Peaceable Responses to Persecution: The Experience of Eastern Christian Communities in the Middle East
Author: Philip LeMasters
Publisher/Publication: Journal of Ecumenical Studies
Volume/Issue: 53(3)
DOI/ISBN: 10.1353/ecu.2018.0026
This article addresses the historic experiences of the Christian communities in the Middle East and their interactions with the Muslim majority, before examining the statements of contemporary Christian leaders on topics such as the persecution of Christians in Syria and Iraq by extremists, the refugee crisis, the Palestinian issue, and the attacks on Coptic churches. Christian leaders in the Middle East continuously affirm their commitment to non-violent responses, emphasizing on dialogue and reconciliation, stemming from their historic ejection of extremism, while they strive for a social order which will allow them to act as equal citizens and not as religious minorities.
