I was really distressed to read the story in today's Guardian of the massacre of Christians in Baghdad. Until recently Christians in Iraq had been protected by the state.
Sadly this is remeniscant of the story I mentioned in a book review of a massacre of Jews in Baghdad during the second world war.
I don't think we appreciate in the UK the tremendous pressure that both Christians and Jews have faced in the Middle East over the last century. For much of the last milleninia communities of Christians and Jews flourished in most major Arab cities.
During the 20th century many Jews had to flee their homes as some sections of Islam felt their continued presence was unwelcome. Few Jewish communities in the Middle East now survive except those in Israel. A large proportion of Israel's population is made up of Jews who were forced to leave their homes in fear of their lives.
In recent years there have been signs that Christians are now facing the same problem. This is a comparitively new development and one that we must raise in prayer. It is often one that is avoided by those who believe the issues in the Middle East are simply one of European migration.
These anti Christian and anti Jewish pogroms are not typical of Islam, but they are effective.
I just happen to note that the professional Methodist bloggers haven't mentioned Sunday's massacre.![]()
Sadly this is remeniscant of the story I mentioned in a book review of a massacre of Jews in Baghdad during the second world war.
I don't think we appreciate in the UK the tremendous pressure that both Christians and Jews have faced in the Middle East over the last century. For much of the last milleninia communities of Christians and Jews flourished in most major Arab cities.
During the 20th century many Jews had to flee their homes as some sections of Islam felt their continued presence was unwelcome. Few Jewish communities in the Middle East now survive except those in Israel. A large proportion of Israel's population is made up of Jews who were forced to leave their homes in fear of their lives.
In recent years there have been signs that Christians are now facing the same problem. This is a comparitively new development and one that we must raise in prayer. It is often one that is avoided by those who believe the issues in the Middle East are simply one of European migration.
These anti Christian and anti Jewish pogroms are not typical of Islam, but they are effective.
I just happen to note that the professional Methodist bloggers haven't mentioned Sunday's massacre.
