I’m Arab and Christian- why are people always so surprised ?

[Anonymous]

I don't think some people understand that Muslim countries still have pockets of Christians and sometimes up to million to a million and a half Christians.

Some of the Christians in Muslim countries come from very, very ancient sects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People are just ignorant.

This.

I’ve had Arab friends who are Christian, Muslim, Atheist, etc…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of my assistants was Lebanese Christian.

A friend had a Muslim father and Christian mother. He was raised in Iran.

Iranians are not Arab. But I have met Iranian Jews, Zoroastrians, Bahais and other religious minorities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think some people understand that Muslim countries still have pockets of Christians and sometimes up to million to a million and a half Christians.

Some of the Christians in Muslim countries come from very, very ancient sects.

Most of the 1.8 billion Muslims in the world are not Arab. They are from countries like Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc….

Arabs are only about 20% of the world Muslim population.

Interestingly, in India (a predominantly Hindu country) Muslims are about 200 million people which is the third largest Muslim population in the world.

[Anonymous]

My Catholic high school has many Arab girls and about 1/2 were Christian so I actually overestimated how many Arabs were Christians. Then, in college, I met Jewish Arabs from Yemen and Morocco.

[Anonymous]

People aren't too familiar with Coptics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People aren't too familiar with Coptics.

Copts are not Arabs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:European here. Because Americans are deeply, deeply ignorant about what goes on outside their borders, as well as minorities inside their own borders.

I think it's due to the fact that the USA is a vast place and the most powerful country in the world, and has been since WWII ended. People do not feel the need to educate themselves on the rest of the world, because they have enough domestic news to contend with, and don't think they depend on other countries to find jobs (they actually do depend on other countries for rare earths, drugs, semiconductors, foodstuffs, etc, but they don't know that). Their schools teach them that they are the masters of the world. In high school, you'll be lucky to reach the very few that take AP World History, and my son tells me that they don't teach that sort of stuff in there anyway.

In my wealthy European country, we learn about many facts about other nations, and most importantly, the TV news is highly informative, with a large international news segment. It's because we know we depend on other countries! European countries are also much smaller than the USA, so the domestic segment doesn't need to be the only news segment.

I think you are mostly right. I also wonder how you think public schools in the US compare to the education the citizens of your wealthy European country get. Serious question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think some people understand that Muslim countries still have pockets of Christians and sometimes up to million to a million and a half Christians.

Some of the Christians in Muslim countries come from very, very ancient sects.

The title of your post is misleading. Most Christians in the Middle East are not Arab but rather Assyrian, Copt, Armenian, Greek, Chaldean, Aramaic (Syriacs), and Phoenician (as many Lebanese Christians identify).
But you are right, they are very ancient communities. The hatred and persecution they have suffered and continue to suffer from the Arabs is wholly tragic. Pope Francis has often brought attention to this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:European here. Because Americans are deeply, deeply ignorant about what goes on outside their borders, as well as minorities inside their own borders.

I think it's due to the fact that the USA is a vast place and the most powerful country in the world, and has been since WWII ended. People do not feel the need to educate themselves on the rest of the world, because they have enough domestic news to contend with, and don't think they depend on other countries to find jobs (they actually do depend on other countries for rare earths, drugs, semiconductors, foodstuffs, etc, but they don't know that). Their schools teach them that they are the masters of the world. In high school, you'll be lucky to reach the very few that take AP World History, and my son tells me that they don't teach that sort of stuff in there anyway.

In my wealthy European country, we learn about many facts about other nations, and most importantly, the TV news is highly informative, with a large international news segment. It's because we know we depend on other countries! European countries are also much smaller than the USA, so the domestic segment doesn't need to be the only news segment.

Is your country part of NATO? How much does it spend on defense?

I think that’s a valid question. Our “backwater” and “hayseed” citizens in America work very hard and pay taxes that allow America to send millions/billions of dollars in aid to other countries.

Our “backwater” and “hayseed” and “urban” and “ghetto” citizens- the ignorants you are disparaging- enlist in the American military and are sent overseas to participate in training exercises to defend countries like yours.
In fact our hayseeds probably saved your country from Hitler in WW2. If Russia or China attacks your wealthy, educated country- don’t worry. Our hayseeds will save your @sses again- it’s the American way.

Your country doesn’t need to spend billions building a military, defending your borders, etc, because good ol Uncle Sam will save your snooty bacon every. single. time.

[Anonymous]

I’m not surprised - have Palestinian Christian friends and know that there are many Arab Christian Israelis also.

I just wish the Arab Abrahamic religions were better at getting along. It is heart breaking to follow the Gaza conflict .

[Anonymous]

Ok, so, what is the definition of "Arab" then? Obviously based on the coptic comment it isn't just speaking Arabic or some geography.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not surprised - have Palestinian Christian friends and know that there are many Arab Christian Israelis also.

I just wish the Arab Abrahamic religions were better at getting along. It is heart breaking to follow the Gaza conflict .

I am Palestinian Christian and people are always surprised when they find out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, so, what is the definition of "Arab" then? Obviously based on the coptic comment it isn't just speaking Arabic or some geography.

Descendants of one of the indigenous peoples of the Arabian peninsula. Bedouins also aren’t Arabs technically maybe?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you want to feel like we’re all perplexed when we’re actually not. Maybe one person in your life was confused and now you’ve turned it into a thing.

Yes, the first post has a real practiced "It's Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!" vibe. Spring-loaded.