Christianity in Algeria

Algeria is among North African nations that are under total Islamic rule. While the practice and expression of other faiths is guaranteed by law in the country, the same legal framework tends to restrict minority religions from actively seeking conversion to other religion, or even building or repairing churches.

Converts to Christianity may be investigated and searched by the authorities as well as punished. In this edition of the magazine, we present not only the status of Christianity in Algeria, but God’s canvass in the country along with its cultural heritage. This is intended to give our readers a comprehensive view of what God has done in the country and areas that require focused prayers.

Algeria, known officially as the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria is located in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It shares borders with Tunisia to the northeast, Libya to the east, Niger to the southeast, Mali, Mauritania and Western Sahara to the southwest, Morocco to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. It has been described as the bridge between Africa and Europe.

The land area covers 2,381,741 square kilometres, making it the largest country by land mass in Africa. Algeria has a population of 44,700,000 people and two major ethnic groupings: Arab-Berbers who constitute 99% of the population and other minorities at 1%.

 Before it attained independence from France in 1962, Algeria saw many empires and dynasties. These include ancient Numidians, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Fatinids, Spaniards and Ottomans. The vast majority of the population speak Arabic and Berber, though French serves as the administrative and education language. Algeria is a regional power in North Africa, and a middle power in global affairs. It has one of the largest economies on the continent, based on energy exports. Algeria has the world’s sixteenth-largest oil reserves and the ninth –largest reserves of natural gas.

God’s Canvass in Algeria

Algeria has abundant natural resources, including oil, gas, solar energy, iron, zinc, lead, silicon and helium. It also rich in flora and fauna. Characteristic trees of northern Algeria are the olive and cork oak. The mountain regions contain large forests of evergreens such as Aleppo pine, juniper, and evergreen oak, as well as deciduous trees. Fig, eucalyptus, agave, and various palm trees grow in the warmer areas. Esparto grass, alfa, and drinn are common in the semiarid regions. On the coastal plain, the grape vine is indigenous. Vegetation in the Sahara region of the country is sparse and widely scattered.

Approximately 104 mammals make their homes in Algeria. These include spot gazelles, jackals, and wild boars. Fennec foxes and jerboas are also common. However, leopards and cheetahs are seldom seen. Camels are used extensively in the country, while the desert abounds with poisonous and non-poisonous snakes, scorpions and numerous insects. The following pictures show the flora and fauna of Algeria, as well as exotic beaches.

Culture

Algeria’s culture is strongly influenced by its recent history, as well as other aspects such as literature, music, arts, crafts and religion. Arabic is the country’s primary language and is spoken by about 82% of the populace. Many people also speak different dialects of Berber. The French colonialism experienced in Algeria in the past has resulted in French being the second language of many educated people in the country.

Traditional Algerian dress includes the burnous, qashabiya, kaftan, and djellaba. In terms of food, Algerian cooking styles and dishes derived from traditional Arab, Amazigh, Turkish, and French cuisines. Additional influences of Jewish, Spanish, Berber and Italian cuisines are also found. The country’s cuisines are flavourful, often featuring a blend of traditional Mediterranean spices and chili peppers. Couscous is a staple of the diet, often served with stews and other fare. Pictures depicting various aspects of Algerian culture are presented below.

Platter of Algerian dishes

Traditional Attires

Religion in Algeria

 The dominant religion in the country is Islam, with nearly 98% of the population adhering to the Sunni Islam of the Maliki School of jurisprudence. Other faiths include Roman Catholicism, Seventh Day Adventists, Judaism, Bahai, and several Christian denominations, including the Protestant Church of Algeria, Federation of Reformed and Methodist groups, Lutherans, Anglicans and Egyptian Copts.

Islam pervades most aspects of life in Algeria. It provides the society with its central social and cultural identity. Since the mid-20^th Century Algerian War, led by the French, also called the Algerian Revolution, some regimes sought to develop an Islamist Arab socialist state to no avail. Currently, a cabinet-level ministry acts for the government in religious affairs.

It is noteworthy that most of the Berber inhabitants of the mountainous interior adopted traditional Berber mythology before the Arab incursions. Some had adopted Judaism, while several accepted Christianity under the Romans. Augustine of Hippo, one of the key figures in Roman Catholicism was born at Thagaste (Souk Ahras) and taught in Hippo (Annaba). A wave of Arab incursions into the Maghreb in the latter half of the 7^th Century introduced Islam to parts of the area.

The country’s Constitution declares Islam to be the state religion. It also declares that freedom of creed and opinion is inviolable. In practice, the government generally respects this, with some limited exceptions. The small Christian population and tiny Jewish settlements generally practice their faiths without government interference, although there have been several instances where their places of worship were closed by officials without any provocation.

Also, the law does not recognise marriages between Muslim women and non-Muslim men. By law, children follow the religion of their fathers, even if they are born abroad and are citizens of their non-Muslim country of birth.

The Status of Christianity in Algeria

Christianity came to Algeria in the Roman era. The country was fully Christianized by the 5^th Century under the Roman Catholic Church. Its influence declined during the chaotic period of the Vandals invasions but was strengthened in the succeeding Byzantine period. After the Arab invasions of the 7^th Century, Christianity began to gradually disappear. However, there is evidence that there has been an increase in conversions to Christianity among Muslims in recent years, even though the government will not change the religion from Islam on any citizens’ identity cards.

Conversions to Christianity have been most common in Kabylie, especially the wilaya of Tizi-Ouzou, with the percentage of Christians in the region estimated at between 1% and 5%. Christians in the area have been subjected to religiously motivated attacks. In 1996, for instance, the Bishop of Aran, Pierre Claverie was killed by Islamic fundamentalists. This murder occurred soon after that of seven monks of the Trappistes of Tiberine and six nuns. In spite of the attacks, a 2015 study revealed that 380,000 Muslims converted to Christianity across the country.

Prayer Points

          God is not interested in the religious composition of Algeria – He desires that every soul in the country should come to the saving knowledge of His Son Jesus Christ. He meant every word when He told the Messiah in Isaiah 49:6, “It is too small a thing for You to be My servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make You a light for the Gentiles, that My salvation may reach to the ends of the earth”.

Isaiah 42:6 also echoes the same thread, “I, the LORD, have called You for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of Your hand. I will keep You and appoint You to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations”. Let us stand on these immutable promises of God to intercede for unsaved souls in Algeria using the following prayer points:

1. Pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all flesh in Algeria as promised by God in Joel 2:28.
2. Pray that God would destroy the veils of darkness and false religions in the hearts and minds of all Algerians at home and abroad.
3. Ask God to judge the demonic principalities and powers ruling Algeria and set their captives free.
4. Pray for a spiritual earthquake in the country that would expose the wiles and deceptions of satan and his demons.
5. Ask the Father to destroy the roots of false religions in the country.
6. Pray that Jesus Christ would reveal Himself to Muslims who have a heart for God in Algeria as He has done in other Islamic countries in the Middle East.
7. Pray that God would sanctify Christian believers in the country with His word and cause them to eschew worldliness.
8. Also pray that He would baptise them with the Spirit of prayer and intercession for their fellow citizens.
9. Ask the Father to send labourers into His vineyard in Algeria.

Intercession Checklist

1. From the political map of Algeria provided in the article, select a town or city for focused prayer.
2. Present the town or city of your choice to God and tell Him that you are claiming it for Jesus Christ in accordance with Psalm 2:8, where he said to the Messiah, “Ask of Me and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession”.

Culled from:

https://www.en.m.wikipedia.org

https://www.nationsencyclopedia.com

https://www.algeria.com

https://www.a-z-animals.com