Christianity is growing rapidly in Iran while more and more people distance themselves from Islam, according to a new report from the Christian news channel CBN News. According to several Christian leaders, the development is due to increasing dissatisfaction with the Islamic regime and a greater curiosity about the Christian faith.
One of those who recounts this development is Mohamad Faridi, who was formerly active in the pro-regime Basij militia connected to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. He grew up in the Islamic system after the 1979 revolution and was educated to defend the Islamic Republic.
After beginning to question his faith, he converted to Christianity and later left the country. Today he leads the organization Iranian Christians International in the USA. Faridi says many Iranians have become disillusioned with the Islamic regime after years of economic hardship, corruption, and political repression.
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According to reports, about 50,000 of the country’s 75,000 mosques have closed in recent years due to declining attendance. At the same time, Christianity is said to be growing rapidly through a widespread network of house churches.
Many new Christians gather secretly in private homes since converting from Islam can result in severe consequences. Despite the risks, people continue to be drawn to the Christian faith.
Religious revolution
According to Faridi, many Iranians come in contact with Christianity through satellite TV, the internet, social media, and personal contacts. He also says that many testify to powerful spiritual experiences that have led them to seek Christianity.
Christian organizations describe Iran as one of the countries where Christianity is growing fastest. Despite government restrictions, new house churches continue to form across the country, and many Christian leaders see the development as a sign of a sweeping religious transformation in Iranian society.
Facts about Zoroastrianism
The original religion of the Persians was Zoroastrianism, one of the world’s oldest religions still in existence. It was founded by the prophet Zarathustra, probably sometime between 1500 and 600 BC, in what today is parts of Iran and Central Asia.
The religion is based on faith in the supreme god, Ahura Mazda, who represents truth, light, and goodness. A central idea is the struggle between good and evil forces, where humans themselves must choose between righteousness and evil through their thoughts, words, and actions.
Zoroastrianism was the state religion in several Persian empires, including the Achaemenid and Sassanid empires. After the Arab conquest of Persia in the 7th century, the religion’s influence diminished dramatically, but it still has followers today in Iran and India, where they are known as Parsis.