Christianity in Persia and the Status of Non-Muslims in Modern Iran
By (author) Christian A. Gorder
Publication date:
05 January 2010Length of book:
352 pagesPublisher
Lexington BooksISBN-13: 9780739136096
Writing on an often overlooked section of contemporary Persian culture, A. Christian Van Gorder provides a comprehensive and readable introduction to the experience of Christians and other non-Muslims in Iran throughout history and into the present day. Van Gorder gives a fascinating account of the history of Christianity in Persia. By debunking the common misconceptions and stereotypes driven by recent political events and the media, he shows the current relationship that Muslim majority in Iran has taken toward people of other faiths.
[Van Gorder] argues that the ancient roots of Christianity in Persia (Iran) are deep and can potentially feed on-going interfaith dialogue within the country. While recognizing the predominant influence of Shi’ite Islam and the increasingly common persecution of Christians since 1979, the book holds that such dialog is nonetheless possible, especially when cast in the context of official Iranian policies toward religious minorities, some of which—Zoroastrians and Baha’is in particular—have faced significantly worse treatment than the 'People of the Book.' The book encourages a general readership to engage interfaith dialog within a context where the grounds between dominant and subordinate religious traditions constantly shifts. It uses historical analysis and interfaith comparison to promote attitudes of reflection, love, and perseverance among Christians and thus a stronger, more deliberate Christian witness.