No Representation In Government For Athiests

Written by admin on Announcement – 4:13 pm -


Posted in Atheism in Politics | No Comments »

Who was the first famous Atheist in recorded history?

Written by admin on March 6, 2010 – 5:08 pm -

or what group of people were the first?

Technorati Tags: atheist, Famous, first, history, recorded

Tags: atheist, Famous, first, history, recorded
Posted in Famous Atheist | 4 Comments »

Dinesh D’souza, the New Atheism, and Constantinian Christianity

Written by admin on March 6, 2010 – 5:07 pm -

 

Last week at the Innovative Evangelism Conference I got a chance to hear Dinesh D’Souza speak to a standing room only crowd. Many in the crowd were fellow evangelists, but there were a few seekers and skeptics present as well. Dinesh D’Souza is a renowned Christian apologist known for taking on the proponents of the New Atheism (people like Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens). He’s also one of America’s most influential conservative thinkers.

Dinesh’s arguments from science and philosophy were well thought out. He addressed post-modern arguments against Christian exclusivism with sensitivity, breezed through the theodicy problem (the problem of why a good God allows evil to happen), and built a case for Christian morality without resorting to bashing heads with Bible verses. He even managed—rightly in my view—to avoid the trap of defending irreducible complexity as an argument for intelligent design. All things considered, I thought that Dinesh did a good job presenting arguments for the reasonableness of Christian faith. So why did I leave disappointed?

The weakest part of the presentation for me was when Dinesh defended Christianity against the charge that people in the name of Christ have committed some pretty horrific crimes against humanity, crimes like the Inquisition and the Crusades. Rather than renouncing the evil perpetrated in the name of Christ, Dinesh chose the standard apologetic response of stacking up the body count of crimes perpetrated in the name of Christ against crimes perpetrated in the name of atheism. The body count for the Inquisition? Four thousand. The body count for atheism? Millions. Christianity wins.

Not to say that there isn’t some merit to D’Souza’s argument mind you. It’s true that when you consider Lenin, Mao, Stalin, and Pol Pot; the body count for atheism in the 20th century alone far surpasses the body count for crimes committed in the name of Christ. D’Souza also rightly pointed out that atheism—more specifically the Marxist brand—was crucial to the philosophies of these barbaric dictators as opposed to the supposedly religious conflicts that are often really about land and resource distributions (like the Catholic/Protestant conflict in Northern Ireland and the Israeli/Palestinian conflict).

Leaving aside the potential counter-argument that Christianity has it’s share of religiously motivated wars as well (think—the 30 year war, the Great Schism) it’s at this point that a thinking skeptic could say, “Yes, it’s true that without religion there would still be wars over land, ethnicity and political philosophies, but the thing particularly dangerous about religion is that religion provides a transcendent source that allows people to dehumanize others with the approval of their conscience”—and the skeptic would be right.

This is why Jesus—not historic Christianity—should be the object of our apologetics. Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus categorically rejected violence, nationalism, and the fusion of faith with earthly power, as did His followers for roughly the first 300 years of Church history. At around 325 A.D. the church and state developed a very cozy relationship under Constantine, producing what author David Bercot from Scroll Publishing likes to call the “Constantinian Hybrid.” It seems to me that in his counter-arguments to the New Atheists moral objections to religious faith, what Dinesh defended wasn’t so much Christianity, but Constantinian Christianity—the kind of Christianity that’s very comfortable fusing faith with earthly power.

Lest I be misunderstood, I’m not suggesting that Dinesh D’Souza approved of the Crusades and the Inquisition in his presentation. It’s just that something seems awry to me when a leading Christian intellectual has to tell his fellow believers that we should all be patting ourselves on the back because our predecessors haven’t tortured and killed as many people as the predecessors of other faiths and belief systems. Maybe I’m missing something, but I’m not sure why a non-Christian should be impressed with that. It seems to me that once we accept Constantinian Christianity as normative, we’ve seriously lowered the bar. As a Christian evangelist, D’Souza’s presentation forced me to ask myself perhaps the toughest of all questions. To what degree does the Christianity that I’m preaching look like Jesus?

Technorati Tags: atheism, christianity, Constantinian, D'souza, Dinesh

Tags: atheism, christianity, Constantinian, D'souza, Dinesh
Posted in Atheism in Politics | No Comments »

“people of the Book” & the Muslims the Natural Alliance Between Christianity, Judaism and Islam

Written by admin on February 20, 2010 – 1:42 pm -

 

Islam is a religion of peace, love and tolerance. Today, however, some circles have been presenting a false image of Islam, as if there were conflict between Islam and the adherents of the two other monotheistic religions. Yet Islam’s view of Jews and Christians, who are named “the People of the Book” in the Koran, is very friendly and tolerant.

 

This attitude towards the People of the Book developed during the years of the birth of Islam. At that time, Muslims were a minority, struggling to protect their faith and suffering oppression and torture from the pagans of the city of Mecca. Due to this persecution, some Muslims decided to flee Mecca and shelter in a safe country with a just ruler. The Prophet Muhammad told them to take refuge with King Negus, the Christian king of Ethiopia. The Muslims who followed this advice found a very fair administration that embraced them with love and respect when they went to Ethiopia. King Negus refused the demands of the pagan messengers who asked him to surrender the Muslims to them, and announced that Muslims could live freely in his country.

 

Such attitudes of Christian people that are based on the concepts of compassion, mercy, modesty and justice, constitute a fact that God has pointed out in the Koran. A verse of the Koran states:

 

… You will find the people most affectionate to those who believe are those who say, ‘We are Christians.’ That is because some of them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant. (Surat al-Ma’ida, 82)

 

The Common Beliefs and Values of the People of the Book with Muslims

 

Christian and Muslim belief have many aspects in common. Judaism too shares many beliefs with Islam. All true adherents of these three great religions:

 

believe that God has created the entire universe out of nothing and that He dominates all that exists with His omnipotence.

 

believe that God has created man and living things in a miraculous way and that man possesses a soul granted him by God.

 

believe that besides Jesus, Moses or Muhammad, God sent many prophets such as Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Joseph throughout history, and they love all these prophets.

 

believe in resurrection, Heaven and Hell and angels, and that God has created our lives with a certain destiny.

The beliefs of the People of the Book are in harmony with Muslims, not only in terms of faith-related issues, but also of moral values. Today, in a world where such immoralities as adultery, homosexuality, drug addiction and a model of egoism and self-seeking cruelty have grown widespread, the People of the Book and Muslims share the same virtues: Honor, chastity, humility, self-sacrifice, honesty, compassion, mercy and unconditional love…

 

According To The Koran, Muslims, Jews And Christians Should Live In Friendship

 

It is evident there are ample grounds for an alliance between the “People of the Book” and Muslims. This is also very evident in the Koran. In the relevant verses of the Koran, there is a significant difference between the People of the Book and the idolaters. This is especially emphasized in the area of social life. For example, it is said concerning the idolaters: “(they) are unclean, so after this year they should not come near the Masjid al-Haram (Kaaba).” (Surat at-Tawba: 28) Idolaters are people who obey no divine law, have no moral precepts and who are capable of committing every kind of degrading and perverse action without hesitation.

 

But while they basically rely on God’s revelation, the People of the Book have moral precepts and know what is lawful and what is not. For this reason, if one of the People of the Book cooks some food, it is lawful for Muslims to eat it. In the same way, permission has been given for a Muslim man to marry a woman from among the People of the Book. On this subject God commands:

 

Today all good things have been made lawful for you. And the food of those given the Book is also lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. So are chaste women from among the believers and chaste women of those given the Book before you, once you have given them their dowries in marriage, not in fornication or taking them as lovers. But as for anyone who disbelieve, his actions will come to nothing and in the hereafter he will be among the losers. (Surat al-Mai’da: 5)

 

These commands show that bonds of kinship may be established as a result of the marriage of a Muslim with a woman from the People of the Book, and that those on each side of the union can accept an invitation to a meal. These are the fundamentals that will ensure the establishment of equitable human relationships and a happy communal life. Since the Koran enjoins this equitable and tolerant attitude, it is unthinkable that a Muslim could take an opposing view.

 

Monasteries, Churches And Synagogues Should Be Respected

 

Another important fact we learn from the Koran is that Muslims must respect Jewish and Christian places of worship. In the Koran, the places of worship of the People of the Book, i.e. monasteries, churches and synagogues, are mentioned as places of worship protected by God.

 

…if God had not driven some people back by means of others, monasteries, churches, synagogues and mosques, where God’s name is mentioned much, would have been pulled down and destroyed. God will certainly help those who help Him - God is All-Strong, Almighty. (Surat al-Hajj: 40 )

 

This verse shows all Muslims the importance of respecting and protecting the sanctuaries of Christians and Jews.

 

Indeed, in the Koran God commands Muslims not to harbor any enmity towards any people. In many verses, friendship is recommended, even with idolaters. God even refers to the idolaters at war with Muslims in this way: “If any of the idolaters ask you for protection, give them protection until they have heard the words of God. Then convey them to a place where they are safe.” (Surat at-Tawba: 6)

 

Jews and Christians, however, are much closer to Muslims than idolaters. Each of these religions has its book, that is, they are subject to a revelation sent down by God. They know what is right and what is wrong, what is lawful and what is unlawful. They know they will give an account to God, and they love and revere His prophets. This shows that Muslims and the people of the book can live easily together and cooperate.

 

The Common Enemies of the Faith

 

Another important fact that draws Christianity, Judaism and Islam together is the atheist philosophies that are so influential in our time.

 

Among the best-known and most harmful philosophies of our age can be cited materialism, communism, fascism, anarchism, racism and secular humanism. Many people who believed in the fake diagnoses, deceptive descriptions and explanations of these ideas on the universe, society and man, have lost their faith or doubted it. What is more, these ideologies have dragged people, societies and nations into great crises, conflicts and wars. Their share of the blame for the pain and troubles that humanity suffers today is immense.

 

While they deny God and creation, all the above-mentioned ideologies are based on a common framework, a so-called scientific basis; Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Darwinism constitutes the basis of atheist philosophies. This theory claims that living beings have evolved as a result of coincidences and by means of a struggle for life. Therefore, Darwinism sends this deceptive message to people:

 

“You are not responsible to anyone, you owe your life to coincidences, you need to struggle, and if necessary to oppress others to succeed. This world is one of conflict and self-interest”.

 

This evil morality advises people to be egoistical, self-seeking, cruel and oppressive. It destroys such virtues as mercy, compassion, self-sacrifice and humility, the moral values of the three great monotheistic religions.

 

This being the case, it is necessary for the people of the Book and Muslims to cooperate, since they believe in God and accept the morality that He teaches. The followers of these three religions should expose to the world the fallacy of Darwinism, which has no scientific basis, but which is trying to be preserved for the sake of materialist philosophy. They should cooperatively carry out an intellectual struggle against all other deceptive ideas that serve atheism. Once this is realized, the world will, in a very short time, embrace peace, tranquility and justice.

 

Conclusion: “Let us Rally to a Common Formula”

 

At a time when anti-religious, atheist and materialist ideologies surround the world, similarities among theistic religions should be emphasized, and cooperation should be established for common aims.

 

Concerning the People of the Book, God gives Muslims a command in the Koran; to rally to a common formula:

 

O People of the Book! Let us rally to a common formula to be binding on both us and you: That we worship none but God; that we associate no partners with Him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than God. (Surat Al ‘Imran, 64)

 

This is indeed our call to Christians and Jews: As people who believe in God and follow His revelations, let us rally to a common formula - “faith”. Let’s love God, Who is our Creator and Lord, and follow His commands. And let us pray God to lead us to an even straighter path.

 

When Muslims, Christians and Jews rally to a common formula this way;

 

When they understand that they are friends not enemies,

 

When they see that the real enemy is atheism and paganism,

 

then the world will become a very different place.

 

The fighting that has raged for ages, enmities, fears - and terrorist attacks - will come to an end, and a new civilization based on love, respect and peace will be established upon this “common formula”.

 

Under the pen name of Harun Yahya, Adnan Oktar has written some 250 works. His books contain a total of 46,000 pages and 31,500 illustrations. Of these books, 7,000 pages and 6,000 illustrations deal with the collapse of the Theory of Evolution. You can read, free of charge, all the books Adnan Oktar has written under the pen name Harun Yahya on these websites www.harunyahya.com

Technorati Tags: Alliance, between, book, christianity, islam, judaism, muslims, natural, People

Tags: Alliance, between, book, christianity, islam, judaism, muslims, natural, People
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

What was the name of the famous atheist woman that disappeared under mysterious circumstances?

Written by admin on February 20, 2010 – 1:42 pm -

She had an atheist organization the 1970’s and later.
and what have you heard about her?

Technorati Tags: atheist, circumstances, disappeared, Famous, mysterious, Name, under, Woman

Tags: atheist, circumstances, disappeared, Famous, mysterious, Name, under, Woman
Posted in Famous Atheist | 3 Comments »

Islam And Jews - Islam And Christians

Written by admin on February 20, 2010 – 1:42 pm -

 

Islam and Jews do not mix. Nor does Islam and Christians. While Jews and Christians are able to find common ground and respect each others religion, such is not the case when it comes to Islam. 

 

Islam and Christians cannot be friends, according to the Koran. The Koran teaches that anyone who does not believe in Islam and practice the teachings is an infidel. This includes Christians. In some Islamic countries, such as Saudi Arabia, it is illegal to practice the Christian faith. In some countries, such as Egypt, those who are Christians have to carry cards. While some countries do allow for Christian worship, the consensus is that Islam is the one true religion. Christians may be tolerated in some countries, but often have fewer rights than Muslims. That is the relationship between Islam and Christians in the Middle East. 

 

In the west, the relationship between Islam and Christians is the same. Christians are not trusted and are forbidden, by the Koran, to be a friend.  While Muslims in Western countries are permitted to do business with Christians and even marry them, they are still told not to be friends with Christians. The relationship between Islam and Christians, from the Christian viewpoint is live and let live. Although many are afraid of those practicing Islam because of the constant terrorist acts throughout the world in the name of Islam, laws have been passed to prevent racial profiling and to protect Muslims living in other parts of the world. 

 

When it comes to Islam and Jews, the relationship is the same. Jews are not to be trusted anymore than Christians. Jews are even more hated by Muslims because of Israel. The United States, a strong ally of Israel, is also a target for Islamic fundamentalists. As is any country that supports Israel. Some countries have dropped their support of Israel because they wish to eliminate terror threats. This does not matter, however. Although the relationship between Islam and Jews is volatile, any country that does not obey Islamic law is a target for terror campaigns. 

 

Many people feel that the relationship between Islam and Jews is worse than that of Islam and Christians. It is not. Both relationships are the same. As is the relationship of Islam and Buddhists. Islam and Hindus. Islam and Wiccans. Islam and Taoists. You get the picture. You are either Islamic or not. 

 

Despite the fact that there is raw evidence that there are poor relations between Islam and Christians and Islam and Jews due to the fact that the Koran says they should be killed, people still do not get it. Most people in the west feel that it is the right of everyone to worship as they please. This is how most western children are taught.  et in Islamic countries, this is not a right. As long as Islamic countries refuse to recognize other faiths and that the state of Israel has a right to exist, as it has for the past 60 years, then there will be no relationship between Islam and Christians and Islam and Jews. 

 

Technorati Tags: christians, islam, jews

Tags: christians, islam, jews
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

What is an Atheist…Really?

Written by admin on February 20, 2010 – 1:42 pm -

 

What is an atheist? What does an atheist believe? Do atheists believe in anything at all? These are questions that most people ask when they encounter atheism for the first time. Many people are often put off by atheism when they first encounter it, especially if they haven’t ever heard of the concept before, or have been taught that the belief system in which they were raised is the only acceptable belief system to have.

Simply put: an Atheist does not believe in the existence of a singular deity or God. Typically atheists reject theological teachings and reject the idea that there is a higher power guiding life on Earth.

An atheist does not believe in Satanism. In fact, the lack of belief in a higher power means that an atheist does not belief in a “lower” power either. You cannot have a demon or devil if you do not have angels or God. Unfortunately there are many people who believe that a lack of God fundamentally means that a person worships the “lower” beings. This is not true. Atheists reject theism as a whole. This means that they do not worry about “getting into heaven” or “ending up in hell.” Without a God, heaven and hell do not exist.

This does not mean, however, that Atheists do not have strong beliefs of their own. Many atheists believe heavily in the power of science-things that can be seen and proven and are not prone to human-esque emotional judgments.

Another large misconception about atheism and atheists is that they cannot be happy or accepting of others. This is largely due to a type of atheism in which the atheist believes that those who do believe in God are weaker than he/she is-and are very vocal in this belief. Unfortunately, like in all things, the most vocal people in a group often get the most attention and help define their groups’ stereotypes.

Perhaps the biggest misconception of the atheist and his/her beliefs is that an atheist cannot believe in morals or good/evil. Morality and good/evil does not belong solely to divine beings. Atheists believe in human decency just as much as those who attend every church service offered by their local house of worship. Atheists believe in right and wrong just like everyone else. The difference is that an atheist believes that good/evil and right/wrong morality is a social construct, not something handed down by a Supreme Being.

Many atheists deny their own atheism because they do not want to be ostracized or unfairly judged by their friends and peers. Because there are so many misconceptions surrounding atheists and what they do or do not believe, many people believe that atheism itself is wrong or bad and so, in many cases, once an Atheist “outs” him/herself, he/she finds his/her relationships strained. This is sad because Western society takes a lot of pride in being tolerant of all beliefs. Atheism is a personal belief that is not all that different than a theology-based belief.

Technorati Tags: Atheist...Really

Tags: Atheist...Really
Posted in Demonism and Atheism | No Comments »

Orissa Clash and Christian Missionaries

Written by admin on February 20, 2010 – 1:42 pm -

 

The recent Hindu-Christian clashes in Orissa during Christmas where many churches were burnt again shed light on the complexity of religious conditions in India. As usual Hindus and Hindu Organizations are being blamed. But, before getting into these blame games, it’s important to state the facts.

 

Orissa has been a favorite destination of Christian Missionaries for proselytization.

The illegal conversions are being carried out by missionaries in tribal areas. In Kandhamal District alone the Christian population has increased from 6% in 1970 to 27% in 2001, despite an Act enacted by Orissa Legislature in 1967 to prevent conversion by allurement, coercion, bribery and cheating1. On the eve of Christmas, the community had organized for a massive ‘conversion’ camp in a predominantly Hindu tribal area.2 When the Hindu tribals under the leadership of Swmi Lakshmanananda protested against this, he was attacked. Everything started from this unprovoked attack by Christian goons on Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati who was visiting his disciples in Darsingbadi village in Kandhmal District on 24 th December.

 

The issue again highlights the ugly face of religious fundamentalism, in this case Christian fundamentalism. It raises the questions about the motive and inspiration behind the ‘proselytization’.

 

The missionary works are not new. According to the documents of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, the Biblical authority for missions begins quite early in Genesis 12:1-3, in which Abraham is blessed so that through him and his descendants, all the “peoples” of the world would be blessed. Others point to God’s wish, often expressed in the Bible, that all peoples of the earth would worship Him. Therefore, Christian missions go where worship is not, in order to bring worship to God.3 In the 16th century the proselyization of Asia was linked to the Portuguese colonial policy. As soon as Christianity came into power, heathen temples were defaced and closed and their revenues transferred to the Church. “We command that all their (heathens’) fanes, temples, shrines, if even now any remain entire shall be destroyed by the command of the magistrates” was the order of the day. (Theodosius Code, 380 A.D.). In Great Britain and Germany, priests and monks moved about destroying the groves and shrines of the people. The last regions to lose their religions in Europe were Prussia and the Baltic states.

 

Varying attempts to stamp out infidels and heretics often proved to be inadequate, so the Holy Inquisition was formed by Pope Gregory IX in 1231 to make the efforts more organized and efficient. Burning was quickly decided upon as the official punishment. In 1245, the Pope gave Inquisitors the right to absolve their assistants of any acts of violence which they might commit in the fulfillment of their duties. Torture of suspects was authorized by Pope Innocent IV in 1252. The Inquisition was not limited to Europe, as Spaniards brought it to the Americas and used it to punish the native inhabitants. Through the 1500s, 879 heresy trials were recorded in Mexico alone.4 The historian Hernando del Pulgar estimated that the Spanish Inquisition had burned at the stake 2,000 people and reconciled another 15,000 by 1490 just one decade after the Inquisition began.( Cited in Kamen op. cit., p. 62.). Juan de Zumarrage, first Bishop of Mexico, writing in 1531, claimed that he personally destroyed over 500 temples and 20,000 idols of the heathens.5 The Goa inquisition which lasted from 1560 to 1812 is considered as the most violent inquisition ever executed by the Portuguese Catholic Church. Inquisition proceedings were always conducted behind closed shutters and closed doors. Hindus were brutally interrogated, flogged, and slowly dismembered in front of their relatives. Eyelids were sliced off and extremities were amputated carefully6. Viceroy D Constantine de Braganca issued an order on April 2, 1560, instructing that Brahmins should be thrown out of Goa and other areas under Portuguese control.7 At the end of 1567, 300 Hindu temples were destroyed.8

 

These incidences are not just something to be read in pages of history, but it is very much happening even today. Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati says “There was no problem when Christians were not here in Paikia. With their numbers increasing, they forcefully took away Hindu girls and forced the neo-converts to eat beef. They set several temples on fire. Be it Birupakhya Mahadev´s temple or temple at Malarimaha or my Ashram at Rupagoan, the Christians conspired to set them on fire. They threw mortal remains of cows on mandirs. Kondh tribal´s Goddess Dharani Mata´s places of worship in several villages were dishonored. The sacred sword at a temple at Bramhanigaon was forcibly taken away by the converts who melted the sword in public and prepared their weapons with that looted material” 9

 

In the Lausanne report ‘Christian Witness to Hindus’, they state in details the methods to be adopted to convert different sections of Hindus. They discuss about Rural Evangelism, Urban Evangelism and Student Evangelism. They explain how ‘Miraculous Healing’ helps to convert people. They give strategies to be employed to use mass media, social gatherings, and seminars to their advantage.10

 

The Niyogi Report provided details of how much had been contributed by which Western country to the total of Rs. 29.27 crores received by Christian missions in India from January 1950 to June 1954. It notes that USA, UK, Canada and France contributed around 21 crores, 5 crores, 2 crores and 8 lakhs respectively. The Report revealed that the bulk of this foreign money received ostensibly for maintaining educational and medical institutions was spent on proselytization. It has been contended, said the Report, that most of the amount is utilized for creating a class of professional proselytizers, both foreign as well as Indian. There were 480 foreign missionaries working in Madhya Pradesh at that time. Out of them as many as 236 were Americans. The Report gave concrete instances of how mission schools were used to influence the minds of young people. Harijan and Adivasi students came in for special attention. They were given free boarding, lodging and books provided they attended Christian prayers. Bible classes were made compulsory by treating as absent for the whole day those students who failed to be present in those classes. School celebrations were used for showing the victory of the cross over all other symbols. Hospitals were used for putting pressure on poor class patients to embrace Christianity. The richest harvest, however, was reaped in mission orphanages which collected orphans during famines and other natural calamities such as floods and earthquakes. ‘No wonder,’ observed the Report, ‘that the largest number of converts is from such backward classes living in areas where due to various causes only Mission schools and hospitals exist. Most conversions have been doubtless insincere admittedly brought about in expectation of social service benefits and other material considerations’.11

 

Christianity has been following a policy of ‘Inculturation’. This means that it adopted Pagan elements in Christianized form in order to ease the transition from Paganism to Christianity. Pagan gods became Christian saints. Pagan Festivals became Christian festivals. In this process of inculturation, the Christian Church adapted old forms to its new message, but made sure that through the Pagan veneer the Christian doctrine was impressed upon the converts12. “Indigenization,” says Kaj Baago, “is evangelization. It is the planting of the gospel inside another culture, another philosophy, another religion.13” In Indian case, ‘Inculturation’ or ‘Indigenization’ means ‘the incorporation of Jesus in Indian spiritual tradition’. Fr. Bede says “In India we need a Christian Vedanta and a Christian Yoga that is a system of theology which makes use not only of the terms and concepts but of the whole structure of thought of the Vedanta”14

 

Sita Ram Goel divides Hindu-Christian encounter into 5 phases. The first phase began with arrival of Portuguese and Saint Francis Xavier, where they used all crude and violent methods of proselytization. This ended with end of Portuguese rule. The second phase began establishment of British rule, where the language and methods of missionaries was as crude as before but they were not allowed to use physical methods. This ended with rise of Hindu reformation movements of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Swami Dayananda Saraswathi, and Swami Vivekananda. The third phase starts with the advent of Mahatma Gandhi and his slogan of sarva-dharma-samabhAva which forced Christian missions to change and soften their language. This phase ended with the Tambram Conference of the International Missionary Council (IMC) in 1938, which decided to reformulate Christian theology in the Indian context. The fourth phase which commenced with the coming of independence where the Christian right to convert Hindus was incorporated in the Constitution. The missionary apparatus multiplied fast and became pervasive. Christianity had never had it so good in the whole of its history in India. The only rift in the lute was the ‘Niyogi Committee Report on Christian Missionary Activities’ published by the Government of Madhya Pradesh in 1956, and Om Prakash Tyagi’s Bill on ‘Freedom of Religion’ introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 1978. The fifth phase which is currently running started with Hindu awakening that resulted in Ram Janmabhumi movement.15

 

Over these long period of Hindu-Christian encounter, only the language and methods of ‘followers of Jesus’ has changed, but the motive has always remained same. Lausanne report in its introduction says- ‘We give thanks to God Almighty for his gracious act of salvation in Jesus Christ, which has made possible the entrance into the Kingdom of God for over 565 million Hindu people dispersed throughout the world, with the majority in the Indian sub-continent.

We rejoice in the fact that the saving Word of God preached faithfully by God’s servants has brought about a Christian population of about 19 million people in India alone. However, we are conscious that God longs for the whole Hindu people to know Jesus Christ and live under his Lordship16’ These words clearly speak out that the sole goal of the missions have been Christianization of whole world including India and in this process destroy the cultures of the world.

 

This desire to Christianize the whole world is due to the fact that the doctrines of Christianity are intolerant of others faiths. The biblical God is Jealous and Violent. It is assumed that Jesus means ‘Peace’ and the message of Christianity is peace and equality. But Bible says-

‘Think not that I am come to send peace on earth; I came not to send peace, but a sword.”(Matthew, 10/34)

‘God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies’. (Nahum, 1/2)

The Biblical God is intolerant, ask its followers to torture Non-Believers, to break the idols and images.

And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months; and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.

(Revelation, 9/5)

But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. (Deuteronomy, 7/5)

If a man abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.(John, 15/6)

 

It is this intolerance, which inspired the ‘Followers of Jesus’ to commit great crimes. The source of proselytization by force and fraud lies in Christian doctrines which have heavily been criticized by Nietzsche, Thomas Paine, Voltaire, and Bertrand Russell. But, still it is common in secular brigade to say “All Religions are Equal”. How can we equate a religion which is so intolerant, whose God is jealous and tyrant and exclusive with a religion like Hinduism which is tolerant, inclusive and spreads peace? The best solution to counter the Christian threat is to counter the Christian Dogma which is the source of proselytization.

 

“Auspiciousness be unto all; peace be unto all;

Fullness be unto all; prosperity be unto all.

May all be happy! May all be free from disabilities!

May all look to the good of others!

May none suffer from sorrow” (Shanti Mantra)

 

References-

 

1 http://www.hinduismtoday.com/hpi/2008/1/3.shtml#2

http://www.sanghparivar.org/facts-on-clashes-among-christian-missionaries-and-the-tribals-in-kandhamal-district-of-orissa

 

2 http://www.haindavakeralam.com/HkPage.aspx?PAGEID=5243&SKIN=C

http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=217&page=14

 

3 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_(Christian)

 

4 http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/christian/blfaq_viol_inquisition.htm

 

5 http://www.voiceofdharma.org/books/ca/app5.htm

 

6 http://www.christianaggression.org/item_display.php?type=ARTICLES&id=1111142225

 

7 http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/mar/16gupta.htm

 

8 http://www.christianaggression.org/item_display.php?type=ARTICLES&id=1111142225

 

9 http://www.blogs.ivarta.com/india-usa-blog-column59.htm

 

10 http://www.lausanne.org/pattaya-1980/lop-14.html

 

11 Niyogi Committee Report On Christian Missionary Activities published by the Government of Madhya Pradesh in 1956

 

12 Salvation: Hindu influence on Christianity by Dr. Koenraad Elst.

 

13 Kaj Baago, Pioneers of Indigenous Christianity, Madras, 1969, p. 85

 

14 Bede Griffiths, op. cit., p. 24.

 

15 http://www.voiceofdharma.org/books/ncr/2one.htm

 

16 http://www.lausanne.org/pattaya-1980/lop-14.html#Int

Technorati Tags: Christian, Clash, Missionaries, Orissa

Tags: Christian, Clash, Missionaries, Orissa
Posted in Christianity and Atheism | No Comments »

Judaism and Islam

Written by admin on February 12, 2010 – 6:02 pm -

A video examining the issues surrounding Islam and judaism and some surprising facts about the two abrahamic beliefs.

Technorati Tags: islam, judaism

Tags: islam, judaism
Posted in Uncategorized | 13 Comments »

Spiritually Speaking, What is Funnier than Hearing An Atheist Whine About Persecution?

Written by admin on February 12, 2010 – 6:02 pm -

What could possibly be funnier than hearing an atheist on Y!A comparing his parents making him go to Church, to the Holocaust or Slavery?

Technorati Tags: About, atheist, Funnier, Hearing, persecution, Speaking, Spiritually, than, Whine

Tags: About, atheist, Funnier, Hearing, persecution, Speaking, Spiritually, than, Whine
Posted in Persecution of Atheist | 20 Comments »