Master of Arts in Political Science

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://dspace.uc-bcf.edu.ph/handle/123456789/79

Browse

Filter results by typing the first few letters
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Socio - political experiences of Jehovah's witnesses
    (2019-03) Dizon, Kurt Zeus L.
    This paper presents the socio-political experience of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. They are known for refusing to participate in political activities. The group’s position regarding objection to military service, salute national flags and elections has brought it into conflict with governments. Consequently, some Witnesses have been persecuted and their activities are restricted. Persistent legal challenges by the Witnesses have influenced legislation related to civil rights in several countries. In the Philippines, the group has been a spotlight fir such cases revolving secularism and religious freedom. In this context, the study attempts to describe the socio-political experience of the Jehovah’s Witnesses by examining the effects of certain Philippine laws and policies towards their religious belief, responses towards policies affecting their doctrines, and involvements in civic and political activities. The following methods were employed in the study. Documentary analysis of several sources was utilized to identify the policies that affect the doctrines of the group. Content analysis was also used through their biblical hermeneutics on various sources including their publications. Interviews and surveys were conducted for validation and additional information. The primary objective of the research was to describe and analyze the socio-political experience of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Specifically, is pursued answers to the following questions: 1. What are the government policies or laws that affect the religious doctrines of Jehovah’s Witnesses? 2. How do Jehovah’s Witnesses respond to these government laws and policies affect their religious doctrines? 3. How do members of Jehovah’s Witnesses engage themselves in civic and political activities? The following are the major findings of the study: 1. The religious group was in occurrence with such social, political and legal embattlements which then provide an interplay of several laws and policies. The laws and policies referring to secularism and religious freedom provide protection and guarantee for the Witnesses to practice their faith. Policies related to freedom speech, taxation, civil registration and legal recognition are favorable and an obligation based on their doctrines. Specific provisions related to suffrage and elections, labor, family and health do not coincide with their teachings. However, these specific provisions do not authoritatively assert the Witnesses to conscientiously follow. While policies on nationalistic rituals and national defense are unfavorable basing from their bible-based doctrines. 2. The nature of the response of Jehovah’s Witnesses varies from legal, socio-political responses to informational actions. The group base all their decisions and actions from their bible-based teachings of political neutrality. They strongly refrain and refuse from participating in political matters specifically related to nationalistic, military and electoral undertakings. The religious group also resort to legal counter-cases if it affects their right of religious freedom. Thereafter, courts have shifted and shown a liberal attitude towards the Witnesses as long as they do not contradict public safety and interest. On the other hand, practices related to labor, family and health, Witnesses are encouraged to conscientiously object to the specific provisions which are considered to be morally wrong by their teachings. 3. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not engage themselves in any political activities that affect their religious doctrines. However, they engage themselves in some civic and social activities such as joining social movements and participating social engagements as long they do not violate or refute their doctrines. In such allowed activities, the religious group provides guidelines and frameworks towards on how their members will act in accordance to their doctrine-bible based teachings. Based on the findings, the following conclusions have been drawn: 1. Witnesses are known for following their bible-based teachings even in these deviate with such laws and policies. Therefore, the Witnesses encountered numerous legal and socio-political embattlements and contradictions with the State because of some policies that do not coincide with their bible-based doctrines. An interplay and a clash of state laws and policies were also present. 2. Political neutrality is the primary response of the Witnesses. In terms of imposing such laws and policies, the religious group conscientiously objects to the imposition of laws related to nationalistic, military and electoral activities. Further imposition of these state laws leads the group to respond legally to protect its institution and their members. Due to the pluralistic nature of the State, eminent decisions of the court adopt the principle of benevolent neutrality which implies that the religious group is allowed to exercise some of their beliefs and practices as long as they conform to the hierarchy of laws. Information campaign is also used to inform the public and justify their stance regarding political activities. 3. Members are allowed to be involved in social and civic engagements. They are also allowed to participate in contacting/communicating government officials and joining social movement, however with some restrictions based on their religious doctrines. Moreover, the members present low percentage of political engagement and participation primary because of their bible-based beliefs. Based on the findings and conclusions of the study, the following recommendations are proposed: 1. Executive agencies must continually conform to the said policies including the decisions done by the judiciary as regards the religious group. Specific policies of agencies can be made to ensure the religious freedom of the Witnesses. 2. There should be a creation of an alternative policy in relation to the National Defense Act for conscientious objectors like the Jehovah’s Witnesses. 3. There should be an enhancement of political knowledge in their bible meetings to keep them updated with laws, jurisprudence and political events. 4. There should be an integration of the issues and cases of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in teaching subjects related to religion and politics. 5. Similar studies anchored with hermeneutical analysis can be conducted in analyzing the socio-political experiences of other religious sects and denomination. Other recommendations to be made in these areas: 6. a quantitative approach of the study assessing the extent of political participation among Jehovah’s Witnesses; 7. Legal and socio-political embattlements and cases among Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Philippines and around the world; and 8. Legal and socio-political embattlements and cases among other religious sects in the Philippines and those in other countries.