point-counterpoint on Syria

"Religion is making a comeback in Syria, where people feel the state's socialist and pan-Arab ideologies have failed for the last four decades."

Two interesting articles on religious culture in Syria came to my attention today. In the dentist's office I picked up a recent issue of Maclean's and found this piece about evangelical Christianity thriving under the secularist protection of Bashar al-Assad's Baathists (though the article — keeping things dead-simple for Canadian readers? — doesn't mention the Baathists by name).

"While Protestant churches have existed in Syria since the mid-19th century, it's only in the past couple of decades that evangelical churches have sprung up here..."

"...but many Syrian Christians fear their position might change under the threat of Islamist extremism if al-Assad's regime collapses."

Indeed, and that's what this BBC article contemplates, as a competing form of religious fervor takes root:

"After ruthlessly crushing a Muslim Brotherhood rebellion in 1982, the Syrian government has found it is unable to contain the rise of religion. So instead, the authorities have decided to go with the trend and co-opt the symbols of Islam..."