Top 50 Countries Where It's Most Difficult To Be A Christian

Article Source:christianitytoday.com 

New research reveals one more reason to remember 2014: for the greatest number of religious freedom violations against Christians worldwide in recent memory—even in Christian-majority countries. Of the worst 50 nations, 4 out of 5 share the same primary cause. And, while the number of martyrdoms did double from 2013, the main driver of persecution in 2014 wasn't violence.

Open Doors released today its latest World Watch List (WWL). The annual list ranks the top 50 countries "where Christians face the most persecution," aiming to create "effective anger" on believers' behalf.

“This year, the threshold was higher for a country to make the list, indicating that worldwide levels of persecution have increased,” stated Open Doors in announcing its analysis of the "significant trends" in 2014 that drove persecution higher worldwide, "even in places where it has not been reported in the past."

So while countries such as Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) fell significantly in rank on this year's watch list (Sri Lanka dropped 15 spots to No. 44, and the UAE dropped 14 spots to No. 49), their level of persecution dropped only slightly from last year's list (by four points and two points, respectively, on a 100-point scale). And while three countries—Bahrain, Morocco, and Niger—were removed from the list this year, the level of persecution in each remained virtually the same from 2013 to 2014.

Overall in 2014, pressure on Christians increased in 29 countries, decreased in 11, and remained stable in 7. Three countries—Mexico, Turkey, and Azerbaijan—were added to the watch list this year. [See infographic below.]

Open Doors researchers measure persecution by “the degree of freedom a Christian has to live out his or her faith in five spheres of life (private, family, community, national, and church life),” as well as by tallying acts of violence.

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). (Measuring martyrdoms has drawn debate in recent years, and Open Doors is usually on the conservative end of estimates.) By far the largest number of deaths occurred in Nigeria, where 2,484 Christians were killed; the next deadliest country for Christians was the Central African Republic (CAR), with 1,088 deaths. The remaining three deadliest countries were Syria (271 deaths), Kenya (119 deaths), and North Korea (100 deaths).

In addition, 1,062 churches were "attacked for faith-related reasons" in 2014. The majority of attacks took place in five countries: China (258 churches), Vietnam (116 churches), Nigeria (108 churches), Syria (107 churches), and the Central African Republic (100 churches). Last year's highest-profile incident: a government campaign to “de-Christianize” the skyline of one of China’s most Christian cities. (The Pew Research Center also recently tallied the countries with the most governmentdestruction of religious property.)

But it wasn’t increased violence that primarily drove persecution to record levels in 2014, but rather increased “cultural marginalization,” according to Open Doors. In other words, the "more subtle 'squeeze' dimensions of persecution" which make "daily life ... harder and harder" for Christians. 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. [CT compared how both groups rank the world's worst persecutors.]

“Even Christian-majority states are experiencing unprecedented levels of exclusion, discrimination, and violence,” said David Curry, president and CEO of Open Doors USA. “The 2015 World Watch List reveals that a staggering number of Christians are becoming victims of intolerance and violence because of their faith. They are being forced to be more secretive about their faith.”

One of those Christian-majority countries is Kenya, which made the biggest leap on the list—from No. 43 on last year’s list to No. 19—even though about 83 percent of Kenyans are Christians. A rash of religious violence over the summer spiked tensions and left 100 dead.

And in Nigeria, where approximately half the population is Christian, murders and kidnappings by the militant group Boko Haram (most notably of 165 Christian schoolgirls) helped the West African nation reach the top 10 for the first time, rising from No. 14 last year to No. 10 this year. (CT noted how Boko Haram's terrorism ischanging Nigeria’s churches.)

African countries saw the largest increase in persecution in 2014. Along with Kenya in the 2015 report, Mali and the Central African Republic saw the highest increases in persecution in the 2013 and 2014 reports, respectively. This year, Djibouti, Tanzania, Somalia, and Comoros all rose more than seven spots on the list. “Many other countries in this region are boiling below the top 50 also, and may feature in the future,” noted Open Doors.

The primary culprit in Africa and worldwide: “Islamic extremism,” which was the "main persecution engine" in 40 of the 50 countries on the 2015 watch list, including 18 of the top 20 countries (only 6 of which are in the Middle East).

The No. 2 driver of persecution was "dictatorial paranoia," or "where leaders seek to control religious expression," noted Open Doors. "It is the main persecution engine in 10 countries, including North Korea, and shows up as a secondary persecution engine in 16 more countries."

And while "organized corruption"' is the main driver of persecution in only Colombia and Mexico, it is No. 3 (after "Islamic extremism" and "dictatorial paranoia") "when its status as a secondary engine is taken into account," noted Open Doors. "Christians increasingly have to pay a heavy economic price to remain faithful to Christ."

Overall, persecution increased more rapidly in Sub-Saharan Africa than anywhere else in the world, according to Open Doors. Djibouti moved from No. 46 in 2014 to No. 24 this year—the second-biggest leap after Kenya. Tanzania jumped 16 spots to No. 33, and the island nation of Comoros rose 10 spots to No. 32. Eritrea rose from No. 12 to No. 9, and Sudan—where Meriam Ibrahim was imprisoned and sentenced to death for her faith, but was later released and gained asylum in the United States—rose from No. 11 to No. 6.

The top five rankings remained virtually the same as last year, with North Korea at No. 1, followed by Somalia, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. The "biggest surprise" of the year: Malaysia, especially the fight over Allah Bibles.

Three of the top five countries are in the Middle East, where targeted attacks have emptied many regions of Christians, reports Open Doors. Many fled from theadvance of the Islamic State in 2014; in fact, more than 70 percent of Christians have left Iraq since 2003, and more than 700,000 Christians have fled from Syria since 2011, according to Open Doors. Only a remnant remain.

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. The country garnered media attention in 2014 with the Novemberrelease of American missionary Kenneth Bae after two years in prison, thedetainment of American Jeffrey Fowles for leaving behind a Bible, and the arrest andrelease of 75-year-old Australian missionary John Short. (South Korean Baptist missionary Kim Jong-Uk is still imprisoned after receiving a life sentence in June for allegedly working with underground churches.)

Overall in Asia, Open Doors had been "reporting improving conditions for Christians in the Far East in recent years," noted WWM, but "the trend reversed course in 2014, when every country on the list but Laos and Sri Lanka received a higher persecution score. China, India and Malaysia registered the largest increases. Twelve countries from East Asia and the Far East are among the top 50."

Persecution in India, which rose to its highest ranking ever (No. 21), has ramped up since Narendra Modi, a Hindu nationalist and the only politician ever banned from the US for religious freedom violations, was elected as prime minister in May. Modi’s silence on the more than 600 attacks on non-Hindus that occurred during his first 100 days in office, as well as conversion efforts like the planned Christmas reconversion of 5,000 Christians and Muslims to Hinduism, have been controversial enough to stymie India’s parliament.

“The goal of the World Watch List is to keep Christian persecution on the radar of those enjoying the privileges of freedom,” said Curry. “The perpetrators of persecution need to know that the world is watching and stands in opposition to persecution. And for the persecuted, we want them to know that they are not forgotten.”

And 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."

“There is in many government departments (though not all) a new sophistication in realizing that good religion has the best chance of driving out bad religion,” wrote Ron Boyd-McMillan, Open Doors' research director. “At the very least, there is a new openness and thirst for the information and wisdom of Christians working in these regions among those who are tasked with ensuring national security. That has not happened before to the extent it has in 2014.”

Boyd-McMillan noted: "As Li Tien En, a famous house church Christian in China used to say, 'Persecution is two parts opportunity, one part crisis—God always brings opportunities out of a crisis.' There is a new unity occurring among ancient communities of faith, and we may see again that an exodus is not always bad for the spread of the Gospel."

WWM offers a detailed report on the 2015 World Watch List, as well as a trend analysis, the complete scores of each country, further details on the top 20 countriesand the remaining 30, and an examination of religious violence.

CT reported last year's World Watch List (which revealed the methodology behind the rankings for the first time), which found that persecution in 2013 increased in 34 countries, decreased in 5, and remained stable in 14. CT examined the WWL rankings in 2009, 2012, and 2013, including a spotlight on where it's hardest to believe, and charted how Open Doors and Pew Research Center rankings compare.

CT also noted how the State Department and USCIRF disagree on which countries deserves censure for mistreating religious minorities. The State Department’s list of “countries of particular concern” includes: Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Uzbekistan. In April 2014, USCIRF recommended the addition of Egypt, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam.

South Korea: North Korea has 6,000-member cyber army

Article Source: Yahoo News

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea said Tuesday that rival North Korea has a 6,000-member cyber army dedicated to disrupting the South's military and government, a dramatic increase from an earlier estimate of 3,000 such specialists.

Without elaborating, Seoul's Defense Ministry also said in a report that North Korea may also have gained the ability to strike the U.S. mainland because of its progress in missile technology demonstrated in recent long-range missile tests. It also said North Korea is advancing in efforts to miniaturize nuclear warheads to mount on such missiles.

There is considerable mystery, and outside debate, about the state of North Korea's opaque nuclear and missile programs, which it has persisted in pursuing for decades despite widespread domestic poverty and heavy international sanctions and criticism.

North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests since 2006, the most recent in early 2013, and experts believe it has a handful of crude nuclear bombs. Many outside observers speculate that it has not mastered the technology to make the bombs small enough to put on long-range missiles, although some say it may be able to arm shorter-range missiles with warheads.

North Korea has conducted several long-range rocket tests, which are seen as covers for banned tests meant to develop missiles that could hit mainland American shores. North Korea says its launches are meant to put peaceful satellites into orbit, and that its nuclear program is crucial to protecting itself from U.S. hostility.

The South Korean Defense Ministry report said North Korea's 6,000 cyber warriors are dedicated to "paralyzing the South psychologically and materially" and have been conducting cyber attacks to disrupt the South's military operations and main government systems. It didn't describe how it made its assessments.

The United States accuses North Korea of a cyber attack on Sony Pictures over a movie depicting the fictional assassination of the North's leader, Kim Jong Un. Washington has slapped sanctions on government officials and North Korea's defense industry. There are doubts in the cyber community, however, and North Korea has denied any involvement in the breach of tens of thousands of confidential Sony emails and business files.

Former South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin said in 2013 that North Korea was operating a cyberwarfare staff of 3,000. South Korea accuses North Korea of conducting at least six high-profile cyberattacks since 2007 and many more unsuccessful attempts to infiltrate computer systems of businesses and government agencies.

The Korean Peninsula is still in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. There are 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in the South as a deterrent against a North Korean attack.

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2 666 Illuminati Symbolism & Brainwashing

Family Guy Mocks God: Gnostic Indoctranation

Satanic-Illuminati Symbolism in Hip Hop and R and B Music

Today, Hip Hop and Rhythm and Blues (R and B) music has extreme overtones of satanic Illuminati symbolism. Years ago there would be blatant satanic symbolism mainly in Rock and Heavy Metal music.  However, it now encompasses almost all genres of music.

Let us explore some of the Hip Hop and R and  B artists that are using this symbolism.  Are these artist attempting to push some type of sinister agenda? What is the real meaning behind this type symbolism?

Baphomet Symbolism

Rick Ross video Pirates, he sits on Baphomet Throne

Beyonce in a Baphomet Dress

"The Baphomet of Mendes" is a symbol of a satanic goat portrayed as a half-human, half-goat figure (source).  The Baphomet is also an initiation into magic and a sign of initiation (source).

The Baphomet has been portrayed synonymous with Satan or a demon in the hierarchy of Hell.

The Baphomet is also known as the god of fertility and wealth(source). Could it be that most of these music artists kneel down to the altar of Baphomet to obtain fame and wealth?

All Seeing Eye of Lucifer

Iggy Azalea Music Video Change Your Life

Young Jeezy Album Seen It All: The Autobiography

Kanye West, Jay Z, and Rihanna in concert flashing the All-Seeing Eye Hand Sign

Azealia Banks Young Rapunxel Video

The "All Seeing Eye" is plastered in music videos and album covers.  It’s also flashed during concerts that encourage unsuspecting fans to lift up their hands and make the All-Seeing Eye hand sign.  It's the " All Seeing Eye of Horus" or "All Seeing Eye of Lucifer." When a human being opens up his third eye it allows him to make contact with the Lucifer-consciousness.  It is a symbol of Illumination(source).

666 Signs in Hip Hop

Biggie Smalls sporting 666 Jacket

Three Six Mafia with Three Sixes on their Skulls

Inverted Cross and Demon Possession

Tyler the Creator with Inverted Cross on his forehead

 An inverted cross is the symbol in Satanism for blasphemy, mockery, and the rejection of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior(source)

Azealia Banks Demon Possessed in Young Rapunxel Video

The darkened eyes of a person is symbolic of demon possession(source). This type of symbolism used on the cover of Tyler the Creator's album, and in Azelia Banks' Young Rapunxel video.  It is used to desensitize young people to the reality of demon possession.  They portray that demon possession is hip and cool. 

Pentagram Used in Music Videos

A$AP Rocky sitting the middle of a Pentagram

Pentagrams are used in occult magic to invoke spirits(source). The pentagram in Freemasonry is know as the Blazing Star, the sign of carnal knowledge, power, and the sun(i.e. Horus or Lucifer).

Music is the Tool to Brainwash the Youth 

Webster Dictionary defines the word "brainwashing" as:

1.  a forcible indoctrination to induce someone to give up basic political, social, or religious beliefs and attitudes and to accept contrasting regimented ideas.

2.  persuasion by propaganda or salesmanship.

1 Corinthians 15:33Amplified Bible (AMP)

33 Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character.

1 Corinthians 15:33King James Version (KJV)

33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

    

Ghost are Demon Spirits in Disguise!

Since Halloween is fast, and approaching this month on October 31, people are fascinated by ghouls, witches, goblins, jack-o-lanterns, horror movies, and ghost. The fascination of  ghost in America, has actually gone to another level, people are being indoctrinated by paranormal television shows, such as Ghost Hunters, Celebrity Ghost Stories , Ghost Adventures, Being Human, Ghost Adventures: Aftershocks, these shows are viewed by millions of people each week.
With the popularity of paranormal ghost shows on television in the United States, it should be no surprise that 45% of Americans now believe in ghost. But are ghost really dead departed souls or something more sinister? Let's examine what occultist viewed ghost as, and how the Early Christian Church viewed the subject of ghost.

Famous Freemason Philosopher and Occultist Manly P. Hall on Ghost

In his book, "Secret Teachers of All Ages," Famous Freemason Philosopher and occultist Manly P. Hall  had this to say: 

 "The majority of modern mediumistic apparitions are but elemental creatures masquerading through bodies composed of thought substances supplied by the very persons desiring to behold these wraiths of decarnate beings (source)."

So Hall states a fact that these beings aren't departed human souls, but indeed a spirit entity masquerading as that person's departed spirit.

Early Christian Theologians on Ghost

Here is what Tertullian had said in his writings as follows:

"You who serve stones, and ye who make image of gold, and silver, and wood, and stones, and serve phantoms, and demons. Tertullian 1.4

What  Tertullian was stating that demons took on the guise of idols, nature spirits,, and phantoms(in which in the Greek is for Ghost). 

Treatise of the Soul 1.57 - Magic and sorcery only seem to raise the dead. Only God can really raise the dead. The medium of Endor could not have raised Samuel, it was a trick of her demon. Ghosts can't appear to people, only demons.

  

Divine Institutes 4.27 - Even the Greek gods flee when the name of Jesus is used. If a god is commanded to tell the truth it confesses that it is a demon. If one calls up Jupiter or one of the other from the dead, they would confess they were men and not gods and that there is only one true God. The spirits that pretend to be them lie.

As we can see from the writings of  occultist Manly P Hall, and the writings of Early Christian Theologians one thing that both agree upon that ghost are really demon spirits that masquerade as the departed spirits of dead human beings who once lived upon the Earth.These are demonic spirits 

of deception, their main goal is to deceive mankind, and lead people astray from YAH (G-d).

The Bible Refutes the Belief of Ghost Being Departed Human Beings Spirits that Roam the Earth after Death 

Luke 16:22-24

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

Halloween: Days of Noah and Mystery Babylon Religions

Halloween has become one of the most celebrated holidays in the USA and has grown into a multi billion dollar business, with candy, costumes, and home decor.  In fact, this holiday is second to Christmas when consumers purchase at retail stores (here).   Children go trick-or-treating and adults attend costumes parties.  Our society has turned Halloween into a major holiday that's observed like never before. However, behind the scenes Halloween is just not your average holiday! It's very origins are rooted in paganism and mystery occult religions that go back thousands of years.

Festival of Samhain and the Ancient Celtics

The Festival of Samhain was a pagan event that originated with ancient Druid Celtics and celebrated on October 31st.  This day was seen as the ancient Celtic New Year and was a night when the veil was thinnest between the seen and unseen worlds and the the living and dead.  This day was used to  honor dead ancestors or anyone else on the other side.  It was also considered a perfect time for divination(source).  Viewed as the most favorable time for marriage, death, health, and luck, it was the only day in which the devil was invoked to help in such purposes(here). 

The Days of Noah and Mystery Babylon Religions' Connection to Halloween

Paganism has existed for thousands of years.  The observances of certain designated dates and seasons go all the way back before Noah and the Flood. astrology, sorcery, divination, spell casting, and other occult practices.  These things were taking place in the  Days of Noah because some of the fallen angels taught mankind these forbidden practices(source).  However, pre-flood astrology differs from post flood astrology.

" The pre-flood astrology did not have the idea of a horoscope. The horoscope was invented after the Flood by the Chaldeans. In the pre-flood version, astrology was only used to predict the next schedule date for magic rites and the next time one could contact a god or goddess ancestors." 

Ancient Paganism by Ken Johnson P. 89-90

After the Flood, Noah had decreed that four holidays should be celebrated by his family. He also commanded his children to observe the anniversary of the Flood.  However, these holidays were later turned into ancestor worship. 

"Jubilees (Book of Jubilees) also states Noah commanded his children to observe the anniversary of the flood. This occurred on the seventeenth day of the second month, or two days after lunar reckoning of the autumn equinox. Paganism calls this day Samhain, but today it is known by the name of Halloween."

Ancient Paganism by Ken Johnson P.112     

Nimrod was the very first world dictator of the ancient one world government.  He was used by Satan to revive the pre-flood system of the celebration of certain pagan days as holidays.  There were eight specific holidays that were appointed to be the best seasons for magical rites and divination: (Ancient Paganism by Ken Johnson; P. 121). 

1. Halloween/Samhain- October 31.

2. Candelemas- February 2.

3.Beltane- April 30.

4. Lammas- July 31.

5. Yule- December 22-winter solstice.

6. Vernal Equinox- March 21-spring equinox.

7. St. John's Eve- June 22- summer solstice.

8. Michaelmas- September 21- autumn equinox

Fourteen Things Witches Hope Parents Never Find Out by David Benoit P. 21

In modern times, witches consider the Festival of Samhain (Halloween) to be the best time to commune with dead love ones.  They seek out the advice or teachings of their ancestors through methods of divination (source).  In the Wicca and Mystery Babylon Religions, the exact pagan practices of pre-flood days are still being carried out. 

Here are two interesting quotes from occultist/paganism about Halloween:

1. "Halloween is one of the four major Sabbats celebrated by the modern Witch, and it is by far the most popular and important of the eight that are observed. . . Witches regard Halloween as their New Year’s Eve, celebrating it with sacred rituals. . . "(Dunwich,Gerina. The Pagan Book of Halloween, p. 120)

2. After one's own birthday, the two major Satanic holidays are Walpurgisnacht (May 1st) and Halloween. (LaVey, Anton Szandor. The Satanic Bible, p. 96)

The true essence of Halloween is not about parties, candy and dressing up.  At its core, Halloween is a time where occult spiritual forces gather together to culminate magical rites just as in the Days of Noah. The Bible clearly warns us against the dark work of occult practices.  Halloween isn't fun and games, it is holiday when satanic powers are glorified.  

Deuteronomy 18:9-12

9 When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.

11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

The Christian Church is not suppose to have fellowship with darkness. True Christians should steer away from celebrating Halloween.

Ephesians 5:11

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.