The rise of Isis and the devastation in Syria has shined new light on religious persecution in the 21st century, As the targets of a rising tide of legal oppression, social harassment, and direct physical violence, Christians around the globe have become the world's most persecuted religious group.

In THE GLOBAL WAR ON CHRISTIANS, John L. Allen, Jr., the bestselling author of The Future Church uses his unparalleled knowledge and insight to give an alarming voice to this growing epidemic.

Inspired by his own investigations as a journalist, Allen sets out to tell the stories of a new generation of martyrs.

Part one begins with snapshots of anti-Christian persecution with a focus on events from the past twenty years. In this section, Allen provides representative examples of the kinds of suffering Christians around the world endure, covering everything from legal harassment and social discrimination, to torture, physical assault, and all too often, death.

In part two he goes on to clear up five common myths about the global war on Christians, including the idea that Christians are vulnerable only when they are a minority, and that the war on Christians is a left-wing or right-wing issue.

Finally, in part three Allen examines the observable fall-out of the global war on Christians and considers practical steps that both individuals and communities can take to try to express solidarity for its victims.

John L. Allen, Jr. is associate editor of Crux at the Boston Globe and the Senior Vatican Analyst for CNN. He’s the author of seven best-selling books on the Vatican and Catholic affairs. His work has appeared in the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Miami Herald, The Nation, and many other publications.