Missionary priests were sent to remote places, like Africa, to stay there for years. Why did they stay there? What was the purpose of converting African tribes to Christianity? Who didn't realize that they were scouts of colonialism? They went there to convert people to Christianity; hence, the colonialists could go to these lands and do what they wanted. The priests knew why they were doing it—it wasn’t that the priests didn't know—but look at what difficulties they endured to achieve their goals; difficulties that can never be compensated for with money. For instance, one went to live next to cannibals for seven years! You would read about such events in stories or reports: there are also movies and novels that I am aware of; so, I know what happened during the years of colonialism.
In our own country, they brought a priest from a European country to Esfahan and Tehran, and into some other regions of Iran. For many years, a Christian clergyman lived here. He was far from his home enduring difficulties, facing the people’s suspicion of, "he is an infidel," or "he is impure." It was at a time when people were more sensitive about such issues—the era of fanaticism, the era of a people’s unwavering beliefs. They came and lived here in hopes of converting a few people to Christianity, doing what they did in Africa--an illusion!—of course, they weren’t able to do it, regardless they stayed here for years.
Read the history of the Qajar dynasty and British orientalist James Baillie Fraser, he lived in Iran for years. He has written books on Iran’s history [including: A Narrative of a Journey into Khorasan in the Years 1821 and 1822; including an Account of Countries to the North-East of Persia (1825): A Winter's Journey (Tâtar) from Constantinople to Teheran (1838)]. Fraser lived for many years in a region of south Khorasan province, Birjand, Zabol, and around those places to write his book. Read it to see what he narrates of the priests who lived here.
November 18, 1991
