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[videogamer]

"This [disaster] is one of the greatest opportunities God has given us to share his love with people," said K.P. Yohannan, president of the Texas-based Gospel for Asia. In an interview, Yohannan said his 14,500 "native missionaries" in India, Sri Lanka, and the Andaman Islands are giving survivors Bibles and booklets about "how to find hope in this time through the word of God."

In Krabi, Thailand, a Southern Baptist church had been "praying for a way to make inroads" with a particular ethnic group of fisherman, according to Southern Baptist relief coordinator Pat Julian. Then came the tsunami, "a phenomenal opportunity" to provide ministry and care, Julian told the Baptist Press news service.

In Andhra Pradesh, India, a plan is developing to build "Christian communities" to replace destroyed seashore villages. In a dispatch that the evangelical group Focus on the Family posted on its Family.org Web site, James Rebbavarapu of India Christian Ministries said a team of U.S. engineers had agreed to help design villages of up to 400 homes each, "with a church building in the center of them."

Not all evangelicals agree with these tactics.

"It's not appropriate in a crisis like this to take advantage of people who are hurting and suffering," said the Rev. Franklin Graham, head of Samaritan's Purse and son of evangelist Billy Graham.

Samaritan's Purse is rushing $4 million in sanitation, food, medical and housing supplies to its teams in Sri Lanka and Indonesia. But Graham, in a phone interview from his North Carolina headquarters, said there were no plans to hand out Christian literature with the relief.

"Maybe another day, if they ask why I come, I'd say I'm a Christian and I believe the Bible tells me to do this," Graham said. "But now isn't the time. We have to save lives."

As Graham knows, laws and customs in non-Christian lands also can inhibit proselytizing. Plans by Samaritan's Purse and other evangelical groups to join postwar reconstruction efforts in Iraq in 2003 raised concerns that they would violate Muslim bans on proselytizing and undercut U.S. efforts to improve ties with the Islamic world.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/10598841.htm
http://americablog.blogspot.com/archives/2005_01_01_americablog_archive.html#110533543101699882

Great they're helping out. But that's an unfortunate choice of words.

 

[Stele]

Yes, sic the white man's religion on them.

 

[karasu]

Well, let's not be fools by focusing on the poor choice of words.

 

[Hamfam]

Are these bibles eddible?

 

[Jak140]

"It's not appropriate in a crisis like this to take advantage of people who are hurting and suffering," said the Rev. Franklin Graham, head of Samaritan's Purse and son of evangelist Billy Graham.

Samaritan's Purse is rushing $4 million in sanitation, food, medical and housing supplies to its teams in Sri Lanka and Indonesia. But Graham, in a phone interview from his North Carolina headquarters, said there were no plans to hand out Christian literature with the relief.

"Maybe another day, if they ask why I come, I'd say I'm a Christian and I believe the Bible tells me to do this," Graham said. "But now isn't the time. We have to save lives."

I'm not a big fan of religion, but he sounds like a good guy.

 

[Fresh Prince]

Too bad they'll get killed by Hindu extremists.

 

[Stele]

Who do these people think they will convert? Hindus? Muslims?! :lol Maybe a couple of stone-age tribesman on Nicobar and Andaman.

 

[Socreges]

"It's not appropriate in a crisis like this to take advantage of people who are hurting and suffering," said the Rev. Franklin Graham, head of Samaritan's Purse and son of evangelist Billy Graham.

Samaritan's Purse is rushing $4 million in sanitation, food, medical and housing supplies to its teams in Sri Lanka and Indonesia. But Graham, in a phone interview from his North Carolina headquarters, said there were no plans to hand out Christian literature with the relief.

"Maybe another day, if they ask why I come, I'd say I'm a Christian and I believe the Bible tells me to do this," Graham said. "But now isn't the time. We have to save lives."

Much respect.

These people already have religion. Leave Christianity out of it.

 

[Dan]

Bad choice of words or not, it's still sorta "hey, we'll give you this aid if you give our religion a shot, starting with a 'complimentary' church..."

Graham, on the other hand, sounds like a nice and sensible man. As much as I dislike organized religion, at least he has proper priorities and understands what is really important right now.

 

[KingGondo]

I'm not a big fan of religion, but he sounds like a good guy.

Yeah, except for that whole calling Islam a "wicked religion" thing, he's fantastic.

 

[Jak140]

Yeah, except for that whole calling Islam a "wicked religion" thing, he's fantastic.

Since when does "sounds like" = "is" ? Sorry if I'm not up to date on all of Graham's opinons, I was merely making a statement based on the information in the article. Certainly you could have found some other way to correct me without sounding like a sarcastic douche bag.

 

[Socreges]

Yeah, except for that whole calling Islam a "wicked religion" thing, he's fantastic.

Hmmm...

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/123/story_12365_1.html

“We realize we’re in an Arab country and we just can’t go out and preach,” Graham said in a telephone interview from Samaritan’s Purse headquarters in Boone, N.C.

However, he added, “I believe as we work, God will always give us opportunities to tell others about his Son….We are there to reach out to love them and to save them, and as a Christian I do this in the name of Jesus Christ.”

What's the difference?

If I were to quantify the "much respect", it might be: +5

So, -10 respect points

SO THERE, FRANKLIN GRAHAM

 

[BigJonsson]

Oh god no

 

[xsarien]

"This [disaster] is one of the greatest opportunities God has given us to share his love with people," said K.P. Yohannan, president of the Texas-based Gospel for Asia. In an interview, Yohannan said his 14,500 "native missionaries" in India, Sri Lanka, and the Andaman Islands are giving survivors Bibles and booklets about "how to find hope in this time through the word of God."

Because what these people need now, above all else, is fucking religion. I can't stand organizations that proselytize and call it charity.

 

[Burger]

Because what these people need now, above all else, is fucking religion. I can't stand organizations that proselytize and call it charity.

I agree 100%

 

[belgurdo]

These people already have religion.

But it's not the right religion!

 

[SatelliteOfLove]

Because what these people need now, above all else, is fucking religion. I can't stand organizations that proselytize and call it charity.

Well, they are out there working and funding as well, so hate away; but they are helping, and that's what counts.

 

[Triumph]

I hope they burn the Bibles for warmth. Fucking opportunistic Jesus freaks.

Hey guess what? You assholes have had hundreds of years as the dominant religion to end poverty and hunger... and all you can do is try to share your love of a liberal Jew with these devastated people? Try going for the HUMAN response instead of the CHRISTIAN one. Shut the fuck up and just give your help freely.

Edit: Franklin Graham is doing the HUMAN thing. Those other fuckers are doing a DISPICABLE thing.

 

[Gantz]

Christians hate Jews dude.

 

[bionic77]

I am a religious person, but I despise when people mix charity with religion. If someone wants to convert to your faith let them make that decision without any sort of undue influence.

 

[IAmtheFMan]

When I was in high school, I went down with my a couple of friends from my church to do "mission" work. This wasn't preaching and trying to convert heathens or whatever, but mainly just trying to help people in Costa Rica in terms of medicinal health, repairing a road etc. I think we mentioned religion maybe once or twice, during the entire week, and that was mainly when people asked what prompted us to come down.

This being said, I hate it when people in the religious community are opportunistic and see this disaster to convert people. If they're truly pious, they should go and help out, and try and prevent the inevitable diseases that are gonna come out of this, instead of telling these people "go to God... oh sorry about the cholera."

 

[Loki]

Christians hate Jews dude.

What an ignorant statement.

 

[IAmtheFMan]

Christians hate Jews dude.

Jesus was a Jew.

 

[Gantz]

What an ignorant statement.

It's true.

 

[Saturnman]

Jesus was a Jew.

Debatable.

 

[Fresh Prince]

I don't know dude... alot of people side with Jews over the Isreal\Paelstine debate since Jesus was a Jew and all.

 

[bionic77]

People always hate someone different then themsevles. And if someone different isn't around they will something else to hate about the people around them.

In general people (especially Jordan*) suck.


* I couldn't resist when I saw Loki in this thread. :lol

 

[Boogie]

It's true.

Oh, it's true? Well, in that case......

 

[Loki]

It's true.

Really?

Ask yourself, then, why one of (if not the) the largest supporters of Zionism in America is the evangelical Christian community.

Ask yourself how-- if Christians so loathed Jews-- a majority Christian nation would allow itself to become so infiltrated (under your account) by Jews that it would permit itself to have the largest Jewish population of any country in the world, Israel included. Further, that it would tolerate these Jews becoming incredibly prosperous in their midst. I mean, they abhor Jews, right? Yes, their prosperity is a testament to their ability and fortitude, but also to the host nation's character, and the character and general sentiment of its constituents. The separation of church and state in this country could insulate a people from the ill-wishes of another segment of society for a bit (since if Christians hated Jews, they'd ostensibly be prevented from expelling/marginalizing Jews by fiat; it'd ultimately be circumvented somehow if the venom was strong enough, however), but believe me when I tell you that if the majority of Christians truly despised the Jews as much as you believe, none of what I've stated would be possible.


Ask yourself why nearly every mention of Christian "values" by Christians (e.g., in the media) comes in the phrase, "Judeo-Christian values"-- if Christians were so repulsed by the Jews, wouldn't they seek to distance themselves from them and their values in any way possible and in every forum, public and private?


Your statement is ignorant and flat-out wrong. Period.


I do not deny that there is a small segment of the Christian community that still harbors a grudge over perceived Jewish influence over the fate of Christ (which is a biblically/theologically inaccurate stance, btw), but such people constitute a decided minority. Offer some substantiation for your claim or kindly stfu, please.

 

[Mandark]

Gantz: You're wrong. Shut the fuck up.

Ask yourself why nearly every mention of Christian "values" by Christians (e.g., in the media) comes in the phrase, "Judeo-Christian values"

Because it doesn't sound as scary. As Norman Mailer said, "The Judeo in Judeo-Christian is a grace note." The phrase was invented so that people like James Dobson can push their religious beliefs on society and government in a way that makes it seem like they're appealing to the nation's philisophical roots (not that you ever hear them plug the enlightenment).

It's also useful in the adoption of Israel by American right-wing Christians, a movement that pisses me off to no end.

Honestly, what are all these beliefs being cited in the media that are shared by Jews and Christians, but not by Muslims, Buddhists, or Hindus?

 

[KingGondo]

Since when does "sounds like" = "is" ? Sorry if I'm not up to date on all of Graham's opinons, I was merely making a statement based on the information in the article. Certainly you could have found some other way to correct me without sounding like a sarcastic douche bag.

Whoa, didn't mean to provoke you... Sorry about that :/

 

[Loki]

Because it doesn't sound as scary. As Norman Mailer said, "The Judeo in Judeo-Christian is a grace note." The phrase was invented so that people like James Dobson can push their religious beliefs on society and government in a way that makes it seem like they're appealing to the nation's philisophical roots (not that you ever hear them plug the enlightenment).

That's an interesting take on it, and perhaps it's true about some influential members of the evangelical community (e.g., Dobson)-- but I highly doubt that the average Christian uses the phrase with such ulterior motives in mind. In other words, unless it's being explicitly taught in the churches that Christians should use the term "Judeo-Christian values" in place of "Christian values" so as to appeal to people in the broader, philosophical sense as opposed to the religious sense (which sets off radars), then I tend to believe that most Christians use the phrase because they genuinely feel that certain values are shared by "the people of the book" (as for why Muslims are not included under this umbrella, well, take some wild guesses -- besides, that'd be a pretty long word: judeo-muslo-christian beliefs ). That and because the phrase has become ingrained in our culture, obviously...

It's also useful in the adoption of Israel by American right-wing Christians, a movement that pisses me off to no end

Me too.

Honestly, what are all these beliefs being cited in the media that are shared by Jews and Christians, but not by Muslims, Buddhists, or Hindus?

Beats me. I mean, sure, you could point to some questionable aspects of their respective theologies that perhaps would not gel with the sentiment of the American populace (e.g., polygamy, certain aspects of the ritualism, buddhism seeming somewhat recondite and not as concrete as a philosophy and thus not appealing to American materialism and grit etc.), but in most instances these are cultural manifestations that are not explicitly mandated by the religion, so who knows...

 

[DaMan121]

Honestly, what are all these beliefs being cited in the media that are shared by Jews and Christians, but not by Muslims, Buddhists, or Hindus?

Dunno.. eating shellfish?

 

[Nerevar]

Debatable.

Is it? Well, it's in the Bible, and that seems to be all the Jesus-freaks care about anyway.

 

[Iceman]

That whole area is quite hostile to christianity. Indonesia is primarily muslim, right? Well, there is a christian contingent there and tension between those two groups is quite thick. This does happen to be an opportunity to ease the tension.. maybe soften the attitude of many muslim hardliners to their christian neighbors.

 

[Manics]

Christians hate Jews dude.

I'm a Christian and I don't hate Jewish people. In fact, my church talks about inter-religious discussion between all faiths to bring forth a better understanding of God. Your statement is ignorant to say the least.

 

[Tazznum1]

"It's not appropriate in a crisis like this to take advantage of people who are hurting and suffering," said the Rev. Franklin Graham, head of Samaritan's Purse and son of evangelist Billy Graham.

Samaritan's Purse is rushing $4 million in sanitation, food, medical and housing supplies to its teams in Sri Lanka and Indonesia. But Graham, in a phone interview from his North Carolina headquarters, said there were no plans to hand out Christian literature with the relief.

"Maybe another day, if they ask why I come, I'd say I'm a Christian and I believe the Bible tells me to do this," Graham said. "But now isn't the time. We have to save lives.".

Nice!

 

[bionic77]

(as for why Muslims are not included under this umbrella, well, take some wild guesses -- besides, that'd be a pretty long word: judeo-muslo-christian beliefs ).

Two reasons the Muslim religion wasn't included. First, there were almost no Muslims living in the West until very recently.

Secondly, and most importantly......

 

[Drexon]

This the same guy that thought it was good that thousands of swedes died over there too, 'cuz were all pedofiles who go there to rape children? I'm seeing a pattern though.

 

[Iceman]

haha, yeah, because it's a black thing right?

Most american christians couldn't tell the difference between an israeli and a palestinian.

 

[bionic77]

haha, yeah, because it's a black thing right?

Most american christians couldn't tell the difference between an israeli and a palestinian.

I think it is in large part a color thing.

 

[Stele]

This the same guy that thought it was good that thousands of swedes died over there too, 'cuz were all pedofiles who go there to rape children?

I'm sure they paid to have sex with the Thai child prostitutes, but that doesn't apply exclusively to swedes.

 

[Saturnman]

Is it? Well, it's in the Bible, and that seems to be all the Jesus-freaks care about anyway.

It is in 3 ways at least.

- if you take the immaculate conception at face value, Jesus was really the Son of God and Mary just gave birth to him. There is no ethnicity as he is divine. He just happens to live in Palestine among Jews.

- Like for Confucius and Socrates, there is no direct proof of Jesus' existence. It looks like he really existed from the indirect proof, but you can not be completely sure. Since you already cast doubts on his very existence, the same goes for his ethnicity. Nothing is certain.

- When Mary got pregnant, her fiancé Joseph was upset about it. If you don't believe in the immaculate conception, you'd suspect Joseph to have fornicated with her and the messiah bit is just the cover-up (by the authors of the Gospels), but there is also the possibility that somebody other than Joseph impregnated her. Could be another Jew, but since Palestine was at the crossroads and occupied by the Romans, it could be someone else.

 

[Stele]

No direct proof for Confucius (especially since his descendents have been identified) and Socrates' existence? :lol What do you want? DNA of their ashes?

 

[Lucky Forward]

It is in 3 ways at least.

- if you take the immaculate conception at face value, Jesus was really the Son of God and Mary just gave birth to him. There is no ethnicity as he is divine. He just happens to live in Palestine among Jews.

- Like for Confucius and Socrates, there is no direct proof of Jesus' existence. It looks like he really existed from the indirect proof, but you can not be completely sure. Since you already cast doubts on his very existence, the same goes for his ethnicity. Nothing is certain.

- When Mary got pregnant, her fiancé Joseph was upset about it. If you don't believe in the immaculate conception, you'd suspect Joseph to have fornicated with her and the messiah bit is just the cover-up (by the authors of the Gospels), but there is also the possibility that somebody other than Joseph impregnated her. Could be another Jew, but since Palestine was at the crossroads and occupied by the Romans, it could be someone else.

I don't mean to nitpick, but in Catholic doctrine the phrase "immaculate conception" refers to the conception of Mary, and the fact that she was free from original sin.

 

[Saturnman]

No direct proof for Confucius and Socrates' existence? :lol What do you want? DNA of their ashes?

In both cases, none of their writings exist. We only know of them from the writings of their pupils/disciples. There is no historical records of both individuals either.

 

[videogamer]

That whole area is quite hostile to christianity.

Have you read up reports on how the whole area is swarming with missionaries? Especially South India, which has a large Christian population.

 

[Iceman]

No, first hand accounts from people who actually live in Indonesia and Malaysia.

(Southern India is a different story)

 

[Saturnman]

I don't mean to nitpick, but in Catholic doctrine the phrase "immaculate conception" refers to the conception of Mary, and the fact that she was free from original sin.

My bad. Wrong choice of words.

But Mary being free of sin is another debate. :lol

 

[teh_pwn]

A lot of Southern Baptists are crazy cultists. They're the people that go around streets and yell at people that they're going to hell, tend to be racist, and are just plain scary.