Book Review: Global War on Christians by John L. Allen Jr.


Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge, from Image  Publishing,
via the Booksneeze Blogger Program, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it

Global War on Christians cover

Synopsis:

One of the most respected journalists in the United States and the bestselling author of The Future Church uses his unparalleled knowledge of world affairs and religious insight to investigate the troubling worldwide persecution of Christians.
 
From Iraq and Egypt to Sudan and Nigeria, from Indonesia to the Indian subcontinent, Christians in the early 21st century are the world's most persecuted religious group. According to the secular International Society for Human Rights, 80 percent of violations of religious freedom in the world today are directed against Christians. In effect, our era is witnessing the rise of a new generation of martyrs. Underlying the global war on Christians is the demographic reality that more than two-thirds of the world's 2.3 billion Christians now live outside the West, often as a beleaguered minority up against a hostile majority-- whether it's Islamic fundamentalism in the Middle East and parts of Africa and Asia, Hindu radicalism in India, or state-imposed atheism in China and North Korea. In Europe and North America, Christians face political and legal challenges to religious freedom. Allen exposes the deadly threats and offers investigative insight into what is and can be done to stop these atrocities.
 
“This book is about the most dramatic religion story of the early 21st century, yet one that most people in the West have little idea is even happening: The global war on Christians,” writes John Allen. “We’re not talking about a metaphorical ‘war on religion’ in Europe and the United States, fought on symbolic terrain such as whether it’s okay to erect a nativity set on the courthouse steps, but a rising tide of legal oppression, social harassment and direct physical violence, with Christians as its leading victims. However counter-intuitive it may seem in light of popular stereotypes of Christianity as a powerful and sometimes oppressive social force, Christians today indisputably form the most persecuted religious body on the planet, and too often its new martyrs suffer in silence.”
 
This book looks to shatter that silence.


You can read Chapter One HERE

Dad grabbed this one when it came in, so this is his review!


Review:

Global War on Christians has been for me a rude awakening.

To learn that since the 1970’s there have been more Christians killed for their beliefs, than the nearly 2000 years since the Christian church came into being. One would think that this should be far fewer. Even in this great country of ours it continues to happen. North, South, East or West, the global war rages. In North America, South America and all of the other continents, Christians die everyday. A report of missionaries being put to death by the local and state wide rulers, is completely unbelievable. The author reveals this by the reports of international bodies, that take statistics from every nation that can be accessed. Even countries like Mexico, that is highly a Roman Catholic strong hold, these types of things go on and on.

I urge all to read this book and learn as I have. that in a so called modern world. that leaders everywhere turn a blind eye and will offer no help. What can we do about this? As always we can pray for Christians here on planet earth. that they be taken care of and protected. Many other things can be done also. Please read and help. The author has done a wonderful job in writing this book. He put his whole heart and soul into the research of the facts he has laid out for us to see. Well done thou good and faithful servant!

Note: I do want to add one thing to dad's review- he did note that while the topic is laid out for the layman, the author does write in a more professional manner, and it may take longer to read the book because of that- but it wasn't over his head, just on a higher level than most books on Christianity.


About the Author:
JOHN L. ALLEN, JR. is the Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter and a Vatican analyst for CNN and National Public Radio. He is the author of The Rise of Benedict XVI and All the Pope's Men: The Inside Story of How the Vatican Really Thinks. His work has appeared in the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Miami Herald, The Nation, and many other publications. His Internet column, "The Word from Rome," is considered by knowledgeable observers to be the best single source of insights on Vatican affairs in the English language. Check out his website for more info

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