Christianity Under Attack:

Christianity Close To Extinction

In The Middle East

12-25-12

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Christianity faces the prospect of being wiped out of the "biblical heartlands" of the Middle East due to mounting persecution of believers according to a report.

A report by a think-tank, Civitas, warns that Christian believers are suffering greater hostility across the world than any other religious group. It also claims politicians have been "blind" to the growing extent of violence faced by Christians in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

The greatest threat to Christianity is Islam and the oppression faced in Muslim nations and a fear that any criticism of Muslims will be interpreted as "racism."

The greatest threats to Christian believers is in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Mauritania but the threat is growing in newly emerging radical Islamic nations such as Egypt.

10% of Church Face Severe Persecution

The study indicates that 200 millions Christians, or 10% of believers worldwide are under persecution for their beliefs.

Perhaps what is more interesting in the report is that much of the global persecution is fueled by a belief that Christianity is a "Western tool" to undermine local cultures and create political dissidence to be used to the advantage of the United States and the West. This is a particularly prevalent view of Red Chinese leadership.

The Civitas report notes that Christianity in the Middle East nations where Islam is dominant has been reduced by as much as two-thirds of believers have either left the region or been killed. The report says, "there is now a serious risk that Christianity will disappear from the Biblical heartlands" of the Middle East.

The report cites hundreds of cataloged reports of attacks on Christians by religious fanatics with the core of those reports coming from 7 particular nations: Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, Nigeria, India, Burma and China. The study also claims that President Bush's use of the term "crusade" after the September 11 terror attacks was interpreted by Muslims in the Middle East as a Christian assault on the Muslim world. The study also notes that the US invasion of Iraq in 2003,  has left Iraqi Christians more vulnerable than ever. The report cites the 2006 beheading of a Christian priest and the kidnapping of 17 other priests and 2 bishops between 2006 and 2010 as evidence for the harm caused by American military actions.

You can read an extensive overview of the Civitas report as provided by the British newspaper, "The Telegraph" - see LINK HERE.

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