Posted on 01/17/2005 8:48:26 AM PST by missyme
Bangalore, Jan 16: The proposed ‘Pray for India’ programme later this week by American evangelist, Mr Benny Hinn has sparked a controversy with the Bharatiya Janata Party and Sangh parivar organisations up in arms against it, dubbing it as one that’s intended to promote religious conversion.
The Florida-based pastor, who claims to have the power to heal the sick and dying, is slated to attend the three-day prayer meeting from January 21 at Jakkur Airfield here which has been touted by the organisers as a big show, saying lakhs of people from across the country are expected to attend it.
The event has drawn strong opposition from the BJP, the Bajrang Dal and the Hindu Jagarana Vedike who see it as a conspiracy to convert the poor and vulnerable sections to Christianity.
The Bajrang Dal has already announced that 10,000 people would stage a demonstration at the venue. Vedike activists yesterday burnt publicity material of the proposed congregation. In fact, hoardings, banners and posters are now dotting various parts of the city.
Speaking to reporters here today, the Opposition BJP Leader in the legislative assembly, Mr B S Yediyurappa sought to take the state government to task for granting permission to hold the event at Jakkur Airfield, which is “sensitive” from the defence and security viewpoint.
Mr Yediyurappa termed as “unpardonable crime” and “insult to Hindus”, the circulation of pamphlets by organisers of the event criticising idol worship.
“Is the event not a conspiracy to convert people?,” he asked.
Accusing the organisers of promoting “wrong propaganda” that Mr Hinn is a “godman”, Mr Yediyurappa asked the government to reconsider its permission to the prayer meeting at Jakkur.
He said Hindus would voluntarily protest the event.
The Chief Minister, Mr N Dharam Singh has already stated that the government would not take any step to stop the programme, saying the administration cannot interfere with religious events.
Defending the convention, the organisers have said it is being conducted with “noble intention”. During his previous visit to Mumbai last year he did not speak anything about conversion or anything that affects the people’s religious sentiments, they said.
There are reports that Chief Ministers of some Congress-ruled states are likely to attend the meet. Mr Yediyurappa said while the government did not allow conduct of certain rituals at the Hindu-Muslim shrine at Bababudangiri Hills in Chikmagalur district late last year and amassed police force to enforce its decision, it’s now “organising and arranging” Mr Hinn’s programme.
Renowned Kannada litterateur and Jnanapeeth award winner, U R Ananthamurthy has cautioned Mr Dharam Singh against associating himself with the prayer meeting.
“The Chief Minister should not identify himself with this mass hysteria. We should not encourage this (mass hysteria),” Ananthamurthy said.
The police have said they have made elaborate security arrangements for the event.
Hi my friend,
what is your problem? India is a democratic country and the best in the world.India belongs to all the religious people Hindhu's,Christains,Muslims and sikhs.
Benny Hinn had the right to preach in India just as the Hindhu's have to preach in the western countries. If you have love of God why don't you preach it instead of against it.
Jesus did say come unto me all that are heavy laden I will give you rest. Benny Hinn is doing a great job.
what are you doing?
besides I know lot of Hindhu's who are good people and they love the Lord Jesus.
India is agreat country of multi colture, multi religious country.
my friend God loves you I hope you are reading all the positive reports concerning christianity.
God bless
Yes dear friend.
We Indians welcome again Pstr.Bennyhinn to India,because he loves Indian people.Also we love him and Jesus Christ.
God bless you
The guy's a cheap charlatan. Why doesn't he take his medicine show to Saudi Arabia or Iran? I don't believe in 'harvesting souls for Christ', only sincere, lifelong efforts to live up to impossibly high Christian standards ('Be thou perfect, as your Father in Heaven is perfect') and praying for God's grace to bridge the gap. Instant salvation in a hypnotic setting, based on unverifiable healing testimonies is rubbish to me.
I say, let Hindus be Hindus and preserve their unique culture. And pray that the unenlightened elements like sutee and the caste system fall away over time.
Besides, India is not exactly ignorant about Christ and the Gospel. Their Indigenous Christian chruches are among the world's oldest. They don't lecture us about our religion, and Hinn is not a missionary in the traditional sense anyway. He doesn't make a personal commitment to found a new Christian community and stay with it. No, he makes hundreds (thousands?) of overnight converts, takes the money, then it's off to the next ripe venue. Harvesting souls for Christ while harvesting their rupees.
yep you are right,, PT Barnum had millions fooled too,,, has one of Hinn's "prophecies" ever come true?,, if not he's a false prophet,,
Bash whoever you want, but remember the warning of Gamaliel: if this man is not of God, he will be gone in no time, but if he is of God, who are we to oppose him?
Yeah, my attitude toward guys like Hinn, whom I think is quite likely an absolute charlatan, is:
1) Dont judge him, as much as it seems apparent, because we really do not know what is in his eart.
The power of faith is incredible, and if this Hinn guy is evoking it to 'cure' psychosomatic or even near psychosomatic conditions, then it *could* possibly be, however remote, that the guy is sincere and not the typical faith-healer fraud.
2) As long as the gospel is preached, it is a net plus for the Body of Christ. That is the over-arching concern I care about, bottom line. Sure, many may lose faith at this mans hypocrisy, but that is the case with us all, that some may be led astray when we sin. But the net is gain for Christ, so I cant be happier to hear that he is converting people wherever the churches presence is thin.
But yes, the Hinidi fundamentalists are kind of like our own in Christianity; irrational, religio-centric, and willing to trample all over Truth if it gets in their way.
But a discerning person can spot it soon enough and avoid the type; if I can do it, anybody can do it.
Thanks and let us pray for india to become a nation of God, in Jesus name.
That's the fly in the ointment. I believe that some of the healings are authentic, ie. not superficial and transient. But great harm can be caused by false promises backed up not by spiritual authority but by an imperfect but fanatical faith, which appropriates selected Biblical passages for its own purposes (ie. money). People like Hinn can be sincere on the surface, yet more interested in the worldly aspects of the enterprise than the spiritual. To me, a real healing saint should live in a cave, or small house, forsaking all personal worldly gain. Like the real saints of the Bible. How many of these faith healers are willing to sit motionless in the desert, waiting for God's ultimate revelation? Or to fast even 3 days, let alone 40 days?
I guess I should explain that my suspicions are pretty well confirmed by an experience long ago with an obscure faith healing cult. My initial enthusiasm turned to skepticism, then to bewilderment and disbelief. Years later, I learned through contacts with old members that the two leaders of the cult were sexual predators, used drugs routinely, and had a secret 'getaway' retreat none of us ordinary members know about. All this while professing celebacy, vows of poverty and bragging about all the young people they had saved from a life of drugs and booze. Yet even in that hypocritical setting which damaged so many lives, there were some authentic healings, I believe. But I am 'gun shy' of organized religions as a result. Show me a wizened renunciate on the mountaintop who truly forsakes the world for the Lord and I may be willing to listen.
Rough experience.
Many who use the gospel for personal gain or manipulation cause a lot of harm.
But it is still a testimony to the power of the Gospel that it *can* be so used.
I hope you do eventually find a flock to gather with - they are priceless when you do find them and they are out there.
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