Persecuted: The Global Assault on Christians Paperback – March 11, 2013

Persecuted (by Paul Marshall, Lela Gilbert, and Nina Shea) is a large, collective documentation of Christian persecution stories from all around the globe. This ten chapter book is an involving, entertaining, shocking, but much needed Christian book that speaks of the reality and cost of being a Christian, but also the terrible injustice that has “mysteriously” befallen this group. This book really brings much needed awareness of the reality of Christian persecution, insults, deaths, and sufferings that happen everyday around the world (from the Middle East to Asia), and calls on sympathizers to start standing up and coming to the aid of Christians. This particular Christian persecution book is arguably the most practical one I’ve heard and come across so far, which is why it is important for Christians to read, so they can get an awareness of what their faith entails, but also to stand strong and help Christians who are being, in many cases, unjustly treated and tortured throughout the world, even in the Western world.

In all, I highly recommend this book, as it is much needed in our day and age, the highest rate of persecution in world history. Some of the stories in this book are hard to digest because of the graphic nature of the descriptions of events, but it really speaks volumes to readers. This book will definitely be eye opening to non-believers as well, as I pray it will cause them to reflect upon why Christians are persecuted so much if they share such a loving message of eternal hope, and to possibly come to the truth because of that.

Note: I reviewed this book as part of Booksneeze.com program. I was not obligated to give a good review, only my honest opinion.

An important and timely book about a subject ABC, CBS, and NBC have managed to utterly ignore.

Across the world, and for all sorts of reasons, Christians are being persecuted. Some are being murdered. Many are fleeing countries where Christian groups lived for thousands of years.

Take India. Christians make up a minority in that Hindu nation - only about 30 million, and there is rising tension between Hindus and those who convert to Christianity, or seek to teach others Christianity. Many of the Dalits, the Untouchables, want to convert because of their caste in Hinduism places them at the bottom of the society, with few opportunities for advancement.

"In 2008, there was an explosion of violence against Christians in the Indian state of Orissa...Among those killed was a schoolteacher...a pastor and seven villagers...A nun was raped" (p 90)and schools, churches, and homes were burned or destroyed. Thousands fled.

According to the book, "the most widespread persecution of Christians today takes place in the Muslim world,

Even in Turkey, "Bishop Padovese was stabbed to death and nearly decapitated" (p 140) by his driver. In Egypt today, the community of Copts - a community formed very soon after the start of Christianity, and therefore, even more ancient than Islam in the area - is under increasing attacks.

One problem is the very different cultural perspectives with regard to human rights. Conversion to Christianity from Islam is strictly prohibited.

"Iran is one of the world's worst religious persecutors" (p 171). Frequently, repression is severest around a Christian holiday, such as Christmas. In "2010 security forces raided Christian homes in Tehran...homes were ransacked, looted" (p 175) and 30 or 40 people arrested.

In Nigeria, Boko Haram has murdered hundreds of Christians, burned churches, and tried to force all Christians from the country. In 2012, the group warned Christians living in the north that they had three days to evacuate their homes and villages or they would be killed.

Buddhists in Burma and Sri Lanka have also persecuted Christians.

This is a book that will make you cry.

Persecuted: The Global Assault on Christians by Paul Marshall, Lela Gilbert and Nina Shea is written about many of the different types of persecution aimed at Christianity all around the world. I knew persecution of Christians still existed, but I really did not understand how many people around the world suffer from it on a daily basis, or to what extremity. I was not aware that some of the worst countries guilty of the persecution of Christians were China, Vietnam, North Korea or Cuba. Of course I expected Afghanistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia to top the list with all of the terrorism occurring in the last couple of years, and they made the list as well. All of these accounts are backed up with notes at the end of this book listing where the information came from, whether it was a magazine, book, or website. 62 pages worth! It also includes an index of topics at the end of the book which includes names of political leaders, countries, religions and names of those persecuted.

These authors share hundreds of stories of Christians being persecuted for their faith. Here are just a few examples of what they share:

In 2011 in India, when Graham Staines and his two sons were burned to death by an armed mob, the Indian Supreme Court justified a reduced sentence for the criminals involved saying that the murder was an act of passion against "proselytization". (Meaning: To convert someone from one religious faith to another.) Graham's sons were only 9 and 6. There is so much more to this story I could share with you. In so many cases similar to this one, the police and judiciary system do next to nothing to help the persecuted or to punish the criminals involved.

Things may not be perfect for us here in the United States but I am so thankful that we are able to share our faith and shout it from the rooftop if we so wish. So many of these people who live in these countries are not allowed the same liberties. For many of these people, they are not allowed to go to a public church and must do all of their worship in homes. (Which is often still illegal.) So many of these people are not allowed to own a Bible, have Christian cd's or cassettes, or own any type of Christian literature. And if they do, they may get thrown into prison, labor camps, house arrest or are sometimes beaten and tortured.

Read this book. To be honest, I found so many of these stories to be disturbing and sometimes even hard for me to read. But the reality is that they happen every single day around the world. I will always think of them now, and I will continue to pray for them.

I give this book 5 stars and would highly recommend it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <[...]> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 <[...]> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."