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WHY IS CHRISTIANITY GROWING SO FAST IN IRAN?
Iranian.com
Feb 5 2015
SofiaM
Human Rights
A recent article reported Christianity is growing by leaps and bounds
in Iran, at around 20% each year, and that Christianity is growing
faster in Iran than anywhere else.
Considering the context, that Iran is currently under a
radical-Islamist dictatorship, that is astounding. Why would
people predominantly of Muslim background (not necessarily
practicing/identifying Muslims) leave the comfort and security of
being Muslim, and convert to Christianity--a faith persecuted by the
ruling regime? More pointedly, why would these individuals convert,
when apostasy--or "leaving the Islamic Faith" is illegal and punishable
by death?
A country of an estimated 80 million people, Iran's Evangelical
Christian Community numbers only in the hundreds of thousands--still a
small minority against a largely Shia-Muslim backdrop. But at a growth
of 20% a year, Iranian-Christians might change the population-playing
field in less than a decade. That is, if the Regime hasn't been ousted
by secularists or democratic activists, by then.
Christians in Iran, including Armenians, live as second class
citizens like other minorities-- for example Sunni Muslims, Jews
and Zoroastrians. Still, however, these "tolerated" minorities fare
better than Baha'is, who are considered Muslim-heretics under the
Regime's legal code. Iranian-Christians are under constant threat
of harassment and attack. Home-worship sessions are often attacked,
Persian-language bibles are practically illegal, and Pastors are often
imprisoned under charges of "conspiracy" or being an "enemy of Allah."
Furthermore, they are barred from holding many jobs in both the private
and public sectors, are occasionally denied acceptance to university
or different educational programs and are sometimes denied the right
to live in certain neighborhoods.
So why are so many people risking comfort, and their lives? While that
may seem like a trick question, it certainly isn't. Surely there are
arrays of different reasons for why one might convert, but perhaps
this trend shows something deeper about Iranian society as a whole.
Perhaps even Iranians of Muslim background are so uncomfortable
under the iron fist of the Islamic Regime, that by converting to
Christianity they aren't take a huge risk--they have nothing, or
very little to lose. But what they gain is priceless; a world-wide
community and support system and a role in quietly protesting and
challenging the Regime that likely lead them to renounce their Islam
in the first place.
Although this article is not meant to place a value on one faith over
the other, it does seek to start the conversation on the potential
reasons for a growth-spurt of Christianity in a predominantly Muslim
country, and under a viciously Islamist Regime.
http://iranian.com/posts/why-is-christianity-growing-so-fast-in-iran-45232
From: Baghdasarian
Iranian.com
Feb 5 2015
SofiaM
Human Rights
A recent article reported Christianity is growing by leaps and bounds
in Iran, at around 20% each year, and that Christianity is growing
faster in Iran than anywhere else.
Considering the context, that Iran is currently under a
radical-Islamist dictatorship, that is astounding. Why would
people predominantly of Muslim background (not necessarily
practicing/identifying Muslims) leave the comfort and security of
being Muslim, and convert to Christianity--a faith persecuted by the
ruling regime? More pointedly, why would these individuals convert,
when apostasy--or "leaving the Islamic Faith" is illegal and punishable
by death?
A country of an estimated 80 million people, Iran's Evangelical
Christian Community numbers only in the hundreds of thousands--still a
small minority against a largely Shia-Muslim backdrop. But at a growth
of 20% a year, Iranian-Christians might change the population-playing
field in less than a decade. That is, if the Regime hasn't been ousted
by secularists or democratic activists, by then.
Christians in Iran, including Armenians, live as second class
citizens like other minorities-- for example Sunni Muslims, Jews
and Zoroastrians. Still, however, these "tolerated" minorities fare
better than Baha'is, who are considered Muslim-heretics under the
Regime's legal code. Iranian-Christians are under constant threat
of harassment and attack. Home-worship sessions are often attacked,
Persian-language bibles are practically illegal, and Pastors are often
imprisoned under charges of "conspiracy" or being an "enemy of Allah."
Furthermore, they are barred from holding many jobs in both the private
and public sectors, are occasionally denied acceptance to university
or different educational programs and are sometimes denied the right
to live in certain neighborhoods.
So why are so many people risking comfort, and their lives? While that
may seem like a trick question, it certainly isn't. Surely there are
arrays of different reasons for why one might convert, but perhaps
this trend shows something deeper about Iranian society as a whole.
Perhaps even Iranians of Muslim background are so uncomfortable
under the iron fist of the Islamic Regime, that by converting to
Christianity they aren't take a huge risk--they have nothing, or
very little to lose. But what they gain is priceless; a world-wide
community and support system and a role in quietly protesting and
challenging the Regime that likely lead them to renounce their Islam
in the first place.
Although this article is not meant to place a value on one faith over
the other, it does seek to start the conversation on the potential
reasons for a growth-spurt of Christianity in a predominantly Muslim
country, and under a viciously Islamist Regime.
http://iranian.com/posts/why-is-christianity-growing-so-fast-in-iran-45232
From: Baghdasarian