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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP here. Christians in the Arab countries of the Middle East are Arabs! I know many Lebanese Christians who will tell me - in plain Arabic - they are not Arab, they are Pheonician. Several DNA studies have shown that both Lebanese Muslims and Christians are descendant from the Phoenicians but somehow Lebanese Christian’s want to distance themselves from the Arabs because of the common misconception than Arabs are mostly Muslim.

LOL.
I’ll take their word regarding what they are over yours. Go label someone else.

I am Coptic and I tell people my parents are Egyptian. People barely understand where Egypt is, much less what Coptic means and I’m not getting into sectarian divides with acquaintances and strangers.

You have to remember that the Lebanese went through a very traumatic sectarian war recently and many people from these other groups faced really heinous treatment from the Muslim majority and thus refuse to identify as Arabs. A lot of Coptic people refuse to identify as Arab as well but I find it somewhat silly. My parents have more in common with a Lebanese Muslim than an American baptist.

In the recent past Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan all have brutally oppressed their Christian minorities.

Please give examples. This is the second time you have alleged this and you cited it as the reason for Christian emigration. If Christians were so oppressed in that area, why did so many Armenians emigrate to the Middle East when facing persecution in Turkey?

FYI, neither Christian nor Muslim Arabs were big fans of the Ottomans; Christians were not singled out by Ottoman authorities.

In fact, Christian emigration from the Levant began in the 19th century for economic reasons. You can see this especially in the last names of prominent people from South America.

But you see it here too. For example the Sununus of New Hampshire, whom I am sure our "I've never met a Christian Arab" poster does not recognize as Arab.

Are you claiming that Middle Eastern Christians are not persecuted? This is easily disproven by anyone who can use google.

There have been incidents in Egypt and of course ISIS was crazy. But popular appeal of Islamic nationalism stuff came in reaction to the founding of Israel and loss of Arab territory (in which many Christians lived), particularly after 1967. Please cite evidence of Christian persecution before this, true persecution, not things like Muslims not being allowed to convert, which Arab Christians don't really care about.

DH is an Arab Christian, who lived in his Middle Eastern homeland the majority of his life. He and his family have never felt persecuted, nor have they ever referred to any historical instances of Christian persecution.

Coptic poster and I don’t think the issue is that Arab Christians don’t “care” about this, it’s that citizens of these countries are dealing with highly dysfunctional governments and so many significant problems that this is a relatively minor issue in the grand scheme.

In reality not being allowed to decide your own religion is a significant encroachment on your freedom as a human being. If you are born Muslim in one of these countries you can never stop being Muslim- you can’t for example choose atheist or no religion on your documents. You will be forced to follow Muslim inheritance law and marriage law even if you don’t particularly agree with it or the Christian option appeals to you more. If you want to marry someone of a different faith it is highly complicated and there are many dramatic instances where people’s families murder them for falling in love with someone of a different religion.

The levels of discrimination and “persecution” minorities face in the Middle East spans a huge spectrum and people from the same country can have wildly different experiences. There are Christians who have close relationships with Muslim friends and neighbors and never really feel “persecuted” and there are people from villages where the entire Christian community was purged and forced to leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP here. Christians in the Arab countries of the Middle East are Arabs! I know many Lebanese Christians who will tell me - in plain Arabic - they are not Arab, they are Pheonician. Several DNA studies have shown that both Lebanese Muslims and Christians are descendant from the Phoenicians but somehow Lebanese Christian’s want to distance themselves from the Arabs because of the common misconception than Arabs are mostly Muslim.

LOL.
I’ll take their word regarding what they are over yours. Go label someone else.

I am Coptic and I tell people my parents are Egyptian. People barely understand where Egypt is, much less what Coptic means and I’m not getting into sectarian divides with acquaintances and strangers.

You have to remember that the Lebanese went through a very traumatic sectarian war recently and many people from these other groups faced really heinous treatment from the Muslim majority and thus refuse to identify as Arabs. A lot of Coptic people refuse to identify as Arab as well but I find it somewhat silly. My parents have more in common with a Lebanese Muslim than an American baptist.

In the recent past Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan all have brutally oppressed their Christian minorities.

Please give examples. This is the second time you have alleged this and you cited it as the reason for Christian emigration. If Christians were so oppressed in that area, why did so many Armenians emigrate to the Middle East when facing persecution in Turkey?

FYI, neither Christian nor Muslim Arabs were big fans of the Ottomans; Christians were not singled out by Ottoman authorities.

In fact, Christian emigration from the Levant began in the 19th century for economic reasons. You can see this especially in the last names of prominent people from South America.

But you see it here too. For example the Sununus of New Hampshire, whom I am sure our "I've never met a Christian Arab" poster does not recognize as Arab.

Are you claiming that Middle Eastern Christians are not persecuted? This is easily disproven by anyone who can use google.

There have been incidents in Egypt and of course ISIS was crazy. But popular appeal of Islamic nationalism stuff came in reaction to the founding of Israel and loss of Arab territory (in which many Christians lived), particularly after 1967. Please cite evidence of Christian persecution before this, true persecution, not things like Muslims not being allowed to convert, which Arab Christians don't really care about.

DH is an Arab Christian, who lived in his Middle Eastern homeland the majority of his life. He and his family have never felt persecuted, nor have they ever referred to any historical instances of Christian persecution.

Oh that’s right, Muslim oppression of Christian minorities is the Jew’s fault!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP here. Christians in the Arab countries of the Middle East are Arabs! I know many Lebanese Christians who will tell me - in plain Arabic - they are not Arab, they are Pheonician. Several DNA studies have shown that both Lebanese Muslims and Christians are descendant from the Phoenicians but somehow Lebanese Christian’s want to distance themselves from the Arabs because of the common misconception than Arabs are mostly Muslim.

LOL.
I’ll take their word regarding what they are over yours. Go label someone else.

I am Coptic and I tell people my parents are Egyptian. People barely understand where Egypt is, much less what Coptic means and I’m not getting into sectarian divides with acquaintances and strangers.

You have to remember that the Lebanese went through a very traumatic sectarian war recently and many people from these other groups faced really heinous treatment from the Muslim majority and thus refuse to identify as Arabs. A lot of Coptic people refuse to identify as Arab as well but I find it somewhat silly. My parents have more in common with a Lebanese Muslim than an American baptist.

In the recent past Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan all have brutally oppressed their Christian minorities.

Please give examples. This is the second time you have alleged this and you cited it as the reason for Christian emigration. If Christians were so oppressed in that area, why did so many Armenians emigrate to the Middle East when facing persecution in Turkey?

FYI, neither Christian nor Muslim Arabs were big fans of the Ottomans; Christians were not singled out by Ottoman authorities.

In fact, Christian emigration from the Levant began in the 19th century for economic reasons. You can see this especially in the last names of prominent people from South America.

But you see it here too. For example the Sununus of New Hampshire, whom I am sure our "I've never met a Christian Arab" poster does not recognize as Arab.

Are you claiming that Middle Eastern Christians are not persecuted? This is easily disproven by anyone who can use google.

There have been incidents in Egypt and of course ISIS was crazy. But popular appeal of Islamic nationalism stuff came in reaction to the founding of Israel and loss of Arab territory (in which many Christians lived), particularly after 1967. Please cite evidence of Christian persecution before this, true persecution, not things like Muslims not being allowed to convert, which Arab Christians don't really care about.

DH is an Arab Christian, who lived in his Middle Eastern homeland the majority of his life. He and his family have never felt persecuted, nor have they ever referred to any historical instances of Christian persecution.

Oh that’s right, Muslim oppression of Christian minorities is the Jew’s fault!

No, you are purposely misunderstanding and besides you have been unable to cite incidents of Muslim persecution of Christians since 1948. Coptic PP has cited references to sad incidents in some Egyptian villages, but these are not government operations.

Freedom to choose your religion is definitely a fraught issue as religion has largely been seen as something you are born with in the Middle East, with exception to conversion to Islam, which historically was an effort to root out paganism. But freedom to practice your (monotheistic) religion has been widely respected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP here. Christians in the Arab countries of the Middle East are Arabs! I know many Lebanese Christians who will tell me - in plain Arabic - they are not Arab, they are Pheonician. Several DNA studies have shown that both Lebanese Muslims and Christians are descendant from the Phoenicians but somehow Lebanese Christian’s want to distance themselves from the Arabs because of the common misconception than Arabs are mostly Muslim.

LOL.
I’ll take their word regarding what they are over yours. Go label someone else.

I am Coptic and I tell people my parents are Egyptian. People barely understand where Egypt is, much less what Coptic means and I’m not getting into sectarian divides with acquaintances and strangers.

You have to remember that the Lebanese went through a very traumatic sectarian war recently and many people from these other groups faced really heinous treatment from the Muslim majority and thus refuse to identify as Arabs. A lot of Coptic people refuse to identify as Arab as well but I find it somewhat silly. My parents have more in common with a Lebanese Muslim than an American baptist.

In the recent past Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan all have brutally oppressed their Christian minorities.

Please give examples. This is the second time you have alleged this and you cited it as the reason for Christian emigration. If Christians were so oppressed in that area, why did so many Armenians emigrate to the Middle East when facing persecution in Turkey?

FYI, neither Christian nor Muslim Arabs were big fans of the Ottomans; Christians were not singled out by Ottoman authorities.

In fact, Christian emigration from the Levant began in the 19th century for economic reasons. You can see this especially in the last names of prominent people from South America.

But you see it here too. For example the Sununus of New Hampshire, whom I am sure our "I've never met a Christian Arab" poster does not recognize as Arab.

Are you claiming that Middle Eastern Christians are not persecuted? This is easily disproven by anyone who can use google.

There have been incidents in Egypt and of course ISIS was crazy. But popular appeal of Islamic nationalism stuff came in reaction to the founding of Israel and loss of Arab territory (in which many Christians lived), particularly after 1967. Please cite evidence of Christian persecution before this, true persecution, not things like Muslims not being allowed to convert, which Arab Christians don't really care about.

DH is an Arab Christian, who lived in his Middle Eastern homeland the majority of his life. He and his family have never felt persecuted, nor have they ever referred to any historical instances of Christian persecution.

Oh that’s right, Muslim oppression of Christian minorities is the Jew’s fault!

No, you are purposely misunderstanding and besides you have been unable to cite incidents of Muslim persecution of Christians since 1948. Coptic PP has cited references to sad incidents in some Egyptian villages, but these are not government operations.

Freedom to choose your religion is definitely a fraught issue as religion has largely been seen as something you are born with in the Middle East, with exception to conversion to Islam, which historically was an effort to root out paganism. But freedom to practice your (monotheistic) religion has been widely respected.

So in other words, Muslims must stay Muslims and can't become anything else because that is what is tradition in the Middle East, but non Muslims are free to covert to Islam, as it is good to root out other religions. Got it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP here. Christians in the Arab countries of the Middle East are Arabs! I know many Lebanese Christians who will tell me - in plain Arabic - they are not Arab, they are Pheonician. Several DNA studies have shown that both Lebanese Muslims and Christians are descendant from the Phoenicians but somehow Lebanese Christian’s want to distance themselves from the Arabs because of the common misconception than Arabs are mostly Muslim.

LOL.
I’ll take their word regarding what they are over yours. Go label someone else.

I am Coptic and I tell people my parents are Egyptian. People barely understand where Egypt is, much less what Coptic means and I’m not getting into sectarian divides with acquaintances and strangers.

You have to remember that the Lebanese went through a very traumatic sectarian war recently and many people from these other groups faced really heinous treatment from the Muslim majority and thus refuse to identify as Arabs. A lot of Coptic people refuse to identify as Arab as well but I find it somewhat silly. My parents have more in common with a Lebanese Muslim than an American baptist.

In the recent past Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan all have brutally oppressed their Christian minorities.

Pp you are responding to. You mean the governments of those countries? How so?

PP won't give any cites because they don't exist.

Have Muslim Arabs ever done anything wrong? Have they ever made any mistakes? Ever? They have never been violent toward anyone? Ever?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP here. Christians in the Arab countries of the Middle East are Arabs! I know many Lebanese Christians who will tell me - in plain Arabic - they are not Arab, they are Pheonician. Several DNA studies have shown that both Lebanese Muslims and Christians are descendant from the Phoenicians but somehow Lebanese Christian’s want to distance themselves from the Arabs because of the common misconception than Arabs are mostly Muslim.

LOL.
I’ll take their word regarding what they are over yours. Go label someone else.

I am Coptic and I tell people my parents are Egyptian. People barely understand where Egypt is, much less what Coptic means and I’m not getting into sectarian divides with acquaintances and strangers.

You have to remember that the Lebanese went through a very traumatic sectarian war recently and many people from these other groups faced really heinous treatment from the Muslim majority and thus refuse to identify as Arabs. A lot of Coptic people refuse to identify as Arab as well but I find it somewhat silly. My parents have more in common with a Lebanese Muslim than an American baptist.

In the recent past Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan all have brutally oppressed their Christian minorities.

Please give examples. This is the second time you have alleged this and you cited it as the reason for Christian emigration. If Christians were so oppressed in that area, why did so many Armenians emigrate to the Middle East when facing persecution in Turkey?

FYI, neither Christian nor Muslim Arabs were big fans of the Ottomans; Christians were not singled out by Ottoman authorities.

In fact, Christian emigration from the Levant began in the 19th century for economic reasons. You can see this especially in the last names of prominent people from South America.

But you see it here too. For example the Sununus of New Hampshire, whom I am sure our "I've never met a Christian Arab" poster does not recognize as Arab.

Are you claiming that Middle Eastern Christians are not persecuted? This is easily disproven by anyone who can use google.

There have been incidents in Egypt and of course ISIS was crazy. But popular appeal of Islamic nationalism stuff came in reaction to the founding of Israel and loss of Arab territory (in which many Christians lived), particularly after 1967. Please cite evidence of Christian persecution before this, true persecution, not things like Muslims not being allowed to convert, which Arab Christians don't really care about.

DH is an Arab Christian, who lived in his Middle Eastern homeland the majority of his life. He and his family have never felt persecuted, nor have they ever referred to any historical instances of Christian persecution.

Oh that’s right, Muslim oppression of Christian minorities is the Jew’s fault!

No, you are purposely misunderstanding and besides you have been unable to cite incidents of Muslim persecution of Christians since 1948. Coptic PP has cited references to sad incidents in some Egyptian villages, but these are not government operations.

Freedom to choose your religion is definitely a fraught issue as religion has largely been seen as something you are born with in the Middle East, with exception to conversion to Islam, which historically was an effort to root out paganism. But freedom to practice your (monotheistic) religion has been widely respected.

So it’s the fault of the Jews.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP here. Christians in the Arab countries of the Middle East are Arabs! I know many Lebanese Christians who will tell me - in plain Arabic - they are not Arab, they are Pheonician. Several DNA studies have shown that both Lebanese Muslims and Christians are descendant from the Phoenicians but somehow Lebanese Christian’s want to distance themselves from the Arabs because of the common misconception than Arabs are mostly Muslim.

LOL.
I’ll take their word regarding what they are over yours. Go label someone else.

I am Coptic and I tell people my parents are Egyptian. People barely understand where Egypt is, much less what Coptic means and I’m not getting into sectarian divides with acquaintances and strangers.

You have to remember that the Lebanese went through a very traumatic sectarian war recently and many people from these other groups faced really heinous treatment from the Muslim majority and thus refuse to identify as Arabs. A lot of Coptic people refuse to identify as Arab as well but I find it somewhat silly. My parents have more in common with a Lebanese Muslim than an American baptist.

In the recent past Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan all have brutally oppressed their Christian minorities.

Please give examples. This is the second time you have alleged this and you cited it as the reason for Christian emigration. If Christians were so oppressed in that area, why did so many Armenians emigrate to the Middle East when facing persecution in Turkey?

FYI, neither Christian nor Muslim Arabs were big fans of the Ottomans; Christians were not singled out by Ottoman authorities.

In fact, Christian emigration from the Levant began in the 19th century for economic reasons. You can see this especially in the last names of prominent people from South America.

But you see it here too. For example the Sununus of New Hampshire, whom I am sure our "I've never met a Christian Arab" poster does not recognize as Arab.

Are you claiming that Middle Eastern Christians are not persecuted? This is easily disproven by anyone who can use google.

There have been incidents in Egypt and of course ISIS was crazy. But popular appeal of Islamic nationalism stuff came in reaction to the founding of Israel and loss of Arab territory (in which many Christians lived), particularly after 1967. Please cite evidence of Christian persecution before this, true persecution, not things like Muslims not being allowed to convert, which Arab Christians don't really care about.

DH is an Arab Christian, who lived in his Middle Eastern homeland the majority of his life. He and his family have never felt persecuted, nor have they ever referred to any historical instances of Christian persecution.

Why should ISIS be dismissed as an afterthought just because mentioning it doesn't fit your narrative? Yes, ISIS is an example of a group containing Muslim Arabs that persecuted Middle Eastern Christians.

Muslims not being able to convert is the definition of persecution. People who in their heart are called to be Christians are told they are not allowed to do so. Of course Arab Christians care about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP here. Christians in the Arab countries of the Middle East are Arabs! I know many Lebanese Christians who will tell me - in plain Arabic - they are not Arab, they are Pheonician. Several DNA studies have shown that both Lebanese Muslims and Christians are descendant from the Phoenicians but somehow Lebanese Christian’s want to distance themselves from the Arabs because of the common misconception than Arabs are mostly Muslim.

LOL.
I’ll take their word regarding what they are over yours. Go label someone else.

I am Coptic and I tell people my parents are Egyptian. People barely understand where Egypt is, much less what Coptic means and I’m not getting into sectarian divides with acquaintances and strangers.

You have to remember that the Lebanese went through a very traumatic sectarian war recently and many people from these other groups faced really heinous treatment from the Muslim majority and thus refuse to identify as Arabs. A lot of Coptic people refuse to identify as Arab as well but I find it somewhat silly. My parents have more in common with a Lebanese Muslim than an American baptist.

In the recent past Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan all have brutally oppressed their Christian minorities.

Please give examples. This is the second time you have alleged this and you cited it as the reason for Christian emigration. If Christians were so oppressed in that area, why did so many Armenians emigrate to the Middle East when facing persecution in Turkey?

FYI, neither Christian nor Muslim Arabs were big fans of the Ottomans; Christians were not singled out by Ottoman authorities.

In fact, Christian emigration from the Levant began in the 19th century for economic reasons. You can see this especially in the last names of prominent people from South America.

But you see it here too. For example the Sununus of New Hampshire, whom I am sure our "I've never met a Christian Arab" poster does not recognize as Arab.

Are you claiming that Middle Eastern Christians are not persecuted? This is easily disproven by anyone who can use google.

There have been incidents in Egypt and of course ISIS was crazy. But popular appeal of Islamic nationalism stuff came in reaction to the founding of Israel and loss of Arab territory (in which many Christians lived), particularly after 1967. Please cite evidence of Christian persecution before this, true persecution, not things like Muslims not being allowed to convert, which Arab Christians don't really care about.

DH is an Arab Christian, who lived in his Middle Eastern homeland the majority of his life. He and his family have never felt persecuted, nor have they ever referred to any historical instances of Christian persecution.

Oh that’s right, Muslim oppression of Christian minorities is the Jew’s fault!

No, you are purposely misunderstanding and besides you have been unable to cite incidents of Muslim persecution of Christians since 1948. Coptic PP has cited references to sad incidents in some Egyptian villages, but these are not government operations.

Freedom to choose your religion is definitely a fraught issue as religion has largely been seen as something you are born with in the Middle East, with exception to conversion to Islam, which historically was an effort to root out paganism. But freedom to practice your (monotheistic) religion has been widely respected.

You must have missed the Armenian genocide?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP here. Christians in the Arab countries of the Middle East are Arabs! I know many Lebanese Christians who will tell me - in plain Arabic - they are not Arab, they are Pheonician. Several DNA studies have shown that both Lebanese Muslims and Christians are descendant from the Phoenicians but somehow Lebanese Christian’s want to distance themselves from the Arabs because of the common misconception than Arabs are mostly Muslim.

LOL.
I’ll take their word regarding what they are over yours. Go label someone else.

I am Coptic and I tell people my parents are Egyptian. People barely understand where Egypt is, much less what Coptic means and I’m not getting into sectarian divides with acquaintances and strangers.

You have to remember that the Lebanese went through a very traumatic sectarian war recently and many people from these other groups faced really heinous treatment from the Muslim majority and thus refuse to identify as Arabs. A lot of Coptic people refuse to identify as Arab as well but I find it somewhat silly. My parents have more in common with a Lebanese Muslim than an American baptist.

In the recent past Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan all have brutally oppressed their Christian minorities.

Please give examples. This is the second time you have alleged this and you cited it as the reason for Christian emigration. If Christians were so oppressed in that area, why did so many Armenians emigrate to the Middle East when facing persecution in Turkey?

FYI, neither Christian nor Muslim Arabs were big fans of the Ottomans; Christians were not singled out by Ottoman authorities.

In fact, Christian emigration from the Levant began in the 19th century for economic reasons. You can see this especially in the last names of prominent people from South America.

But you see it here too. For example the Sununus of New Hampshire, whom I am sure our "I've never met a Christian Arab" poster does not recognize as Arab.

Are you claiming that Middle Eastern Christians are not persecuted? This is easily disproven by anyone who can use google.

There have been incidents in Egypt and of course ISIS was crazy. But popular appeal of Islamic nationalism stuff came in reaction to the founding of Israel and loss of Arab territory (in which many Christians lived), particularly after 1967. Please cite evidence of Christian persecution before this, true persecution, not things like Muslims not being allowed to convert, which Arab Christians don't really care about.

DH is an Arab Christian, who lived in his Middle Eastern homeland the majority of his life. He and his family have never felt persecuted, nor have they ever referred to any historical instances of Christian persecution.

Oh that’s right, Muslim oppression of Christian minorities is the Jew’s fault!

No, you are purposely misunderstanding and besides you have been unable to cite incidents of Muslim persecution of Christians since 1948. Coptic PP has cited references to sad incidents in some Egyptian villages, but these are not government operations.

Freedom to choose your religion is definitely a fraught issue as religion has largely been seen as something you are born with in the Middle East, with exception to conversion to Islam, which historically was an effort to root out paganism. But freedom to practice your (monotheistic) religion has been widely respected.

So it’s the fault of the Jews.

Of course, Arab Muslims are never responsible for their own behavor. Along with terrorism, elements of religious fanaticism among them is the fault of the existence of Israelis in their midst. They have no self control over anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP here. Christians in the Arab countries of the Middle East are Arabs! I know many Lebanese Christians who will tell me - in plain Arabic - they are not Arab, they are Pheonician. Several DNA studies have shown that both Lebanese Muslims and Christians are descendant from the Phoenicians but somehow Lebanese Christian’s want to distance themselves from the Arabs because of the common misconception than Arabs are mostly Muslim.

LOL.
I’ll take their word regarding what they are over yours. Go label someone else.

I am Coptic and I tell people my parents are Egyptian. People barely understand where Egypt is, much less what Coptic means and I’m not getting into sectarian divides with acquaintances and strangers.

You have to remember that the Lebanese went through a very traumatic sectarian war recently and many people from these other groups faced really heinous treatment from the Muslim majority and thus refuse to identify as Arabs. A lot of Coptic people refuse to identify as Arab as well but I find it somewhat silly. My parents have more in common with a Lebanese Muslim than an American baptist.

In the recent past Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan all have brutally oppressed their Christian minorities.

Please give examples. This is the second time you have alleged this and you cited it as the reason for Christian emigration. If Christians were so oppressed in that area, why did so many Armenians emigrate to the Middle East when facing persecution in Turkey?

FYI, neither Christian nor Muslim Arabs were big fans of the Ottomans; Christians were not singled out by Ottoman authorities.

In fact, Christian emigration from the Levant began in the 19th century for economic reasons. You can see this especially in the last names of prominent people from South America.

But you see it here too. For example the Sununus of New Hampshire, whom I am sure our "I've never met a Christian Arab" poster does not recognize as Arab.

Are you claiming that Middle Eastern Christians are not persecuted? This is easily disproven by anyone who can use google.

There have been incidents in Egypt and of course ISIS was crazy. But popular appeal of Islamic nationalism stuff came in reaction to the founding of Israel and loss of Arab territory (in which many Christians lived), particularly after 1967. Please cite evidence of Christian persecution before this, true persecution, not things like Muslims not being allowed to convert, which Arab Christians don't really care about.

DH is an Arab Christian, who lived in his Middle Eastern homeland the majority of his life. He and his family have never felt persecuted, nor have they ever referred to any historical instances of Christian persecution.

Oh that’s right, Muslim oppression of Christian minorities is the Jew’s fault!

No, you are purposely misunderstanding and besides you have been unable to cite incidents of Muslim persecution of Christians since 1948. Coptic PP has cited references to sad incidents in some Egyptian villages, but these are not government operations.

Freedom to choose your religion is definitely a fraught issue as religion has largely been seen as something you are born with in the Middle East, with exception to conversion to Islam, which historically was an effort to root out paganism. But freedom to practice your (monotheistic) religion has been widely respected.

You must have missed the Armenian genocide?

You mean the genocide in Turkey that forced large numbers of Armenians to flee to the Levant where they could live without fear of persecution?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP here. Christians in the Arab countries of the Middle East are Arabs! I know many Lebanese Christians who will tell me - in plain Arabic - they are not Arab, they are Pheonician. Several DNA studies have shown that both Lebanese Muslims and Christians are descendant from the Phoenicians but somehow Lebanese Christian’s want to distance themselves from the Arabs because of the common misconception than Arabs are mostly Muslim.

LOL.
I’ll take their word regarding what they are over yours. Go label someone else.

I am Coptic and I tell people my parents are Egyptian. People barely understand where Egypt is, much less what Coptic means and I’m not getting into sectarian divides with acquaintances and strangers.

You have to remember that the Lebanese went through a very traumatic sectarian war recently and many people from these other groups faced really heinous treatment from the Muslim majority and thus refuse to identify as Arabs. A lot of Coptic people refuse to identify as Arab as well but I find it somewhat silly. My parents have more in common with a Lebanese Muslim than an American baptist.

In the recent past Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan all have brutally oppressed their Christian minorities.

Please give examples. This is the second time you have alleged this and you cited it as the reason for Christian emigration. If Christians were so oppressed in that area, why did so many Armenians emigrate to the Middle East when facing persecution in Turkey?

FYI, neither Christian nor Muslim Arabs were big fans of the Ottomans; Christians were not singled out by Ottoman authorities.

In fact, Christian emigration from the Levant began in the 19th century for economic reasons. You can see this especially in the last names of prominent people from South America.

But you see it here too. For example the Sununus of New Hampshire, whom I am sure our "I've never met a Christian Arab" poster does not recognize as Arab.

Are you claiming that Middle Eastern Christians are not persecuted? This is easily disproven by anyone who can use google.

There have been incidents in Egypt and of course ISIS was crazy. But popular appeal of Islamic nationalism stuff came in reaction to the founding of Israel and loss of Arab territory (in which many Christians lived), particularly after 1967. Please cite evidence of Christian persecution before this, true persecution, not things like Muslims not being allowed to convert, which Arab Christians don't really care about.

DH is an Arab Christian, who lived in his Middle Eastern homeland the majority of his life. He and his family have never felt persecuted, nor have they ever referred to any historical instances of Christian persecution.

Oh that’s right, Muslim oppression of Christian minorities is the Jew’s fault!

No, you are purposely misunderstanding and besides you have been unable to cite incidents of Muslim persecution of Christians since 1948. Coptic PP has cited references to sad incidents in some Egyptian villages, but these are not government operations.

Freedom to choose your religion is definitely a fraught issue as religion has largely been seen as something you are born with in the Middle East, with exception to conversion to Islam, which historically was an effort to root out paganism. But freedom to practice your (monotheistic) religion has been widely respected.

So in other words, Muslims must stay Muslims and can't become anything else because that is what is tradition in the Middle East, but non Muslims are free to covert to Islam, as it is good to root out other religions. Got it.

Not quite. There's the jizya tax, but people of the book (the Bible) like Christians and Jews are allowed to exist under Islam, they just can't take converts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP here. Christians in the Arab countries of the Middle East are Arabs! I know many Lebanese Christians who will tell me - in plain Arabic - they are not Arab, they are Pheonician. Several DNA studies have shown that both Lebanese Muslims and Christians are descendant from the Phoenicians but somehow Lebanese Christian’s want to distance themselves from the Arabs because of the common misconception than Arabs are mostly Muslim.

LOL.
I’ll take their word regarding what they are over yours. Go label someone else.

I am Coptic and I tell people my parents are Egyptian. People barely understand where Egypt is, much less what Coptic means and I’m not getting into sectarian divides with acquaintances and strangers.

You have to remember that the Lebanese went through a very traumatic sectarian war recently and many people from these other groups faced really heinous treatment from the Muslim majority and thus refuse to identify as Arabs. A lot of Coptic people refuse to identify as Arab as well but I find it somewhat silly. My parents have more in common with a Lebanese Muslim than an American baptist.

In the recent past Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan all have brutally oppressed their Christian minorities.

Please give examples. This is the second time you have alleged this and you cited it as the reason for Christian emigration. If Christians were so oppressed in that area, why did so many Armenians emigrate to the Middle East when facing persecution in Turkey?

FYI, neither Christian nor Muslim Arabs were big fans of the Ottomans; Christians were not singled out by Ottoman authorities.

In fact, Christian emigration from the Levant began in the 19th century for economic reasons. You can see this especially in the last names of prominent people from South America.

But you see it here too. For example the Sununus of New Hampshire, whom I am sure our "I've never met a Christian Arab" poster does not recognize as Arab.

Are you claiming that Middle Eastern Christians are not persecuted? This is easily disproven by anyone who can use google.

There have been incidents in Egypt and of course ISIS was crazy. But popular appeal of Islamic nationalism stuff came in reaction to the founding of Israel and loss of Arab territory (in which many Christians lived), particularly after 1967. Please cite evidence of Christian persecution before this, true persecution, not things like Muslims not being allowed to convert, which Arab Christians don't really care about.

DH is an Arab Christian, who lived in his Middle Eastern homeland the majority of his life. He and his family have never felt persecuted, nor have they ever referred to any historical instances of Christian persecution.

Why should ISIS be dismissed as an afterthought just because mentioning it doesn't fit your narrative? Yes, ISIS is an example of a group containing Muslim Arabs that persecuted Middle Eastern Christians.

Muslims not being able to convert is the definition of persecution. People who in their heart are called to be Christians are told they are not allowed to do so. Of course Arab Christians care about this.

I personally don't know any Arab Christians that spend any time even thinking about this as persecution because, for better or for worse, religion is taken as something you are born with, a sort of inherited trait if you will. Much as Judaism is something you are born with, the difference being that it comes from the mother's line, not the father's as it does among Arabs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP here. Christians in the Arab countries of the Middle East are Arabs! I know many Lebanese Christians who will tell me - in plain Arabic - they are not Arab, they are Pheonician. Several DNA studies have shown that both Lebanese Muslims and Christians are descendant from the Phoenicians but somehow Lebanese Christian’s want to distance themselves from the Arabs because of the common misconception than Arabs are mostly Muslim.

LOL.
I’ll take their word regarding what they are over yours. Go label someone else.

I am Coptic and I tell people my parents are Egyptian. People barely understand where Egypt is, much less what Coptic means and I’m not getting into sectarian divides with acquaintances and strangers.

You have to remember that the Lebanese went through a very traumatic sectarian war recently and many people from these other groups faced really heinous treatment from the Muslim majority and thus refuse to identify as Arabs. A lot of Coptic people refuse to identify as Arab as well but I find it somewhat silly. My parents have more in common with a Lebanese Muslim than an American baptist.

In the recent past Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan all have brutally oppressed their Christian minorities.

Pp you are responding to. You mean the governments of those countries? How so?

PP won't give any cites because they don't exist.

I am not the previous poster.

There is literally an entire section of Wikipedia devoted to the persecution of Christians in the Middle East.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP here. Christians in the Arab countries of the Middle East are Arabs! I know many Lebanese Christians who will tell me - in plain Arabic - they are not Arab, they are Pheonician. Several DNA studies have shown that both Lebanese Muslims and Christians are descendant from the Phoenicians but somehow Lebanese Christian’s want to distance themselves from the Arabs because of the common misconception than Arabs are mostly Muslim.

LOL.
I’ll take their word regarding what they are over yours. Go label someone else.

I am Coptic and I tell people my parents are Egyptian. People barely understand where Egypt is, much less what Coptic means and I’m not getting into sectarian divides with acquaintances and strangers.

You have to remember that the Lebanese went through a very traumatic sectarian war recently and many people from these other groups faced really heinous treatment from the Muslim majority and thus refuse to identify as Arabs. A lot of Coptic people refuse to identify as Arab as well but I find it somewhat silly. My parents have more in common with a Lebanese Muslim than an American baptist.

In the recent past Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan all have brutally oppressed their Christian minorities.

Please give examples. This is the second time you have alleged this and you cited it as the reason for Christian emigration. If Christians were so oppressed in that area, why did so many Armenians emigrate to the Middle East when facing persecution in Turkey?

FYI, neither Christian nor Muslim Arabs were big fans of the Ottomans; Christians were not singled out by Ottoman authorities.

In fact, Christian emigration from the Levant began in the 19th century for economic reasons. You can see this especially in the last names of prominent people from South America.

But you see it here too. For example the Sununus of New Hampshire, whom I am sure our "I've never met a Christian Arab" poster does not recognize as Arab.

Are you claiming that Middle Eastern Christians are not persecuted? This is easily disproven by anyone who can use google.

There have been incidents in Egypt and of course ISIS was crazy. But popular appeal of Islamic nationalism stuff came in reaction to the founding of Israel and loss of Arab territory (in which many Christians lived), particularly after 1967. Please cite evidence of Christian persecution before this, true persecution, not things like Muslims not being allowed to convert, which Arab Christians don't really care about.

DH is an Arab Christian, who lived in his Middle Eastern homeland the majority of his life. He and his family have never felt persecuted, nor have they ever referred to any historical instances of Christian persecution.

Oh that’s right, Muslim oppression of Christian minorities is the Jew’s fault!

No, you are purposely misunderstanding and besides you have been unable to cite incidents of Muslim persecution of Christians since 1948. Coptic PP has cited references to sad incidents in some Egyptian villages, but these are not government operations.

Freedom to choose your religion is definitely a fraught issue as religion has largely been seen as something you are born with in the Middle East, with exception to conversion to Islam, which historically was an effort to root out paganism. But freedom to practice your (monotheistic) religion has been widely respected.

So in other words, Muslims must stay Muslims and can't become anything else because that is what is tradition in the Middle East, but non Muslims are free to covert to Islam, as it is good to root out other religions. Got it.

Not quite. There's the jizya tax, but people of the book (the Bible) like Christians and Jews are allowed to exist under Islam, they just can't take converts.

And we all are just supposed to say "oh ok" with this as if this fine and not considered persecution?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP here. Christians in the Arab countries of the Middle East are Arabs! I know many Lebanese Christians who will tell me - in plain Arabic - they are not Arab, they are Pheonician. Several DNA studies have shown that both Lebanese Muslims and Christians are descendant from the Phoenicians but somehow Lebanese Christian’s want to distance themselves from the Arabs because of the common misconception than Arabs are mostly Muslim.

LOL.
I’ll take their word regarding what they are over yours. Go label someone else.

I am Coptic and I tell people my parents are Egyptian. People barely understand where Egypt is, much less what Coptic means and I’m not getting into sectarian divides with acquaintances and strangers.

You have to remember that the Lebanese went through a very traumatic sectarian war recently and many people from these other groups faced really heinous treatment from the Muslim majority and thus refuse to identify as Arabs. A lot of Coptic people refuse to identify as Arab as well but I find it somewhat silly. My parents have more in common with a Lebanese Muslim than an American baptist.

In the recent past Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan all have brutally oppressed their Christian minorities.

Please give examples. This is the second time you have alleged this and you cited it as the reason for Christian emigration. If Christians were so oppressed in that area, why did so many Armenians emigrate to the Middle East when facing persecution in Turkey?

FYI, neither Christian nor Muslim Arabs were big fans of the Ottomans; Christians were not singled out by Ottoman authorities.

In fact, Christian emigration from the Levant began in the 19th century for economic reasons. You can see this especially in the last names of prominent people from South America.

But you see it here too. For example the Sununus of New Hampshire, whom I am sure our "I've never met a Christian Arab" poster does not recognize as Arab.

Are you claiming that Middle Eastern Christians are not persecuted? This is easily disproven by anyone who can use google.

There have been incidents in Egypt and of course ISIS was crazy. But popular appeal of Islamic nationalism stuff came in reaction to the founding of Israel and loss of Arab territory (in which many Christians lived), particularly after 1967. Please cite evidence of Christian persecution before this, true persecution, not things like Muslims not being allowed to convert, which Arab Christians don't really care about.

DH is an Arab Christian, who lived in his Middle Eastern homeland the majority of his life. He and his family have never felt persecuted, nor have they ever referred to any historical instances of Christian persecution.

Why should ISIS be dismissed as an afterthought just because mentioning it doesn't fit your narrative? Yes, ISIS is an example of a group containing Muslim Arabs that persecuted Middle Eastern Christians.

Muslims not being able to convert is the definition of persecution. People who in their heart are called to be Christians are told they are not allowed to do so. Of course Arab Christians care about this.

I personally don't know any Arab Christians that spend any time even thinking about this as persecution because, for better or for worse, religion is taken as something you are born with, a sort of inherited trait if you will. Much as Judaism is something you are born with, the difference being that it comes from the mother's line, not the father's as it does among Arabs.

No, it isn't. You are explaining away the reality of persecution.