The Last Christians, by Andreas Knapp, translated by Sharon Howe

Andreas Knapp, a German priest in the order of the Little Brothers of the Gospel, has spent a great deal of time among Iraqi Christians in Kurdistan, in northern Iraq, as well as in Germany.  His new book The Last Christians: Stories of Persecution, Flight, and Resilience in the Middle East tells many of their stories.  Many of these Christians speak Aramaic, the language of Jesus.  Kurdistan includes northern Iraq, parts of Turkey, and Syria, which Knapp points out is the "birthplace of the first Christian churches."  Yet, as he listens in to some of their worship services, he wonders if these are "the last Christians, singing their last song with their last breath."

With the rise of the Islamic State in Kurdistan, Christians have been increasingly persecuted and driven from the region.  Knapp meets them in refugee camps and secretive worship services.  The opposition that IS gets from the west, including the U.S., puts a target on the backs of the Christians there.  They pay for Western politics with their blood.  He's not a big fan of George W. Bush's "oil-stained war."  Knapp wonders, "How could the United States or Britain be so indifferent to the bloodshed of innocent Christian minorities for the sake of their oil-driven politics?"  His perspective will force Western Christians to evaluate the impact of their words and policies.

However, he is no defender of IS.  IS has been responsible for brutal, murderous, oppressive acts against Christians (and, in fairness, against Muslims with whom they disagree).  Millions of Christians have been killed for their beliefs, while others have been forcibly converted to Islam.  They will destroy whole towns, and attempt to destroy "anything that harks back to Islam's acestry: age-old churches and monasteries that stand as testimony to Christianity's influence on Islam are blown up and bulldozed into the ground."

Knapp holds out hope for Muslims to live peaceably with Christian neighbors, calling on Christianity and Islam "to come together in a practical demonstration of the peacemaking power of religion."  He is not one to encourage Muslim immigration to the West, however: "Europe is under the illustion that the Muslim masses pouring into the continent are peaceable and tolerant.  By contrast, Saudi Arabia and Qatar won't take any refugees even though they share the same religion, language, and culture--precisely because they fear unrest and terror.  Bishop Petros adds: 'The Saudis are smarter than your government.'"

What stands out most in The Last Christians is the accounts of persecution.  These Christians' worship and practices look very different from mine, with their Eastern liturgies and ancient languages.  Yet they are my brothers and sisters, and are being systematically persecuted even now.  I know I need to pray for them and advocate for their freedom.


Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!