Is Anyone Aware? Orthodoxy and the New Rise of Islam

Dear Parish Faithful,


I just received the following from our good friend, Archbishop Lazar Puhalo. Though he is certainly not an alarmist, what he briefly writes is quite alarming! I will let you read the following on your own, and perhaps add a few comments of my own sometime next week.

Fr. Steven


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As some of you know, a groups of us were recently in Damascus and attended a conference at the Islamic Institute. David Goa, Fr Philip Erickson, a small group of other people and I were there. While I had to leave early, before the last series at the conference, in order to participate in a number of conferences in Romania, the Islamisation of Europe was discussed during conferences in Romania.

Since returning home, I have continued researching the matter in order to make it the subject for some of my presentations in the autumn at a number of universities and Orthodox parishes down East in America. There are three salient facts that are abundantly clear, and that we should be aware of. Hopefully they might change some of our attitudes about what we are doing in the Orthodox Church, and especially in the OCA:

1. Within 20 years, Europe will be a collection of Islamic states.
2. Within 10-15 years, active Moslems are likely to outnumber active Christians in Canada.
3. Islam is preparing for a serious-minded and well financed missionary activity in the West.

The demographics are radically on the side of Islam. They do not have to convert even one person in order to be able to dominate Europe. People in Western cultures are reproducing at a rate below 1.5; Moslems living in the West are reproducing at a rate of 4-6, even 8. Christians have abortions, Moslems do not. Christians have small families: on average, 1 or 2 children; Moslems have large families, on average 6 to 8 children. Moslems maintain their traditions, most Christians do not. Commitment and attendance at Mosques outstrips that of Christian commitment and attendance in Church.

Meanwhile, Orthodox Christians exhaust a great deal of energy in petty infighting; many hierarchs, particularly in Eastern Europe, have almost no personal contact with their flocks. Many hierarchs and clergy are arrogant and condescending toward the faithful. No one in the Islamic world is talking about abolishing or shortening Ramadan, but many in the Orthodox world are talking about abolishing some fasting periods, shortening others. Moslems maintain the appearance of their faith, while many Orthodox clergy are embarrassed or ashamed to be seen in public looking like Orthodox clergy. Moslems maintain the tradition of stopping to pray at the given times several times a day, while Orthodox Christians are seeking to reduce the already scant time we spend in the Divine Services. One could go on with such comparisons, but the point has to do with commitment, discipline and self-control.

Faith can only be challenge by faith; commitment can only be faced with commitment. We, as Orthodox Christians cannot offer anything that will counter a committed Islamic missionary effort while we are occupied with petty self-interest, with "defending MY turf" against other Orthodox clergy. On the international level, the efforts of some to re-create a shadowy form of the Byzantine Empire is quite destructive. The divided state of the Orthodox Church today, world-wide, and the internecine power struggles undermine and weaken the Orthodox Christian witness. Self-interested fear of each other on the local level can only make the problems we face more systemic and pervasive. Moreover, they are a betrayal of the Gospel and of the faith.

I simply ask that all make themselves more aware of this challenge and that we struggle, primarily with our own selves, to overcome our own pettiness and find a greater unity of spirit and purpose. Instead of having a delusion of "competition," we should be sharing the resources that each has to offer, and strengthening the commitment of our selves and the faithful. Everyone has some ability to offer, and we need to be willing to share our "self" with all for the sake of the Gospel and in order to face, with a unity of love for Christ, the challenges that are so rapidly arising before us.


In Christ, Archbishop Lazar.

The Decline of Christianity in the Holy Land: A Response

Dear Parish Faithful,

Here is a strong elaboration from Ralph Sidway to a short article I sent out yesterday about the diminishing presence of Christians in the Middle East.

Fr. Steven

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Dear Father Steven,

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

I am very glad to see your meditation today, especially your closing reminder exhorting us to have unwavering faith in the providence of God which allows the persecution of Christians in the world. Our Lord told us that we would be persecuted if we followed Him (MK 10:29-31, JN 15:20), and that the time was coming when those who killed us would do so out of a belief that they were following God's will. (JN 16:2) It was true two thousand years ago, and it is just as true now, especially in Islamic countries.

In addition to what you have written, I would like to offer some corrections to the New York Times article, and a survey of muslim persecution against Christians not only in the Middle East, but worldwide, consisting of both an article by author and Islam expert Robert Spencer and a brief (6 min 29 sec) video on this topic by the David Horowitz Freedom Center. (See below also for link.)

Ethan Bronner, in his NY Times article, states that "Christians were attacked for working with Americans." As news reports show, greatly heightened persecution against Christians in Iraq and in other muslim countries can be traced to the late 1990s and into 2002, well before the US-led invasion of Iraq, and as a direct result of the jihad proclaimed by Osama bin Laden in 1998 and signaled by the attacks of 9/11/01. While the war in Iraq no doubt sparked further attacks on Christians suspected of working with the Americans, the essence of all persecution of Christians in all muslim-dominated countries in the Middle East and elsewhere is religious in nature, and is a manifestation of the Islamic resurgence we see worldwide.

Bronner also conflates and parses the causes of the Christian exodus, confusing several key issues in the process. In listing the forces behind Christian emigration from the Holy Land, he cites "political violence, lack of economic opportunity, and the rise of radical Islam." Instead, we must realize that what Bronner labels as "political violence" is actually violent religious persecution against Christians by muslims. Churches burned and destroyed, Christians threatened with death if they do not convert to Islam, and attacks on individual Christians are all part of a pattern here. "Lack of economic opportunity" is more accurately understood as economic discrimination against Christians by muslims; Christians under muslim rule have an exceedingly difficult if not impossible time of finding good jobs, running a successful business, and even keeping their own income. Christians under muslim rule are forced to pay a jizya (the poll tax mandated in Koran 9:29 that "people of the book" — Christians and Jews — must pay for the privilege of living in an Islamic state) so large that they cannot sustain their lives. Thus, what Bonner lists last as "the rise of radical Islam" is actually the cause of all the Christians' woes and persecution, some of it institutionalized, some of it at the hands of the growing mobs of zealous muslims, who are merely living out the true tenets of their religion.

As Islam continues its resurgence, we will see greater and ever more horrifying persecution of the last remaining Christians. They literally have no hope, in an earthly sense. Under Islam, Christians must submit (i.e. convert to Islam and renounce Jesus Christ), or pay the jizya (to have "protected" status), or flee, if they are able. Otherwise, they are likely to be harassed, persecuted and killed. Those Christians who do pay the jizya are relegated to dhimmi status, and are treated as inferior to muslims, second-class citizens. They cannot practice their faith in public, they cannot wear crosses in public, they cannot build new churches, they cannot even repair old churches falling into disrepair; they certainly cannot evangelize. While a muslim man may marry a Christian woman (indeed, several if he desires), a Christian man who tries to marry a muslim woman is subject to death, as several recent harrowing news stories from Pakistan and Afghanistan have borne out. The list of dhimmi limitations and discriminatory practices against Christians pervades virtually every dimension of life. The dangers are real: any muslim who converts to Christianity is subject to death. So is any Christian who tries to convert a muslim. Recent news stories about the atrocities committed by muslims against Coptic Christians in Egypt illustrate all these points and more. These are not aberrations from the so-called "Religion of Peace." Rather, these are truths about Islamic law (sharia law) which have been put into practice at all times and in every place that Islam has become dominant over the past thirteen hundred years. We must acknowledge these facts about Islam. Denial and obfuscation do not help us in understanding the enormity of the calamity and its importance for our times.

As recent events have demonstrated (seizing of church property by muslim authorities, etc.), the Ecumenical Patriarchate suffers these trials in a perhaps more demeaning way than other Christian bodies under Islamic domination. Perhaps it is time at last for His All Holiness to cede Constantinople to the muslim Turks, pack his bags, and leave the Phanar ghetto behind for the relatively safe (for now) United States.

Here is the link to Mr Spencer's article; the video is embedded in it:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/026126.php

Here is a link to the otherwise excellent full article by Ethan Bronner in the NYT:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/026108.php

I would be glad to provide further articles and sources upon request.

Please feel free to forward this to the parish if you see fit.

in Christ,
Ralph

Essential, Real-Life Ministries

Dear Parish Faithful,

Christ is Risen!


Last Sunday evening, Presvytera Deborah and I were invited to the Warren Correctional Institute by Terry Morgan and Dan Georgescu, to attend a graduation ceremony for the Kairos Weekend Program, also known as a short course in "Practical Christian Living." This was an intense course that lasted from Thursday - Sunday on the grounds of the WCI. Many prisoners may know of Christian teaching, but this program is meant to assist them in taking a much deeper look at the Gospel, to embrace Christ and to seek the forgiveness and grace of God. We heard from some of those who did so at the graduation ceremony on Sunday evening. Articulate or inarticulate, their personal witnesses were all moving. We also heard a good solid talk by the prison warden, Wanda Jackson. While there, we noticed at least one of our posters prepared by our Church School students. This one had recognizable Orthodox crosses and the Jesus Prayer written on it.

Terry's role through the weekend was that of "table clergy," and Dan was a "table servant." Nicholas Georgescu volunteered to be a cook and his contribution was greatly appreciated. Also with us were Bernice Morgan and Cristiana Georgescu. Just this briefest of encounters with the atmosphere of the WCI impressed upon us the great challenges and difficulties of a prison ministry.

We deeply appreciate the efforts of both Terry and Dan in taking on this most difficult of ministries as they represent authentic Orthodox Christianity and our parish at the WCI. May God continue to bless their ongoing work. Let us all keep them in our prayers. Coincidentally, if you go to www.scoba.us you will find an encyclical statement from the Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops in America (SCOBA) on Prison Ministry Awareness Sunday, designated for this coming Sunday, May 24.
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Our appeal for sponsorship of the senoritas at the Hogar in Guatemala received a tremendous response already, and thirteen of the fourteen senoritas are now covered for receiving a special gift from our parish faithful! We deeply appreciate the commitment and concern - together with the generosity - of our sponsors. May God bless your efforts. I am hoping that someone will agree to sponsor one last senorita. Please get back with me if you choose to do so.

We will continue to receive monetary donations for the Hogar on the next two Sundays with a basket by the Cross. There is also a list of other items requested by the Hogar in case someone would like to make a donation from that list. That list has been sent out, but please let me know if you would like to see it again.

These developing, expanding and essential ministries to prisoners (MATT. 25:31-46) and to "abandoned, abused and orphaned children" (DEUT. 24:17, 21; JM. 1:27) are a deeply encouraging sign of spiritual maturity within the parish. It is the application of Gospel principles to real-life situations and needs. I hope our parish circle of participants will continue to grow. And may the Lord continue to bless and strengthen our endeavors.

Fr. Steven