's Witness
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
. He gradually came to disagree with the teachings of the religion during the 1970s and was eventually excommunicated, or disfellowshipped. While still a member, he wrote a book entitled The History of Jehovah's Witnesses in Canada.
Writing in the Toronto “Star”
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
of October 4, 1976, Stuart Shaw
Stuart Shaw
Stuart Shaw is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Shaw played for Aintree Villa Colts, Everton, Crystal Palace and Southport before joining Port Vale in July 1969. He made his debut in a goalless home draw with Peterborough United on 9 August 1969, but was sidelined after breaking his...
mentions the book “Jehovah’s Witnesses in Canada: Champions of Freedom of Speech and Worship,” by James Penton, associate professor of history at the University of Lethbridge
University of Lethbridge
The University of Lethbridge is a publicly-funded comprehensive academic and research university, founded in the liberal education tradition, located in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, with two other urban campuses in Calgary and Edmonton. The main building sits among the coulees on the west side of...
. Shaw explains that it discusses the intense persecution of the Witnesses in that country from 1939 to 1956, “first at the instance of the federal government and then at that of the government of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
.” When Jehovah’s Witnesses were banned in Canada on July 4, 1940, he says: “Prime Minister Mackenzie King’s official explanation was a typical piece of gobbledygook
Gobbledygook
Gobbledygook or gobbledegook is any text containing jargon or especially convoluted English that results in it being excessively hard to understand or even incomprehensible...
, from which emerged only a suggestion that the sect was somehow impeding the war effort.”
Referring to the recent book, however, and shedding some light on the underlying cause, Shaw comments: “Penton argues convincingly, citing official correspondence and documents of the period, that the real reason was entirely different. The King government was under heavy clerical pressure—from the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in particular, but also from some Protestant clergymen—to suppress these ‘heretics.’”
The nationwide ban on the Witnesses ended in a few years, though persecution of them continued. Nonetheless, their ultimate success in ‘defending and legally establishing the good news’ benefited many. Interestingly, Shaw commented: “The law of sedition has been clarified so that it can no longer be used to harry people for their religious beliefs alone. The power of provincial and municipal governments to harass religious groups has been largely nullified.
“Freedom of religion
Freedom of religion
Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any...
and freedom of expression generally are a good deal safer than they were 25 years ago. And for that all Canadians—whatever they think about their theology—owe the Witnesses a debt of gratitude.” (and until his expulsion, within the organization as well) as an excellent account of the Canadian history of Jehovah's Witnesses
Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Canada
Jehovah's Witnesses experienced religious persecution in Canada during both world wars because of their evangelical fervour, conspicuous abstinence from patriotic exercises and conscientious objection to military service....
.
Since leaving the organization, he has authored at least two more books, edited two journals, and written five articles
Article (publishing)
An article is a written work published in a print or electronic medium. It may be for the purpose of propagating the news, research results, academic analysis or debate.-News articles:...
about the Jehovah's Witnesses. The first book was titled Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses. In 2004, his book Jehovah's Witnesses and the Third Reich: Sectarian Politics under Persecution was published. Historian Detlef Garbe, director at the Neuengamme (Hamburg) Memorial describes this book as being based on "aversion" and "assumptions" and thus perhaps 'lacking scientific objectivity.'