Their Blood Cries Out

Rating:
Summary: A clear and compassionate account of persecution today
Review: "Their Blood Cries Out" (TBCO) is a masterfully written, meticulously researched, deeply compassionate and intellectually honest account of the persecution of millions of Christians around the world today. Marshall is careful to define a Christian as a person whose "Christian faith is a central aspect of their lives"(see Appendix D). Marshall has produced a much needed, up to date account of the suffering that is inflicted upon Christians today. TBCO surveys many countries and regions where persecution takes place, it examines the reasons and the causes of this persecution, and it tries to understand American (Western) apathy towards religious persecution. It is an honest, all round examination that informs, provokes and convicts.

TBCO is neatly divided into two independent sections: the first section is a global survey of countries where persecution takes place. The second part examines the reasons for the lack of interest in persecution and Marshall tries to come to an understanding of "why don¡¦t people care.¡¨

The first part of TBCO examines persecution in Islamic, communist, Hindu/Buddhist and Orthodox Christian countries. For each country covered, Marshall has carefully collated information and testimonials from easily verifiable sources. The book is well footnoted and his claims can be easily checked. This survey is an interesting investigation that is written with a deep sense of compassion and understanding. Marshall manages to avoid the pitfalls of gross generalizations and appropriately basis his work and conclusions on verifiable evidence. In writing this book, Marshall has traveled to about 20 of the countries he writes about. His willingness to examine the evidence first hand and to compile the stories of those who suffer and die for their faith should motivate unaware Christians to stand up for their persecuted brethren.

TBCO was written in 1997. Although the data presented in the book may be outdated, the overall analysis is still relevant. Many of the countries covered in the survey conducted in the first part of the book are still persecuting Christians and, in some cases, the persecution has become more intense. Since the WTC attacks Christians in Islamic countries have become increasingly vulnerable to attacks. Indonesia saw a drastic increase in communal violence in places like central Sulawesi. The Montagnards in Vietnam have, since December 2000 faced increasing persecution. Christians in North Korea still suffer immensely. And the list continues to grow. The reasons for the persecution remain the same, and the number of testimonies increases.

The second part of TBCO is a fascinating investigation into the apathetic stance that is taken by comfortable Christians and Western secularists. Many Christians, even when informed about their suffering brethren, would rather discuss other things. As Marshall himself says, "The subject of persecuted Christians is jarring to an obsession of personal peace."Elsewhere he comments that, "the vast body of Christians in the United States have abdicated their responsibility to deal with the persecution of Christians."Marshall notes that "the situation of Christians overseas is passed by silently."In my experience, many Christians don¡¦t care. Much of what Marshall has said in the second part of this book remains true today.

Marshall shows clearly, conclusively and concisely how modern evangelicals in the west are obsessed with finding inner peace and would rather not hear about persecuted Christians. Marshall also observes that the mainline Churches seek outer peace, they try to maintain the status quo. He documents many examples of when organizations like the National Council of Churches (NCC) have blatantly ignored persecution. This is still true today. Recently a leader in the United Methodist Church has denied that there is persecution in Vietnam and has insisted, at the behest of the Vietnamese government, that there is religious freedom in that country.

Secular organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International are also examined. Although Marshall rightly credits them for the brilliant work they do for human rights abuses, he also admonishes them for ignoring the plight of Christians. Marshall also admits that, "though instances of the persecution of Christians and other religious figures may be covered, we lose a recognition of the extent of religious persecution that exists in the world." But Marshall shows understanding when he points out that the extent of human suffering in the world today is so great that it is virtually impossible for those organizations to cover it all. He humbly confesses that he, in his survey, has not covered some countries, like Laos, where persecution is severe but "the events seems less important than other things included."He compassionately, and devastatingly knowingly implicates himself by asking, "How can one say that someone¡¦s death is not important?¡¨

Marshall does not leave us in despair asking what can be done. The last chapter examines things people can do to help suffering Christians around the world. The most important step, in my opinion, is to let others know. Do not be shy, or be unwilling to disturb someone¡¦s peace, be prepared to discuss persecution whenever the opportunity arises and challenge others to care.

TBCO has inspired me, convicted me and humbled me. It has forced me to face issues that are not comfortable to face; it has pushed me to action within my own community. TBCO has challenged me to care, to care for others that live far and near. Will you allow yourself to be challenged? Do you care?

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating and eye-opening book!
Review: A true view of the persecution of believers in present day. The time of the gentiles has nearly been fulfilled.

Rating:
Summary: Required reading for anyone
Review: In writing this book Paul Marshall counters the appalling ignorance and apathy that we in the West display toward the persecution of Christians in non-Western countries. The book is introduced by Michael Horowitz, a Jewish man who, as one might put it, finally shamed America's churches into acting on this issue. He compares the systematic destruction of Christians in the third world to the experiences of his own Jewish people, whose destruction was similarly ignored. He writes of "The silence and indifference of Western elites to the beatings, looting, torture, jailing, enslavement, murder, and even crucifixion of increasingly vulnerable Christian communities" and "The ignorance and silence displayed by Western Christian communities toward the suffering of fellow believers". Part I, "An International Lament", explores the persecution of Christians committed in the name of totalitarian, Islamic, Communist, and Christian causes. In Part II, "American Apathy", Marshall explains why both secularists and Christians in the West ignore many of the most pressing, systematic, and extreme human rights violations on earth. He concludes by outlining ways in which we can act on this issue. Marshall speaks out on behalf of persecuted Christians passionately and without apology. He focuses on Christian persecution in the wider context of human rights violations, mentioning many of the most pressing human rights violations against Muslims, Buddhists, and other religious groups. The book is thoroughly referenced and indexed in an academic style. The author's stories convey extensive worldwide personal contact, evidence of first-hand research to supplement his incisive analysis and documented historical and numerical data. Persecution of evangelicals and of Catholics receives approximately equal coverage and emphasis. Marshall criticizes evangelicals as well as mainline Protestant and Catholic organizations, in a way that seemed appropriate for each.

Rating:
Summary: An eye opener
Review: It is hard to give a rating of this book. Its content is excellent - full of eye-opening information that will almost certainly be news for western people, Christian and non-Christian alike. Its style, unfortunately is somewhat flippant and uneven. Nonetheless, this does not detract from the fact that this book is a must read. It is news that no one hears.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating and eye-opening book!
Review: This book will bring home a couple salient facts:

1. Christians are persecuted on a level today that hasn't been seen since the persecutions of ancient Rome - and, in raw numbers, probably dwarfs even those.

2. Our major media outlets -- as well as a good number of our ecclesiastical and "human rights" organizations - have been blind to this persecution owing primarily to their left-of-center political proclivities. Conservative Christian organizations don't come out unscathed either - they have a tendency to focus on apocalyptic themes instead of the necessary work at hand of saving Christians.

An added benefit in reading this book is the wonderful insight you'll gain as Mr. Marshall explains the tectonic forces of culture and religion that are in play in each of the countries he covers - not to mention a prescient perspective on the whole idea of culture vs. religion. Which one takes precedence - culture or religion? To listen to the nightly news, you'd think culture. Read this book for an incisive answer.

You'll never look at the evening news the same - and you'll always remember to include a mention in your prayers for those for whom their blood cries out.

Rating:
Summary: Required Reading for the Ethically Inclined
Review: This book will bring home a couple salient facts:

1. Christians are persecuted on a level today that hasn't been seen since the persecutions of ancient Rome - and, in raw numbers, probably dwarfs even those.

2. Our major media outlets -- as well as a good number of our ecclesiastical and "human rights" organizations - have been blind to this persecution owing primarily to their left-of-center political proclivities. Conservative Christian organizations don't come out unscathed either - they have a tendency to focus on apocalyptic themes instead of the necessary work at hand of saving Christians.

An added benefit in reading this book is the wonderful insight you'll gain as Mr. Marshall explains the tectonic forces of culture and religion that are in play in each of the countries he covers - not to mention a prescient perspective on the whole idea of culture vs. religion. Which one takes precedence - culture or religion? To listen to the nightly news, you'd think culture. Read this book for an incisive answer.

You'll never look at the evening news the same - and you'll always remember to include a mention in your prayers for those for whom their blood cries out.

Rating:
Summary: The Evangelicals are the only good guys on the planet..
Review: This is an honest attempt at scholarship into an area of human rights not often explored: the persecution of religious people around the world, sometimes by other religious people, simply because of religious belief. Reading this as a Catholic, however, I was struck by its anti-Catholic tone. According to Paul Marshall, there is religious persecution going on world-wide and evangelical Christians seem to bear the brunt of it. This religious persecution is carried out by every religion under the sun - except, curiously enough, evangelical Christians. There are stories from all over the world, stories enough to accuse the author of anecdotal research only, instead of convincing data. I also noticed another weakness in the book, which must come from the author's bias. He defines religion only as it is defined by evangelical Christians. He doesn't consider the Catholic martyrs in Central America, such as the six Jesuits, their housekeeper and her daughter, as victims of religious persecution. To most of us Catholics, they are martyrs and their blood, too, cries out. (We are called Roman Catholics in this book.) Mr. Marshall considers liberation theology as outside of his definition of religion. I also think he over-simplifies the persecution of Protestants in Chiapas by the Catholic majority. In Chiapas, as in other places, people often view Protestants as foreign, and aligned with the powers of oppression, apart from any of their religious beliefs. Among many Catholics here in the States, it was widely believed during the long agony of El Salvador that the Reagan administration strongly favored Protestant missionizing efforts in order to Americanize and pacify Indian and peasant populations. They deliberately subverted liberation theology whenever they could. This led to a climate in which Arcbishop Romero could be assassinated, as well as the four Catholic women church workers raped and murdered by Salvadoran troops in 1980. They were clearly religious martyrs but the position of the Reagan administration and apparently Mr. Marshall, was that they were "political" and "in the way." The four women chose to stay with the Salvadoran poor and for that they died. To many of us who are not evangelical Christians, that was a profoundly religious act and dangerous enough to attract martyrdom at the time. Another Catholic martyr not mentioned, Father Stanley Rother in Guatemala, said one time that "to shake the hand of an Indian is a political act." I can think of nothing more religious myself.

Rating:
Summary: A real eye-opener
Review: To think of martyrdom in 1998 and that it is going on today and yesterday and tomorrow is terribly unsettling. The media does not talk about WHY people are killed; most times it is for their faith or political persuasion! Many times it is for their Christian faith. Christians are being sold, raped, kidnapped, slaughtered just because they are Christians! Didn't know how widespread it is! Pray for peace!