Bahrain
From Missiopedia
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Official name: Kingdom of Bahrain |
DEMOGRAPHY
ECONOMY |
LIFE & LIBERTY |
Contents |
[edit] Geography
[edit] Location
- Bahrain is located in the Middle East. Bahrain is a borderless island country in the Persian Gulf and is the smallest Arab state. Saudi Arabia lies to the west and is connected to Bahrain by the King Fahd Causeway (officially opened on November 25, 1986), and Qatar is to the south across the Gulf of Bahrain. The Qatar–Bahrain Friendship Bridge being planned will link Bahrain to Qatar as the longest fixed link in the world. Bahrain is a generally flat and arid archipelago. The terrain consists of mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment. The total land area is 620 sq. km, which makes it 3.5 times the size as Washington, DC.
[edit] Gulf Area
- Due to the growing number of expatriates in the Gulf, employed for their skills, many local Arabs feel threatened by their presence and foreign cultures. Although they heavily rely on cheap imported labour, there is a growing tension among some groups. A Bahraini minister has warned of an “Asian tsunami” because of the reliance of “lazy” Gulf Arabs on foreign labour to carry out even the simplest tasks. Labour Minister Majid al-Alawi told Asharq Al-Awsat that the presence of almost 17 million foreign workers in the Gulf, mostly from the Asian sub-continent, represented “a danger worse than the atomic bomb or an Israeli attack”. “I am not exaggerating that the number will reach almost 30 million in ten years from now,” he told the pan-Arab daily. Alawi said that Gulf nationals were “lazy” and “spoilt”, relying on imported labour for the simplest of tasks. “A lord with billions in Great Britain cleans his own car on a Sunday morning, whereas people of the Gulf look for someone to hand them a glass of water from just a couple of metres away,” he said in the interview.
[edit] Climate
[edit] Natural Resources
[edit] Demographics
- People and Population: The population is 700,000. About 31% of the population is between the ages of 0-14, 67% is between the ages of 15-64, and 2% is over the age of 64. Life expectancy is at the age of 75. About 63% of the population is Bahraini, 13% Asian, 10% other Arab, 8% Iranian.
[edit] Peoples
[edit] Provinces
[edit] Life
- The roles that women play are housewives, services, and trade. The marriages are not arranged. The average family size is 5. Over 85% of the population is literate. The education system is good. There is access to technology and the communication services are good due to the modern system that they have. The health services are great and there is only a small percentage of starvation. Over 80% of the population lives in urban societies.
- The smallest and most densely populated Arab state, Bahrain has more social than in other Arab state; alcohol is freely available and women don’t have to wear the veil. Pray that there would be even more political and religious freedom in Bahrain.
[edit] Economy
- Economy: The GDP per capita is $13,700. The major exports are petroleum and petroleum products and aluminum. The unemployment rate is at 15%.
[edit] Government
- Government: The government is traditional monarchy. The legal system is based on Islamic law and English common law. There is no suffrage. There is no political freedom.
[edit] History
- History: Bahrain was under the protection of Great Britain until 1971. It has been absolute monarchy since 1975. No political parties or elections are permitted. The government is controlled by one leader and the entire nation is controlled by the government. There is religious freedom, but very little political freedom.
[edit] Religion
- Islam 82.3%, Christianity 10.4%, Hinduism 6.3%, Other 1%
[edit] Islam
- Bahrain is an Islamic nation. Over 85% of the population is Muslim, 65% of the Muslim are Shi'a, the others are Sunnis. Islam is the official religion and the main division is between the Sunni Muslims, who are the ruling minority and the majority of the population, who are much poorer Shi’a Muslims.
- The main streets in Bahrain are strangely deserted. Today is Ashoora, the anniversary of the day in 680 A.D., when Hussein, Mohammed’s grandson, was killed and beheaded in the battle to determine the leadership of the new Islamic movement. Each year Shi’a Muslims observe 40 days of mourning to seek forgiveness for failing to protect their leader. As you leave the main road and enter into the alleys, black flags flood your view. Preparations for this community event have been going on for weeks. Over the past ten days, nightly speeches have been heard in the mosques and processions have occurred in the streets to commemorate the story of Hussein. Loud speakers blare as a chanter affirms his love for Hussein. A group of 30 men march by in formation, flagellating themselves by beating their chests and whipping their backs. Many have blood on their faces from cutting themselves to identify with Hussein’s suffering.
- Hundreds of groups like this will march by over the next several hours. Watching the bloody procession, Hamad is one of a small but growing number of local Shi’a who has chosen to follow Jesus. He weeps as his people mourn. Like most Shi’a, Hamad was drawn to Jesus because of his suffering on the cross. In Jesus he has found a hope unlike anything he has ever known.
- Bahrain shares a demographic similar to Iraq. Shi’a Muslims comprise over 65% of the local population, but Sunnis run the government. Shi’a, in general, are poorer and more underprivileged than neighboring Sunnis. A real concern exists that the sectarian fighting in Iraq and tensions with Iran could spill over into this country. Shi’a have traditionally been more open to Jesus because of the perceived similarities with the sufferings of Hussein. Many love Jesus as one of the prophets.
- Bahraini Shi’as need to understand the real meaning of blood and how Jesus shed his blood for the forgiveness of their sins.
- The government needs wisdom to rule the country and would end practices of favoritism and injustice that divide the community.
[edit] Buddhism
[edit] Christianity
- Bahrain has the largest Arab Christian community in the Gulf states―most of whom are from other countries. About 7% of the population is Christian. Protestant growth is increasing and about 2% is Protestant. Christianity: Over 85% of the population is Muslim. About 7% is Christian. Many Christians have been persecuted and a few pastors have been killed. There is no freedom to evangelize, but Christians can worship openly. Successful methods of evangelism are compassion ministries and friendship evangelism.
[edit] History
[edit] Churches
[edit] Church and State Relations
[edit] Mission
- Bahrain is a political and spiritual key for the whole Gulf area — more so since the Gulf War in 1991. Islam impacts life less comprehensively than in surrounding states. May democratic and religious freedoms be fully implemented. Bahrain has provided a good base for Christian ministry for over a century. The American Mission Hospital is well known and highly regarded. May this continue and may be fruit from the tactful witness of believers.
[edit] Broadcasting
[edit] Councils and Networks
[edit] Future Trends
[edit] For More Reading
