PRAY FOR THE PERSECUTED! Greatest number of religious freedom violations against Christians worldwide in recent memory—even in Christian-majority countries - occurred in 2014! They increased in 29 countries, decreased in 11, remained stable in 7 and beginning in 3 countries! Researchers calculate that 4,344 Christians were killed for faith-related reasons in 2014, which is more than double the 2,123 killed in 2013, and more than triple the 1,201 killed the year before that, reports World Watch Monitor (WWM). In addition, 1,062 churches were attacked for faith-related reasons in 2014. Holding steady for the 13th year as the worst place for Christians to live is North Korea, where Open Doors reports up to 70,000 Christians are held in prison camps for their faith. Three of the top five countries are in the Middle East, where targeted attacks have emptied many regions of Christians. Many fled from the advance of the Islamic State in 2014! Overall, persecution increased more rapidly in Sub-Saharan Africa than anywhere else in the world, according to Open Doors. China, India and Malaysia registered the largest increases in Asia. Overall in Asia, in 2014, every country except Laos and Sri Lanka received a higher persecution score. Twelve countries from East Asia and the Far East are among the top 50. But it wasn’t increased violence that primarily drove persecution to record levels in 2014, but rather increased “cultural marginalization,” according to Open Doors. A substantial study by the Pew Research Center found that nearly 75 percent of the world’s population now lives in countries with high levels of social hostility involving religion. The primary persecution engine worldwide is Islamic extremism,” (40 of the 50 countries on the 2015 watch list).The No. 2 driver of persecution was dictatorial paranoia, or where leaders seek to control religious expression, whilst organized corruption is the No. 3 driver of persecution. Open Doors did identify some good news trends amid the dark headlines: - Ancient enmities between Christians in the Middle East are slowly dissolving in the white heat of violence and persecution. - New co-operative relationships are being forged between Muslim and Christian in the Middle East caldron that could have wonderful long term benefits. - China is still undecided about how to deal with the church.. If Christianity can sound, look and be Chinese enough, we might just see the church continuing to be invited to play a fuller role in the building of the new China. - Western governments are engaging with religious communities in working against extremists like never before. christianitytoday/gleanings/2015/january/not-forgotten-top-50-countries-world-watch-list-open-doors.html
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 03:01:48 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015