The Iranian Christian Diaspora - Religion and Nationhood in Exile

Over the past few decades, whilst evading severe governmental restrictions in Iran, the Iranian Evangelical diaspora has grown across Turkey, Germany, the Netherlands, the US and the UK. Far from the censorship of the Islamic Republic, Iranian Evangelical pastors and ministers publish Persian-language Christian magazines and online videos with the aim to reach the transnational Iranian Christian community, as well as potential converts in Iran. This book explores notions of nationhood and diasporic dwelling in the religious narratives and practices of Iranian Christian exilic communities, showing how claims to the authenticity of a distinct Iranian-Christian identity are constructed. Examining abundant source material available in the Iranian Christian exilic milieu, the book draws extensively upon five unstudied series of Persian-language Christian exile magazines published between the early 1990s and the 2020s, Persian-language video material and a number of interviews with Iranian Christian pastors with leadership positions in the Iranian Christian diaspora. These sources demonstrate the significance of exile and religious affiliation as key factors shaping diasporic images of the homeland and visions of a future return. Benedikt Romer weaves the history and contemporary story of the Iranian Christian community together, placing it in the context of a wider ongoing religious transformation in Iranian society.>

Product details

• Authors: Benedikt Rmer, Benedikt Römer
• Publisher: Tauris, I.B.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 01.05.2024
• EAN: 9780755651689
• ISBN: 978-0-7556-5168-9
• No. of pages: 248
• Dimensions: 164 mm x 238 mm x 20 mm
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Practical theology; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Iran, Sociology, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology of Religion, Social & cultural history, RELIGION / Christian Ministry / Evangelism, HISTORY / Middle East / Iran, Social and cultural history, Middle Eastern history, Religious groups: social & cultural aspects, Relating to Christian people and groups, Other Nonconformist & Evangelical Churches, Other Nonconformist and Evangelical Churches