World History

Jehovah’s Witnesses: Christian group with no-war stand

Context: Tragedy unfolded during a prayer assembly of the Jehovah's Witnesses community near Kochi, Kerala, leading to the unfortunate loss of two lives and several injuries. This distressing occurrence took place at the Zamra International Convention and Exhibition Centre, where around 2,500 devoted individuals from across the state had gathered for their prayer convention.

Who are Jehovah’s Witnesses?

Jehovah's Witnesses, a Christian denomination, hold distinctive theological beliefs that set them apart from mainstream Christianity.
They do not adhere to the Holy Trinity doctrine, which teaches that God exists as three equal persons—Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit
Instead, they worship Jehovah as ‘the one true and Almighty God, the Creator,’ identifying Him as the God of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.
While they acknowledge Jesus Christ as the ‘King of God's Kingdom in heaven,’ they do not consider him to be Almighty God.
Their doctrinal foundation is solely based on the Bible, which they regard as the literal word of God.
Jehovah's Witnesses abstain from celebrating Christmas and Easter, viewing these holidays as rooted in Pagan traditions.
They are renowned for their evangelical efforts, characterized by door-to-door outreach to spread what they term ‘The Truth.’
Central to their belief system is the conviction that the end of the world is imminent, and the ‘Kingdom of God’ will ultimately supersede human governments to fulfil God's purpose for the earth.

Origin:

The origins of the Jehovah's Witnesses can be traced back to a Bible Student movement that began in the 1870s, which challenged various traditional Christian doctrines, including beliefs about soul immortality, hellfire, predestination, the physical return of Jesus Christ, the Trinity, and the ultimate fate of the world.

The primary organization responsible for disseminating the sect's teachings is the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, USA.
They refrain from military service, maintaining a neutral stance in international conflicts, abstain from pursuing public offices or engaging in politics, do not accept blood transfusions, and resist the embrace of nationalistic symbols.

Jehovah’s Witnesses in India:

Jehovah's Witnesses have had a presence in India since 1905.
They established an office in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1926 and secured legal registration in 1978.
Jehovah's Witnesses in India benefit from the constitutional guarantees outlined in India's constitution, which encompass the right to practice, profess, and propagate one's faith.
A significant legal case involving this religious group in India was the Bijoe Emmanuel & Others vs. State of Kerala & Others.
- In a landmark 1986 verdict, the Supreme Court of India granted protection to three children who belonged to the Jehovah's Witnesses and had chosen not to participate in the singing of the National Anthem at their school.
- The court determined that compelling them to sing the Anthem infringed upon their fundamental right to religious freedom, as enshrined in Article 25 of the Constitution.
- The Supreme Court further emphasized that Article 25, which guarantees, ‘Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice, and propagation of religion,’ was included in acknowledgment of the principle that a genuine democracy's strength lies in its ability to ensure the identity and rights of even a minority, no matter how small, within the framework of the country's Constitution.

Christianity in India:

According to tradition, Christianity made its way to India approximately 50 years after its inception.
Thomas is believed to have arrived on the shores of Kerala around 52 A.D, where he established seven churches in the region. These early Christian communities were primarily concentrated in Kerala.
The widespread expansion of Christianity across India took place with the arrival of European missionaries in the early 16th century.
The Portuguese were the initial group, followed by the Dutch, the French, the British, and other European and American missionaries.
The core religious teachings of Christianity are documented in their sacred scripture known as the Bible.

Major Sects and Divisions:

Christians in India have two major denominations - Catholics and Protestants.

1.Protestants:

During the 16th century, a significant religious movement known as Protestantism emerged as a response to what its followers perceived as a crisis within the church and society. The adherents of this movement, called Protestants, sought reforms in light of this situation and notably rejected the authority of the Pope.
Within India, the main branches of Protestantism include the Calvinists, Anglicans, and Anabaptists.

2. Catholics:

In contrast, Catholics held the view that there was no crisis, attributing the emergence of Protestantism to the interplay of intricate and influential factors.
Within Catholicism, the Pope is regarded as the central authority.
In India, the major Catholic denominations include the Syrian Church, Latin Church, and Malankara.

Yom Kippur War: Overview

Context: In a recent development on October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack on Israel. This action by Hamas has shifted the spotlight back to the 'Yom Kippur War,' which took place from October 6 to October 25, 1973.

Palestine was a territory under the Ottoman Rule.
Following the Sykes-Picot Accord, Palestine was given to England as a protectorate.
Antisemitic attitude of Hitler and ostracization of Jews in Europe, led to a decision where England and USA tried to resettle Jews in their original homeland.
Palestine at that time was Arab state inhabited by Muslims.
The incoming migrant Jews with the aid of USA and Britain, dominated the local Arab population and tried to carve out a state and marginalise Arabs in two pockets of West Bank and Gaza.
Thus, Arabs were made as a Stateless-refugees in their own country.
This created a lot of anger and resistance in other neighbouring Arab countries which wanted to restore the status of fellow Arabs in Palestine.

About Six-Day War of 1967:

The Six-Day War, also known as the Arab-Israeli War of 1967, was a conflict that took place between Israel and the Arab nations of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan.
It was triggered by Palestinian guerrilla attacks on Israel from bases in Syria, which escalated tensions between the two parties.
Syria, fearing an impending Israeli invasion, sought support from Egypt.
In response, Egypt ordered the withdrawal of UN peacekeeping forces from the Sinai Peninsula and deployed its troops there.
Additionally, Egypt and Jordan entered into a mutual defence treaty, heightening the atmosphere of confrontation.
Feeling encircled and under the perceived threat of an imminent Arab attack, Israel initiated a pre-emptive strike against the three Arab states on June 5, 1967.
This military action resulted in Israel gaining control of the Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank of the Jordan River, Old City of Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights.
The status of these occupied territories later became a major point of contention between the conflicting parties.

What was Yom Kippur War?

The Yom Kippur war, also known as the October war or the Ramadan war, marked a pivotal moment in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. This conflict, fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, involved Israel on one side and Egypt and Syria on the other.

Causes and Course of war:

1.Israel's Post-1967 Ascendancy:

Following its decisive victory in the Six-Day War of 1967, Israel had emerged as a dominant regional power.
It annexed territories, including the Golan Heights from Syria and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, setting the stage for future tensions.

2.Anwar Sadat's Diplomatic Calculus:

Anwar el-Sadat became Egypt's president in 1970.
The country was facing economical-challenges, no longer to sustain continuous conflict with Israel.
Sadat hatched a bold plan to attack Israel, hoping that even an unsuccessful assault would compel Israel to consider peace with Egypt.

In 1972, he took significant diplomatic steps, expelling Soviet advisers from Egypt and establishing diplomatic channels with Washington (Israel's key ally).
A new alliance with Syria was forged, setting the stage for a coordinated attack on Israel.

4.The Outbreak of War on Yom Kippur:

The Yom Kippur war commenced on October 6, 1973 which is a significant date for Judaism.
Arab coalition forces launched surprise attacks on Israeli-occupied territories.
The attack, during the holy Islamic month of Ramadan, further exacerbated Israel's unpreparedness as many of its soldiers were on leave for Yom Kippur.
Consequently, Egypt and Syria initially made substantial gains.

5.The Course of Battle and International Involvement:

Israel eventually rallied its forces and counterattacked.
Fighting intensified primarily in the Golan Heights and the Sinai Peninsula.
U.S. President Richard Nixon issued a global nuclear alert due to heightened geopolitical tensions.

Comparing the Yom Kippur War to the recent Operation Al-Aqsa Flood

Recently, Hamas initiated 'Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.' The surge of violence has been attributed to the longstanding tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, notably stemming from the dispute over the sacred Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
The episode has drawn comparisons to the Yom Kippur War of 1973, marking one of the deadliest assaults on Israel since that time.
Despite its advanced intelligence and interception systems, Israel was caught off guard by the sudden onslaught by Hamas, echoing the Yom Kippur War, during which Israel also found itself ill-prepared due to many soldiers being on leave for Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism.