Too Christian to Be Arab, Too Arab to Be American: The Hidden History of Arab Christianity and the Lebanese Diaspora

For centuries, the story of Christianity has been told primarily through the lens of Europe. Yet the roots

of the faith lie in the Middle East—where some of the earliest Christian communities emerged and

endured through empires, migrations, and modern upheaval. In Too Christian to be Arab, Too Arab to

be American, James A. Garabet explores the overlooked history of Arab Christians and the cultural

journey that shaped the modern Lebanese diaspora. From the ancient cities of the Levant to the

mountains of Lebanon and onward to communities across the globe, this book traces how faith,

language, and identity evolved across centuries. Blending historical narrative with reflections on culture

and belonging, Garabet examines what it means to grow up between worlds—carrying a heritage that

is often misunderstood in both East and West.