Posted on 04/01/2005 6:36:23 AM PST by wesley_windam-price
Kochi (AsiaNews) – A gaggle of Hindu fundamentalists assaulted Christians who were watching a screening of The Passion of the Christ inside the Kanai Church, the oldest church in the state of Kerala (south-western India). One Christian was seriously wounded and scores of others were beaten and injured, including women and children.
The incident occurred on Easter Eve in Chalakud Taluna when 25 militants from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)—the paramilitary wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—disrupted the viewing of Mel Gibson’s movie and started attacking the spectators, one of whom George Kutty, was seriously hurt. Kanai Church members are followers of Canai Thoma, who reached Kerala from Persia in 425 AD.
Speaking to AsiaNews, John Dayal, president of the All India Catholic Union, said that “these anti-Christian attacks are probably designed to discredit the Congress Party” which currently rules Kerala. The Chief Minister, Oomen Chandy, is Christian.
Concern is also growing among Christians and the Church in Maharashtra, the most secular Indian state and under a Congress Party administration, where State Home Affairs Minister Sidharam Mhetre presented an anti-conversion law. It follows the main lines of a similar bill already presented in the state of Tamil Nadu.
Should it become law, the bill would, among other things, require anyone changing religion to submit an affidavit to the authorities.
Human rights activists have often said that anti-conversion laws are used by Hindu fundamentalists to persecute non Hindus.
In Tamil Nadu the anti-conversion bill has been withdrawn after a prolonged campaign by opponents.
Dolphy D’Souza, president of the Bombay (Mumbai) Catholic Sabha (assembly), said the proposal by Congress-led Maharashtra was shameful.
“The Bombay Catholic Sabha is anguished and pained at the response of Mr Sidharam Mhetre,” Mr D’Souza said.
He added that “if the government thinks it can pass a law against the people, we can tell him that we and other organisations shall launch a campaign” against the anti-conversion law.
Maharashtra’s Chief Minister had already publicly stated that such a law was not necessary. (NC-LF)
Oh, I recognize it. Not of this world, world hated your master, so of course it will hate you.
Still shocks me, though.
Fundamentalism in ANY religion produces intolerance.
Cannot believe such thing. Yes there are intolerant closed minded Christians, but no I cannot believe a Christian preaching love of all, and forcing people to convert. Perhaps making it attractive to convert by providing financial aids.
I don't know, I really cannot say. I think anyone is capable of violence, and I hate it especially when it is done using the garb of religion. I wouldn't want to share the guilt of absolving someone else's act of violence.
Well, the Serbs tried that, and look what it got them. ;)
Hate has such a strong meaning in todays society. I have a 1864 Websters that describes hate as : extreme dislike. So I do have a extreme dislike for muslims. And I understand that there might be some decent muslims. I wonder why they dont speak up. Could it be because they will do as the cult of the moon god tells them to do just when it is convienant for them?
I cannot add to what you have said. You appear to know more about India than I do. You make good points.
Good point. Islam lies to the potential converts. For black Americans they tell them that Christianity is White man religion. For women in India they tell them that Islam is foe EQUALITY? Common people!
I think the problem in Islam is the engrained acts of violence that Muslims must purport toward 'infidels'. As long as these verses remain in the Quran, reform will be impossible in Islam. That being said, there are indeed a lot of moderate Muslims. But even among these, when an urge comes in them to go deeper into the religion, they also tend to go violent, simply because of the written edicts in the Quran, which describe procedures to be carried out to 'infidels' with great detail.
In ways, yes. But you must not forget, 'missionaries' can come in various colours. For example, in India, there is a rift that exists between the Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox sects of Christianity. And missionaries of each sect try to outwin the other in gaining converts. I am aware that Catholics don't send their kids to Protestant schools and vice-versa. Hence the baggage.
However, true missionaries are always stay this.
Well that is absolutely correct. Orthodox tends to protect their turf, and so are Catholic, and even Protestant for that matter. Protestant, however, are typically the intruders in most of these countries, because they are the new comers and they seek market share. In the US, for example Protestants fight hard to keep their market share from getting eroded to the Mormons, and other new sects.
Religions, in general is very easily resembles market share protection or sport club fanatic supports. Don't you think?
As long as religion is kept as a strictly private issue, problems don't turn up normally.
As long as it remains a popularity sport, violence will follow.
But exceptions may be there.
Actually Kerala has only around 55% Hindus.Christians & Muslims compose close to 45%(near equal ratio).
IF you see the (bitter) rivalry between opposing sections of India's oldest Eastern Orthodox groups,you will think that the usual Catholic-protestant tiff is child's play.One group owes alliegiance to the Patriach at Antioch,while a breakaway faction has now installed a 'Metropolitan' based in India as their head.There have been more than 1 violent clash & court disputes for control of massive wealth owned by the community.Come to think of it,many of these folks are descendents of Christians who came from Syria ages ago!!
Yes, I realised that. It's 60% Hindu.
http://www.pbs.org/hiddenindia/religion/
Yes, I know one Orthodox couple from Kerala, who broke off relations with their son because he married a Catholic.
Some of the Orthodox members show a lot of disdain and look down upon the Catholics and Protestants. They tend to believe they are 'superior' because they were Christians for more than 1000 years.
And to talk about Ireland, that's another story altogether.
"Fundamentalism in ANY religion produces intolerance."
I don't know about that. I am a fundamentalist Christian, as in I believe what the Bible says -- and I don't pick and choose the parts I agree with (something many "fundamentalists" do).
I truly respect a person's free will. People have a right to be whatever religion (or no religion) they please. It's a very Biblical concept; God does not force Himself on you.
I am sad, however, that people don't know and/or reject Christ and I may pray for them, and I may try to tell them about Christianity.
And yes, I think there is a pretty good chance that non-Christians are going to burn in Hell. (Although I've heard arguments that Christ's sacrifice was so great it saves everyone; nice thought, and I hope they are right, but I don't think so.)
That does not mean I think they are bad people. Some of the most horrid, nasty, people I know are Christians. Some of the best people I knwo are not Christians. But that's not the issue --- the issue is whether one falls short of being "sinless" and there is only one way I know of to do that.
So, am I intolerant? I don't think so.
"Intersting, so do women martyrs get 72 virgins? Where do these virgins come from?"
Massachussets.
No, they get 72 credit cards.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.