Christianity 'Close to Extinction' in Middle East
Egyptian Christians at prayer rally before the constitutional referendum (AP Photo)
Sharona Schwartz, TheBlaze — A new study published on the eve of the Christmas holiday provides a chilling assessment of the future prospects for a once thriving Middle East Christian community and concludes Christians are suffering more persecution around the world than any other religious group, mainly due to “Islamic oppression.”
Civitas, a conservative-leaning British research organization, on Sunday published the report titled “Christianophobia.” Civitas described some of author Rupert Shortt’s disturbing findings:
Christianity is in serious danger of being wiped out in its biblical heartlands because of Islamic oppression, according to a new report from a leading independent think-tank.
But Western politicians and media largely ignore the widespread persecution of Christians in the Middle East and the wider world because they are afraid they will be accused of racism.
They fail to appreciate that in the defence of the wider concept of human rights, religious freedom is the “canary in the mine”, according to the report.
The refusal of young Christians in the West to become “radicalised” and mount violent protests against the attacks on their faith also helps to explain the “blind spot” about “Christianophobia” in influential liberal Western circles.
The study explains that Christians are more likely to face persecution than any other faith group and that they are especially threatened in Muslim societies. Shortt explains that this oppression is only magnified by already rampant anti-Americanism and “the false belief that Christianity is a ‘Western’ creed.” This, even though the religion was born in the Middle East. » Read More
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About the Author
Sharona Schwartz is a Middle East correspondent for TheBlaze. Prior to joining the site, she was coverage manager at CNN’s Washington bureau. She also served at the network as scriptwriter for Wolf Blitzer, State Department producer and Middle East producer. She and CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta received the Clarion award for their report, "Sabrina's Law."