Falwell Accused of Trying to Convert Muslim Tsunami Survivors
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is criticizing evangelist Jerry Falwell for using the tsunami disaster as an opportunity to try to convert Muslims in the region. CAIR wants the White House to denounce these efforts.
The newsletter stated: "Hundreds of thousands are in dire need of medical attention and personal counseling. And in this heavily Muslim part of the world, millions have never even heard of Jesus Christ." Bibles are to be sent with relief supplies.
The White House has not commented on this story and neither has Jerry Falwell's organization, Liberty University. The team from Liberty University is making sure its literature is in the languages spoken in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India, etc.
That whole thing about Muslims not knowing about Jesus is absolutely absurd. Qu'ran has old testament, new testament, and additional text (Not sure what it's called).
"And in this heavily Muslim part of the world, millions have never even heard of Jesus Christ."
amazes me that someone claiming to be some expert in religion has no clue as to any one but his own. last i heard, islam considers jesus a prophet and he, mary, and the virgin birth are in the quran too.
yes, actually, the quran recognizes jesus, moses, and mohammed as prophets to God or Allah, so actually they know about both christianity AND judaism, while christianity only sees jesus and judaism only sees moses.
All he did was send bibles with aid supplies? Did I miss somthing? Is this really a reason to tear him apart? Granted I didn't read the full article and I have never heard of this guy before so maybe it's more than just that, but there are christians in the region as well and many of them lost everything as well. I'm sure they wouldn't mind getting a bible.
If the muslims don't want the bible then they can always use them to start fires ;)
but I've heard he is one of the more upright pillars of Christian community. People can always refuse his aid if His message offends them, but then, they probably aren't above taking his help. I don't agree with what he is doing, but I don't think its acutally wrong, per se.
A million pounds of bible is not really a sane replacement for a million pounds of food or medical supplies. It's a relief effort, not a church bakesale. I seriously doubt that they are sitting over there thinking "well shit, I am up to my ears in corn and bandages, where is the word of God at?" If they really wanted to help in a spiritual way, they could have at least composed a small booklet representing multiple faiths.
The last one is called Furqan, it comprises of books of the pasts as well namely, Zebu,Torah,Gospel and itself Furqan. In one ensemble called Quran. Actually one to be a muslim has to accept Jesus, Moses and Abraham, there is no muslim who doesnt know about these other prophets. Second fact is that Jesus is mentioned more often in Quran than Mohammad. Jesus's mother, is the most exalted woman in islam second to none. Third fact muslims know alot more about Jesus than Christians who cant make up their mind, whether he is god or son or spirit. One place he is god manifested, some where else he is the beggoten son of God (Which is himself, his own child) somewhere else he is the father the son and holly spirit, three in one and Falwell is spreads all these three messages. MOst associate Islam to Arabs, however, the biggest population of muslims is infact in Indonesia. T_strimp. Muslims are not allowed to burn bibles or any other religious literature, for those who do are zealots and not muslims. Unfortunately muslims know that christianity is a religion of man and not God, with that perception according to history, are the only religion standing today with one fear only. Fear of Allah, If anyone heard at the beggining, those affected by Tsunami were hessitant to go seek for hand outs in Indonesia due to pride. Falwell will once again tarnish Christianity as did his afore fathers, missionaries who gave blankets to AmeriIndians laced with plague. Muslims know about christianity, they are just one step ahead of them. They only worship Allah (God) who created Jesus, Moses, Abraham and Mohammad (Peace be upon them all)
...to deliver religious propaganda and attempt to convert the people you're supposedly helping. it shows no respect for them or for their own religious beliefs. turning the act from "you've been through a tragedy, we wish to help" into "aha, another opportunity to convert the ignorant heathens!" like helping a little old lady across the street, sermonizing the whole way, and leaving religious pamphlets in her purse.
So, according to the article, there is a team preparing to travel to India, Sri Lanka and other countries in South Asia. With over 1.4 ~billion~ people in South Asia (more than one-fifth of the world’s population), then the quote:
“And in this heavily Muslim part of the world, millions have never even heard of Jesus Christ."
…doesn’t sound too inaccurate, after all. -----------------------
“Distribution of food and medical supplies, along with the dissemination of thousands of Gospel tracts in the language of the people will be the primary tasks of the team,"
Christians giving food, medical supplies, tracts.. Is this seriously wrong?
about any religeon. Every religeon requires its converts to share their faith. There are no successful religeons that do not evangelize. There are no successful religeons that do not seek new converts. Falwell is just trying to capitalize on a situation that will allow him to do what he thinks god wants him to do. He wants the victims of the tsunami to know that Christians care about them and their struggles. Is it good to capitalize in this way? That is your personal opinion. Is it wrong? No. We all capitalize on the weaknesses of our targets. We do it in sales and we do it in religeon. We cannot separate the two. How else are the victims to know that a Christian somewhere gave some of their time or money or both to help them in their time of need unless they also give them some christian literature. For those losers at CAIR to call Bush about this is crazy. The Whitehouse has no affiliaton with Falwell or his university. They should call on local churches to denounce this and not some politician. What a bunch of Nimrods. If any of you religeous nutjobs know who Nimrod was you will understand the insult.
"There are no successful religeons that do not seek new converts."
i've never had a buddhist or a hindu come door-to-door trying to drum up new members. are those not successful religions? actually, i've never had a muslim try to convert me either. or a jew. hmmm.
"How else are the victims to know that a Christian somewhere gave some of their time or money or both to help them in their time of need unless they also give them some christian literature."
why would it matter if the victims knew they'd been helped, specifically, by christians? wouldn't a true christian simply take pleasure in knowing that someone had been helped, without demanding credit/recognition? what, jesus keeps score?!
it didn't say that these people were required to keep much less even read the bible provided with these supplies. Oh yeah dod you catch that part they were shipped with relief supplies! Whats the big deal? Some people over there I'm sure appreciate them. It really shouldn't effect the others at all.
A good religion will see people coming automatically. Also on t.v I see people in Africa are being converted into this religion and then they are being offered some essential supplies.
In response to kinko. Muhammad wrote the Quran, therefore, it makes sense that he doesn't mention himself all that much in it.
Secondly, to have the audacity to claim that Christianity is a religion of Man while Islam is one of God is the utmost naivety I've heard. Islam deals with the world of man like no other religion. It delves into every intricate detail of one's materialistic live. Christianity is more spiritual, it floats to a certain extent above the daily materialistic issues of humanity.
Thirdly, again with your audacity... muslims know more about Jesus than Christians? I really tried hard to control myself and read through the rest of your (ingrained) "opinion"... If you knew about Christianity, you would know about something called the holy trinity.
Again, your first line is that the Qoran is a combination of the previous religions... Mohammad was taught by a Christian priest, therefore he learned about Christianity, through his surroundings, he learned about Judaism. He's writing a book for the people, so naturally, he would use proven ideas and messages from these other... this is not an 'ensemble' of Christianity and Judaism...
I am really not in the mood for religious bashing, but your bias, and presentation of twisted 'beliefs' as facts is not acceptable...Don't get me started on your 'fear of Allah' thingy...
I wonder why you are all ready to bash Christians at any opportunity. Falwell is helping out isn't he? That's more than THE MUSLIM NATIONS (WHO SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF THEIR OWN...AREN'T THEY THE NATION OF ISLAM?) are doing. I say he has every single right to preach to these people.
produces useless citizens without backbones, brains, or independent thought. I've met some really psychotic people who went to that university-- It's a true nazi-like environment covered up in christian traditions.
I have a lot of family living in Lynchburg-- they are whacked out of their skulls. One of them gave me a book written by Falwell for my high-school graduation... I read some of it and almost threw up. He is really irresponsible with inflicting his right-wing beliefs on his flock and trying to get it into mainstream politics.
'convert or die' brings to mind for me are the christian crusades. I'll admit I've never studied religion in detail, but that is what it brings to mind for me.
In any case, I think it's kind of low to preach to and try to convert people in a time of distress for them (ie they are more vulnerable). If he wants to preach and try to convert them, wait until they are back on their feet...or is he worried that if he doesn't get them now, he never will?
Also...I wonder what people would say if this was tried on americans? What if, after the planes crashed into the trade towers, some of the people who were digging out survivors or consoling families who had lost someone (or worried that they had lost someone), had tried to convert survivors and/or their families?
