What do you think?
Rate this book
Persecuted: The Global Assault on Christians
Christians are the world’s most widely persecuted religious group,
according to studies by the Pew Research Center, Newsweek, and the Economist, among others
.
A woman is caught with a Bible and publicly shot to death. An elderly priest is abducted and never seen again. Three buses full of students and teachers are struck by roadside bombs. These are not casualties of a war. These are Christian believers being persecuted for their faith in the twenty-first century.
Many Americans do not understand that Christians today are victims in many parts of the world. Even many Western Christians, who worship and pray without fear of violent repercussions, are unaware that so many followers of Christ live under governments and among people who are often openly hostile to their faith. They think martyrdom became a rarity long ago.
Persecuted soundly refutes these assumptions. This book offers a glimpse at the modern-day life of Christians worldwide, recounting the ongoing attacks that rarely make international headlines.
As Western Christians pray for the future of Christ’s church, it is vital that they understand a large part of the world’s Christian believers live in danger. Persecuted gives documented accounts of the persecution of Christians in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and former Soviet nations. It contains vivid stories of men and women who suffer abuse because of their faith in Jesus Christ, and tells of their perseverance and courage..
Persecuted is far more than a thorough and moving study of this global pattern of violence—it is a cry for freedom and a call to action.
A woman is caught with a Bible and publicly shot to death. An elderly priest is abducted and never seen again. Three buses full of students and teachers are struck by roadside bombs. These are not casualties of a war. These are Christian believers being persecuted for their faith in the twenty-first century.
Many Americans do not understand that Christians today are victims in many parts of the world. Even many Western Christians, who worship and pray without fear of violent repercussions, are unaware that so many followers of Christ live under governments and among people who are often openly hostile to their faith. They think martyrdom became a rarity long ago.
Persecuted soundly refutes these assumptions. This book offers a glimpse at the modern-day life of Christians worldwide, recounting the ongoing attacks that rarely make international headlines.
As Western Christians pray for the future of Christ’s church, it is vital that they understand a large part of the world’s Christian believers live in danger. Persecuted gives documented accounts of the persecution of Christians in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and former Soviet nations. It contains vivid stories of men and women who suffer abuse because of their faith in Jesus Christ, and tells of their perseverance and courage..
Persecuted is far more than a thorough and moving study of this global pattern of violence—it is a cry for freedom and a call to action.
410 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 12, 2013
34 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
About the author
Paul A. Marshall
20 books1 followerPaul Marshall is senior fellow at the Center for Religious Freedom, Freedom House. He has lectured worldwide and is general editor of Religious Freedom in the World: A Global Report on Freedom and Persecution. He is the author and editor of 15 other books on religion and politics, including the best-selling and award-winning Their Blood Cries Out, and Islam at the Crossroads and God and the Constitution, both published in 2002. Dr. Marshall has published many scholarly and popular articles and his writings have been translated into Russian, German, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Malay, Korean, Arabic, and Chinese. He currently resides in Washington, D.C.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 21, 2013
Paul Marshall, Lela Gilbert, and Nina Shea, Persecuted: The Global Assault on Christians (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2013). $16.99, 368 pages.
Saeed Abedini is a Christian minister currently imprisoned for his faith in Iran. A native of that country, Abedini converted from Islam to Christianity in 2000 and became a leader in Iran’s house-church movement. In 2005, he moved to America with his wife, Naghmeh, and became a naturalized citizen here as well. In the summer of 2012, he returned to Iran to visit his family and to build an orphanage in the city of Rasht. He was arrested and indicted on unspecified national security violations. On January 27, 2013, he was sentenced to eight years in prison for his house-church activities and for evangelizing Muslims. The American Center for Law and Justice represents Naghmeh Abedini and has started the #SaveSaeed campaign to bring attention to his plight and secure his release.
Though not mentioned by the authors of Persecuted, because his case arose while the book was in production, Saeed Abedini is yet another individual example of their thesis: “Christians are the single most widely persecuted religious group in the world today” (p. 4). Instead of compiling statistics on this problem, the authors of Persecuted document the stories of individuals and communities who, like Saeed Abedini, are suffering because of their faith in Jesus Christ.
Paul Marshall, Lela Gilbert, and Nina Shea are veteran advocates of religious freedom. All are affiliated with the Hudson Institute, and Shea directs that think tank’s Center for Religious Freedom. Each has written extensively on the topics of religious freedom and Christian persecution. Marshall and Shea co-authored Silenced: How Apostasy and Blasphemy Codes Are Choking Freedom Worldwide (2011). Marshall edited Religious Freedom in the World (2007). And in 1997, Marshall and Gilbert published Their Blood Cries Out , while Shea published In the Lion’s Den .
The authors outline four causes of Christian persecution in successive chapters:
Chapters 2 and 3 focus on countries where persecution arises from “the hunger for total political control, exhibited by Communist and post-Communist regimes.”
Chapter 4 focuses on countries where persecution arises from “the desires by some to preserve Hindu or Buddhist privilege, as is evident in South Asia.”
Chapters 5–8 focus on “radical Islam’s urge for religious dominance, which at present is generating an expanding global crisis” (p. 9). Abedini’s case illustrates the tenuous situation of Christians in many Muslim-majority countries. According to the authors, “The most widespread persecution of Christians today takes place in the Muslim world, and it is spreading and intensifying” (p. 123). In some countries, notably Iraq, centuries-old Christian communities are dwindling because of the persecution.
And chapter 9 focuses on “national security states such as Burma and Eritrea” where “the military has sought to preserve its rule by any means necessary” (p. 13).
Chapter 10, “A Call to Action,” outlines a strategy of information, prayer, and political action for religious-freedom advocates.
Though persecution of Christians is the most widespread violation of religious freedom, the authors are careful to note that other religious groups suffer persecution too. Therefore, advocacy for the religious freedom of Christians must be advocacy of religious freedom for all. “Defending persecuted Christians and expanding religious freedom will also help other persecuted religious groups and minorities. Mandaeans and Yezidis in Iraq, Baha’is and Jews in Iran, Ahmadis and Hindus in Pakistan, Falun Gong in China, Buddhists in Vietnam, animists in Sudan, Shiites in Saudi Arabia, and Muslims in Burma all suffer imprisonment, exile, torture, and death at the hands of those who oppress Christians” (p. 291).
Persecuted is a well-documented book on the persecution of Christians worldwide. I highly recommend it to any person interested in promoting the “First Freedom,” that is, religious liberty. Because nations that don’t respect freedom of religion generally don’t respect other human rights or civil liberties either, raising consciousness about this violation has the salutary effect of raising consciousness about those violations too. Religious liberty is the “First Freedom,” but anyone concerned about it will be ineluctably drawn to concern about second, third, and fourth freedoms as well.
P.S. If you found this review helpful, please vote “Yes” on my Amazon.com review page.
Saeed Abedini is a Christian minister currently imprisoned for his faith in Iran. A native of that country, Abedini converted from Islam to Christianity in 2000 and became a leader in Iran’s house-church movement. In 2005, he moved to America with his wife, Naghmeh, and became a naturalized citizen here as well. In the summer of 2012, he returned to Iran to visit his family and to build an orphanage in the city of Rasht. He was arrested and indicted on unspecified national security violations. On January 27, 2013, he was sentenced to eight years in prison for his house-church activities and for evangelizing Muslims. The American Center for Law and Justice represents Naghmeh Abedini and has started the #SaveSaeed campaign to bring attention to his plight and secure his release.
Though not mentioned by the authors of Persecuted, because his case arose while the book was in production, Saeed Abedini is yet another individual example of their thesis: “Christians are the single most widely persecuted religious group in the world today” (p. 4). Instead of compiling statistics on this problem, the authors of Persecuted document the stories of individuals and communities who, like Saeed Abedini, are suffering because of their faith in Jesus Christ.
Paul Marshall, Lela Gilbert, and Nina Shea are veteran advocates of religious freedom. All are affiliated with the Hudson Institute, and Shea directs that think tank’s Center for Religious Freedom. Each has written extensively on the topics of religious freedom and Christian persecution. Marshall and Shea co-authored Silenced: How Apostasy and Blasphemy Codes Are Choking Freedom Worldwide (2011). Marshall edited Religious Freedom in the World (2007). And in 1997, Marshall and Gilbert published Their Blood Cries Out , while Shea published In the Lion’s Den .
The authors outline four causes of Christian persecution in successive chapters:
Chapters 2 and 3 focus on countries where persecution arises from “the hunger for total political control, exhibited by Communist and post-Communist regimes.”
Chapter 4 focuses on countries where persecution arises from “the desires by some to preserve Hindu or Buddhist privilege, as is evident in South Asia.”
Chapters 5–8 focus on “radical Islam’s urge for religious dominance, which at present is generating an expanding global crisis” (p. 9). Abedini’s case illustrates the tenuous situation of Christians in many Muslim-majority countries. According to the authors, “The most widespread persecution of Christians today takes place in the Muslim world, and it is spreading and intensifying” (p. 123). In some countries, notably Iraq, centuries-old Christian communities are dwindling because of the persecution.
And chapter 9 focuses on “national security states such as Burma and Eritrea” where “the military has sought to preserve its rule by any means necessary” (p. 13).
Chapter 10, “A Call to Action,” outlines a strategy of information, prayer, and political action for religious-freedom advocates.
Though persecution of Christians is the most widespread violation of religious freedom, the authors are careful to note that other religious groups suffer persecution too. Therefore, advocacy for the religious freedom of Christians must be advocacy of religious freedom for all. “Defending persecuted Christians and expanding religious freedom will also help other persecuted religious groups and minorities. Mandaeans and Yezidis in Iraq, Baha’is and Jews in Iran, Ahmadis and Hindus in Pakistan, Falun Gong in China, Buddhists in Vietnam, animists in Sudan, Shiites in Saudi Arabia, and Muslims in Burma all suffer imprisonment, exile, torture, and death at the hands of those who oppress Christians” (p. 291).
Persecuted is a well-documented book on the persecution of Christians worldwide. I highly recommend it to any person interested in promoting the “First Freedom,” that is, religious liberty. Because nations that don’t respect freedom of religion generally don’t respect other human rights or civil liberties either, raising consciousness about this violation has the salutary effect of raising consciousness about those violations too. Religious liberty is the “First Freedom,” but anyone concerned about it will be ineluctably drawn to concern about second, third, and fourth freedoms as well.
P.S. If you found this review helpful, please vote “Yes” on my Amazon.com review page.
May 10, 2013
The book is excellent. It is a current and universal account of the persecution of Christians worldwide. The stories are heart-breaking even as no effort was made to increase the emotional element. Rather, the reporting is very much like what one would read in a short newspaper article. This makes the entire book extremely readable, as each story or section can be read in a few minutes. The book is segmented into different types of countries, each which would have different types of abuse. For example, current communist countries: China, Cuba and North Korea are lumped together. In North Korea their persecution policy is uniformly evil against any faith or religion, while in places like Iran and Saudi Arabia, persecution is against anyone who is different from the majority. As someone who has visited China a number of times, my eyes were opened into the persecution against Christians that still exists there, but has been carefully crafted to be mostly invisible to outsiders. I was also shocked at how blatant the persecution still is in Turkey, which somehow pretends to be civilised and says it wants to join the EU. I could go on about the persecution in other countries; some that I was aware of, and some that I was not.
The writers of the book also need to be commended for avoiding two mistakes that I was half expecting. First, they might have only talked about persecution to Christians of their own group. This was not done. Instead the persecution of all varieties of Christians was mentioned. I was especially pleased to see mention of the ancient churches in the Middle East, which have shamefully been ignored by those of us in the west as they have suffered for the last century. Secondly, the authored avoided being politically-correct – the disease that has infected most of the west. Thus when Christians are being treated horribly by radical elements from Islam in countries like Pakistan, this is stated bluntly as it should. The authors also carefully mention the civilised and peaceful Muslims who are trying to make a difference, and often being persecuted by the uncivilised radicals as a result. I agree with the conclusion that was made at the end of the book, which is that followers of Jesus form a mediating element within society that leads to a civil society. Rather than religion poisoning everything (as Christopher Hitchens used to like to say) it seems that it is the lack of Christianity that causes society to be poisoned! For the atheist governments are equally as cruel as the non-Christian religious ones.
The writers of the book also need to be commended for avoiding two mistakes that I was half expecting. First, they might have only talked about persecution to Christians of their own group. This was not done. Instead the persecution of all varieties of Christians was mentioned. I was especially pleased to see mention of the ancient churches in the Middle East, which have shamefully been ignored by those of us in the west as they have suffered for the last century. Secondly, the authored avoided being politically-correct – the disease that has infected most of the west. Thus when Christians are being treated horribly by radical elements from Islam in countries like Pakistan, this is stated bluntly as it should. The authors also carefully mention the civilised and peaceful Muslims who are trying to make a difference, and often being persecuted by the uncivilised radicals as a result. I agree with the conclusion that was made at the end of the book, which is that followers of Jesus form a mediating element within society that leads to a civil society. Rather than religion poisoning everything (as Christopher Hitchens used to like to say) it seems that it is the lack of Christianity that causes society to be poisoned! For the atheist governments are equally as cruel as the non-Christian religious ones.
July 21, 2013
Stunningly eye opening. It just makes me what to do more, pray more, help more. The people compiled in these stories are astounding heroes. This book has some skim parts, but I really loved the stories. It shows the triumph of how the Lord works, that he does work, despite anything. It is also incredibly able to make us stop and listen to real people's suffering. I hope in big ways, this book uses people to help others.
March 12, 2013
‘Persecuted: The Global Assault on Christians’ is a powerful look at what the underground churches in other countries are facing. American Christians have it quite easy with all our liberties. Even if we’ve received backlash from the workplace or in politics, we are blessed. Any Christian who is Missions-minded needs to see what these brave men & women endure for their faith.
Authored by the trio of Paul Marshall, Lela Gilbert, & Nina Shea, ‘Persecuted’ is in-depth, real, & a wake-up call to America. What the Christians overseas go through could happen here & by the grace of God, hasn’t happened, yet. Not merely a non-fiction look at statistics, ‘Persecuted’ puts faces on the numbers. Officials & those in authority are quoted on their hatred toward God’s people.
Moving stories are told & readers may be shocked to learn the magnitude of suffering. Not all the persecuted are Christians per se. Jehovah’s witnesses & Jewish faiths also fall victim to domineering governments & political agendas. Even if we are unable to be there personally to assist our brothers & sisters in Christ, we are given the information to effectively pray them through.
Being the topic is persecution, there is a great deal of violence mentioned. Although, the authors are not overly descriptive in retelling it, but violence & persecution go hand in hand. Keep in mind that the Bible itself retells violence in war & affliction that God’s people have suffered. Instead of being a turnoff to the book, use it to enhance prayers for those suffering.
I am thrilled that a well-written piece has been penned for the suffering. Their voices deserve to be heard by as many as possible. Hopefully, those of influence will read their stories & be moved to act. Consider this a must read if you are in missions or going to be. Pastors & Leaders take note. American Christians need to read this, understand how well off we are, & encourage those who aren’t. Absolutely, this is a 5 star book.
I received 1 eBook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.
June 14, 2013
This book is about the global assault on Christians—up-to-date information on persecution of Christians from around the globe.
If you think Christians are not persecuted, not tortured, not imprisoned, not killed for their faith today, in the twenty-first century, you are sadly mistaken. This book details much of what is happening on this topic all over the world. It is thorough with over 314 pages of text and hundreds of documenting footnotes in 62 pages of notes.
It includes the definitions of persecution and Christian and the “whys” behind much of the persecution.
This book includes good overviews of what is happening in over thirty countries, country by country, with real-life stories. The overviews contain useful information especially for intercessors or missionaries or those who support missionaries. The stories make it real, so that you can picture it in your mind and really relate to it. You won’t find even a fraction of this information or these stories on your typical news stations.
It ends with a chapter on a call to action with practical things that any “ordinary” American Christian can do to help.
If you are ignorant on what is really going on in the world on this topic, are an intercessor, or called to be a missionary or to support one, then this book is for you.
To purchase your own copy of this book go here: Persecuted: The Global Assault on Christians
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from 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 Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
(c) 2013 Cheryl Cope
If you think Christians are not persecuted, not tortured, not imprisoned, not killed for their faith today, in the twenty-first century, you are sadly mistaken. This book details much of what is happening on this topic all over the world. It is thorough with over 314 pages of text and hundreds of documenting footnotes in 62 pages of notes.
It includes the definitions of persecution and Christian and the “whys” behind much of the persecution.
This book includes good overviews of what is happening in over thirty countries, country by country, with real-life stories. The overviews contain useful information especially for intercessors or missionaries or those who support missionaries. The stories make it real, so that you can picture it in your mind and really relate to it. You won’t find even a fraction of this information or these stories on your typical news stations.
It ends with a chapter on a call to action with practical things that any “ordinary” American Christian can do to help.
If you are ignorant on what is really going on in the world on this topic, are an intercessor, or called to be a missionary or to support one, then this book is for you.
To purchase your own copy of this book go here: Persecuted: The Global Assault on Christians
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from 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 Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
(c) 2013 Cheryl Cope
April 22, 2013
Killed for having a Bible in your home...in 2010? Killed for going against Muslim and becoming a Christian..in 2011? What? These things are STILL continuing. I think the mindset that we often have is that all of those awful things happened a long time ago or in really desperate communities in a foreign land. I live in the United States and I constantly hear about our rights as Christians being cut off. "In God we trust?" is no longer what this country stands upon, BUT we are NOT persecuted for our faith as others are on a daily basis. We do not go to secret churches in order to not be killed. We can go to a mega church and worship Christ all that we want, read our multiple Bibles in any format, and if we can't make it to church we can just stream in online. For a country that has all of these at our fingertips, we definitely take all of these things for granted.
This book has been researched and is full of information regarding laws and awful stories about persecution for multiple countries. It breaks different countries up and then discusses each one. I liked how the book was set up and organized, it made it flow better. The stories are so very sad, but more than anything this book made me feel guilty because I take the Bible and church and worship completely for granted. I should be thankful, I should be helping people who can't do these things freely, and more importantly, showing others in this country why the Bible and a relationship with Christ is life changing.
"I received this book for free from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review".
This book has been researched and is full of information regarding laws and awful stories about persecution for multiple countries. It breaks different countries up and then discusses each one. I liked how the book was set up and organized, it made it flow better. The stories are so very sad, but more than anything this book made me feel guilty because I take the Bible and church and worship completely for granted. I should be thankful, I should be helping people who can't do these things freely, and more importantly, showing others in this country why the Bible and a relationship with Christ is life changing.
"I received this book for free from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review".
June 1, 2013
Persecuted: The Global Assault on Christians by Paul Marshall, Lela Gilbert, and Nina Shea
Let me start out by saying that this book isn’t for everyone, but if it’s for you, you’re lucky.
Another thing this book is not for: the faint of heart.
Persecuted takes a journalistic look at stories of persecution that is taking place in the world around us. Western Christianity takes their religious freedom for granted. This book tells you how. In depth and detailed accounts of the many trials and hardships and even deaths that Christians in this world face.
Broken down by stories by country, this book provides an intense study of persecution. I’ve already used this book as a source for several papers in my college classes and will probably continue to do so for the duration of my studies.
If you’re a missionary, you need to read this book. If you want to be a missionary, you need to read this book. If you’re a Christian under fire for being a Christian, you need to read this book. If you’re living in Western Civilization and you’re taking your religious freedoms for granted, you need to read this book.
I do caution that it gets really, really intense. Take this book in small doses because the weight of these stories will bring you down if you’re not careful. These stories are true, the drama is real, the pain is excruciating.
Step in to the world of the Persecuted, you will not ever be the same again.
BookSneeze has provided a free copy of this book for an unbiased review.
Let me start out by saying that this book isn’t for everyone, but if it’s for you, you’re lucky.
Another thing this book is not for: the faint of heart.
Persecuted takes a journalistic look at stories of persecution that is taking place in the world around us. Western Christianity takes their religious freedom for granted. This book tells you how. In depth and detailed accounts of the many trials and hardships and even deaths that Christians in this world face.
Broken down by stories by country, this book provides an intense study of persecution. I’ve already used this book as a source for several papers in my college classes and will probably continue to do so for the duration of my studies.
If you’re a missionary, you need to read this book. If you want to be a missionary, you need to read this book. If you’re a Christian under fire for being a Christian, you need to read this book. If you’re living in Western Civilization and you’re taking your religious freedoms for granted, you need to read this book.
I do caution that it gets really, really intense. Take this book in small doses because the weight of these stories will bring you down if you’re not careful. These stories are true, the drama is real, the pain is excruciating.
Step in to the world of the Persecuted, you will not ever be the same again.
BookSneeze has provided a free copy of this book for an unbiased review.
September 6, 2016
This book is a must read for any Christian! We may not want to read it, and it is not an easy read. If you can't handle very sad things, and reading about injustice that often takes the lives of people, it isn't the book for you. Not that I like to know of such things, however, I felt that I needed to know. I learned a lot from this book that I did not previously know!
There were times in this book I was so angry, then times I was so sad! It is a very educational book, and the writers did such a good job with it I think!
It made me think would I stand for Christ as many in this book did when my life is on the line? There are people that give there lives for Jesus Christ and to let others know about him! There are others that give there lives because they simply refuse to renounce him! There are areas in the world that simply pay the price for being Christian! We are more blessed in this country than we know!
I would totally recommend this book!
There were times in this book I was so angry, then times I was so sad! It is a very educational book, and the writers did such a good job with it I think!
It made me think would I stand for Christ as many in this book did when my life is on the line? There are people that give there lives for Jesus Christ and to let others know about him! There are others that give there lives because they simply refuse to renounce him! There are areas in the world that simply pay the price for being Christian! We are more blessed in this country than we know!
I would totally recommend this book!
August 24, 2014
The fact that so much of the evidence in this book is true does not make it a good read. There is no attempt to explain the systemic, racial, or economic factors shaping religious hatred. Perpetrators are simply evil, or more often, Muslim or atheist. The authors frequently use ideographs they hope will inspire horror in their readers.
See my full, and slightly more positive, review here: http://wordsbecamebooks.com/2014/08/2...
See my full, and slightly more positive, review here: http://wordsbecamebooks.com/2014/08/2...
July 15, 2013
A great and informative read about the persecuted church around the world! A must read for anyone interested in what's really happening to believers abroad or those interested in missions.
August 23, 2013
Incredible.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews