Christians in the Middle East

[Pathfinder]

If any of you live in the Middle East, could you share with us what your daily life is like being a minority in a Muslim-ruled land? I am sort of curious as to what you have to put up with. Are your churches still being bombed? How well do you get along with the Jews and Muslims? Are you equal to them in your country?

[français]

Good question!

I would love to see some answers Emad, and others!

[RipleyCountyChristian]

I would also like to see some answers here.......I am half Iranian so the continuation of Middle Eastern Christianity is important to me

[Lbet123]

Well the Chrisitans in Iraq are not doing well at all. I did a "Prayer" thread Dec 20th (see below)

One Million Chrisitans murdered, persecuted or fled


:bow: I know there are many different views on the war in Iraq and I'm not going to address them here but I do ask that every person who reads this thread prays for the one million + Chrisitians in Iraq who have either been murdered or persecuted or driven from their homes for ONE REASON ONLY THEY ARE CHRISTIAN. The fact that we hear virtually nothing about this in the media is a travesty and a black mark on President Bush. We must pray unceasingly for our bretheren that God's will (and not mans) will prevail in this situation and every situation like this thru-out the world. The link below goes to the 60 minutes report recently aired about this
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/...n3553612.shtml (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/29/60minutes/main3553612.shtml)

[Lukaris]

Here is a coptic website http://www.copts.com/

[LostSoul123]

This is interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ewc4dDy8X4g

[copticorthodoxy]

Great

[palestinianboy]

I don't know what I've gotta say...
We are the dyeing species just like a sandwich between jewish cousins and our muslim brothers. that is the clue.

[davidlazarus]

I don't know what I've gotta say...
We are the dyeing species just like a sandwich between jewish cousins and our muslim brothers. that is the clue.

Blessings "palestinianboy",

I was thinking about what you said and thought to myself, every good sandwich needs salt.

Maybe that's what you and all Christians are.


"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:11-16

Peace and love to you

David Lazarus

[indonesianorthodoxy]

Just sharing...
I'm not living in the middle east but I know much about how hard their life especially in Palestine, the land of Jesus Himself!
Excluding Hamas , there is no problem between Palestinian Muslims and Palestinian Christians.. they have good exclusive relation but....
unfortunately Israel "Zionist" the God's chosen people treats them ( Palestinian Christian& Muslim) like a [wash my mouth][wash my mouth][wash my mouth][wash my mouth].. that's what I saw.
For some Arab countries such as Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, UAE, Kuwait.. = low Christian persecutions
Gaza & Iraq => High Christian persecutions

[français]

I agree indonesianorthodoxy. It seems, quite ironically, that the only places major persecution is happening is where the Israeli's or Americans mess with that nation. I wonder how the middle east would be if Israel were never established.. Probably a lot more liberal. Before Israel, the middle east was 25% Christian. The population has disappeared though due to persecution, which directly or indirectly, as least involved something to do with Israel.

[EmperorConstantine]

The only areas where Christian persecution is really a huge problem are Iraq and Palestine.
Both have large populations of Islamic extremists that are targeting anything non-Muslim out of hatred for something else. In Palestine, it is the Zionistic State of Israel. In Iraq it is the occupation.

In most Middle Eastern countries, as far as I know, the only persecutions that occur are at the local level.

Palestine used to be very Christian. Bethlehem was 90% Christian before 1948. Now it is down to 1/3. Jerusalem is a whole different mess with the Apartheid Wall and other problems.

[copticorthodoxy]

The only areas where Christian persecution is really a huge problem are Iraq and Palestine.
Both have large populations of Islamic extremists that are targeting anything non-Muslim out of hatred for something else. In Palestine, it is the Zionistic State of Israel. In Iraq it is the occupation.

In most Middle Eastern countries, as far as I know, the only persecutions that occur are at the local level.

Palestine used to be very Christian. Bethlehem was 90% Christian before 1948. Now it is down to 1/3. Jerusalem is a whole different mess with the Apartheid Wall and other problems.

The Copts in Egypt are suffering from persecutions also

[EmperorConstantine]

The Copts in Egypt are suffering from persecutions also
As you have been for about 1400 years. And survived through it all quite well.

Has the overall condition improved over recent years?

[RipleyCountyChristian]

The only areas where Christian persecution is really a huge problem are Iraq and Palestine.
Both have large populations of Islamic extremists that are targeting anything non-Muslim out of hatred for something else. In Palestine, it is the Zionistic State of Israel. In Iraq it is the occupation.

In most Middle Eastern countries, as far as I know, the only persecutions that occur are at the local level.

Palestine used to be very Christian. Bethlehem was 90% Christian before 1948. Now it is down to 1/3. Jerusalem is a whole different mess with the Apartheid Wall and other problems.

I was about to bring up the part about the Christian poplation in Bethlehem...but u probably said it better than I could

[copticorthodoxy]

As you have been for about 1400 years. And survived through it all quite well.

Has the overall condition improved over recent years?

1400 years of persecution stages , the situation is better now but a lot ot troubles happen ( killing , attack churches ... )
http://www.copts.com/english/

The copts are the largest christian community in the middle east

[EmperorConstantine]

1400 years of persecution stages , the situation is better now but a lot ot troubles happen ( killing , attack churches ... )
http://www.copts.com/english/

The copts are the largest christian community in the middle east
Thank you for the website! I've been trying to find one that would have Coptic related news on it for a while.


I knew the Copts were at least in the top five, but the largest? Wow. Definitely believable.:)

[copticorthodoxy]

Thank you for the website! I've been trying to find one that would have Coptic related news on it for a while.


I knew the Copts were at least in the top five, but the largest? Wow. Definitely believable.:)

yes sure , the largest

The Copts are about 15 millions

more than a lot of countries population

[Knowledge3]

. . :crosseo:

[Globalnomad]

Christians are definitely under pressure in Egypt, and although the situation has remained pretty stable in recent decades, there is enormous nervousness about what will happen if Mubarak falls and the Islamist majority comes to power. A lot of the better-educated Copts are emigrating as fast as they can get visas.

The de-Christianization of the ancient lands of Christianity is a huge historical tragedy. And I agree with Francais that the establishment of Israel, and US interference, has been a major polarizing factor, directly and indirectly (through the general rise in Islamic consciousness and extremism). The sins of Western Christians (anti-Semitism and the Holocaust) falling upon the heads of our Eastern brothers...