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Nigerian States Propose Religion Limits as Gunmen Kill 19 at Bible Study
Christianity Today ^ | August 8, 2012 | Jeremy Weber

Posted on 08/09/2012 7:13:14 PM PDT by CHRISTIAN DIARIST

State governments are mulling restrictions on religious practice in order to stem the spread of sectarian violence in Nigeria—a concern underscored Monday when gunmen opened fire at an evening Bible study in the country’s largely Christian south, killing at least 19 worshipers.

Church shootings and bombings have become all-too-commonplace in the troubled West African nation, especially in its largely Muslim north. But the attack at Deeper Life Church in Kogi state—150 miles southwest of the nation’s centralized capital, Abuja—represents an unusual southern incursion by militants. One assailant turned off the lights in the windowless sanctuary while others used assault rifles to mow down the crowd.

The shooting follows, among other incidents, the July killing of 50 church members seeking refuge in a pastor’s home in Plateau state, and the subsequent killing of Christian senator Gyang Dantong—known as Nigeria’s “bridge between religions, cultures and tribes”—and others during a funeral for the victims.

(Excerpt) Read more at christianitytoday.com ...


TOPICS: Current Events
KEYWORDS: bokoharam; christiangenocide; christianpersecution; johnkerry; kenyanbornmuzzie; lurch; nigeria
Thank God we live in a free nation where we do not put our very lives on the line when we gather in worship, unlike Nigeria's Christian population, the targets of unrelenting Islamist terrorism.
1 posted on 08/09/2012 7:13:22 PM PDT by CHRISTIAN DIARIST
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To: CHRISTIAN DIARIST

“Thank God we live in a free nation where we do not put our very lives on the line when we gather in worship”

Unless you are a Sikh in Wisconsin.


2 posted on 08/09/2012 7:19:09 PM PDT by sagar
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To: CHRISTIAN DIARIST

It ain`t sectarian violence- These are 2 different religions, not sects of one religion.

This is religious persecution, not sectarian violence.

“Religious persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group of individuals as a response to their religious beliefs...” wiki


3 posted on 08/09/2012 7:20:57 PM PDT by bunkerhill7 (!. what??? Who knew? .)
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To: sagar
Differences being that the murders of the Sikhs were committed by one evil/crazy person, without State coillusion, whereas the dozens of murderous assaults on hundreds of Christians in Nigeria have been carried out by organized killing teams, often with local police or relgional government collusion.

All damnably wrong --- the same in that respect --- but with different overall significance.

4 posted on 08/10/2012 6:42:40 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o
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