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Dec 29th, 2019
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Glory to Jesus Christ, It seems that the new Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia seeks to be more open to the world than his predecessors. I lived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia while I was in the Army. I remember being searched at the airport and I had to convince the Saudi's that my bible was for my own personal use and not to try to convert Muslims to Christianity. They did take 90% of my music and some DVDs. Then again, they were not exactly the most modest selection of music/movies. ( In my defense, I was 20 years old  ) Saudi Arabia Church Opening [ byztex.blogspot.com] The Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Al Rai is in Saudi Arabia for a historic visit.
It’s the first time that the kingdom invites a church leader, unlike Christian politicians who visit the kingdom often.
The patriarch met the King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman. He also met with the Prime Minister Saad Hariri who said that he would return to Lebanon within days.
The kingdom intends to restore a 900-year-old church. It will be a symbolic gift to the Lebanese Maronite Patriarch and the symbol of the beginning of the Christian-Islamic dialogue.
This visit has an important significance since Saudi Arabia vowed to be open to other faiths. The Crown Prince is aiming at moderating Islam and making Saudi Arabia a country open to all religions and cultures.
Last edited by Nelson Chase; 11/19/17 11:23 PM.
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Joined: Mar 2015
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This is in the midst of the Saudis attempting to stoke division and war in Lebanon, so I would not read it as any kind of change of heart on the part of the Crown Prince. The Kingdom continues to be the Wahhabi monstrosity it has always been. Woohoo, they allowed a church to open. It will not bring back the Christians massacred throughout Syria and Iraq by their ISIS and Al Qaeda clients.
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Joined: Aug 2002
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I am very cautiously optimistic about the Crown Prince. Emphasis on very cautious. We will have to wait and see....politically, however, he's bold - some might say reckless - and may quickly find the situation spinning out of control, as is so often the case in the Middle East.
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Joined: Mar 2015
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The sycophantic Western press is eager to present MBS as a great reformer but simply looking at actions, there is no grounds for optimism. Saudi Arabia continues to be the most dangerous and destructive force in the region and MBS is clearly committed to the policies of fomenting war and discord. What the Saudis are doing in Yemen is tantamount to genocide. In Lebanon the Saudis tried goading Israel into launching another war against Hezbollah- fortunately, the Israelis learned their lesson and didn't listen. Likewise they tried fomenting a civil war in Lebanon when they abducted Hariri. Thankfully, the Lebanese didn't bite. The Saudis' murderous jihadist proxies have lost in Syria and Iraq. So clearly things aren't going MBS' way. But that's when despots can get even more dangerous.
Last edited by SwanOfEndlessTales; 12/04/17 05:49 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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They might restore a building but it is safe to say it wont be a functioning church. A conference centre at best.
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