Jehovah’s Witnesses in Rwanda come from diverse social, economic, and religious backgrounds and experiences, and deal with challenges similar to those of the general population. The JW-RWA research study investigates religious beliefs and practices of this faith community and their possible correlation to nonviolent and prosocial behavior.
The JW-RWA report consists of seven sections, each with a significant review of relevant academic literature. Section 1, Introduction, provides the historical background of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Rwanda. Section 2, Methodology, describes the study design and sample. Research findings are organized according to four themes in Sections 3 through 7:
Section 3, Faith, examines the beliefs and practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses and what believing, bonding, behaving, and belonging mean to those who adopt the faith.
Section 4, Forgiveness and Prosocial Behavior, considers the role of forgiveness of others, by God, and of self, along with compassionate love and congregation support to promote improved relationships in post-Genocide society.
Section 5, Genocide and Trauma, examines the roles and situations of individuals during the Genocide against the Tutsi, with a focus on helpers of targeted Tutsi and the nonviolent behavior of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Section 6, Subjective Social and Psychological Wellbeing, considers cultural, community, religious, and family influences on individuals’ communication, family satisfaction, temporality, posttraumatic stress, posttraumatic growth, and scriptural coping.
Section 7, Conclusion, summarizes how the research findings provide insights into the Faith (motivations, beliefs, and practices), Forgiveness (prosocial attitudes, social support, and subjective wellbeing), and Family (functioning, satisfaction, and relationship changes) of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Rwanda.
