Most Near Eastern Christians converted to Islam within three centuries of conquest

Evidence

The obduracy of Muslims, who throughout the ages have proved almost unconvertible, was several times stressed, and both theory and missionary practice recognised it. — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 742 (#contradicts, via linked claim)

Yet when he describes the contents of the Koran, in the following chapters of his tract, he emphasizes the common points between Christian and Muslim doctrine. He is particularly interested in the Koran’s praise of Christ and the Virgin Mary; much more frequent, he says, than any praise of Machometus. This shows, he says, that Saracens in their hearts believe in the goodness of Jesus Christ, his doctrine and his Gospels, his Virgin mother, and that they are “close to the way of salvation.” The author goes on to describe what he sees as the main errors in their doctrine: the belief in carnal delights in heaven and the failure to believe in the Trinity, the Incarnation, and the divinity of Christ. Yet bringing the Saracens to the truth should not prove difficult: “By virtue of the simple word of God, without philosophical arguments or military weapons, they ask for baptism of Christ and cross over into the God’s sheep pen. This was said and written by one who through God has already baptized a good thousand. Amen.” … The anonymous author claims that converting Saracens to Christianity is easy and that he himself has baptized “a good thousand.” — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 1069 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Islam conquered most of the Christian Roman Empire in its first century; Some medieval Christians saw Muslims as near-conversion-ready believers close to salvation — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 1069; Muslim expansion’s success led many Christians to convert (+11 more)

Broader Connections

• Some medieval Christians saw Muslims as near-conversion-ready believers close to salvation #expands (0.95) — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 1069
• Muslim expansion’s success led many Christians to convert #corroborates (0.95)
• Medieval Christians saw Muslims as stubbornly resistant to conversion #contradicts (0.95) — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 742
• Seventh-century Christians perceived mass conversion to Islam as a threat #corroborates (0.95) — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 1507
• Early modern Christians read Islam as divine punishment for Eastern schisms #complicates (0.85) — Robert Irwin, For Lust of Knowing, 130
• Medieval claims of mass Muslim conversion to Christianity strain credulity #complicates (0.85) — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 2143
• Non-Orthodox Christians welcomed Muslim conquest as liberation from Byzantine persecution #complicates (0.85) — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 309
• Missionary conversion succeeded among conquered Muslims in Christian lands, not overseas #complicates (0.85)