What would the birthplace of Christianity look like without Christians?

[GabrieltheCelt]

 This is so sad. I encourage all of you to watch the slideshows if possible.
 http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06106/682096-82.stm

[scamandrius]

Thanks for posting this, Jibrail.  My only criticism is that the slide show overwhelmingly favored the Roman Catholics.  Aren't most Arab Christians in Palestine Orthodox?  Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say that the RCs aren't also victims in this whole bloody mess over there, but it seems that when the media cover what is going on over there, especially when it comes to the Christian exodus, there is this mistaken opinion that these Christians are all RC. Nevertheless, the deChristianization of the Holy Land needs to be addressed.  Too many people only see this in terms of Jew vs. Muslim.  The Christians get caught in the middle.

[GabrieltheCelt]

My only criticism is that the slide show overwhelmingly favored the Roman Catholics.  Aren't most Arab Christians in Palestine Orthodox?

Yes, you're correct. They are and, historically, always have been.

Nevertheless, the deChristianization of the Holy Land needs to be addressed.  Too many people only see this in terms of Jew vs. Muslim.  The Christians get caught in the middle.

Including them in our prayer rule would be a step in the right direction. There are also some online sites that address the issue of helping them. If you're interested, ask and you shall receive...

[Entscheidungsproblem]

I don't know how accurate these numbers are but:

http://i-cias.com/e.o/palestine_4.htm

The deChristianisation of the Holy Land is truly disturbing.  The old RC parish I used to attend set up a fund that allowed you to donate to assist Christian in the Holy Land.  The congregation was not very large, but they were able to send several thousand over.   

[GabrieltheCelt]

 Or this Orthodox Christian site in Taybeh, Palestine
 http://www.saintgeorgetaybeh.org/

[scamandrius]

Including them in our prayer rule would be a step in the right direction. There are also some online sites that address the issue of helping them. If you're interested, ask and you shall receive...

Prayer should be a no-brainer, right?     During the Great Litany when we pray for captives and their salvation, I think we would be remiss if we did not specifically pray for our Orthodox Christian brethren in Palestine. 

Yes, I've seen several of those sights.  Unfortunately, besides prayer, monetary contributions are all I really have to help besides writing to politicians who thrive on doing nothing with regards to oppressed Christians througout the world.  However, some of these sights, are extremely anti-Israel even calling for its destruction.  Now granted Israel doesn't do much to help the situation, but without condemning the damage done by groups such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Fatah and the turf war going on between them, I'm going to distance myself from them.  Why does simply helping people always have to come with a political agenda?

[GabrieltheCelt]

Prayer should be a no-brainer, right?     During the Great Litany when we pray for captives and their salvation, I think we would be remiss if we did not specifically pray for our Orthodox Christian brethren in Palestine.

Forgive me, I didn't mean to talk down to you   

Why does simply helping people always have to come with a political agenda?

It doesn't, but the direction our societies are moving, what with the clash of cultures, I'm afraid it will always look like one has a political agenda.

[scamandrius]

Forgive me, I didn't mean to talk down to you   

Don't worry; you weren't!   

It's all to easy to forget that prayer should not be a last resort, but our first and highest priority for all things.  Man, I sound like an evangelical bumper sticker! 

[Αριστοκλής]

Thanks for posting this, Jibrail.  My only criticism is that the slide show overwhelmingly favored the Roman Catholics.  Aren't most Arab Christians in Palestine Orthodox?  Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say that the RCs aren't also victims in this whole bloody mess over there, but it seems that when the media cover what is going on over there, especially when it comes to the Christian exodus, there is this mistaken opinion that these Christians are all RC. Nevertheless, the deChristianization of the Holy Land needs to be addressed.  Too many people only see this in terms of Jew vs. Muslim.  The Christians get caught in the middle.

Well, the Post-Gazette is Pittsburgh - a major Roman Catholic region (and "Eastern Catholic"). We've many Orthodox here as well, however.
I can't think of anything realistic to 'address' this centuries old problem.

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