I just found this site http://www.persecution.org/suffering/index.php If you try to go to the petition page your computer may freeze and you will have to restart, all the other links work well though. One interesting story published today is that from a former egyptian sheik who got arrested after converting to Christianity. Interesting read, also the developement in Somalia and more...
I think everyone here remembers the story of the Aghan convert who got asylum in Italy. Now they kidapped an Italian muslim and want him back in exchange for the Afghan convert. read it as provided on the link above or http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6061236.stm
That is terrible. I read over that site for about an hour, I really didn't realize Christian persecution was going on to that extent. It is hard for me to understand why it is happening. How does a person go from merely disagreeing with your religious beliefs to wanting to hurt and kill you for having them. I was thinking this morning of the community I live in, it has a high percentage of Mormons (I am in Mesa, AZ.). I bid on my house and won the bid in 1993, not really paying attention to the fact that it is a mormon community and my house sits right next to the Mormon temple. When they found out I wasn't mormon they started sending missionaries over on a regular basis. I would talk to them regularly and found myself really liking the Mormon people, but I never really accepted there religious beliefs. The last times they tried to convert me, I just told them I just didn't have the same beliefs. So, they thought I just wasn't getting it and I should pray about it and the truth would be revealed. So, I promised I would and I did. The next time they came back I told them I prayed about it and got the feeling that there religion wasn't right for me. They have stopped trying to convert me. I still have a positive relationship with alot of them and if they ever needed help, I would be happy to help them and vice versa. They are great people and I love having them as my neighbors. If you take my example with the Mormons, there are some twisted people out there with some logic I don't get that would conclude that now the Mormons should hate me and I should hate them? What makes people think persecuting someone for there religion ok? Is it extremism?
Personally I think it's both extremism and plain uneducated-ness. A small amount of extremism (since some of those extremists are evidently quite educated, but just nutso, take the Sept 11th guys, they weren't stupid). The masses that believe such crap are just uneducated followers of the extremists, not knowing any better. If these people were better educated, in the long run, you'd see less of this kind of thing going on. It's not unique to Islam, look at how Christians behaved in the 1400's to 1600's in Europe and the USA, burning people at the stake for being witches, executions, etc. (http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/witchhistory.html)
I agree. Also I was thinking for someone to be capable of thinking it is ok to hurt someone just because of there religious beliefs...they would probably be the kind of person that religious beliefs are all that matters in life. I think with a human being religious beliefs make up a part of who you are, but there is so much more. I could be friends with alot of people that have different religious beliefs that I may not agree with, but we may have something else in common. Even with the Mormons again, I don't share the same religious beliefs but I do admire them for making an effort to be so kind to people and how they are family orienated and care about the community. They also seem to be good cooks and the Mormon women have taught me how to make good bread I don't know. There is so much good in people and you can learn so much from them if you let them. I think the danger comes in when you judge someone exclusively based on there religion and think that can totally define who they are and nothing else matters. Am I rambling?
Just as many people of various faiths get persecuted in the US all the time by Christians. Its a two way road.
It's not just Christians being persecuted. I believe it's mostly anyone who does not submit to Islam. I don't agree with many of the Mormon teachings and I believe it was wrong of them to try to convert you. Same as the Jehovah Witness who door knock. Jesus did not need to door knock. I believe I could sense Him 5 miles away. I believe I would be drawn through my heart and mind and long to see him. I beleve it is wrong of Catholics to worship the Pope and Mary. They are not God, praying to Mary will get you no where which is where the Catholic church is going in the Western world. Christianity in my mind is really quite simple, Christianity without religion.
Ive been solicited by Mormons, you tell them you're not interested, they leave because as a minority here they know most have other beliefs. Ive been solicited by Jehovah Witnesses, and same things happen as with Mormons. When a Christian solicits you, they refuse to take no for an answer and proceed to tell you that you are going to hell. Just yesterday I got a pamplet that told me I could never disobey a commandment or I was not going to heaven. As the majority, Christians always think their religion is the right one and anyone else would just be sent to the Christian hell.
So you are saying Jesus did not need to door knock? Hmmm...are you the authority on this point? How would you know what Jesus needed to or did not need to do anything? I mean, he is (as the Bible says he is) the Son of God after all. By the way, Jesus entire ministry was doorknocking. He did it for over 3 years. You saying "Christianity without religion" does not make sense. To be a Christian means you follow the teachings of Christ. To follow the teachings of Christ means you need to do this "religiously". Hope this helps. Col
Not this Christian, you won't catch me passing those things out. I don't need to. No ones sole is my responsibility but my own. Just about every denomination of religion has extremists. Just as every society has. Not all extremists blow things up because most don't teach Jihad.
So here we are talking about religious tolerance and intolerance...All in one post you have managed to bash the followers of Islam, Mormons, Jehovah Witness and all the Catholics. Why?
How do you figure? Acording to my teachings of Christ which are self taught by allowing Him to teach me, I don't have to do a single thing "religiously". You said: "How would you know what Jesus needed to or did not need to do anything?" I know what Jesus needed to or did because I have His spirit in me and have studied his teachings. It's all quite simple really, religion and man complicate all faiths. I "bash" extremists and terrorists. It just so happens Islam is #1 on the list.
Not in this case. When I say Christian I mean the people who listen to music standing up with their eyes closed, hands in the air and waving back and forth, and after midweek service going to have an affair with the grocery clerk. Its more people than you think. Good, because Im tired of telling people who have "come to jesus" to get out of my face.
It's not as simple as you may think. I too have studied his teachings. However, there are many of his teachings that are overlooked. For example, if there was no need to doorknock, then why did he teach his apostles and his disciples to do exactly that (Matthew 28:19, 10:11-15). Also, how will his prophecy be fulfilled (Matthew 24:14) if no one does this? Col
I know they see themselves as Christians, because I have asked them. I guess I see them as Christians because they believe in Christ. I also know they get "points" when they are turned away at a door because I asked them. They see it as persecution and think their works will get them to heaven. Like Jihad only not taken as far. Exactly riotz. The difference is burning witches is over, so is the KKK, the difference is no one holds them responsible, it's always condoned and blamed on everyone else. Education is deliberately withheld from some so they can pretty much only memorize the Quaran.
Yes it is. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." Matthew 24:14 Where here does it say anything about knocking on doors for 3 years? This can be done through the internet. None of these scriptures you have here teach to door knock. They are telling the apostles to go as he has from village to village. Like Billy Graham does. He goes to stadiums all over the world and people go to see him because they choose to go.
It doesn't say 3 years at all. I said Jesus did this for over three years and taught his disciples to do this too. That scripture I quoted is what he wants us to do. Oh? And how are all those in third world nations receiving the good news when they will never have thje means of affording a computer let alone an internet account or even power to run it! You need to widen out a bit for this one. For example, look at what the apostle Paul did for his entire life after he became a believer. Did he tell others to go and preach the word and sit back and relax in a mansion? I don't thnk so. Billy Graham??? You mean the TV evangelist?? Are you serious?? Look at the way he lives. What a poor example of a leader. Most people in the world have no idea who he is because they can't afford to get to see him or can't afford the technology to see him on TV. I feel sorry for you that you have your beliefs in someone like Billy Graham. Nowhere in the Bible does it say preaching God's word should be done this way.