Day 4 - Christianity in the Middle East

The Christian community of Iran has a long history. The Christians appeared in the Parthian Empire from the first days of the existence of this religion. Throughout centuries they lived alongside other religions and occasionally became persecuted by the reigning majority. Today there is only a small number of Christians in Iran, mostly Armenians and Assyrians.

  1. Curriculum
  2. Intermediate Persian Syllabus
  3. Week 10 - Religious Persian
  4. Day 4 - Christianity in the Middle East  

Reading: This article from Radio Farda is about the Chaldean Christians, a lesser-known Christian group in the Middle East and Iran. 

Listening: A video from a historical YouTube channel authored by Saber Sadeghi providing a brief history of Christianity in Iran from the early centuries to the present day.

Subject of Conversation: Is the decline of Christian population in the Middle East inevitable? (آیا کاهش جمعیت مسیحی در خاورمیانه اجتناب‌ناپذیر است؟)

In this discussion, students will explore the reasons behind the decline of Christian populations in the Middle East and debate whether this trend is inevitable. They will be encouraged to consider historical, political, social, and economic factors influencing the migration and demographic changes of Christian communities. Drawing on the reading and listening materials, students will express their opinions, present arguments, and engage in a meaningful debate in Persian. 

Homework: 
- Please read today’s article and study the vocabulary.
- Choose 10 new words from today’s vocabulary and use each one in an original Persian sentence.
- Conduct some background research to be well-prepared for tomorrow’s discussion.