宗教自由:基督徒与狮子_英美文化_趣味英语-查字典英语网

宗教自由:基督徒与狮子

但是，基督教从疲惫的北方向富有活力的南方扩展，并不能预示基督徒在南方的安宁生活。在尼日利亚，几十名基督徒在针对圣诞节祈祷者的伊斯兰炸弹袭击中死亡。在伊朗和巴基斯坦，基督徒因为变节（放弃原来的伊斯兰信仰）或亵渎罪被判死刑。在印尼，几十座教堂被袭击或关闭。在伊拉克，战前基督教人口的三分之二已逃离那里。在埃及和叙利亚，虽然世俗的独裁者多少给了基督徒一些保护，但政治动荡和穆斯林的狂热在威胁着那里历史悠久的基督教团体。此外，穆斯林并不是基督徒遭受磨难的唯一根源。基督教信仰在形式上的共产主义国家中国和越南也受到烦扰。在印度，印度教民族主义者要求惩罚那些变换信仰转为基督徒的人。在耶路撒冷圣地，当地的教堂受到两方面的夹击：以色列人对基督教财产的侵蚀和巴勒斯坦人独占耶路撒冷的要求。耶稣的家乡可能会罕见基督徒了。

Compared both with the wars of religion that once tore Christendom apart and with various modern intra-faith struggles, such as those within Islam, little blood is being spilt. But the brutality matters. Even if Western powers no longer see promoting Christianitys interests as a geopolitical priority, it is hard to imagine American evangelicals ignoring a full-scale clampdown on house churches in China. And whatever their own beliefs, Western voters have other reasons to worry about the fate of Christians. Regimes or societies that persecute Christians tend to oppress other minorities too. Sunni Muslims who demonise Christians loathe Shias. Once religion is involved, any conflict becomes harder to solve.