persecution of christians - ChristiansOnline.CC

therese · 09-07-2008, 05:15 PM

A few weeks ago I was invited to a Christian Centre for an evening to hear about a womans shelter, I am active in my own denomination, but as an associate to the sisters of mercy, this seemed to mirror some of our orders foundations. So I went.

I met someone there however that spoke to me about a very diffrent topic, I had been pointed out to him as someone who would be open to helping to support a prayer group.

I listened to him, and promised to speak to my priest , this I did , he asked me to present the topic at our parish council- which I did as a result of this I started a weekly rosary for the intentions of persecuted Christians, but since then I have discovered something of the scale this is happening in our world today. I am horrified. I had no Idea- I am raising awareness in my own community with the help of this contact and now my priest- Please pray for this intention whatever your denomination- and keep ears and eyes open for what is happening. we need to consider this when we shop, when we book holidays.

Therese

michael_legna · 09-08-2008, 09:17 AM

It might be very educational if you could relay some of this information you have come across so we all could put the numbers in perspective instead of just holding this vague sense of a certain level of persecution (especially since many of us are in the USA where Christian persecution is so uncommon).

I have a nephew who does missionary work in Turkey and had to be very careful because of the real threat of persecution and/or even prosecution, so I am somewhat aware of the persecution but not the specific numbers worldwide.

Pigtown · 09-08-2008, 10:40 AM

I would also like to know exactly what is happening and where the information comes from.
I have read that Christians are persecuted in India. I believe it may be happening in some areas but it's not as wide-spread as some publications may have us believe. My husband is from India and most of his family still lives there. They all know that we are Christians (my husband converted after our marriage). My in-laws are all Hindus but not a single one of them has ever made any negative remarks about Christians. In fact, some of them have visited us here and have gone to church with us.
Sure, pray for missionaries wherever they are but know that most people who are not Christians are still good, decent people.
In fact, my husband attended a Catholic high school in India as did other members of his family. There are several St. Xavier High Schools in India!

therese · 09-08-2008, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pigtown

I would also like to know exactly what is happening and where the information comes from.
I have read that Christians are persecuted in India. I believe it may be happening in some areas but it's not as wide-spread as some publications may have us believe. My husband is from India and most of his family still lives there. They all know that we are Christians (my husband converted after our marriage). My in-laws are all Hindus but not a single one of them has ever made any negative remarks about Christians. In fact, some of them have visited us here and have gone to church with us.
Sure, pray for missionaries wherever they are but know that most people who are not Christians are still good, decent people.
In fact, my husband attended a Catholic high school in India as did other members of his family. There are several St. Xavier High Schools in India!

That was the very reason I was so shocked by the results, I have a lot of Indian Christian Freinds, and they have never fortunatley been victims of such persecution.- I will reply more fully later in the week as I'm dashing for night duty, however the specific information re India came initially from the Times newsgroup, however I have since had a fuller report from an organisation called Release, They stress that the christians who survived did so because of Hindu neighbours hiding them. The persecution is coming from an extreme hindu group which is not representative of the hindu community, but targets christian missionaries and converts. Extremism as I'm sure you will agree is never healthy and is rarley representative. This probabally has more to do with power than faith. But prayer is needed for those affected. We have had a priest from India preside over a mission at our church just last year so I do not speak carelessly.

Pigtown · 09-08-2008, 01:30 PM

Thanks for the additional information. Extremists can probably be found in any religious group but the sad thing is that they give other members of the religion a bad name. The Hindus I know (mostly family members) are very tolerant and understanding. In fact, most Hindus are more tolerant of other religions than a lot of Christians.

therese · 09-09-2008, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael_legna

It might be very educational if you could relay some of this information you have come across so we all could put the numbers in perspective instead of just holding this vague sense of a certain level of persecution (especially since many of us are in the USA where Christian persecution is so uncommon).

I have a nephew who does missionary work in Turkey and had to be very careful because of the real threat of persecution and/or even prosecution, so I am somewhat aware of the persecution but not the specific numbers worldwide.

The information, I am recieving following this chance meeting if there is anything , chance about it is coming from an organisation called International Release. but some information and figures for you

This organisation serve the persecuted church in 30 countries. e.g Burma, China, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Vietnam- just to give some idea of the problem.

The estimation they make is that up to 250 Million Christians are persecuted for thier faith evrey year.

This persecution ranges from Harrassment, through Torture and for many execution. And this for nothing worse than spreading the word of the Lord.

But your right, it is so hard for us in the U.S, and U.k and indeed throughout the western world to take in these figures. Especially at a time of growing secularism which I think personally is growing out of a taking for granted the freedoms we have enjoyed for so long.

Therese

09-07-2008, 05:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
therese Occasional Contributor Join Date: May 2008 Location: north shields Posts: 14	persecution of christians A few weeks ago I was invited to a Christian Centre for an evening to hear about a womans shelter, I am active in my own denomination, but as an associate to the sisters of mercy, this seemed to mirror some of our orders foundations. So I went. I met someone there however that spoke to me about a very diffrent topic, I had been pointed out to him as someone who would be open to helping to support a prayer group. I listened to him, and promised to speak to my priest , this I did , he asked me to present the topic at our parish council- which I did as a result of this I started a weekly rosary for the intentions of persecuted Christians, but since then I have discovered something of the scale this is happening in our world today. I am horrified. I had no Idea- I am raising awareness in my own community with the help of this contact and now my priest- Please pray for this intention whatever your denomination- and keep ears and eyes open for what is happening. we need to consider this when we shop, when we book holidays. Therese

09-08-2008, 09:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
michael_legna Established Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 6,922	Re: persecution of christians It might be very educational if you could relay some of this information you have come across so we all could put the numbers in perspective instead of just holding this vague sense of a certain level of persecution (especially since many of us are in the USA where Christian persecution is so uncommon). I have a nephew who does missionary work in Turkey and had to be very careful because of the real threat of persecution and/or even prosecution, so I am somewhat aware of the persecution but not the specific numbers worldwide. __________________ 2Co 3:6-8 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, ... 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

09-08-2008, 10:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
Pigtown Established Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Small town in Illinois Posts: 324	Re: persecution of christians I would also like to know exactly what is happening and where the information comes from. I have read that Christians are persecuted in India. I believe it may be happening in some areas but it's not as wide-spread as some publications may have us believe. My husband is from India and most of his family still lives there. They all know that we are Christians (my husband converted after our marriage). My in-laws are all Hindus but not a single one of them has ever made any negative remarks about Christians. In fact, some of them have visited us here and have gone to church with us. Sure, pray for missionaries wherever they are but know that most people who are not Christians are still good, decent people. In fact, my husband attended a Catholic high school in India as did other members of his family. There are several St. Xavier High Schools in India!

09-08-2008, 01:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
Pigtown Established Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Small town in Illinois Posts: 324	Re: persecution of christians Thanks for the additional information. Extremists can probably be found in any religious group but the sad thing is that they give other members of the religion a bad name. The Hindus I know (mostly family members) are very tolerant and understanding. In fact, most Hindus are more tolerant of other religions than a lot of Christians.