This section of the JW-RWA report focuses on respondents’ individual beliefs and practices as Jehovah’s Witnesses in Rwanda, both first-generation converts and those raised in the faith from childhood. Drawing on psychological and sociological frameworks, the research explored dimensions of religious conversion, commitment, and orientation. The study applied Saroglou’s model of believing, bonding, behaving, and belonging to analyze how individuals adopt and practice their faith. It also incorporated Allport’s intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity framework to assess motivations behind religious affiliation.
Findings suggest that conversion among Jehovah’s Witnesses in Rwanda typically occurs over a period of time and is cognitively, not emotionally, driven, often following extended Bible study. Respondents reported strong doctrinal awareness. Personal attachment to God, rather than ritual, was a central aspect of religious bonding. A subgroup of respondents who were associated with the Witness community during a government ban (1982 to 1992) reported their experiences related to adherence to the religion’s doctrine of political neutrality, a heretofore unexplored topic of scholarly inquiry.
The study also considered the role of family influence, generational differences, and social identity in shaping religious commitment. Contrary to global trends of declining religious affiliation among youth, young adult Jehovah’s Witnesses demonstrated strong religious identity and attraction to moral teachings. Gender differences in religiosity were minimal, suggesting both cultural and religious influences on male religious socialization. While respondents varied in background and motivation, they showed broad agreement on core beliefs and a predominance of intrinsic over extrinsic social aspects of their religious orientation.
The study contributes to understanding how religious identity and belief systems function in post-conflict societies and highlights areas for further cross-cultural and longitudinal research.
