"Arab Christians: The Forgotten Faithful" National Geographic cover story

[dzheremi]

I will have to pick up this month’s issue. The video via the link has piqued my interest.

I wonder if we could also see a feature article on the other Christian minorities of the Middle East soon, then? More people in the West should know about the Assyrians, Copts, and Armenians who also face persecution because of their religion and refusal to assimilate into the dominant Arab-Muslim culture. It probably won’t happen (the Arab-American Institute classified Assyrians as Arabs up until very recently; see here, though I’m not sure whether the Arabization is still en force in the USA), but it would do a lot to raise peoples’ awareness.

As to the accusations of anti-Israeli bias: Is it wrong to attempt to educate Western Christians as to the real world consequences of the causes they support, often without realizing their negative effect on the ground for their co-religionists who are native to the region? I am not anti-Semitic in the least, but my allegiance is 100% with the Arab, Maronite, Syriac, Coptic, etc. Christians, not with the state built on top of them, wether it is Jewish, Muslim, or “secular”.

 

[malphono]

The history of North Africa is another point to add to the Middle East to the bringing down the whole self-delusional revisionist facade that it was the crusades that led to the maltreatment of Christians in Islamic nations. Don’t get me wrong, there were many things that happened during the crusades, and many things in retaliation… many things by all sides, that left the Christians of the Orient in shambles.

Oh yeah. North Africa west of Egypt was utterly de-Christianized well before there was any hint of a Crusade. The Copts and the Syriacs (and the Armenians, too) were a bit more problematic for the conquerors. On the Western side of the imperial divide, the Syriacs were caught between the invader/conquerors and the Byzantine (Roman) Empire. On the Eastern side, the trouble was mainly with the invader/conquerors. Then came the Schism and the Crusades. Funny thing, though, despite everything we survived it all. Hopefully we can continue to defy the odds.

Our history tells the story well, but we inevitably get lost in the shuffle and few actually care to pay it heed.

 

[malphono]

I wonder if we could also see a feature article on the other Christian minorities of the Middle East soon, then? More people in the West should know about the Assyrians, Copts, and Armenians who also face persecution because of their religion and refusal to assimilate into the dominant Arab-Muslim culture. It probably won’t happen (the Arab-American Institute classified Assyrians as Arabs up until very recently; see here, though I’m not sure whether the Arabization is still en force in the USA), but it would do a lot to raise peoples’ awareness.

That outfit and others like it are tools of the Arab majority and are a major disgrace to the true identity of Syriac and Coptic Christians.

dzheremi:

As to the accusations of anti-Israeli bias: Is it wrong to attempt to educate Western Christians as to the real world consequences of the causes they support, often without realizing their negative effect on the ground for their co-religionists who are native to the region?

Not wrong: they needed the education yesterday. The idea that there were/are “Christian missionaries” (in the past mainly Presbyterian in the Levant and Anglican in Egypt, but in the present apparently evangelicals throughout) working to convert Christians makes me nauseous.

dzheremi:

I am not anti-Semitic in the least, but my allegiance is 100% with the Arab, Maronite, Syriac, Coptic, etc. Christians, not with the state built on top of them, wether it is Jewish, Muslim, or “secular”.

One has to keep in mind that Christians are a distinct minority in that region.

In Syria, for example, (and, to my knowledge, the same was pretty much true in Iraq prior to 2003), non-Arab native Christians are pretty much left alone (since the early 1970s, anyway) as long as they keep their collective mouth shut in political matters. Not much they can do about it anyway, so they might as well be quiet and go about their lives. Those Christians who identify as Arab support the ruling party, so of course they are in a better position.

In Israel, native Christians are generally well regarded by the state. It’s not love, but it’s a sight better than they get elsewhere in the region. How the state is regarded by the various native Christian sects is another matter. Those who identify as being Arab are, in main, more hostile toward it, but even so there has not been a real exodus of native Christians from Israel proper. One point that’s worth noting is the Christian exodus from what is called the West Bank: it began in earnest not during the occupation itself, but after “self rule” was proclaimed.

 

[Ridgerunner]

As a child, I loved reading the National Geographics my parents and grandparents had collected over the years. I learned a lot, as it was simply factual then. It is such a shame that this once deservingly admired and scholarly magazine has turned into just one more left wing mouthpiece.

 

[Filioque]

A good source for information and to offer support to Eastern Catholics, and peoples of the Middle East (as well as Eastern Europe) is the Catholic Near East Welfare Association.
www.cnewa.org

 

[TruthisBeauty7]

Im sorry for my crude comments about the article. but this sort of stuff gets me angry.

 

[malphono]

A good source for information and to offer support to Eastern Catholics, and peoples of the Middle East (as well as Eastern Europe) is the Catholic Near East Welfare Association.

CNEWA is more-or-less accurate. Not totally, but better than most. In the past it had, shall we say, a distinctly Arab bias, but lately it seems to have gotten more on the right track. I take that as a good (at least, hopeful) sign.

 

[Filioque]

CNEWA is more-or-less accurate. Not totally, but better than most. In the past it had, shall we say, a distinctly Arab bias, but lately it seems to have gotten more on the right track. I take that as a good (at least, hopeful) sign.

I think in part the Arab bias came to a gradual end after the fall of Communism in the East. That combined with the antagonism between the Catholic and Orthodox communities, Msgr. Stern walked a fine line. With the opening of Eastern Europe the support there has been increasing.

It is notable however that the CNEWA did have the support of Ukranian, and Melkite bishops who used to consecrate Antimensia for them to distribute among priests who either lived separated from their own ordinaries due to political issues, and Latin Rite priests who travelled
in mission areas and found it difficult to take a traditional Latin Rite altar stone with them. While they no longer distribute the Antimensia, I was fortunate enough to obtain some thirty or so to distribute among priests I know in Mexico and Central America, where they are not only used as a portible altar by missionaries, but also as a tool to teach about Eastern Rite Catholics and Orthodox, and as a reminder to pray for Chrisitan Unity. I continue to collect vestments etc to send to missionaries, and one Easter Catholic bishop consecrates ten Antimensia a year to send to missionaries, however the arrangement is that I send him a very small stipend, and he sends the Antimensia via UPS/FEDEX himself, or through visiting priests. Not only have these priests confirmed the reception of them, but I suspect the stipend I send to the Bishop does not cover the shipping. He is a very holy and humble man, and while the Antimensia is usually looked on as a symbol of faculties, and union with ones ordinary, I can’t give his name, but I am grateful that he does what he does, and would ask that all pray that, God grant him many years.

 

[malphono]

I think in part the Arab bias came to a gradual end after the fall of Communism in the East. That combined with the antagonism between the Catholic and Orthodox communities, Msgr. Stern walked a fine line. With the opening of Eastern Europe the support there has been increasing.

Perhaps so, or perhaps it has some bearing on the change (positive, IMO) in administration in Rome? Stern’s “fine line” far too often had at least one foot in the wrong camp. Soviet-style communism was way overblown when considering Middle East politics. It was nothing more than a red herring: hardly a chance that it would have succeeded.

It is notable however that the CNEWA did have the support of Ukranian, and Melkite bishops who used to consecrate Antimensia for them to distribute among priests who either lived separated from their own ordinaries due to political issues, and Latin Rite priests who travelled
in mission areas and found it difficult to take a traditional Latin Rite altar stone with them…

I find the antimensia thing interesting, in particular since the Latin Church apparently no longer has any practical requirements for an “altar stone” or its equivalent.

 

[dzheremi]

Not wrong: they needed the education yesterday. The idea that there were/are “Christian missionaries” (in the past mainly Presbyterian in the Levant and Anglican in Egypt, but in the present apparently evangelicals throughout) working to convert Christians makes me nauseous.

Same here, Malphono.

One has to keep in mind that Christians are a distinct minority in that region.

In Syria, for example, (and, to my knowledge, the same was pretty much true in Iraq prior to 2003), non-Arab native Christians are pretty much left alone (since the early 1970s, anyway) as long as they keep their collective mouth shut in political matters. Not much they can do about it anyway, so they might as well be quiet and go about their lives. Those Christians who identify as Arab support the ruling party, so of course they are in a better position.

Indeed. I have heard various positive things about the treatment of native Christians in Syria, particularly related to the cooperation by the government in local efforts to preserve the Western Aramaic dialect in Ma’loula, since this is the only place in the world where this form of the language is still spoken (at least according to the literature I’ve read), by Christians and non-Arabized Muslims alike. If only the rest of the “Arab” governments in the region would see the value in such things…

In Israel, native Christians are generally well regarded by the state. It’s not love, but it’s a sight better than they get elsewhere in the region. How the state is regarded by the various native Christian sects is another matter. Those who identify as being Arab are, in main, more hostile toward it, but even so there has not been a real exodus of native Christians from Israel proper. One point that’s worth noting is the Christian exodus from what is called the West Bank: it began in earnest not during the occupation itself, but after “self rule” was proclaimed.

Yes, I think you definitely have a point here. As an outsider I can only go by what I read and what my Palestinian Christian (Greek Orthodox) friends tell me, but it does seem to be a matter of opinions split along confessional differences. It seems that the Eastern Orthodox in general embrace (Arab) nationalism with much greater fervor than their Catholic counterparts (I don’t know anything about Protestants in the area; I’ve never met a Protestant from that part of the world), but from everything I have read there has been an increase in violence and intimidation towards Christians of all confessions under “self-rule”, so I don’t know if attitudes of the various communities are changing or what. It is probably more than enough to be concerned with the day-to-day welfare of your community and your family in such a situation.

I hope that stories like this article creates some impetus for real change in the way that foreign policy decisions are calculated in the USA, at least. I’ve written to the Obama administration several times on the subject of Middle Eastern Christians, with no reply. There may be no real reason to expect that, but I figure there’s still every reason to pray for it.

 

[Filioque]

Perhaps so, or perhaps it has some bearing on the change (positive, IMO) in administration in Rome? Stern’s “fine line” far too often had at least one foot in the wrong camp. Soviet-style communism was way overblown when considering Middle East politics. It was nothing more than a red herring: hardly a chance that it would have succeeded.

I find the antimensia thing interesting, in particular since the Latin Church apparently no longer has any practical requirements for an “altar stone” or its equivalent.

He (Stern) is a product of his age. I on the other hand took refuge in the Ukranian, Ruthenian, and Chaldean Catholic Communities in San Diego when the Latin Rite started to go wild after the late Bishop Buddy was no longer able to stem the tide of Experimentation.

While it is true that the Ordinary form does not require altar stones, my circles happen to be very conservative. Many of the priests still veil the chalice, some even still wear the maniple, or use it to mark the missal. Then again there is a circle of priests I have helped supply chapels with altar cloths, crucifixes, candelabra and crucifixes that I have begged, won in low bids on ebay. Now that the EF has been granted a more broad authorization, there are quite a few priests down south (native clergy) who are clammoring for Old Missals, and Vestments. To advertize a bit more, I am looking for some Host making equiptment, hoping to start up cottage industries for some of the smaller missions, to sell hosts to the Urban parishes to raise funds.

 

[chosen_people]

I am not sure the article was highly nuanced in its understandings of “Middle Eastern Christians” but from my experiences and the stories of others - I thought it was accurate in the portrayal of the state of affairs in the area.

It is accurate in terms of Western Christians and their impact on Christianity in the Middle East.

I would not say - as a writer above did - that “this is a very biased, harsh article towards Israel and what they call “western American Christians” I mean no offense to this writer or any one else - but there has been a Western Christian (dare I say Fundamentalist) attitude, that Israel and all she does is a culmination of Bible prophesy. This has led to degradations against of the Christian communities in the Middle East. Of course, Israel has a right to peaceful existence, but the government has been very oppressive of the Christians who live in their midst.

We need to have greater sensitivity to the native Christians of Israel and Palestine. They have been suppressed by the Muslim majority in many countries. Additionally suppressed by the Zionists within the Israeli government and ostracized by their fellow Arab Palestinians within Israel and the occupied territories. While Western Christians treat Arab Christians (Catholic and Orthodox) as some minor, historically unimportant reminant.

This is a wonderful article that should be read an accepted as a fairly accurate depiction of what is happening in the Middle East.

Well the first question is how do the “Zionists within the Israeli government suppress Christians” and in what way do Christians not have the same rights and protections in Israel as any other citizen or resident?

Of course whom am I to argue with your claim that Christians are being persecuted by Moslem’s and the Jews are to blame? (Mel would be proud). I would especially like to hear your ideas how the Jews were behind the persecutions and massacres of Christians during the 19th Century in the Middle East

Now Islamic fundamentalism believes that all the world’s Jews and Christians must live under Islamic rule in order to have justice (see for instance the Hamas charter) and I would submit the possibility that Islamic fundamentalists feel that any one who is not Moslem has no place or rights in the Middle East and that might actually be the problem.

Since you believe that the article is a “fairly accurate depiction of what is happening in the Middle East” I would ask you to relate this to what Arafat and the PLO did to the Christians of Southern Lebanon until Israel and the IDF intervened in 1982 ( I personally did five reserve tours between 1982 - 1985 to provide medical assistance and protection to the local Christian population).

Since you believe that the article is a “fairly accurate depiction of what is happening in the Middle East” I would ask you to relate to the prosperity of the Christian’s under Israel in Bethlehem in the early 1990’s and what happened to their community after it came under the control of the Palestinian Authority in wake of the Oslo peace accords. How the Christians were persecuted and became a small minority.

Barely a hundred meters from my courtroom a Russian Orthodox Catholic Church operates freely in the democratic country of Israel guaranteeing freedom of religion to all. I, the great grandson of people who fled Russia from Christian and State persecution, help to protect that Church’s religious freedom.

 

[Cluny]

chosen people, I suggest you read BLOOD BROTHERS by Elias Chacour, Abp. of Nazareth and Galilee.

He describes how Israeli tanks blew up his village before the inhabitants eyes on Christmas Day.

He relates how his father’s own fig orchard was stolen from him by Zionist settlers, and how he had to go back to work there as a day laborer to support his family.

 

[Ghosty]

Well the first question is how do the “Zionists within the Israeli government suppress Christians” and in what way do Christians not have the same rights and protections in Israel as any other citizen or resident?

What makes you think he’s refering to Israeli Christians? The Palestinian Christians are the ones who are being oppressed through the expansion and support of the “settlements”, and having their lives broken up by the checkpoints used to protect these “settlements”.

Yes, it is true that the Muslim population also causes much damage to the Christians, but that doesn’t give Israel a free pass for wrongheaded and evil policies such as that of building, and supporting previously built, settlements on Palestinian land.

In my personal experience in the Melkite Church (our parish has a very large Palestinian population) the ire is pretty evenly divided between Israel (not Jews) and Muslims. It is not a fuming hatred, but there is definitely a voice of concern and tension over the issues that are going on in Palestine. We even have an Israeli parishoner, and he is always upfront that he is Israeli and not Palestinian, and he’s never complained about oppression within Israel, but he definitely has issues with his country’s policies towards his relatives in Palestine.

Peace and God bless!

 

[PrayForMeStJude]

Not to say Christians of all colors are suffering, because we all as Christians face persecution of all sorts.

But this is a very biased, harsh article towards Israel and what they call “western American Christians”. As this being a National Geographic magazine, I am saddened that this issue will be in all sorts of schools, libraries, waiting rooms, etc.

Here is one quote from the article-
"…to American Christians in sneakers and “I [heart] Israel” caps, clearly stoked for the battle of Armageddon."

I guess that means you are a war monger if you have a heart for Israel, like St.Paul proclaimed himself in Romans.

Actually, that is a very accurate portrayal of the attitude of a great deal of mainstream Protestant organizations, especially the zionist evangelical mega-church type. They have a very interesting and, in my opinon, warped sense of what’s going on in the Holy land, and I do think they tend to ignore the native Christians there, who just don’t fit into the made-up version of Christian history they have in their heads.

 

[Ghosty]

Actually, that is a very accurate portrayal of the attitude of a great deal of mainstream Protestant organizations, especially the zionist evangelical mega-church type. They have a very interesting and, in my opinon, warped sense of what’s going on in the Holy land, and I do think they tend to ignore the native Christians there, who just don’t fit into the made-up version of Christian history they have in their heads.

Indeed. This has nothing to do with support of Israel equalling war-mongering, and everything to do with a particular American phenomena of certain groups of Protestant Christians supporting Israel precisely because they believe that the return of Jews to the land of Israel portents the coming of the Battle of Armeggedon.

It’s not an anti-Israel dig, but a recognition of a strong subset of American Protestantism.

Peace and God bless!

 

[Cluny]

Indeed. This has nothing to do with support of Israel equalling war-mongering, and everything to do with a particular American phenomena of certain groups of Protestant Christians supporting Israel precisely because they believe that the return of Jews to the land of Israel portents the coming of the Battle of Armeggedon.

It’s not an anti-Israel dig, but a recognition of a strong subset of American Protestantism.

Peace and God bless!

This is a direct result of the popularity of pre-millenial dispensationalism (“the rapture”) among American pop-evangelicals.

 

[chosen_people]

chosen people, I suggest you read BLOOD BROTHERS by Elias Chacour, Abp. of Nazareth and Galilee.

He describes how Israeli tanks blew up his village before the inhabitants eyes on Christmas Day.

He relates how his father’s own fig orchard was stolen from him by Zionist settlers, and how he had to go back to work there as a day laborer to support his family.

There is much to learn about Israel from Elias Chacour.

He is an Israeli citizen, a Christian, runs a school and spends his time spewing hate, anti-Israel rhetoric and the sort of ridiculous fables that only people willing to believe any lies about Jews and totally devoid of any factual knowledge and logic would believe (I think even the revisionist historian crackpot Benny Morris couldn’t have invented an Israeli tank in the Galilee during the war of independence of 1948 let alone “tanks” - though we sure could have used some - however this is no more ridiculous then his other baseless stories.

So what can we learn? We learn of a great democracy like Israel that allows freedom of expression and freedom of religion and freedom to engage in a occupation and work freely even to a hatemonger like Elias Chacour. This is not only unique to the Middle East it is especially remarkable considering the security situation of Israel.

The second thing we see is the phenomena of some Arab Christians, always suspect in the eyes of Arab Moslems, reacting to this suspicion by being even more radical and more extremely militant than Arab Moslems. For example, the arch terrorist murderer George Habash was a Christian. Unfortunately, any student of pan Arab Islamic fundamentalism will be able to tell you that both the Jews and the Christians are in the same boat.

 

[Cluny]

He is an Israeli citizen, a Christian, runs a school and spends his time spewing hate, anti-Israel rhetoric and the sort of ridiculous fables that only people willing to believe any lies about Jews and totally devoid of any factual knowledge and logic would believe …

Et reliqua.

Obviously, you know very little about Abp. Elias, and have not read a word he has actually said.

In addition to being parish priest and now Archbishop of Nazareth and Galilee, he has founded MANY Mar Elias schools, and the Mar Elias University, accredited by the Israeli Ed. Department, will open soon.

He has never said ONE WORD OF HATE against anyone.

Apparently, sabras (not only Muslims) expect dhimmitude of others as well.

 

[chosen_people]

Et reliqua.

Obviously, you know very little about Abp. Elias, and have not read a word he has actually said.

In addition to being parish priest and now Archbishop of Nazareth and Galilee, he has founded MANY Mar Elias schools, and the Mar Elias University, accredited by the Israeli Ed. Department, will open soon.

He has never said ONE WORD OF HATE against anyone.

Apparently, sabras (not only Muslims) expect dhimmitude of others as well.

Apparently you are not familiar with the various posts on this forum. Every ridiculous statement from the one about Israeli tanks in the war of independence, to imaginary massacres by Jews against Christians to the calumny of “apartheid” are invariably linked to him on this forum. So if he isn’t a hatemonger, the confusion is not mine but rather those of his admirers.