"Persecution Of Christians 'Coming Close To Genocide" Topic

…' In The Middle East

"Millions uprooted from homes, says UK-commissioned report, with many jailed and killed

Pervasive persecution of Christians, sometimes amounting to genocide, is ongoing in parts of the Middle East, and has prompted an exodus in the past two decades, according to a report commissioned by the British foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt…."
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Amicalement
Armand

Thanks for bringing it up, Armand. It's a tragedy that goes unreported and, accordingly, very unrecognized. Tom

Very true, and their under attack in Asia as well.

Sadly, as Tom points out, it rarely gets the attention deserved, since it doesn't fit the media's preferred narrative.

A votre service mon ami!. (smile)

Agree that the press unreported this…. I asked why?…

Amicalement
Armand

The press is not neutral, and only reports on stories that support its narrative, in a manner that supports said narrative. Anything more is Blue Fez territory.

Interesting question. Why would the press fail to report that Christians all over the world are facing persecution especially in countries predominantly Muslim?

Many, many reasons, which I can't comment further on here, since I don't want to be banned for pointing those out.

It's not very difficult to figure out a whole host of reasons in short order, out of the 10+ ones I can think of right off the bat.

The western press tends to be anti Christian and thus fail to report the persecution.

Wow! Talk about a persecution complex!!!

Could it be that the importance and extent of religious persecution is directly related to what religion the observers profess?

Right now the WORST persecution in terms of numbers and death has been the Hindus vs The Muslims in India/Pakistan. Never-ending.

The worst in terms of cultural genocide may be the oppression of Muslim Ughurs by China.

Historically, the Christian persecution of Native cultures in the New World, not to mention the Crusades, Imperialism, and cultural destruction world wide by the weaponry of Christian Western Societies throughout history is tough to beat.

I believe it was predominately Christian fascists that led the Holocaust against Jews.

In fact, in the Middle East, some of the atrocities may be seen by Fantatic Muslims as "payback" for Fanatic Christians of the preceding few hundred years.

Religions, including Christianity, have an uncanny knack for persecuting non-believers or believers in different myths, and a long, dark history of sectarian mayhem. All see themselves as victims "protecting" the true belief.

As for press coverage. I find no lack of coverage, nor much problem, in finding articles, reportage, and information from a wide array of sources.

The belief in a lack of coverage is driven by three primary factors. One, The reliance by a group feeling persecuted solely to sectarian or political sources that accent their concerns, and often heighten the extent of the events. Two, the refusal to access a wider and more accurate array of press resources to put the events into a wider political and social perspective. Third, the need to feed most religion's demands for martyrdom, religious righteousness, and unfair treatment by the larger world of unbelievers.

+1 Ripiqueone

Once again I am deeply disturbed by the comments of some posters here towards the news media. The mainstream news media for the most part is not some evil entity that is the enemy of the people. It is an industry that tries to report the facts as the writer sees it. Many times they are right, but sometimes they fail. As for the atrocities being committed against religious minorities around the globe; they have been increasing at an alarming rate and that includes against Christians in areas where they are the minority. I have read reports of this in several online publications such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and even The Economist, and all before this latest report was published. And of course this latest article will inflame those who wish to show that the other religion is to blame and tribalism wins again. This raise should not be blamed on any major religion but rather the bastardization of the religion's teaching but those who would seek to solidify their own power base or economic status as opposed to those who truly follow their religions principals. Of course will someone will point out that Religion X says this violent thing and someone will counter that religion Y says this violent thing but at the end of the day all major religions point to a way of peace and 'brotherhood' to be their goal. Perhaps some day everyone will remember that and try to live by it.

@Repiqueone and PrivateMatter

Thanks for proving NavyVet correct!

CFeicht – Really, that is what you took away from my post? How sad. You have my pity.

I was deployed to Saudi Arabia with the Air Force during one Christmas. We were told that we couldn't have Christmas trees or any ornaments representing Christmas in our office or rooms. Open worship of Christianity is forbidden in Saudi Arabia. Yet you will find plenty of mosques right here in the USA. Just pointing out the hypocrisy of one of our supposed allies.

The reason for the lack of western mainstream media coverage of christian persecution in the Mideast is simple: to maintain its "secularity" and not inflame public outrage that could lead to angry reprisals and lashing out at followers of a certain faith by grouping them with the persecutors and thereby getting persecuted themselves.

It has not been established that Christians are any more persecuted than any number of other religions in areas where they are a minority. Of course the nature of that persecution will vary in kind and degree depending on the education, cultural norms, and the degree the majority feels threatened by the minority religion.

Nor has it been established that the press does not cover attacks on religious minorities; they do. The perception that they do not is very subjective and pretty much dependent on the religious and political beliefs of those making the claim,

Saudi Arabia has long been one of the most intolerant and violent nations in this regard. The Khashoggi murder in Turkey underlined their violent response to perceived threats. Our President seems to think that they are a great ally and has never mentioned their mistreatment of Christians. The Press has critiqued the regime on many of these matters.

The press is very selective in their criticisms.

There have been videos on the internet of Christians being systematically decapitated by ISIS. There is no equivalent of this being done by adherents of any other religion.

USAFpilot – you are right in that the actions of ISIS in using decapitation of their prisoners routinely has no equivalency and is immoral. ISIS is a deplorable group of crazies that need to be eliminated from this earth. I have no qualms a bullet between the eyes of each and everyone of those s. But don't forget that ISIS has killed more Muslims than Christians. I'll concede that may only be because there aren't as many Christians in the area those maniacal deviants overran. However, I don't hold ISIS as representative of the Muslim faith anymore than the Klu Klux Klan represents Christian values.

What truly disturbs me is the rush for people to adversely judge all of a group by the few that do terrible things. I find it to generally out of ignorance, as opposed to malice, that people do it, but nonetheless it is still disturbing. I have had the very good fortune to travel all over the globe and meet many people of various religions, economic classes and educational levels, and through it all I have found more that we have in common than we have different. Remove the extremist from any side of a discussion and you'll find the common ground.

USAF-I don't believe that Isis is actually a recognized State, but is a fanatic extreme within Islam. There is an equivalency, though on a smaller scale, in the US (mostly due to a more stable and democratic government) in the more extreme forms of White Supremacy.

The white supremacists are almost as strident about their "Christian" beliefs as their racism, and have been the MOST deadly of all extremists in the US. Every time a Synagogue, Mosque, orTemple is hit and people die, you can bet its one of these extremists. They do not behead, but rather use Semi-automatic military style firearms to explode people. I doubt if their victims find much difference in dying by a hail of bullets or a sword.

Other religions such as Hindus vs. Muslims often use fire to burn their victims. Buddhists seem equally capable of violence against both Muslims and Christians as events in Sri Lanka have shown.

Religionists of all flavors seem liable to violence and murder against the "others."

What I find interesting is that Religions are surprised when they find that the religious majority in foreign lands find their proselytizing a provocation.

….or that people who have never known of a higher being would welcome their proselytizing with open arms.

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….or that people who have never known of a higher being would welcome their proselytizing with open arms.

Considering that the last time those people had some allegedly-Christian missionaries visit, the missionaries killed a bunch of adults and kidnapped a bunch of children (in the 1800s), I'm not surprised that they're rather hostile to outsiders now.

One wonders if Missionaries are really saving savages' souls, or more convinced they are in some way saving their own. I think altruism is a rare trait in 18th and 19th century missionary work, and only marginally improved in more current forms.

It's more about them than the poor natives who make the mistake of welcoming the boat.

The Martyr Complex can be an irresistible urge, whether you're a "well meaning" but naïve Christian missionary or a terrorist suicide bomber.

+1 28mm Fanatik