Does Saudi Arabia Permit Churches and Synogogues?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course SA is oppressive & has terrible human rights. They just earlier this year decided to let women drive cars. And that was a big deal. Women, in particular, have virtually no rights or independence in SA.

Better or worst vs Israel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course SA is oppressive & has terrible human rights. They just earlier this year decided to let women drive cars. And that was a big deal. Women, in particular, have virtually no rights or independence in SA.

Better or worst vs Israel?

Things are measured like that. All have to do better!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:christians are allowed to practice those religions inside the privacy of their own homes in the Kingdom.

Proselytizing by christians is strictly forbidden anywhere in the Kingdom. Penalties can be severe.

Too bad we can't do that here. It would make this a better, less judgemental country.

Agree! Wish all religion was forced behind closed doors.

[Anonymous]

I'd prefer just outlawed altogether.

People plot behind closed doors. And people plotting behind closed doors is a dangerous thing indeed.

[Anonymous]

Saudi Arabia bans a lot. The new king is trying to reform it in increments, as he should. As oil money dries up he recognizes that no one wants to invest or live in a place with institutional bigotry and misogyny, no religious freedom (what if you're a Muslim who doesn't want to be? Too bad...), strict lifestyle restrictions etc. That's why UAE Oman Qatar and Bahrain are booming, because they threw their towel in with west. Even the Saudis with money leave SA as often as possible to go to places with more freedom. As they're all terrified of Iran, if they want to stay unified and allied against Iran SA offers the protection but cultural recognizes that it needs to be more like its freer neighbors. And yes criticize away. The hypocrisy and abuse is abhorrent, but will take time and a variety of pressure to change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course SA is oppressive & has terrible human rights. They just earlier this year decided to let women drive cars. And that was a big deal. Women, in particular, have virtually no rights or independence in SA.

I'm guessing OP cares a lot less about women than he does about Christians.

Big fail. I'm a woman and care that all religions have access to free worship. Christians too (although I'm Jewish).

Figured you were Jewish, OP, and wanted to start something where you could accuse posters of anti-semitism. Kudos to you for not taking the cheap shot.

Qatar is a mess right now, but the King was smart enough to create zones where other religions and -- more importantly -- drinking alcohol is done.

Overall, Middle Eastern countries have rid themselves of Jews, Coptic Christians, Greek Orthodox Christians, Roman Catholics, Zoroastarians, Bahai, and any non-Muslim religion.

Iran, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Jordan, Indonesia, Qatar and Kuwait all have churches and synagogues. Stop pretending you know what your talking about.

[Anonymous]

Of course they don’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course SA is oppressive & has terrible human rights. They just earlier this year decided to let women drive cars. And that was a big deal. Women, in particular, have virtually no rights or independence in SA.

I'm guessing OP cares a lot less about women than he does about Christians.

Big fail. I'm a woman and care that all religions have access to free worship. Christians too (although I'm Jewish).

Figured you were Jewish, OP, and wanted to start something where you could accuse posters of anti-semitism. Kudos to you for not taking the cheap shot.

Qatar is a mess right now, but the King was smart enough to create zones where other religions and -- more importantly -- drinking alcohol is done.

Overall, Middle Eastern countries have rid themselves of Jews, Coptic Christians, Greek Orthodox Christians, Roman Catholics, Zoroastarians, Bahai, and any non-Muslim religion.

Iran, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Jordan, Indonesia, Qatar and Kuwait all have churches and synagogues. Stop pretending you know what your talking about.

Are you sure about Kuwait? Especially with respect to synagogues?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course they don’t.

In answer to OP's question: no, churches and synagogues are strictly forbidden in Saudi Arabia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course they don’t.

In answer to OP's question: no, churches and synagogues are strictly forbidden in Saudi Arabia.

They also confiscate Bibles and western women have to wear the full hijab. So live and let live...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course SA is oppressive & has terrible human rights. They just earlier this year decided to let women drive cars. And that was a big deal. Women, in particular, have virtually no rights or independence in SA.

Then why is Israel the country always criticized for human rights violations? Seems like the Arab countries are worse. From what I've seen, Muslims living in Israel (except the occupied territories) are treated very well. I was there on a Friday, and it was wonderful to see the Muslims worshipping in Old Jerusalem, and then the Jews come out on Friday night to start their day of worship - right in the same place. All peaceful and respectful.

Because anti-semitism is alive and while on the left as well.

Much like sexism makes us find reasons to blame/dismiss women and excuse/believe men, anti-semitism makes us look for any excuse to say the Jews are the cause of any problem that arises wherever they are.

Please look for the thread I plan to open this afternoon, giving a full balance to the Arab-Israeli conflict and the history of the exclusion of Jews from Arab countries, dating back to 1920 and to almost 1 million Jews. I am sick of hearing people attack Israel only with no mention of the horrific treatment Jews experienced from Arab countries as they sought to rid themselves of Jews.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course SA is oppressive & has terrible human rights. They just earlier this year decided to let women drive cars. And that was a big deal. Women, in particular, have virtually no rights or independence in SA.

I'm guessing OP cares a lot less about women than he does about Christians.

Big fail. I'm a woman and care that all religions have access to free worship. Christians too (although I'm Jewish).

Figured you were Jewish, OP, and wanted to start something where you could accuse posters of anti-semitism. Kudos to you for not taking the cheap shot.

Qatar is a mess right now, but the King was smart enough to create zones where other religions and -- more importantly -- drinking alcohol is done.

Overall, Middle Eastern countries have rid themselves of Jews, Coptic Christians, Greek Orthodox Christians, Roman Catholics, Zoroastarians, Bahai, and any non-Muslim religion.

Iran, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Jordan, Indonesia, Qatar and Kuwait all have churches and synagogues. Stop pretending you know what your talking about.

You should follow your own advice, particularly placing Indonesia in the Middle East

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course they don’t.

In answer to OP's question: no, churches and synagogues are strictly forbidden in Saudi Arabia.

They also confiscate Bibles and western women have to wear the full hijab. So live and let live...

Not true (I've been). Non-Muslim women only wear the abaya (the long dress often black and often worn over your normal clothes) and do not have to cover their hair in KSA. Things are a bit more liberal in Jeddah and some women don't even wear an abaya (just dress conservatively). Look at what Ivanka and Michelle O wore during their visits. Very common for what western women wear there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: You should first figure out that Dubai is not in Saudi Arabia.

Of course I know Dubai is not in SA! (Good attempt at a putdown, but fail) That's why I asked about Dubai, in addition to my question about SA.

FWIW, I've also heard Dubai is also unwelcoming to Jews, and it was a related thought. I'm trying to identify which Arab countries welcome Jews, and I heard that the United Arab Emirates was pretty bad too.

Dubai is very different. The government there gives land to churches and will fund their construction. Christmas is widely celebrated and there is a huge amount of tolerance and encouragement. I don’t think there is currently an active synagogue there though there was one in the early 00s. That was government funded too.

OP here. You seem knowledgeable this, so may I ask....I have heard a rumor that American Jews cannot visit Dubai if they have visited Israel in the past (as would show by their passport). Do you know if that is true?

That’s not true at all. Unless it’s changed in the past year or two. When I lived there only two countries of the GCC denied entry on the basis of having and Israeli entry stamp - KSA and Kuwait.

That is still true. Lebanon also denies entry to those with Israeli stamps. The UAE will also occasionally grant visas to Israelis.

My work also sent a Jewish person into KSA for a project and the Saudis were totally fine with him (they were educated Saudis).

There is a decent sized Jewish community in the UAE. I don't think there are formal synagogues there but I'm sure there are some home-based ones. There is no issue with Jewish people entering the UAE. Their beef is not with Jews, it's with Israel so it's a political thing and not a religious one. The Koran states that Muslim men can marry Christians and Jews (but Muslim women can't do the same).

There are vibrant and churches in the open in the UAE and 'pastor' is a valid visa job title (so there are full time church staff). The government donates land and the royal family is very supportive of the Christian community. For example one of the Sheikas recently flew all the pastors in the country to an archeological site where the earliest Christian settlement in the area was found. Qatar allows churches but they don't allow full-time pastors to be on visas there (so they rely on laypeople to volunteer and for visiting pastors to preach). As mentioned KSA churches are home-based with no pastors/ priests on valid work visas as a full-time job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: You should first figure out that Dubai is not in Saudi Arabia.

Of course I know Dubai is not in SA! (Good attempt at a putdown, but fail) That's why I asked about Dubai, in addition to my question about SA.

FWIW, I've also heard Dubai is also unwelcoming to Jews, and it was a related thought. I'm trying to identify which Arab countries welcome Jews, and I heard that the United Arab Emirates was pretty bad too.

Dubai is very different. The government there gives land to churches and will fund their construction. Christmas is widely celebrated and there is a huge amount of tolerance and encouragement. I don’t think there is currently an active synagogue there though there was one in the early 00s. That was government funded too.

OP here. You seem knowledgeable this, so may I ask....I have heard a rumor that American Jews cannot visit Dubai if they have visited Israel in the past (as would show by their passport). Do you know if that is true?

That’s not true at all. Unless it’s changed in the past year or two. When I lived there only two countries of the GCC denied entry on the basis of having and Israeli entry stamp - KSA and Kuwait.

That is still true. Lebanon also denies entry to those with Israeli stamps. The UAE will also occasionally grant visas to Israelis.

My work also sent a Jewish person into KSA for a project and the Saudis were totally fine with him (they were educated Saudis).

There is a decent sized Jewish community in the UAE. I don't think there are formal synagogues there but I'm sure there are some home-based ones. There is no issue with Jewish people entering the UAE. Their beef is not with Jews, it's with Israel so it's a political thing and not a religious one. The Koran states that Muslim men can marry Christians and Jews (but Muslim women can't do the same).

There are vibrant and churches in the open in the UAE and 'pastor' is a valid visa job title (so there are full time church staff). The government donates land and the royal family is very supportive of the Christian community. For example one of the Sheikas recently flew all the pastors in the country to an archeological site where the earliest Christian settlement in the area was found. Qatar allows churches but they don't allow full-time pastors to be on visas there (so they rely on laypeople to volunteer and for visiting pastors to preach). As mentioned KSA churches are home-based with no pastors/ priests on valid work visas as a full-time job.

What about Hindus in the KSA?