Categories: christianity
Date: 09 March 2009 11:16:42
The Holy Land
This is a challenge - to try and summarise today's area of the world!
The easy bit first. Well, it's called the Holy Land because it's where Jesus lived.
Events that take place there can be considered as less than holy in most people's books. You don't need me to tell you that there is a huge amount of unrest between religion and politics. A lot of people probably forget that there are Christians here as most of the news focuses on the Arab/Israeli conflict. In the Bethlehem area for example Christians were in the majority in 1990 but are now estimated to be only 30% now as many are emigrating to escape the pressure.
It is of course the rich who can emigrate which leaves the poor to suffer discrimination, harrassment and persecution.
There is also a lot of hostility towards Messianic Jews who are considered to be "dangerous" and are under threat of expulsion.
John 11:35.