“This year, as Lent and Ramadan occur almost simultaneously, sacred observances from Christians and Muslims also coincide with one of the most turbulent and desperate moments in Iran’s recent history.” The above words form part of the opening lines of an opinion piece in The Times Credo column, Saturday 7th March when “a different religious thinker publishes an essay on […]
Iran: The cry for meaning from young men
Tackling drug addiction Population: 82.8 million; 99.4% Muslim; 0.3% Zoroastrian, Christian, Jewish; 0.3% other Literacy: 91.2% men; 82.5% women Iran has the highest rate of drug addiction in the world, with at least 2 million Iranians in a population of 75 million addicted to illegal substances. Young men are at the centre of this phenomenon – with high unemployment, gender […]
Algeria: The cry from a first-generation Church
Church growth – past and present Population: 40.3 million; 99% Muslim; <1% Christian Literacy: 87% men; 73% women What is now Algeria was once home to Saint Augustine (AD 354-430), one of the Church’s foremost theologians. Christianity flourished here between the fifth and seventh centuries but gradually disappeared after the Arab invasions. Although new churches were started under French rule, […]