Decline of Christianity in Middle East

[Phil25]

How Christianity Is Disappearing In The Middle East In One Chart
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/world/middleeast/13christians.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
What this could mean for Middle East? And Christianity?
Discuss and Debate

 

[columbus]

How Christianity Is Disappearing In The Middle East In One Chart
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/world/middleeast/13christians.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
What this could mean for Middle East? And Christianity?
Discuss and Debate

Christianity as a concept is not up to the challenges of the modern world.


Christians are the most powerful group of humans there has ever been. Unfortunately they are more interested in fuel supplies and next quarters profits than peace and justice.

Tom

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

It means that Christianity is being destroyed in the place of its birth. It's a great shame and a tragedy. The Western Christian leaders have essentially abandoned them and they won't do anything because how dare we focus on any group except the Muslims and the Jews when it comes to the Middle East.

 

[columbus]

It means that Christianity is being destroyed in the place of its birth. It's a great shame and a tragedy. The Western Christian leaders have essentially abandoned them and they won't do anything because how dare we focus on any group except the Muslims and the Jews when it comes to the Middle East.

Who is up for a Crusade?

Tom

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Who is up for a Crusade?

Oh, we can't have that. It's not PC for Christians to protect themselves.

 

[Sees]

The ones leaving by choice are using good sense.

 

[ChristineES]

Here in my part of the world, we have a whole lot of Iraqi Catholics living here. Some of them say why they left their home country and it isn't very pretty.

 

[Shiranui117]

Another link for this: The Orthodox Church’s Holy Synod of Antioch Condemns World’s Silence About Terrorism Against Syria | Global Research

Christianity in vast parts of the Middle East is screaming and dying in areas where we have been there since the very beginning of our faith, but the world has turned a deaf ear to our cries.

 

[columbus]

Another link for this: The Orthodox Church’s Holy Synod of Antioch Condemns World’s Silence About Terrorism Against Syria | Global Research

Christianity in vast parts of the Middle East is screaming and dying in areas where we have been there since the very beginning of our faith, but the world has turned a deaf ear to our cries.

Lots of people in the ME are screaming and dying.

The best thing the USA could do is cut off the flow of petrodollars. That is what finances all the violence. But it won't happen because it would not serve the purposes of the USonian elite.

Like I have said, Christians are the single most powerful group on the planet. They are not in control of everything, but could make a huge dent in the worst of the problems if they cared.

Tom

 

[Drolefille]

Oh, we can't have that. It's not PC for Christians to protect themselves.

That isn't really how the crusades went. I mean by the 4th they kind of stopped pretending and just straight out sacked Constantinople, ending any real hope of an East/West reunion tour.

Even at the beginning it's hard to argue they were about defense.

 

[Bunyip]

I think that if you looked at most Western countries, the decline would be even faster - although many people still identify as Christians the proportion who are really only cultural Christians would be very high.

In Australia for example while about 61% of the population identify as Christian, only about 5% attend services regularly.

 

[Sega]

I think that if you looked at most Western countries, the decline would be even faster - although many people still identify as Christians the proportion who are really only cultural Christians would be very high.

In Australia for example while about 61% of the population identify as Christian, only about 5% attend services regularly.

It just goes to show that Christianity is just a dying trend anyways that is succumbing to either modernity (secularism) or other religions.

 

[melk]

It just goes to show that Christianity is just a dying trend anyways that is succumbing to either modernity (secularism) or other religions.

Think the decline of Chstitianity in Middle East is due to the refreshment of Islam faith on fighting as a method of spreading itself along the world. By spreading itself, I also say clearing the world from what it thinks is unjust and opressing.

 

[Susanpalli,JW]

Two of Jesus' sayings come to my mind when seeing these events which point to the signs of the last days:

"Men become faint our of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth" (Luke 21::25,26)

"...if they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you..." (John 15:20)

But We shouldn't fear what's coming because Jesus said, "But as these things start to occur,stand up straight and lift your heads, because your deliverance is getting near."

(Luke 21:28)

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

The comment by Naoum re secularism is interesting.

 

[Phil25]

It just goes to show that Christianity is just a dying trend anyways that is succumbing to either modernity (secularism) or other religions.

Decline in Middle East is not due to Christians suddenly becoming Atheists/Irreligious or converting to other religions, but due to Islamic Extremism and violence by Muslims against Christians.

 

[Phil25]

I think that if you looked at most Western countries, the decline would be even faster - although many people still identify as Christians the proportion who are really only cultural Christians would be very high.

In Australia for example while about 61% of the population identify as Christian, only about 5% attend services regularly.

Off topic. This thread is about Christians forced to leave M.E due to Islamic Extremism rather than % of Australian Christians attending Church or Decline of Christianity in West.

 

[Quiddity]

That isn't really how the crusades went. I mean by the 4th they kind of stopped pretending and just straight out sacked Constantinople, ending any real hope of an East/West reunion tour.

Even at the beginning it's hard to argue they were about defense.

No, it's not. The Crusades was a response to Muslim aggression, gone terribly wrong. This is what the Pope Innocent III said about the soldiers that did this:

"These "soldiers of Christ" who should have turned their swords against the infidel have steeped them in Christian blood, sparing neither religion, nor age, nor sex . . . They stripped the altars of silver, violated the sanctuaries, robbed icons and crosses and relics . . . The Latins have given example only of perversity and works of darkness. No wonder the Greeks call them dogs!"

{cited in Carroll, ibid., p. 158; from Mann, Popes of the Middle Ages, vol. 12, pp. 266-267}

But it most certainly started as a defensive response.

 

[Smart_Guy]

I believe the problem is the people of the middle east. They are vulgar because of the great space of desert surrounding them that naturally give toughness to demeanor and because their countries are corrupt. I know of both these issue, trust me. I am Saudi and Saudi Arabia is the most strict and a huge desert natured Muslim country. Luckily I'm non Wahhabi from Hijaz that is knows with leniency in nature. I bet not many know what Hijaz is

Think the decline of Chstitianity in Middle East is due to the refreshment of Islam faith on fighting as a method of spreading itself along the world. By spreading itself, I also say clearing the world from what it thinks is unjust and opressing.

Islam as a religion does not condone fighting to change faith of people.

If you rephrase your statement with "some Muslims in the Middle East" instead of "the refreshment of Islam faith" then I would agree with you. Even here in Saudi Arabia, the strictest Muslim country, we welcome Christian expats/residents with open arms. I have Christian friends at work.

If possible, further to the above, ask new Muslim converts around you personally why they converted to Islam. You will be amazed.

Decline in Middle East is not due to Christians suddenly becoming Atheists/Irreligious or converting to other religions, but due to Islamic Extremism and violence by Muslims against Christians.

You're over generalizing here. Where I work we have many Christians and they keep coming without us giving them any problems. If your idea was true, then we would just bring Muslims.

However, you would be right, or more accurate if I turn to be wrong as I am a human being, if you say Extremest Muslims instead of Islamic extremism and violence by Muslims. I know that many Iraqi Christians unwillingly left their homes because of that. A sad and horrible thing.

----------------------------------

Just my opinion. I hope I gave it with appropriate respect and that you guys don't mind me being honest with you

 

[Estro Felino]

It means that Christianity is being destroyed in the place of its birth. It's a great shame and a tragedy. The Western Christian leaders have essentially abandoned them and they won't do anything because how dare we focus on any group except the Muslims and the Jews when it comes to the Middle East.

Well, but the Muslims indirectly spread Christ's teachings.
Better than nothing