Dec 25 - Christianity 'close to extinction' in Middle East

Christianity 'close to extinction' in Middle East
Christianity faces being wiped out of the “biblical heartlands” in the Middle East because of mounting persecution of worshippers, according to a new report.

> Dec 25 - Christianity 'close to extinction' in Middle East - Photo posted in BX Daily Bugle - news and headlines | Sign in and leave a comment below!

> Dec 25 - Christianity 'close to extinction' in Middle East - Photo posted in BX Daily Bugle - news and headlines | Sign in and leave a comment below!

The study warns that Christians suffer greater hostility across the world than any other religious group.
And it claims politicians have been “blind” to the extent of violence faced by Christians in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
The most common threat to Christians abroad is militant Islam, it says, claiming that oppression in Muslim countries is often ignored because of a fear that criticism will be seen as “racism”.
It warns that converts from Islam face being k!lled in Saudi Arabia, Mauritania and Iran and risk severe legal penalties in other countries across the Middle East.
The report, by the think tank Civitas, says: “It is generally accepted that many faith-based groups face discrimination or persecution to some degree.

"A far less widely grasped fact is that Christians are targeted more than any other body of believers.”
It cites estimates that 200 million Christians, or 10 per cent of Christians worldwide, are “socially disadvantaged, harassed or actively oppressed for their beliefs.”
“Exposing and combating the problem ought in my view to be political priorities across large areas of the world. That this is not the case tells us much about a questionable hierarchy of victimhood,” says the author, Rupert Shortt, a journalist and visiting fellow of Blackfriars Hall, Oxford.
He adds: “The blind spot displayed by governments and other influential players is causing them to squander a broader opportunity. Religious freedom is the canary in the mine for human rights generally.”
The report, entitled Christianophobia, highlights a fear among oppressive regimes that Christianity is a “Western creed” which can be used to undermine them.
State hostility towards Christianity is particularly rife in China, where more Christians are imprisoned than in any other country in the world, according to the report.
It quotes Ma Hucheng, an advisor to the Chinese government, who claimed in an article last year that the US has backed the growth of the Protestant Church in China as a vehicle for political dissidence.
“Western powers, with America at their head, deliberately export Christianity to China and carry out all kinds of illegal evangelistic activities,” he wrote in the China Social Sciences Press.
“Their basic aim is to use Christianity to change the character of the regime...in China and overturn it,” he added.
The “lion’s share” of persecution faced by Christians arises in countries where Islam is the dominant faith, the report says, quoting estimates that between a half and two-thirds of Christians in the Middle East have left the region or been k!lled in the past century.
“There is now a serious risk that Christianity will disappear from its biblical heartlands,” it claims.
The report shows that “Muslim-majority” states make up 12 of the 20 countries judged to be “unfree” on the grounds of religious tolerance by Freedom House, the human rights think tank.
It catalogues hundreds of attacks on Christians by religious fanatics over recent years, focusing on seven countries: Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, Nigeria, India, Burma and China.
It claims George Bush’s use of the word “crusade” after the September 11 attacks on New York created the impression for Muslims in the Middle East of a “Christian[..]ault on the Muslim world”.
“But however the motivation for violence is measured, the early twenty-first century has seen a steady rise in the strife endured by Christians,” the report says.
The 2003 invasion of Iraq left Iraqi Christians “more vulnerable than ever”, highlighted by the 2006 behe@ding of a kidnapped Orthodox priest, Fr Boulos Iskander, and the kidnapping of 17 further priests and two bishops between 2006 and 2010.
“In most cases, those responsible declared that they wanted all Christians to be expelled from the country,” the report says.
In Pakistan, the murk last year of Shahbaz Bhatti, the country’s Catholic minister for minorities, “vividly reflected” religious intolerance in Pakistan.
Shortly after his [rip] it emerged that Mr Bhatti had recorded a video in which he declared: “I am living for my community and for suffering people and I will die to defend their rights.
"I prefer to die for my principles and for the justice of my community rather than to compromise. I want to share that I believe in Jesus Christ, who has given his own life for us.”
The report also warns that Christians in India have faced years of violence from Hindu extremists. In 2010 scores of attacks on Christians and church property were carried out in Karnataka, a state in south west India.
And while many people are aware of the oppression faced in Burma by Aung San Suu Kyi and other pro-democracy activists, targeted abuse of Christians in the country has been given little exposure, the report says.
In some areas of Burma the government has clamped down on Christian protesters by restricting the building of new churches.
“Openly professing Christians employed in government service find it virtually impossible to get promotion,” it adds.

Christianity 'close to extinction' in Middle East - Telegraph

12-26-2012, 12:04 AM

What?! lol what kind of bullshiit is this?

that would never happen, religion doesnt fade out in a region.

12-26-2012, 12:34 AM

Iraq and even Afghanistan had some of the highest percent populations of Christians in the world until the American invasions and strife was multiplied.... We in the US have been feeding Islamic terrorism since its inception

It really is sad

12-26-2012, 12:51 AM

[pic]		[pic]
	The study warns that Christians suffer greater hostility across the world than any other religious group.
[pic]		[pic]

[pic]

How many predominantly Christian countries have been invaded or occupied in the last decade, compared to Islamic ones? Its these all these wars that are driving fundamentalism and pushing other groups out.

02:08 AM

No offense, but this sounds like a scapegoat excuse for the declining numbers of Christians WORLDWIDE. There were Christians in the Mideast for hundreds of years, if people wanted them gone they'd BEEN GONE. Their numbers are decreasing like the ENTIRE religion. It aint like people are snatching them up and k!lling them. They are losing theological ground because of their beliefs.

In Islam, all you believe is that God is one, totally above his creation, with no equal partner, no sons, no daugthers, nothing. In Christianity, you have pure organized confusion where we have God who is one for half the book and hates being co-worshipped. Then later on, you have this Zeus-Hercules thing going on where the story switches he has a son out of nowhere. Then you must worship him AND his son at once, all the while pretending you are purely monotheistic even though such beliefs take you FAR away from the beliefs of Adam, Moses, Noah etc. This is why they are declining, the theology is so !!ed up and all over the place that they cannot even agree on basic beliefs of God's nature. People are returning to the basic premise of God as one like Adam, Moses, David etc believed instead of some weird[..] trinity thing that popped up a few thousand years ago which NO ONE believed prior.

12-26-2012, 02:58 AM

kinda hard when they k!ll anyone who doesn't embrace Islam.

12-26-2012, 08:24 AM

Europe and Amerikkka is responsible for this. That's why I have a faith and not a religion

07:40 PM

Originally Posted by Chief Dee

No offense, but this sounds like a scapegoat excuse for the declining numbers of Christians WORLDWIDE. There were Christians in the Mideast for hundreds of years, if people wanted them gone they'd BEEN GONE. Their numbers are decreasing like the ENTIRE religion. It aint like people are snatching them up and k!lling them. They are losing theological ground because of their beliefs.

In Islam, all you believe is that God is one, totally above his creation, with no equal partner, no sons, no daugthers, nothing. In Christianity, you have pure organized confusion where we have God who is one for half the book and hates being co-worshipped. Then later on, you have this Zeus-Hercules thing going on where the story switches he has a son out of nowhere. Then you must worship him AND his son at once, all the while pretending you are purely monotheistic even though such beliefs take you FAR away from the beliefs of Adam, Moses, Noah etc. This is why they are declining, the theology is so !!ed up and all over the place that they cannot even agree on basic beliefs of God's nature. People are returning to the basic premise of God as one like Adam, Moses, David etc believed instead of some weird[..] trinity thing that popped up a few thousand years ago which NO ONE believed prior.

Dude you have no idea what you're talking about [pic]

Dude the Trinity has been there since the beginning and is there through out the whole Bible... God of the Bible is three persons Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Genesis 1:26- Let US make man in our likeness and image. Who do you think the us there is. The Trinity! And Christianity is not dying out but Christians are being persecuted because of the God we serve its all stated in the Bible that this would happen... John 15:8- If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you; 2 Timothy 3:12- Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted; 1 John 3:13- Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you... But There is a blessing for those who die for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

12-26-2012, 07:45 PM

!! all that fairy tale !!.

08:08 PM

you cant delete post no mo?

12-26-2012, 08:50 PM

Idk Care What Anyone Says Or belives, I Beleive In My Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. & I WILL DIE FOR HIM BECAUSE HE DIED FOR ME

12-26-2012, 09:09 PM

Extinction..... idk. But concentrating to separate themselves from Muslims, that's for sure.

Christians are the first ones to go in any type of war/conflict/revolution in the middle east.

Iraq, Syria, Egypt.

12-26-2012, 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by Yung Louie

Idk Care What Anyone Says Or belives, I Beleive In My Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. & I WILL DIE FOR HIM BECAUSE HE DIED FOR ME

[pic][pic]

12-26-2012, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by Yung Louie

Idk Care What Anyone Says Or belives, I Beleive In My Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. & I WILL DIE FOR HIM BECAUSE HE DIED FOR ME

so if i put a gun to your head, ud die over some jesus? doubt it [pic]

i kno plenty muslims whod die for allah [pic]

12-26-2012, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by just2intense

Dude you have no idea what you're talking about [pic]

Dude the Trinity has been there since the beginning and is there through out the whole Bible... God of the Bible is three persons Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Genesis 1:26- Let US make man in our likeness and image. Who do you think the us there is. The Trinity! And Christianity is not dying out but Christians are being persecuted because of the God we serve its all stated in the Bible that this would happen... John 15:8- If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you; 2 Timothy 3:12- Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted; 1 John 3:13- Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you... But There is a blessing for those who die for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

ACTUALLY THE TRINITY is not bible based at all. You are taking a couple scriptures literal and disregarding the many others that disprove the trinity. I dont even have to use scriptures to disprove the trinity (which i can if need be) only common sense. First off why would god feel the need or ever come to earth in human form when he created man and the universe and has nothing he needs to prove to humans. Humans are lower than angels and certainly god so by saying god ever lived as a human is disrespectful to him. Why when Jesus was in the wilderness did Satan try to tempt him to worship him? Satan was an angel in heaven before rebelling he clearly has been in gods presence before so why would an angel or demon such as Satan try to get god to worship him when he knows that will never happen? Satan told Jesus if he did an act of worship to him he would give him all the material possessions and powers on earth. What could Satan give god he couldnt get on his own. Why when Jesus was baptized a voice came from heaven saying this is my son the beloved whom i approved of? You are telling mean human jesus on earth gets baptized and then at the same time is in heaven and he looks up at himself and speaks to himself at the same time. Why would Jesus pray to himself in the wildnerness all night before being tortured. Why would god send himself to earth, pray to himself, die and resurrect himself. The word TRINITY actually appears NOWHERE IN THE BIBLE. The scripture you are referring to in our image does not support the trinity. Thats like saying that is our car but that doesnt mean that we are the same person. God actually gives his name in the bible it appears over 7000 times more than any other name. Your bible only probably has it 4 times since most modern day bibles have been edited to fit false religious beliefs. A good way to see is go to Psalm 83:18 and it will be smack dab in your face. If that scripture says LORD than your bible has been censored. I would just tell you myself but I would rather you do the research and see it for yourself. Than once you do find out youll have to find the real meaning of all the scriptures you THOUGHT said god is a trinity and see the true meaning of his identity. Jesus is gods son just like JESUS said he was and why he referred to GOD as father. And if you want to use the scripture when he said i am the father he was stating that him being perfect and his personality is like gods which is true jesus was perfect and fulfilled gods will so for us humans to get an insight on gods personality all we have to do is look at Jesus life. Thats why he said he did the will of the one who sent him(GOD) but what your trying to say he sent himself to do what himself back in heaven sent himself to do. USE YOUR HEAD nicca

12-26-2012, 10:48 PM

Well I'll tell you this...

My parents are Christians from Iraq (Chaldean/Assyrian to be exact...we're not not Arab). The past 10 years, a ton left and moved out here. A lot of family was k!lled out there since the US invaded. All of that [rip] b0mbing !! never happened before the US went out there.

But they are NOT almost extinct in Iraq at least. There's a huge section of Iraq up north full of Christians and they're not moving. Terrorism doesn't really happen up there.

12-26-2012, 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by Chief Dee

No offense, but this sounds like a scapegoat excuse for the declining numbers of Christians WORLDWIDE. There were Christians in the Mideast for hundreds of years, if people wanted them gone they'd BEEN GONE. Their numbers are decreasing like the ENTIRE religion. It aint like people are snatching them up and k!lling them. They are losing theological ground because of their beliefs.

In Islam, all you believe is that God is one, totally above his creation, with no equal partner, no sons, no daugthers, nothing. In Christianity, you have pure organized confusion where we have God who is one for half the book and hates being co-worshipped. Then later on, you have this Zeus-Hercules thing going on where the story switches he has a son out of nowhere. Then you must worship him AND his son at once, all the while pretending you are purely monotheistic even though such beliefs take you FAR away from the beliefs of Adam, Moses, Noah etc. This is why they are declining, the theology is so !!ed up and all over the place that they cannot even agree on basic beliefs of God's nature. People are returning to the basic premise of God as one like Adam, Moses, David etc believed instead of some weird[..] trinity thing that popped up a few thousand years ago which NO ONE believed prior.

Islam only believes in one god? Have you ever heard of their Prophet Mohammed? You can't even say or write his name without following it with a "Peace Be Upon Him." Don't get it twisted, that IS a form a worship. So you tell me they only believe in one God...

12-26-2012, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by 123456

Well I'll tell you this...

My parents are Christians from Iraq (Chaldean/Assyrian to be exact...we're not not Arab). The past 10 years, a ton left and moved out here. A lot of family was k!lled out there since the US invaded. All of that [rip] b0mbing !! never happened before the US went out there.

But they are NOT almost extinct in Iraq at least. There's a huge section of Iraq up north full of Christians and they're not moving. Terrorism doesn't really happen up there.

ur parents are are Arab

12-26-2012, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by O-King

so if i put a gun to your head, ud die over some jesus? doubt it [pic]

i kno plenty muslims whod die for allah [pic]

U must not know

12-26-2012, 11:28 PM

Originally Posted by Chief Dee

No offense, but this sounds like a scapegoat excuse for the declining numbers of Christians WORLDWIDE. There were Christians in the Mideast for hundreds of years, if people wanted them gone they'd BEEN GONE. Their numbers are decreasing like the ENTIRE religion. It aint like people are snatching them up and k!lling them. They are losing theological ground because of their beliefs.

In Islam, all you believe is that God is one, totally above his creation, with no equal partner, no sons, no daugthers, nothing. In Christianity, you have pure organized confusion where we have God who is one for half the book and hates being co-worshipped. Then later on, you have this Zeus-Hercules thing going on where the story switches he has a son out of nowhere. Then you must worship him AND his son at once, all the while pretending you are purely monotheistic even though such beliefs take you FAR away from the beliefs of Adam, Moses, Noah etc. This is why they are declining, the theology is so !!ed up and all over the place that they cannot even agree on basic beliefs of God's nature. People are returning to the basic premise of God as one like Adam, Moses, David etc believed instead of some weird[..] trinity thing that popped up a few thousand years ago which NO ONE believed prior.

Wow u really all over the place with this misinformed post it's sad u spew words that have no relivitivity to what the Christian bible offers.... It's not that hard to grasp.... But u just went full retard on trying to prove a point that's wrong from the get go

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Join us on Facebook. Check out the BX fan page and hit the Like button.	Follow BX on Twitter to get instant hot topic alerts.	Enter your email address below and receive a daily hot topic newsletter.
5,315 fans of BX \| none new today	4,294 following and 1 new today