Top News Stories of the Decade Affecting Christians

The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the other plane flown into the ground in Pennsylvania--which together cost almost 3,000 people their lives--and the relationship between Christians and Muslims afterward was one of the top stories of the decade affecting Christians. Some of the top stories listing Christians are listed here, in no particular order.

After the attacks, President George W. Bush was quick to claim the attacks, for which radical Muslim Osama claimed credit for, a "religion of peace," as reported in www.christianitytoday.com. In the same article, Yusuf Islam, formerly the Rock star Cat Stevens, who currently promotes Islam education, said he was "aghast at the horror of recent events." Many other leading Muslim speakers in the United States and elsewhere also condemned the attacks. The governments of several Muslim nations also condemned the attacks. Some citizens of some Muslim countries, however, were shown publicly cheering the attacks.

The United States Supreme Court's upholding the 2003 ban on partial birth abortion was considered by some to be one of the top stories affecting Christians of the decade. The procedure does not allow doctors to use the dilation and extraction procedure to perform an abortion. It was the first time ever the Supreme Court has ever allowed a restriction on abortion. Many pro abortion leaders criticized the ruling, but many pro life supporters praised the decision. They believe the procedure, in which an intact fetus is removed through the uterus, allowing a live baby to be born and then killing it, is murder. Supporters of partial birth abortion said it was only used to safeguard the health of the mother.

The $600 million Mel Gibson's movie, The Passion, made worldwide was another of the top stories affecting Christians during the decade of the 2000's. Many people saw the story of Christ, and his death on the cross and resurrection in the movie. Believers deem the events to be for the forgiveness of the sins of mankind. Many who saw the movie never go to a church. Many Muslims were receptive to the movie, which was shot in Aramaic, with English subtitles, as Aramaic shares some words with Arabic.

In August 2003, Gene Robinson, who was in a same-sex relationship, was confirmed as an Episcopal bishop. Many conservative Christians condemned the action and said the Bible does not allow homosexual marriage.

The growth of Christianity in China, despite tremendous persecution was deemed by many to be another top story. Although the Communist government in the country eased some restrictions against Christians in the 1970's, the continued persecution and imprisonment of Christians, especially pastors, cased some churches to go underground.

Another top story affecting Christians during the decade was the disagreement between conservative and liberal believers as to whether the war with Iraq in the war on terror was just or not. Many Christians in the Mideast were attacked because of the war.

President Bush's faith-based initiative to provide government funds to private religious organizations to provide social services was another top story. He called the initiative "one of the most important initiatives of my administration."

The Christian response in providing money and support to relief organizations seeking to help those hurt by the earthquake and resulting tsunami off the coast of the island of Sumatra was another top story.

Other top stories affecting Christians during the decade included leading Christian pastor Rick Warren announcing a PEACE plan to combat global poverty, AIDS, and other problems; and the Taliban taking North Korean missionaries hostage, which promoted a debate on the value of short term mission projects.

Citations: Top 10 News Stories of the Decade, no author listed Christiannewsreport.blogspot.com

Total Victory on Partial-Birth Abortion, by Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra, Christianitytoday.com

Christianity in China, no author listed, Wikipedia.org