AMMAN, JORDAN (ANS) -- While Israel boasts a majority of the sites of the Bible, neighboring Jordan provides compelling Biblical sites for Christian travelers to consider, write Russ and Jackie Jones of www.thechronicleonline.net , which circulates hard copes in Kansas, Colorado, Indiana, Texas and Memphis.

The Joneses were recently part of a 20-person team of US Christian journalists on a Press familiarization team touring Jordan, host to 200 Biblical and archaeological sites east of the River Jordan.

"Southward along the King’s Highway exists one of the oldest trade routes in the world, which runs 200 miles along Jordan’s hilly country side. It's on this route the Christian traveler can see a number of Holy Land scenes," the Joneses explain.

They describe how, before the discovery of Bethany beyond the Jordan, Mount Nebo reigned as the crowning jewel of Jordan's Christian heritage and along with it a handful of sites have shed light on early Christianity and are closely associated with biblical interpretation.

Mt. Nebo, also known as Jabal Siyagha, lies just outside of the city of Madaba -- whose resplendent mosaics are also a testament to the early Arab Christian culture. In this city is a mosaic in St. George's Church of a floor map of the then-known world, unique in that it shows the world from East to West, not North to South.

Christian journalists on the media tour of Jordan sponsored by the country's Jordan Tourism Board, received a first hand view of Mt. Nebo, where the Prophet Moses initially surveyed the promised land following the Jewish exodus from Egypt and subsequent 40-year trek through the desert in search of the Promised Land.

The Joneses write: "The Book of Deuteronomy tells us that Moses surveyed the glorious expanse from Mt. Nebo's heights, but died on the mountain, before ever reaching it himself.

"Chapter 34: 1-8 details that: 'Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is across from Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land of Gidead as far as Dan. All Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea. The south and the plain of the Valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar,'" they say in an online report for The Chronicle.

On March 19, 2000, Pope John Paul II visited the site during his pilgrimage to the Holy Land ands planted an olive tree beside the Byzantine chapel as a symbol of peace.

'The Serpentine cross sculpture (the Brazen Serpent Monument) atop Mount Nebo.

The Joneses continue: "Another powerful visual is that of the Serpentine cross sculpture (the Brazen Serpent Monument) atop Mount Nebo (which) was created by Italian artist Giovanni Fantoni. It is symbolic of the bronze serpent created by Moses in the wilderness (Numbers 21:4-9) and the cross upon which Jesus was crucified (John 3:14)."

Russ and Jackie Jones are publishers of The Chronicle Christian Newspaper and participated in the nine-day media trip in Jordan with a delegation of US Christian journalists, mainly members of the Evangelical Press Association and the Associated Church Press. Arriving in Amman November 2, the journalists were guests of the country's Department of Tourism.

Media meets with Jordanian dignitaries

co-publisher Jackie Jones discusses ministry efforts with Dr. Nabeeh Abbassi, President of the Jordan Baptist Convention and Dallas Theological Seminary Graduate during a briefing at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Amman, Jordan.

The trip included an interview session with dignitaries representing various interests, ranging from the country's Habitat for Humanity National Director Philip Griffith, Dr. Nabeeh Abbassi, President of the Jordan Baptist Convention and His Excellency Senator Aqel Biltaji, former Minister of Tourism for Jordan, who is a close advisor to His Majesty King Abdullah II.

Officials discussed economic initiatives, Iraqi refugee issues and a variety of other topics. However, the meeting became tense when Russ Jones asked for the Senator's understanding of a quotation from the Qur'an, which says that Muslims should "kill the infidels."

At that point, the conversation became quite spirited. Biltaji claims Christians, Jews and Muslims all worship the same God and need to find a way to "co-exist."

"There are some who have high-jacked our religion," said Biltaji.

'Former Jordan Tourism Minister Sen. Aqel Biltaji.

Senator Bitaji criticized US President George W. Bush and the US government's terrorism policies during a Press Briefing sponsored by the Jordan Department of Tourism media tour.

Several times the senator, born in Gaza, Palestine in 1941, was critical of the Bush administration and the war in Iraq, the Joneses report.

Biltaji said that America had moved from "piety, to prophecy, to politics" and called for a return to the piety of the Pilgrim settlers. He also said that Jordan wanted to move "from tolerance to acceptance" of each other's faith.

The couple write in their account of the Press Briefing that it was the "coexistence" theme that dominated the discussion as many of the dignitaries found it their mission to convince the US delegation there were little differences between the religion of Islam and Christianity.

They write: "Jordan can be credited for being somewhat atypical and more Western in comparison to its Middle Eastern neighbors, having housed millions of refugees fleeing more dire conditions in their Mid-East homelands."

They state the so-called "moderate" voices of Islam say The Amman Message, a statement issued in 2004 by King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, calls for unity and tolerance in the Muslim world, demonstrating the country's move towards religious coexistence.

According to a dedicated website (www.ammanmessage.com ), The Amman Message sought to declare what Islam is and what it is not, and what actions represent it and what actions do not. Its goal was to clarify to the modern world the true nature of Islam and the nature of true Islam.

"However," the Joneses write, "it (Jordan) still maintains the title of a predominantly Muslim nation, and that label isn't confined to religious preferences, but has leaked into various aspects of government."

They add: "Courts are ruled by Muslims, and persons of other faiths face a multitude of obstacles in achieving rights equal to those of their Muslim countrymen."

The Joneses cite one particular case that Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has followed. It is that of Siham Qandah, a young mother of two whose now-deceased husband apparently (and) secretly converted to Islam prior to his death.

"This revelation from government officials created a problem for Siham in seeking to collect her husband's army benefits. But more importantly it placed her custody of her own children in jeopardy, the government declaring her 'unfit' because she chose to raise them as Christians," they write.

They say the U.S. State Department reports members of unrecognized religious groups and converts from Islam face legal discrimination and bureaucratic difficulties in personal status cases.

"Converts from Islam additionally risk the loss of civil rights. Shar'ia courts have the authority to prosecute proselytizers," they say.

Russ and Jackie continue: "Of the kingdom's 5.8 million population, the Christian population has dropped from about 5 percent of the total population in 1970 to the current estimated 3 percent. The main churches are Eastern and Western-rite Catholic and the Greek Orthodox Church. Shar'ia law recognizes Christians only as Stateless or as Slaves."

They say reports indicate there are 1,209 mosques in the US, citing figures that, according to the recent Faith Communities Today study (FACT), the membership in Muslim mosques is increasing at a rapid pace, coming in second only to Megachurches in the United States.

In their opinion, "While the Muslim faith is growing in the US, the message of tolerance from Jordanian leaders doesn't seem to match the growing discrimination many Jordanian Christians experience," they say.

The Joneses say: "There are approximately 750,000 refugees from Iraq living in Jordan, and government officials even report closer to 1 million. In Jordan, reports indicate about half the Christians are Jordanian, and the other half are Iraqi."

Jordan has a history of refugees that is centuries old. Biltaji described Jordan as a “melting pot” for many tribes of the Arab world.

"Many believe Jordan has always benefited from refugees. It's reported that many of the Iraqi's displaced to Jordan are those of financial means," he said.

The Joneses conclude: "A country with no natural resources, Jordan relies on its tourism industry."

Why Petra is a must-see

'The Treasury at Petra, the Red Rock City in southern Jordan.

The media team visited the Dead Sea, the biblically historic Petra, an archaeological site four hours drive south of the capital Amman, and which has been named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and many other biblical sites.

Also online at Thechronicleonline.net,  Russ Jones publishes an article: "Petra, Good Reason It Is One of the New Seven Wonders of the World."

Jones says: "Just a few weeks after First Lady Laura Bush viewed the ancient city of Petra approximately 3 hours south of Amman, Jordan, Christian journalists from the US made their own pilgrimage.

"The city is a former capital of the Nabateans, the Arab people dominating this region before the conquest by the Romans. The first settlement is thought to have established itself near the Kings Highway some time around 7,000 B.C."

He adds: "Rediscovered by Swiss explorer Johan Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812, the city was cut into the rocks, where many of the houses had intricate structures and columns. The approach to the town is through a ravine, at some points less than 4 meters wide."

Jones explains the name 'Petra' comes from Greek, and can be translated with "city of rock.” As many as 30,000 people may have lived in Petra during the 1st century A.D. Some experts say it is a misconception that Petra was a city only for the dead. A large earthquake in 363 A.D. destroyed at least half of the city. Petra never recovered from this destruction.

In more recent history, the last shot of "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" is Petra's iconic Al-Khazneh, or the Treasury.

If You Go

Practical information: Royal Jordanian Airlines (www.rja.com.jo) has daily flights connecting several North American cities to Amman, Jordan's capital. From Amman, minibuses ($5, three hours) and private taxis (negotiable) travel daily along the Desert Highway between Wahdat station and Petra's base town, Wadi Musa (Valley of Moses). A patchy mass of hotels, restaurants and shops, Wadi Musa is about 2 miles from the Petra visitors center; (011-962-6-567-8444; www.visitjordan.com), where you can buy tickets for Petra ($28/$35/$42 for one/two/three-day passes) and Petra by Night ($16).

Where to stay: In Wadi Musa, the Cleopetra Hotel (011-962-3-215-7090; doubles $15) is a popular backpacker spot offering no-nonsense private rooms and the obligatory nightly screening of "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade." The Amra Palace Hotel (011-962-3-215-7070; www.amrapalace.com; doubles $45) is a bright, modern, midrange hotel complete with an outdoor pool, summer terrace, Jacuzzi and Turkish bath. Conveniently located 100 yards from the entrance to Petra, the luxurious Movenpick Hotel (011-962-3-215-7111; www.moevenpick-petra.com; doubles $150) is heavy on the Mediterranean stylings, with a beautiful swimming pool, rooftop gardens, a Middle Eastern library and a whole slew of on-site bars and restaurants.

Where to eat and drink: To dine on hummus, falafel and shawarma with the locals, Al-Adandi Quick Restaurant in Wadi Musa offers Jordanian staples at rock-bottom prices (meals $2-$3). For slightly more upscale fare, try a big, meaty slab of spit-roasted lamb in the outdoor beer garden at the Sandstone Restaurant (meals $9-$12) in Wadi Musa. To quaff a cocktail in a 2,000-year-old Nabataean rock tomb, look no further than the Cave Bar (drinks $3-$5), located behind Petra's visitors center. For an extra special dinning treat try the Petra Kitchen owned and operated by Sid Nawafleh where you can make the secrets of Levantine cuisine your own. This experience allows you to work in the kitchen with chiefs who assist as you prepare the meal as if you cooked it yourself. The regular price of JD 30/person includes the cuisine course, meal and all non-alcoholic beverages as well as take-home recipes for all dishes prepared that evening.

For more information about Mt. Nebo, Petra, and other Jordan Holy Land sites, please see www.visitjordan.com  

** Michael Ireland is an international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News Service of Lake Forest, California. Michael immigrated to the United States in 1982 and became a US citizen in September, 1995. He is married with two children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. His weblog appears at: Michael's Wor(l)d BLOG