As in other Arab countries the traditional lifestyle of the Lebanese revolves strongly around the family, socializing and hospitality. Western influences, mainly French and American, have given the country a cosmopolitan facade, mostly in the main cities. Some 89% of the population is urban.
About Lebanon
Arabic is the official language, but French is commonly used, especially in government and among the upper class. English is also widely used, particularly as the language of business and education.
Outside the cities, especially in the mountains, the people retain the old customs and traditions. The Lebanese people, despite being ethnically and religiously diverse because of the country's long history of conquest and assimilation, are friendly and hospitable.
Cedars of Lebanon
The cedar tree that appears on Lebanon's national flag as the country's symbol once widely covered the Lebanon mountains. However, only a few small stands remain in the mountains, where they are protected. The Bible talks about the greatness of the trees of Lebanon, and in Ezra it says how they used the cedar logs in the re-building of the Temple.
History has never been kind to Lebanon, a country that has been conquered, sacked, pillaged, rebuilt, demolished and then rebuilt by everyone from the Babylonians to the French.
The Wars
Once known as the Paris of the Mediterranean, Lebanon has little to show for it now, devastated by years of war. National wars, in which Lebanese fought Palestinians, Lebanese fought against Syrians, Lebanese fought against the Israelis. Civil wars between several of the 17 religious communities, where massacre follows another massacre, a tit for tat showdown. Christians against Druze, Sunnites Muslims against Shiite Muslims, Judaism against Islam, and the list goes on.
The government policy of grouping people by religion plays a critical role in Lebanon's political and social life and has given rise to Lebanon's most persistent and bitter conflicts. It is the only Arab State that is not officially Muslim.
Lebanon has not taken an official census since 1932. Today the estimated population is 3,111,828, but this figure does not include refugees or foreign workers. At the time of Lebanon's independence in the 1940s there were more Christians than Muslims, but through immigration many Muslims came to Lebanon, and because of the higher birthrate they are now the majority. It is estimated that 70% of Lebanese are Muslim and 30% Christian. Every person's religion is encoded on a required, Government-issued identification card.
Flag of Lebanon
Map of Lebanon
Prayer Guide for Lebanon
* Lebanon is a strategic key and vital centre for ongoing ministry in neighbouring Arab nations. Pray for the many mission agencies there and the ones establishing themselves in Lebanon (Psalm 72:16).
* Pray that God would open the spiritual eyes and ears of the Muslims, so that when they do hear the truth they would recognise it (Ephesians 1:18).
* Pray that God would stir the Muslims of Lebanon to have a real hunger to know who He really is, and a probing in their spirit until they find out.
Background on Lebanon (World Factbook)
Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions since 1991 and the end of the devastating 15-year civil war. Under the Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater voice in the political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the government.
Since the end of the war, the Lebanese have conducted several successful elections, most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have extended central government authority over about two-thirds of the country. Hizballah, a radical Shi'a organization listed by the US State Department as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, retains its weapons.
During Lebanon's civil war, the Arab League legitimized in the Ta'if Accord Syria's troop deployment, numbering about 16,000 based mainly east of Beirut and in the Bekaa Valley. Damascus justified its continued military presence in Lebanon by citing Beirut's requests and the failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the Ta'if Accord. Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May 2000, however, encouraged some Lebanese groups to demand that Syria withdraw its forces as well.
The passage of UNSCR 1559 in early October 2004 - a resolution calling for Syria to withdraw from Lebanon and end its interference in Lebanese affairs - further emboldened Lebanese groups opposed to Syria's presence in Lebanon.
The assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq HARIRI and 20 others in February 2005 led to massive demonstrations in Beirut against the Syrian presence ("the Cedar Revolution"). Syria finally withdrew the remainder of its military forces from Lebanon in April 2005. In May-June 2005, Lebanon held its first legislative elections since the end of the civil war free of foreign interference, handing a two-thirds majority to the bloc led by Saad HARIRI, the slain prime minister's son.
Inspired by the popular revolts that began in late 2010 against dictatorships across the Middle East and North Africa, marches and demonstrations in Lebanon were directed instead against sectarian politics. Protesters saw the country's religious sectarian politics as the primary cause of Lebanon's anemic government. The first protests in late February 2011, although limited in size, gained some traction.
Economy of Lebanon
Lebanon used to be known as the banking hub of the Middle East but lengthy wars ruined the infrastructure. An 18-month political stalemate and sporadic sectarian and political violence hampered economic activity, particularly tourism, retail sales, and investment, until the new government was formed in July 2008. Political stability following the Doha Accord of May 2008 helped boost tourism and, together with a strong banking sector, enabled real GDP growth of 7% per year in 2009-10 despite a slowdown in the region.
About Lebanon
Population: 4,143,101 (July 2011 est.) World rank #127
Life Expectancy at Birth: 75.01 years. World rank #90
Ethnic Groups: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
note: many Christian Lebanese do not identify themselves as Arab and see themselves as descendent's of the ancient Canaanites and prefer to be labeled PhoenicianReligions: Muslim 59.7% (Shi'a, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant), other 1.3%
note: 17 religious sects recognizedLanguages: Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian
Literacy: 87.4% -- Male: 93.1%, Female: 82.2%
School life expectancy: 14 years
Video: South Lebanon: Christians Caught in the Crossfire
About Christians and the wide range of difficulties they are facing.
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Pray for Lebanon:
* for visions, dreams, and revelatons of Jesus to Muslims
* for protection for the 10,000 known Evangelicals in Lebanon
* for an end to Christian-Muslim violence
* for Christian workers for Lebanonese Muslims
* for Muslim youth to come to Christ
god bless them
lovly and nice land..
pray for Lebanon:
* for full political freedom to be gained, and religious freedom protected!
* for the many nominal "Christian" Lebanese to come to saving faith and see the needs of Muslims
* for an end to foriegn intervention in Lebanon and peace between communities
* for more to be done for the poor and handicape, a high propotion of whom are Muslim
* for loving ministry to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon
* for protection of the handful of known Lebanese Muslim-Background-Believers
* for effective rebuilding and stability in Lebanon
* for outreach to Muslim extremist groups like Hezbollah
* for Lebanon to be a good base for reaching out to neighboring countries