Friday, September 05, 2008
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Christians Being Martyred in Orissa
I read in the forum about Christians in the Orissa area of India being martyred (thanks kristenmomof3 for posting)and today received a link to this article in the NY times about the continuing violence in the region. Here are some snippets from the article:
Orissa has long suffered from government neglect, and Christian missionaries provide services, including schooling, much better than most residents receive from the government. While that has caused friction before, the stakes are higher now that better-educated people have more of a chance of joining the economic boom.
The attacks in Kandhamal have destroyed or damaged about 1,400 homes of Christians and at least 80 churches and small prayer houses, which were set on fire, a local government official said. Clergymen say orphanages were also destroyed. Estimates from Christian groups put the death toll at more than 25, though a state official in Orissa said 16 were killed.
Christian missionaries in India have focused on indigenous and lower-caste groups, including untouchables, or Dalits. Despite laws dating almost from Indian independence, Dalits are often discriminated against or worse. They are sometimes denied basic amenities, such as clean water; relegated to hazardous jobs; and raped or killed because of their social status.
I have heard about how the Dalits are considered to be the lowest of the low in the caste system and how Christianity provides them a sense of worth, hope and purpose, something they never thought possible in their caste. It's great to hear of how folks in lower castes are becoming educated and have a chance for a better future, through various organizations including those started by Christian missionaries.
It's sad however to hear about this type of reaction to the improvement of these folks lives. I can imagine how economic advancement and religious differences build tension in areas that are underserved by government.
“Across India today, the disenfranchised and repressed peoples, the tribes and the low castes are exiting the caste system” that is entrenched in the Hindu religion, said Joseph D’souza, the president of the All Indian Christian Council and an advocate for Dalit rights. They are converting not only to Christianity, he said, but to Buddhism, Islam and Marxist atheism.
“People are in revolt” after 60 years of their rights being trampled, he said, adding, “It has nothing to do with any particular religion.”
If I were a member of a low caste I have no doubt the Gospel message would offer hope and an alternative to the life that I would most likely have instead. I think anyone would rather choose education and opportunity over poverty and segregation. The articles continues...
Pramod Pradhan, a young Hindu farmer in Tiangia village, views the conversions differently, and echoed the feelings of many of the state’s Hindus. “Christian missionaries lured Hindus to convert to Christianity. They bring a lot of money to do that.”
The recent violence has reignited debate about a long-standing Orissa state law that bans some religious conversions. The law makes it illegal to use force, “allurement” or benefits to induce people to convert. Hindu activists say Christians often break the law, but Christians say conversions are voluntary.
I could see how converting to Christianity would be a much better lifestyle choice for someone in a lower caste but I don't see how missionaries could force people to believe. So I wonder if the tension isn't because of Christianity itself but out of discontentment and disparity of lifestyles for people that are suffering from lack of education or government aid and their caste status.
Regardless, let's remember to pray for the people in that area and for the strengthening of faith for our brothers and sisters in India facing persecution.
Do you think the tension in India is caused because of Christianity itself or jealousy over the much improved lifestyle for people that leave the caste system and Hindu faith?
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Comments (13)
There are many many areas not just india where people are being Martyred for their faith.
I think it is horrible how few American Christians care about the persecution of fellow believers going on in other countries. It is horrible how few people care.
Christians should be in prayer for these believers. On their knees before God, but so many don't seem to want to hear about it let alone pray about it.
Orissa, the state where Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons were burned to death by anti-Christian militants in 1999, has a long history of opposition to the Gospel.
The fundamentalist group (VHP) are going from village to village destroying Churches, burning houses, attacking and killing Christians. It is reported that thousands of extremists have been brought from Gujarat and Chhattisgarh to perpetrate this violence which has spread to all the districts of Orissa. Their agenda is to wipe out Chrisitians and Christianity from India starting from Orissa.
VHP activists try to poison drinking water in the relief camps
Cases of poisoning of Drinking Water was reported by two relief camps
• The Relief Camp at Vijoy High School Raikia block, Kandhamal reported that drinking water was poisoned on 3rd September 2008.Fortunately, the poisoning of water was detected in time and confirmed by a doctor just before food was served to the Christians taking refuge in the camp, resulting in their going hungry till 4pm, when alternate arrangements were made to provide potable water.
An attempt to poison the drinking water source of the relief camp in Habaq High School, Relief Camp at G. Udayagiri, Kandhamal was foiled by an alert security guard. Hindutva under VHP extremists climbed on the drinking water tank 9 pm on 2nd September and were caught by the Security guard, even as they were trying to open the lid with a bag containing a poisonous substance to be mixed into the water, to cause a massive killing of Christians together.
Hindutva extremists from VHP are objecting to the Christians "eating at government expense". On Sept 4th a group of nearly 2500 Hindutva extremists barged into the Relief Camp at Tikabali Govt. High School shouted at the Christian refugees and took away supplies meant for the Christian refugees, while police were silent spectators to the event. A group of women instigated by VHP attempted to set afire a relief camp when its inmates were demonstrating near the block office demanding sufficient aid at Tikabali in Kandhamal district.
In 1969 a Hindutva (Hindu nationalist) proselytiser named Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati established an Ashram (Hindu religious centre) in Kandhamal district, Orissa state, north-east India, and committed himself to countering the work of Christian missionaries. He never succeeded in stopping conversions to Christianity but, with state government support, he has turned Orissa into a tinderbox of communal tension. As Hindutva-isation has advanced (especially since 2005) Hindutva zealotry and anti-Christian hatred have escalated, priming whole communities for genocide.
Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati organised and incited an anti-Christian Hindu pogrom in Kandhamal district in December 2007 that left a swathe of destruction and many thousands of Christians displaced. He urged the Hindus of Kandhamal via mobile phone messaging to burn the homes and churches of Christians and repeat the 'revolution' that brought 'peace' to Gujarat (referring to the 2002 Hindu pogrom that left some 2000 Muslims dead).
On 23 August 2008 Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati was ambushed and shot dead. From the evidence this was a targeted assassination perpetrated by a group of well-armed Maoist guerrillas who as egalitarian left-wingers are natural enemies of the caste-perpetuating right-wing Hindu nationalists. Despite this, Hindu leaders in Orissa publicly charged the Christian community with killing the Swami because of his anti-conversion campaign. A violent Hindu pogrom erupted, so far claiming at least 36 lives. Numerous Christians have been burnt, beaten, raped and slashed with swords. In Kandhamal alone some 13,000 Christians are living in refuges and tent camps. The violence has spread into surrounding districts and 50,000 Christians are estimated to have fled their homes ahead of violent religious cleansing and are now displaced across Orissa, with many hiding in dense jungle.
On 29 August over 40,000 Christian educational institutions throughout India closed in a nationwide protest against the anti-Christian violence. These institutions are now facing a backlash, particularly in BJP-ruled states like Karnartaka where the state government has ordered officials to take action against the schools for closing without government permission.
The level of violence is shocking. A 20-year-old nun was burned alive in an orphanage. Another young nun was pack-raped. A senior priest and nun were stripped and violently degraded before a crowd of cheering spectators, including known local government officials and several police. Hundreds of churches have been vandalised, looted and torched as have thousands of Christian homes. Archbishop Raphael Cheenath has petitioned the Supreme Court for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the violence and the state's failure to maintain law and order.
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR –
* God to be a shield around his children, protecting them from violence and intervening to bring it to an end, pushing back the enemy.
* the Holy Spirit to 'lift the head' of every terrified, displaced, grief-stricken, confused believer, filling their hearts and minds with peace through an assurance of his eternal love and presence and giving them comfort and hope despite their circumstances.
* God to draw each frightened believer into prayer and then answer their prayers so their faith may be enlarged and fortified; may knowledge of his perfect love drive out their fears and may he be glorified in them.
* the Almighty Sovereign God to save his people and bless them once again.
My sister used to be a pen pal with a missionary in China, it is unbelievable how you have to write in code to try and get around the government. Or how about the Chrisitans who are persecuted by the Islamic Extremists in Indonesia and the Middle East. When Jesus said we would be hated because of Him, I don't think most people fully understood Him at that time. American's have such a freedom we are taking for granted!
~Elizabeth
I believe that the world is chronologically fractured. Some parts are civilized and define what it means to be a 21st century country. Others are still somewhere in the 1600's or even earlier. A country is only as civilized as its most savage underbelly.
My father told me about this a few weeks ago. It makes me so sad, and so sick to my stomach.
I grew up in a country that basically had a caste system. It wasn't as overt as in India, but it was there. Vile.
I remember some time ago when you heard a lot about the Dalits. I saw signs that read free the Dalits. One of my children has a music CD I can't remember what it is called, with music about them and inspired by their plight. Now you never heard about them.
PS: Thanks for the reminder that there are Christians all over the world who suffer in the name of Christ.
We fail to realize how blessed we are in the United States and most of the West.
This post is wonderful for spreading awareness of the persecution of the sanits. Sadly, since it's not a "sexy" topic, few atheists will stop by to comment on this element of the faith. The death of our martyrs hits a little too true for most of them to make light of.
Lord, save those who are persecuted for Your Name's sake.
I think it's both. An "untouchable" in the Hindu faith is not even allowed to let his shadow fall on a person of a higher caste. If that person dares to say "I am not untouchable, I am made clean by Christ", well, that's just unacceptable in the Hindu faith.
It's very, very sad, really. I try not to lose hope for our world.
Thanks for the info! Hadn't heard of this yet.
Thanks for bringing this to light (or even more light). My cousin has deferred going to college for a year to go with a missionary group in north India (including a village in Orissa) down though Trivandrum..
While I'm inclined to be scared, since I've heard so much about the violence that goes on, I pray that he gets to the Malabar coast (where the apostle Thomas historically landed) safely.
It could simply be a "mob mentality". A charismatic (not int he christian context) leader says something to stir emotions, and before you know it, a destructive mobs forms, laying waste to everything in their path.
of course it's caused by Christianity's presence. unlike ours, Hinduism is not a faith of exclusion.... it does not believe it is the only true path to God. how is it supposed to react to a group that desires to eliminate their faith, culture and way of life?
it's like the claim that the Puritans came to America to flee persecution. they were allowed to do whatever they wanted in Europe... they just weren't given the power to tell everyone else to do the same things.