Today are Jehovah Witnesses persecuted for their religion?

Answer 1

In most countries they are not.

However, in some political regimes they are, sometimes for reasons of local churches not wishing them there.

They are not the only Christians oppressed, but they are a notable faith that is.

Answer 2

The question assumes that members of Jehovah's Witnesses are the most persecuted religion. So far no evidence has been presented that this is true. Note that Catholics and Mormons probably have more plentiful historical evidence to lay claim to being "more persecuted" considering all the times they have been subject to mob attacks, KKK actions, etc.

With that caveat however, the answers below give a fairly representative sample of the opinions of the subject. If you feel the need to comment further, please place your comments in the Discussion section for this question.

A non-Jehovah's Witness Answer:They are? Jehovah's Witnesses are certainly taught to have a persecution complex, as this is seen as proof that they are doing the work of God, but whether this is a reality is a completely different issue.

Jesus stated to his disciples that because men hated him, then they would hate them also. This was simply a warning to them not to be surprised by persecution, not that because they are persecuted this means they are his disciples. You follow the later to it's logical conclusion, and you can say atheist are the disciples of Christ, Scientologists are the disciples of Christ, abortion clinics are the disciple of Christ. If you look back in history you can say blacks were the followers of Christ... etc...etc...

The thing that irritates the majority of the general public about Jehovah's Witnesses is their door-to-door ministry work. No one likes to be woken up early on a Saturday morning and it really is no surprise that they are met with the part of the English vocabulary that you wouldn't like your kids to hear. The Mormons experience exactly the same thing.

Other issues that people take with Jehovah's Witnesses are over theology and doctrine, but also their practice of refusing blood transfusions, especially when it is a parent who refuses on behalf of their incapacitated child.

Today there are estimated to be just as many, if not more, ex-Jehovah's Witnesses (or "apostates" they are derogatorily labelled) as there are active Jehovah's Witnesses adherents, and yet Jehovah's Witnesses even take any negative view towards their organization as persecution. Ironically however, while Jehovah's Witnesses go around claiming to be persecuted, they themselves inflict just as much if not more actual persecution upon others, through their practice of shunning former members and anyone who voices anything negative about them. But also their practice of labeling, creating an "us vs. them" mentality; anyone who is not associated with them is "worldly" they are evil and controlled by Satan himself, and if you reject what they teach then you are labelled "mentally diseased" (Watchtower magazine April 15, 2011, page 16) an "enemy of God"and should be hated in the truest sense (Watchtower magazines October 1, 1993, page 19).

So are Jehovah's Witnesses persecuted more than any other "Christian religion" in the US...? Firstly, it really not something that can be calculated. But secondly, although many people have a slight persecution complex, Jehovah Witnesses are taught to have an elevated one. This does not mean that they go actively looking for persecution, but absolutely any little thing that is somewhat negative towards them is classed as persecution... even this contribution would be classed as persecution, but to think that couldn't be further form the truth. It is just an honest, straight talking assessment of the situation. I love JWs, but because I tell them the truth they hate me for it and will label me an apostate even when I have never been a part of their organisation.

A Jehovah's Witness Answer:

1. We do not have a "persecution complex" as we do not actively seek persecution nor do we enjoy it. However, the fact that we follow The Bible implicitly, including where it may conflict with the laws of a human government often results in persecution.

2. The practices criticized by this disgruntled former member are all Bible based. First century Christians were also persecuted for their preaching work, which included public and house to house preaching. (Acts 20:20). The Bible also states unequivocally that we should "abstain from blood". (Acts 15:20) This includes both eating blood as well as taking it in intravenously. After all, if a doctor told you to "abstain from alcohol" he would not want you to inject it in your veins either. We do accept non-blood transfusions which an increasing number of medical professionals view as safer and more effective than blood transfusions. The practice of shunning those who do not wish to live by Bible standards, including apostates (a Biblical term) is also founded in the scriptures. (1 Corinthians 5:9-13; 2 John 10, 11)

3. We do not hate "the world" even as Jesus didn't hate it but died so that people of the world may have the opportunity to gain salvation if they put faith in him. However, as you have noticed the world frequently expresses hatred for us. This is not surprising, since Jesus himself said , "If the world hates YOU, YOU know that it has hated me before it hated YOU. If YOU were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because YOU are no part of the world, but I have chosen YOU out of the world, on this account the world hates YOU. Bear in mind the word I said to YOU, A slave is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute YOU also; if they have observed my word, they will observe YOURS also." - John 15:18-20