Christian “Resurrection” in Islamic Iran?

Hoover Institution ^ | Dec 9, 2025 | Abbas Milani

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Iranians begrudgingly accepted Islam but refused to accept Arabic as its supposedly divine language. Scholars have argued that it took almost four hundred years before Arabs conquered the entire Iranian empire. In those centuries of turmoil, Iranian Christians and Jews—like Zoroastrians who had been the dominant faith in the empire—were often subjected to the terrors of a local pious Muslim bully.

By the fifteenth century, Shiism—one of the main branches of Islam—forcefully became the “state” religion of Iran, but even that did not altogether destroy Christian life in the country.

Assyrians and Armenians continued to live in parts of the country. Thousands were forcefully moved from Julfa, near Iran’s border with Armenia, to Isfahan, then the capital of the new Shiite Safavid state. This traumatic migration paradoxically laid the foundation for one of Iran’s most dynamic Christian communities…

The Armenians of New Julfa became vital intermediaries in Iran’s silk trade, linking Isfahan to Venice, Amsterdam, and Manila…Armenians cultivated art, architecture, and theater that enriched Safavid culture itself.

The Pahlavi era brought new forms of tolerance and assimilation for Christians. Reza Shah’s drive for modernization and national unity recognized Christians as more or less full citizens. They were barred from most top political jobs, but their churches, schools, and charitable associations flourished. Christian architects, musicians, and teachers played conspicuous roles in shaping Iran’s urban and cultural modernity…

The Islamic Revolution of 1979 once again changed the conditions of the country’s Christians…Tens of thousands of Armenians and Assyrians left for California, Europe, and Australia…

What the community lost in these migrations, it more than regained in the emergence of Persian-speaking converts in the last four decades—men and women drawn to Christianity through underground house churches, satellite broadcasts, and personal quests for spiritual freedom.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

The government, wary of evangelism, responded with surveillance and arrests, producing a paradox: Christianity shrinking as an ethnic tradition but reappearing as a clandestine movement among Iranians themselves.

[Da Coyote]

Only one solutions exists for Islam. ‘Twould be interesting if Iran Revolution II succeeds and they decide to take permanent care of the religion of hate, rape, misogyny, lying, Dorkbama, and the New Head Turd of NYC.

[imabadboy99]

remember when traitor Bush said we have to fight them over there so we don’t have to fight them here?

And now we have 10’s of millions of muslim scum here in America and Europe - stealing, raping, killing, and pillaging. Thanks alot GW MORON!

[Justa]

“remember when traitor Bush said we have to fight them over there so we don’t have to fight them here?

And now we have 10’s of millions of muslim scum here in America and Europe - stealing, raping, killing, and pillaging. Thanks alot GW MORON!”

STFU Slanderous TROLL!

Bush didn’t bring the radical Islamists here. The Ds did. Your media butt buddies.

Bush authorized the DOD to send troops into every corner of the world where militant Islamic terrorists were and prosecute. That mission is still ongoing after eliminating 10s of thousands and many terrorist groups.

Go do an interview with Al Quaeda, ISIS, OBL, al-Zarqawi, etc. to crow about their great leadership.

These Fkn WEAK MINDED ppl on here.

Fkn troll

[ckilmer]

would be interesting if the country turned christian.

Is the Iranian/persian king who is in line to take over the country if the mullah’s fall—is he christian?

[Reily]

Superficially Shia Muslim.

[Missouri gal]

I’ve heard that many Muslims living in Muslim tyranny are clandestine Christians. Joseph Fadel, in his autobiographical account “The Price to Pay,” tells that he could not get baptised in a Muslim-dominated country because the priests were strictly required to report all baptisms. If they were caught, they sadly explained, the Muslim governments would kill the whole community, not just the priests. Obama admin would not admit him to the U.S., by the way. He did finally find a country where he and his family could be baptised. I don’t recall where, maybe Jordan. When he first came to believe, he had to plead with the priests to let him attend services, because the governments of Muslim countries police the churches.

[xkaydet65]

I’d be pleased even were it only a rebirth of Zoroastrianism. The religion of the Magi.

[Dr. Sivana]

he could not get baptised in a Muslim-dominated country because the priests were strictly required to report all baptisms.

In case of emergency, one can get baptized by a layman. My mother baptized me when I was choking as a newborn infant. When the doctor came (house calls in those days) he thought the shock of the cold tap water may have helped clear me. I was conditionally baptized later.

[TexasFreeper2009]

Islam is just a lie, and so easily seen as such for those that simply read the old testament.

Everything in the old testament points to Christ.

Nothing points to Mohammad, except Christ’s warning about false prophets.