If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other..

[mubasher1984]

This above mentioned subjected belief of Christianity is neither applicable in this era nor it is being applied and acted upon anywhere in the world. I respect Christianity as a religion, but it was for a limited time period, i.ae. as long as Jesus and his caliphs remained in this world. But, in this era, this teachings is not applicable. Even, Christian nations are not acting upon. Instead, they are using force to those who don't accept their supremacy. For example, after the 9/11, as per teachings of Christianity, USA would say that please come terrorists, and attack other parts of country too. Instead they attacked on Afghanistan and still sending its troops there. This shows that they know that the teachings of Christianity are not to act upon. While, the Koranic teachings are applicable till the end of times. Koran does not says not only to defend of somebody attack, but also to give other a strong answer so that it could not attack such way in future.

[2timothy316]

My point you keep pushing your religion on people

Our job is to inform.

“You heard that it was said: ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy,’� said Jesus. “However, I say to you: Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those who persecute you, so that you may prove yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens.� (Matt. 5:43-45) You asked at one time what would we as JWs to if our enemies came in and took over the US. Here is your answer, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.� Why would we do such a thing? "For you will be heaping burning coals on his head." This will bring out the finer qualities in the person in the hopes of saving their lives from the judgement of Jehovah. (Rom. 12:20; Prov. 25:21)

If informing people of the above scriptures is 'pushing our religion on people' what were people doing in the 1940's when they murdered and disfigured people that simply refused to salute the flag? Isn't telling someone 'do what we say or leave this country' or 'serve in war or die' pushing something on someone else?

Never will you see a single JW in a protest of any kind. Nor us voting to remove someone's right to choice their own path. We didn't try to pass laws to stop people fighting in war. We didn't picket draft offices. We didn't harass soldiers or harm them in any way. We certainly would never tar and feather them, murder them or castrate them. We didn't do in the 40's we are not about to start now. Why? Because such things are not scriptural.

“Each of us will render an account for himself to God.�—Ro 14:12. “Each one will carry his own load,� states Galatians 6:5. When we all render that account, what will we present? Peace even up to death as Jesus' earthly example or something else?

[JehovahsWitness]

Go live in Islam and then come talk to me.

INTRODUCTION: The following was written in response to the accusation that Jehovah's Witnesses only hold their position of non-participation in political wars because they live in free and democratic countries that will respect that choice; the implication being that Jehovah's Witness do not practise their religion nor could they possibly maintain such a position in Islamic countries.

Do Jehovah's Witnesses practise their religion in Islamic countries?

There are currently just over 8 million Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide and this includes in countries with a predominently (over 50%) Muslim population, for example there are currently 26,741 Jehovah's Witnesses in Indonesia which is 88% Muslim, 2829 in Turkey (99% Muslim), 1,263 Witnesses in Senegal which has a 94% Muslim population.

Are there any Jehovah's Witnesses in extremist Islamic states?

There are approximately dozen or so countries that claim the totality or near total of its citizens are Muslim (95-100%). There are for the most part absolute monarchies or totalitarian regimes that do not ascribe to the principal of freedom of worship. Noteworthy however is the fact that nearly all of them (with the possible exception of the Islands of the Maldives) have had a small Witness presence at some time during their modern day history (see fig 1). The 1974 yearbook of Jehovah's Witesses states the following, regarding the Arab-speaking countries {quote} "Here we find very small groups of Jehovah’s witnesses [...]. These are all preaching the Kingdom good news, but under very severe difficulties. Trying to present the message of God’s kingdom to Moslems is most difficult. Furthermore, conditions continue to be very tense in the Middle East" - yb74 page 21 para 2. For example the yearbook of 1975 gives the example of the North African country of Morocco with a 99% Muslim population that "the work in Morocco continues in its second year under ban, but the brothers are very strong spiritually. It was necessary for quite a few Europeans to move out, so there was a decrease of about twenty publishers during the year." - yb 1975 p.8 par 5.


fig 1

Why are there no current figures for extremist or totalitarian Islamic States?

Many of the countries now viewed as estremist Islamic republics were, during some period in their recent history, relatively liberal. The women in Iran for example in the 1970s were free to dress as the liked and the countries accepted Christian missionaries. In such climates the Jehovah's Witnesses religion generally discretely introduced to the areas. With war, politcal upheaval or a change in religious climate in most of the arab world, things changed, missionaries were forced to leave many of the countries and no figures have been published since (for the most part) the early to mid 1970s. This however does NOT mean there are is no longer a Witness presence in the country.

Out of sight but still active

History testifies that even if literature and foreign missionaries are banned interested native residents once contacted (either from letters or calls from overseas relatives or another means) generally continue to make progress and in turn preach to family, friends and discreetly to acqaintences and colleagues. The JWs numbers have historically continued to grow even under total ban or blanket oppression. For example the 1992 yearbook, report of the activity in Yemen: "field service and meeting reports are sketchy, but meetings continue to be held. A sister from another country, though separated from the other publishers, conducts several Bible studies. Thus, in fulfillment of Matthew 24:14, even in this country some witness is being given." of Qatar, the 1971 yearbook (p. 194) explains "The one brother in Qatar has carried on by himself during the year preaching the Kingdom good news to those who will listen. In this Moslem land the preaching of Christianity is not looked upon kindly, and the brother is not able to work openly from house to house. But through personal contacts he is able to spread the truth and place some literature, thus opening the way for further calls."

[*][/color] The Jehovah's Witness leadership often continue to receive reports from these regions and support these ones as best they can but the Watchtower Society will not publish specific figures or inform their members of what measures are taken to help their brethren under ban. These figures,if available would come under the heading "other countries" in their public reports. According to the 2017 Report there are 31 Other lands where the witnesses are active but their work is restricted (R) or banned. The number of Witnesses in these lands totals 41,775. (see post below)


LEGAL BATTLES IN ISLAMIC STATES

It should be noted that the majority of countries in the above catagory do not guarantee freedom of religion and/or are failed States, in States that are more politically stable or Islamic States that are democratic in nature such as Turkey, Pakistan and Senegal the Witnesses numbers are higher despite the country being almost exclusively Muslim. That said in a number of these countries (such as Egypt, Eritrea, and countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union such as Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Georgia and most famously Russia) the Witnesses have still faced imprisonment and restrictions and/or are presently engaged in legal battles to protect the rights of their membership (links provided - see post below). The relevance of this is that these legal battles themselves constitute proof that the Jehovah's Witnesses continue to practise their faith in these predominently Muslim countries. The 1980 report on Syria well illustrates the situation in all these countries, stating: "What the political and social future of this troubled land will be is uncertain. But it is certain that Jehovah will continue to accomplish the preaching of the good news in Lebanon and Syria until the “great tribulation� ushers in his peaceful new system of things. The brothers in these countries pray that Jehovah will continue to use them in that work until it is finished" - yb 1980 p. 209 par 1

Click on picture to enlarge

source: Legal developments (by region): https://www.jw.org/en/news/legal/by-region/

When a State completely fails or war threatens the lives of the population the Witnesses like others may have to flee for their lives or go into hiding; they carry their faith with them and will even in those extreme circumstances look for opportunities to share their hope even if physically isolated from their brotherhood. Jehovah's Witnesses remain politically neutral even during ethnic, civil or international war.

POLITICAL NEUTRALITY IN ISLAMIC STATES

Jehovah's Witnesses take a very firm stand against violence and do not engage in military service. This position is not exclusive to democratic countries or countries with a predominently Christian population. For example in the African country of Eritrea (50% Muslim) 55 of it's members are currently in prison (some in perpetuality for 24 years) a number of whom were arrested for their position as consciensous objectors. This is also the case in countries such as Kyrgyzstan (80% Muslim) and Turkmenistan (89% Muslim) all of which have failed to comply with the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The exitence of these prisoners prove that the Jehovah's Witness position is held in Christian and Muslim countries no matter what the personal cost may be.


ERITREA: Full list PDF download (scroll down)
www.jw.org/en/news/legal/by-region/erit ... in-prison/

CONCLUSION: The available data indicates that Jehovah's Witnesses practice their religion in both free and democratic countries as well as in countries which have a predominently Muslim population and which do not respect internationally recognized human rights. The facts testify that their position as regard to the refusal to engage in military service (as well as what they see as the divine instruction to meet together for prayer and fellowship and preach the bible) continues even if their literature is banned and they are driven underground. Their experiences under totalitarian regimes such as under Hilter or in Stalin's Russia, testifies that being cut off from the free world does not mean that, as a people compromise their position. The accusation that Jehovah's Witnesses should "Go live in [an] Islam[ic]" country before they have the right to speak about neutrality, as if they are cowardly restricting their activities to where they know their rights will be respect, displays an ignorance of the facts.

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To learn more please go to other posts related to...

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES , THE 2ND COMING and ...THE GREAT COMMISSION,

[JehovahsWitness]

cont./ Page 2 of 2

Islamic countries - % - Number of Jehovah's Witnesses

Maldives 100% 0 No published figures
Somalia 100% 1 (1971)
Mauritania 100% 2 (1970)
Saudi Arabia 100% 4 (1976)
United Arab Emirates/Oman 100% 33 (1978) "Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharja are shown now as United Arab Emirates" - yb79 p. 23 par 2
Afghanistan 99% 2 (1959)
Yemen 99% 15 (1986)
Iran 99% 22 (1973)
Tunisia 99% 34 (1971)
Algeria 99% 71 (1971)
Morocco/W. Sahara 99% 171 (1975)

Turkey 99% 2829 - https://www.jw.org/en/news/legal/by-region/turkey/
Libya 97% 17 (1998)
Iraq 97% 11 (1973)
Pakistan 96% 1034
Tajikistan 95% 415 (2004)
Senegal 94% 1263
Azerbaijan 93% 1406 - https://www.jw.org/en/news/legal/by-region/azerbaijan/
Tajikistan 92% 40 (1980)
Egypt 91% Undisclosed: https://www.jw.org/en/news/legal/by-reg ... an-lifted/
Gambia 90% 262
Mali 90% 322
Niger 90% 292
Bangladesh 90% 282
Turkmenistan 89% Undisclosed: https://www.jw.org/en/news/legal/by-reg ... kmenistan/
Uzbekistan 89% Undisclosed: https://www.jw.org/en/news/legal/by-region/uzbekistan/
Indonesia 88% 26741
Bangladesh 88% 282
Syria 88% 120 (1966)


Guinea 85% 857
Kuwait 87% 14 (1973)
Palestine 85% 78 - https://www.jw.org/en/news/legal/by-reg ... territory/
Kyrgyzstan 80% 5178 - https://www.jw.org/en/news/legal/by-reg ... in-prison/
Lebanon 70% 3684
Albania 70% 5574
Qatar/Bahrain 68% 1 (1971)
Sudan 65% 624
Malaysia/Bruinei 61% 5055
Sierra Leone 60% 2214
Chad 54% 769
Nigeria 50% 350336
Eritrea 50% Undisclosed - https://www.jw.org/en/news/legal/by-region/eritrea/
Ethiopia 48% 9212 (2011)
Kazakhstan 47% 17725
Bosnia & Herzegovina 40% 1160
Cote d'Ivoire 38 11133
Tanzania 35% 16989
Suriname 22% 2982
Serbia and Montenegro 21% 3894
Cameroon 20% 41721
Liberia 20% 7137
Malawi 20% 89299
Benin 20% 12759
Mozambique 20% 56129
Cyprus 18% 2584
Ghana 16% 133607
Singapore 16% 178 (1966)
Russia 15% 171828 - https://www.jw.org/en/news/legal/by-region/russia/
Uganda 15% 7266
Israel 14% 1604
India 13% 44861
Bulgaria 12% 2408
Burundi 10% 13595
Guyana 10% 3100
Georgia 10% 18619 - https://www.jw.org/en/news/legal/by-region/georgia/

Source: All sources from The Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses 2017 unless otherwise indicated
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/302017024

http://www.nationmaster.com



FURTHER READING All True Christians Are Evangelizers
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2002002

To learn more please go to other posts related to...

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES , PUBLIC PREACHING and ...BIBLE STUDY PROGRAMS,