31 Oct 2023 Jehovah’s Witnesses
This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and the topic details “Jehovah’s Witnesses”. This topic has relevance in the Art and Culture section of the UPSC CSE exam.
For Prelims:
About Jehovah’s Witnesses?
For Mains:
GS 1: Art and Culture
Jehovah’s Witnesses in India?
Why in the news?
About Jehovah’s Witnesses:
- Jehovah’s Witnesses are a Christian sect with distinct beliefs, differing from mainstream Christianity, particularly in their rejection of the Holy Trinity.
Origins:
- The origins of Jehovah’s Witnesses can be traced back to a Bible Student movement initiated in the 1870s by American pastor Charles Taze Russell.
- Today, the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses is headquartered in Warwick, New York.
| Aspect | Jehovah’s Witnesses |
| STRUCTURE | |
| Clergy Class | They have no clergy class. |
| Financial Support | Elders, teachers, and missionaries are unsalaried. All activities are supported by anonymous donations. They do not tithe or collect money at their places of worship (Kingdom Halls). |
| Political Neutrality | They remain neutral with regard to politics and advocate peace, not participating in warfare. |
| Global Unity | They are globally united in their faith and Bible-based beliefs, with no social, ethnic, racial, or class divisions. They are not affiliated with any other religion, whether Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant. |
| DOCTRINE | |
| Belief in God | They believe in one true God, whose name is Jehovah. |
| Belief in Jesus | They do not believe that Jesus Christ is Almighty God or in the Trinity doctrine. They follow the teachings of Jesus and honor him as the Son of God. |
| Religious Symbols | They do not venerate the cross, nor do they use idols in their worship. |
| Belief in Hell | They do not believe in a fiery hell where all bad people go after death. |
| Eternal Life Belief | They believe that God will bless obedient mankind with perfect everlasting life in an earthly paradise. |
| Christianity Claim | Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that they have successfully reestablished first-century Christianity, the form of Christianity that Jesus’ apostles practiced. |
Practices and Festivals:
- Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas or Easter, as they view these festivals as influenced by Pagan traditions.
- Paganism refers to a group of contemporary religions rooted in reverence for nature and often linked to indigenous traditions.
Evangelical Work:
- Jehovah’s Witnesses are known for their evangelical work, emphasizing the importance of belief in Jesus Christ and the study of the Bible.
- They engage in door-to-door outreach to spread what they refer to as “The Truth.”
End-Times Belief:
- They believe that the end of the world is imminent and anticipate the Kingdom of God replacing human governments to fulfill God’s purpose for the earth.
Jehovah’s Witnesses in India:
- Jehovah’s Witnesses have had a presence in India since 1905.
- They established an office in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) in 1926 and obtained legal registration in 1978.
Supreme Court Verdict:
- A significant legal case involving Jehovah’s Witnesses in India was Bijoe Emmanuel vs. State of Kerala. In 1986, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of three children from the sect who refused to sing the National Anthem at their school.
- The court held that compelling them to participate violated their fundamental right to freedom of religion under Article 25 of the Indian Constitution.
Source: Who are Jehovah’s Witnesses (indianexpress.com)
Download Yojna daily current affairs eng med 31st Oct 2023
Q.1 Which of the following statements about Jehovah’s Witnesses is/are correct?
- Jehovah’s Witnesses originated in India in the 19th century.
- They believe in the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWER: D
Q.2 Consider the following statements about Jehovah’s Witnesses:
- It is a sect of Judaism
- They consider the Bible as their ultimate holy scripture.
- They do not consider Jesus Christ as a God.
How many of the above statement/s is/are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
ANSWER: B
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