this post was submitted on 14 Dec 2025
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[–] Gorilladrums@lemmy.world -2 points 2 days ago (2 children)

It's really not, he's Lebanese. The majority of Lebanese people, especially in diaspora are Christian. Assuming this guy's religion because of his is literally just racism.

[–] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

A 2012 study conducted by Statistics Lebanon, a Beirut-based research firm, estimated Lebanon's population to be 54% Muslim (27% Shia; 27% Sunni), 46% Christian (31.5% Maronite, 8% Greek Orthodox, 6.5% other Christian groups) [11]

According to a 2020 analysis by the Pew Research Center, the demographic landscape of Lebanon reveals a Christian population estimated at 27.9%, with Muslims constituting the majority at 67.8%. This data underscores the religious diversity within Lebanon, reflecting a dynamic interplay of different faith communities within the country.[13

[–] Gorilladrums@lemmy.world 0 points 2 days ago

That's the country of Lebanon, not the diaspora. Like I said, the country is 50/50 between muslims and Christians, but the diaspora is heavily Christian.

[–] Gorilladrums@lemmy.world -4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Your reading comprehension is nonexistent. Lebanon the country has around 4 million and is half Christian, half muslim. However, the Christian diaspora is 14 million and the vast majority are Christians.

[–] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago (2 children)

The majority of Lebanese people

Last I checked less than half =/= majority. The fact that you’re correct about the diaspora is immaterial. I simply provided data that shows you’re wrong, and ironically, the one spreading misinformation.

Picking up two L’s in this thread must be rough for your ego, sorry bud. Nice ad hominem though

[–] wewbull@feddit.uk 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Last I checked less than half =/= majority

It doesn't matter. The original accusation was "You're assuming he's Muslim because of his name". At best it would be a toss up with him being Muslim or Christian.

The assumption was made, and people showed it was an invalid assumption.

[–] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago
[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Tbf he did say "diaspora" meaning he's talking about Lebanese that have moved (or dispersed) abroad, and he's saying those who moved are mostly christian.

I can't back up his claims (because honestly idgaf about your internet argument and am not going to look into it at all), but the "54% Muslim..." seemed to say that was in Lebanon, not all those who have migrated elsewhere, so it's possible you're both right.

(Though also I've seen articles saying he is Muslim so unless those are wrong this is all a moot point anyway.)

[–] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

Yeah I’m admittedly feeling petty today which is why I chirped in on this thread after our prior exchange. They’re right about the diaspora, which I did not refute, but the way they structured their sentence, particularly in using the word especially, came across as stating that both the nation and their diaspora are majority Christian. The fact that the Pew study from 8 years following the initial figure of 54% pegs the Christians at an even lower share would support the idea that the diaspora is disproportionately Christian. Still doesn’t change the fact that the hero of the day is a Muslim, as stated by multiple news outlets and the PM of Israel.

But hey, don’t listen to me, I’m just a barely literate propaganda bot ;)

[–] ggtdbz@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

What a weird little internet slapfight I’ve walked into.

This is not a first name that is common among Christians here. I think adopting mainly Muslim names among Christians is common in some parts of Africa? It’s also possible that you wouldn’t be familiar enough with Arabic names to distinguish between explicitly Muslim names and secular / nonsectarian religious names (and Christian ones, we have a lot of those).

Ahmad is a 1,000,000% Muslim name. I think this is common knowledge in most places around the world since this is an extremely popular name almost exclusively used by Muslims.

This would be like arguing that a guy named Jesús could be from any religious community. Technically that’s true, but - Jesús. Really? Is an argument worth it?

[–] Gorilladrums@lemmy.world 0 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It’s also possible that you wouldn’t be familiar enough with Arabic names

I'm literally Arab lol

In the countries like Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria, it's not uncommon for Christians in to have islamic names. For example in Southern Lebanon you'll find a lot Christian people with names like Ali, Umar, or Yusuf even though these are common islamic names.

[–] ggtdbz@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 days ago

I'm literally Arab lol

Cool, me too

For example in Southern Lebanon you'll find a lot Christian people

I’m literally a Lebanese Christian from the South. Well half of my family is from there. I have an extremely Arabic first name, and last name for that matter. Is that enough?

Ali, Umar, or Yusuf

These are stunning examples. Youssef is Joseph, so that’s a Christian name first to me (if I want to be that guy, I don’t.). But the other two are very explicitly coded to a single sect. Ali is not even used by half of the Muslim population, Omar is also not used by the other half. You’ve picked the probably single most uniquely Shia and Sunni names respectively. Maybe it’s different where you live, maybe there are no explicitly Sunni or Shia names around you. But no Christian bears a name like that anywhere in the country.

This is like reading a headline about a Portuguese guy named Jesús Espírito Santo and going ballistic over him not being explicitly mentioned as Christian. It’s fine. Our hero today is almost certainly a Muslim, and even if he isn’t, I’m glad he did what he did and has been a good representative for the Lebanese community around the world regardless