Christianity is no doubt waning in the Holy Land (Nazereth, Bethlehem, Lebanon, Egypt, Jerusalem, etc.)

In his book "The Body and the Blood" Charles Sennott estimates that
Christians represented 20% of the Holy Land's population 100 years ago, but account for less than 2% (and falling) today.

I suspect there are more Lebanese Christians in Detroit than Lebanon.
Rich Leonardi | 10.31.03 - 12:31 pm | #

I am confused (no surprise there). In Egypt it is illegal to convert from Islam, but there are no laws against converting, so they are prosecuted on different charges? What did I miss?

And what line of reasoning would lead people to believe that raping women will convince them to return to Islam?

And how does this jibe with the idea of Islam being a peaceful and loving religion?

Hmmmm..
Roberto | 10.31.03 - 12:34 pm | #

The Copts are under great pressure. I'm sure if their Muslims neighors started to slaughter them in large numbers the outside world would scarcely notice.
Any sightings of Christians lately in St. Augustine's old see?
Sandra Miesel | 10.31.03 - 12:35 pm | #

Sandra Miesel is right about the Copts. They face horrendous persecution, but nobody in the West ever hears about it because they are an indigenous Egyptian Church.

As I understand it. A Copt's testimony in an Egyptian courtroom does not count as much as a Muslim's, because the Copt "cannot distinguish the truth".

Lee
Lee | 10.31.03 - 12:46 pm | #

A few years ago a local Coptic Orthodox Church in my area had an open house. The Church building was filled with the beauty of Coptic iconography. May our Lord's love and protection surround our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Christine | 10.31.03 - 1:01 pm | #

Like I said in the comments under another topic, if I had to choose to live as a minority Christian in Israel or any Islamic country, I'll take Israel any day of the week.

I guess Islam is a "religion" of "peace" and "justice" as long as Islam rules, the Christians keep quiet and let the Muslims perseculte them once in a while. Just like they did to the Jews in Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Yemen.
Bret | 10.31.03 - 1:28 pm | #

This week, an angry Muslim physician called me from Florida to denounce my column on Islamic radicals in the US disguising themselves as moderates. This doctor said that if Jews and Christians didn't "provoke" Muslims as they do, they wouldn't face violence.
Rod Dreher | 10.31.03 - 2:01 pm | #

Rod,

It's so much easier to point a finger and play the victim than address reality. As Bernard Lewis says, the suicide bomber has become a metaphor for Islamic and Middle Eastern culture.
Rich Leonardi | 10.31.03 - 2:17 pm | #

Rod wrote: "This doctor said that if Jews and Christians didn't "provoke" Muslims as they do, they wouldn't face violence."

Good point. It seems we Christians and Jews "provoke" Muslims because we refuse to convert to Islam and bow toward Mecca 5 times a day. They'd have no problem if we Christians all accepted Islam and let them wipe out Israel. Reminds me a lot of the ending of Orwell's "Animal Farm"...it went from "four legs good, two legs bad" to "four legs good, two legs better." I'd like to hear how Christians in the Sudan (who are horribly persecuted by Muslims) "provoke" their Muslim neighbors.
Bret | 10.31.03 - 2:22 pm | #

Ah yes, the 'moderate' Muslim 'friends' of ours...
John | Homepage | 10.31.03 - 5:04 pm | #