Reply to Rafi re:Churches in Saudi Arabia

Submitted by Gloria Stewart (United States), Apr 12, 2008 at 13:16

Saudi Arabia is a theocracy. It is a totalitarian nation and permits only the Wahhabi version of Sunni Islam. This is done in the name of Islam.

Islam historically has made its way with the sword. Non Muslims had three choices: convert, live as a dhimmi (a second class citizen) or be killed. Given those choices, it is not suprising that many took the first choice. Muslims did not go door to door with a copy of the Qu'ran waiting politely to be asked inside. Given that Muslims faced death if they left their religion, it is not suprising that Islam grew. At the very least that would have a chilling effect on leaving Islam.

Rather than look for examples in history, look at the world today. With pitifully few exceptions, Christians in Muslim majority lands are subject to second class status. It ranges from harassment to death - the latter occuring as the governmnet averts its eyes.

As for the Crusades, they were a reaction by the Christian world to the conquest of formerly Christian areas taken over by Islam.

I am well aware of the steadfastness of Muslims whether in Central Asia or elsewhere. Actually, that is what scares me.

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