Islam In Action: UN Body OKs Call to Curb Religious Criticism

Islam In Action: UN Body OKs Call to Curb Religious Criticism


"India, which normally votes along with the council's majority of developing nations, abstained in protest at the fact that Islam was the only religion specifically named as deserving protection."

Good on India for protesting against the ridiculous farce. If Mr Rudd is so eager to have a seat at the UN, and him being a professed Christian, will he make a protest as well.? I make a protest in the name of Christianity and every other religion, that we do not like being called filthy names and threatened by muslims. So are they going to be hauled over the coals and charged with whatever, when they insult anyone of the Christian Faith or anyone who is not a bloody muslim.
Give me a break.

Abuse in Christian Marriages

You might well ask why would I be posting anything like this article... well I want the message to get out there that domestic violence just is not tolerated in our society. As a survivor of domestic violence I feel it is important to educate as many women and children that we can. Men get charged with serious offences and are punished by the courts and often end up in jail. So for any muslims to be saying that Western men treat their wives in a brutal manner is a generalisation of sorts. It is common but not the norm. Western women have the right to be protected by the law, and helped through it and over it by the many excellent domestic violence resource centres. The children witnessing mothers being bashed etc are also treated by specialist groups, in the hope they will not grow up showing signs of violence towards other people, thus themselves becoming women bashers.. Of course, it does not have to be a Christian family setting, as it happens across the board and more often than we all like to admit. But at least it is not part of a religious law to keep the women in line by the men such as the hadiths of the koran, and the spouting off of muslim clerics to beat their wives and force sex upon them. We even have laws that come under the heading of domestic violence, that includes, mental and verbal abuse, financial abuse, rape in marriage etc.

This is one woman's story and it runs to something like 4 -5 pages. As per copyright, I have only posted a taste of it here, for the rest you will need to go to the link here or go to the site Christianity Today in my sidebar of links.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/2009/janfeb/myabusivechristianmarriage.html

My Abusive "Christian" Marriage
I couldn't believe this was my reality. And I couldn't see a way out.
Gwyneth Nelson


"Did Daddy do that?" my daughter asked. Lying on the floor in the doorway of her room, I was stunned as I realized my daughter had just witnessed undeniable physical abuse. Tom's* anger had escalated into unrestrained rage, and he'd thrown me into our daughter's bedroom. Con-fused, I began to question my situation: Was I really experiencing domestic violence in my Christian home?
I'd denied the truth so long I was unable to recognize what was really happening. The abuse had started subtly and grown insidiously. My husband and I claimed to be Christians, so how could our marriage be abusive? Unable to give my four-year-old daughter any more excuses, I said, "Yes, Daddy did that." Then I locked us in her room and crawled in bed with her until she fell asleep. That night I resolved to stop the impact of domestic abuse in my daughter's life—a difficult decision that finally pointed me in the direction of healing.
Control Issues
It was inconceivable to me that I'd ever be in such circumstances. Born and raised in a loving pastor's family, I was steeped in conservative evangelical culture. As a "good girl," I got good grades, participated in extra-curricular school activities, and was a leader in the church youth group. I lived to please others, worked hard to offend no one, and had an internal drive to create a wonderful life. Though I had a relationship with Christ, I lived as if the good life depended on my good performance.
I met Tom at the Christian liberal arts college we both attended. He was handsome, intelligent, and interesting—always looking for adventure and fun. His father was a pastor, so we'd been raised in similar Christian cultures. Tom often discussed theology and doctrine, and he cared genuinely about people's salvation. Our wedding was a large, elaborate, God-centered event. I envisioned our marriage to be a shared life of service and impact for God's kingdom. I also believed that if I performed well, my marriage would go well and we'd have a good life together.
Though, looking back, I realized Tom was very self-centered while we were dating, I hadn't seen any red flags about the abuse that was to come. But early on I saw signs that life was going to be very different from what I'd envisioned. After returning from our honeymoon, Tom expected to use the entire closet in our bedroom while I used a closet in another room. He said this was because he'd moved into the apartment first. We went to the bank to put his name on my checks, but he didn't want my name on his. He monitored my purchases, even though I was working full-time and we weren't struggling financially. He was more concerned about controlling what I bought than how much money I spent. If I didn't comply with Tom's expectations or get his permission, he'd become angry and yell. For example, when I purchased drinking glasses and a shower curtain, he raged at me because he'd expected to choose those items himself. I'd eagerly anticipated freely organizing and decorating our home. Instead, I began to adjust to the practice of gaining approval for things such as hanging a picture on the wall.

for the rest of this amazing story go to the link at top.

As follows, there are books, and especially here in OZ and I am sure there are the same sorts of resources and help in the US. There are numerous agencies and resources to help any woman...or man... yes men suffer abuse from wives also...to cope with and more importantly TO GET OUT OF this type of relationship. A woman can only try so much and for so long to get her abusive partner to see the error of his ways, but there are just some men in this world who have the arrogance, the attitude that they are better than anyone else..but get these cowards to face a real man and they soon plead/beg forgiveness only to go home to their battered spouse or move onto their next victim.

Books:
The Battered Wife by Nancy Nason-Clark
Violence in Families: What Every Christian Needs to Know by Al Miles
Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men by Lundy Bancroft

Egypt still rampaging against the Christians

Lawyer Argues Jesus Graduation Speech Case Before Appeals Court
By Lawrence Jones
Christian Post Reporter
Thu, Mar. 12 2009 10:09 AM EDT

A lawyer representing a Colorado high school valedictorian who was told she needed to apologize for mentioning Jesus in her graduation speech or not receive a diploma argued her case before a federal appeals court Wednesday.

http://www.christianpost.com/Society/Court-cases/2009/03/lawyer-argues-jesus-graduation-speech-case-before-appeals-court-12/index.html
Related
Tenn. School Censors 'God' from Prayer Event Posters
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Tenn. School Censors 'God' from Prayer Event Posters
By Katherine T. Phan
Christian Post Reporter
Thu, Mar. 05 2009 10:41 AM EST

An elementary school in Tennessee has been accused of censoring references to God from posters promoting an annual prayer event led by students.
A lawsuit filed Tuesday alleges that officials at Lakeview Elementary School in Tennessee last year ordered "God Bless the USA," "In God We Trust," and other phrases referencing prayer to be covered up. The words were printed on posters inviting students to See You at the Pole (SYATP), a nationwide prayer event held annually on the fourth Wednesday of September.

http://www.christianpost.com/Education/Public_edu/2009/03/tenn-school-censors-god-from-prayer-event-posters-05/index.html
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Egyptian Christian Burned Alive; Father Murdered Also
By Ethan Cole
Christian Post Reporter
Tue, Mar. 10 2009 02:59 PM EDT

A young Christian man was suddenly set on fire by a Muslim man in Egypt after a rumor circulated that the Christian man had a relationship with the Muslim man’s sister.
Yasser Ahmed Qasim approached 25-year-old Sabri Shihata and poured gasoline on the Coptic Christian and then set him on fire, reported the Voice of the Copts on Friday. The young Copt tried to put out the fire by throwing himself into a nearby canal, but the burns were too severe and he later died.

http://www.christianpost.com/Intl/Persecution/2009/03/egyptian-christian-burned-alive-father-murdered-also-10/index.html
Related
• Christian Convert Sues Egypt Over Legal Status
• Egypt Jails Christian Woman for Father's Conversion
• Coptic Head Orders No Prayer in Disputed Church
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Egypt Jails Christian Woman for Father's Conversion
By Ethan Cole
Christian Post Reporter
Sat, Nov. 24 2007 09:37 AM EST

An Egyptian Christian woman has been jailed for her father’s brief conversion to Islam over 40 years ago which made her legally a Muslim despite her official papers stating that she is a Christian, her lawyer said Thursday.

http://www.christianpost.com/Intl/Persecution/2007/11/egypt-jails-christian-woman-for-father-s-conversion-24/index.html

Related
• Egypt's Top Islamic Scholar Clears Up Muslim Conversion Controversy
• Christian Convert Sues Egypt Over Legal Status
• Egypt in Uproar Over Christian Convert Case
• Egyptian Christian Convert Vows Not to Give Up
• Egypt Arrests Three Christian Rights Activists

Egypt’s top religious advisor attempted Thursday to clear up controversy that had been building up this past week over his reported statement that Muslims are free to convert to other faiths.

Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa, one of the most respected Islamic scholars in the world today, re-affirmed that Muslims have the freedom to convert to another religion, but that it would be a “grave sin.”

“Choice means freedom, and freedom includes the freedom to commit grave sins as long as their harm does not extend to others,” said Gomaa, according to Agence France-Presse.

Related
• Egypt’s Supreme Court to Hear Muslim-Christian Convert Case
• Egypt's Top Religious Advisor OKs Muslims Leaving Islam
http://www.christianpost.com/Intl/Overseas/2007/07/egypt-s-top-islamic-scholar-clears-up-muslim-conversion-controversy-26/index.html
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Egypt in Uproar Over Christian Convert Case
By Ethan Cole
Christian Post Reporter
Fri, Aug. 10 2007 02:06 PM EDT

An unprecedented legal battle involving a Christian convert has sparked national uproar in Egypt with the convert and people involved in the case facing multiple death threats, raids on their homes, and intense interrogation by the government. Christian convert Mohammed Ahmed Hegazy is in hiding – sleeping in different places each night – after Muslims mounted death threats against him for suing Egypt for refusing to accept his application to officially change his religion from Islam to Christianity on his identification papers.

Related
• Church Rumors Incite Mob Attack in Egypt
• Egypt’s Supreme Court to Hear Muslim-Christian Convert Case
• Egypt's Top Religious Advisor OKs Muslims Leaving Islam
• Egypt's Top Islamic Scholar Clears Up Muslim Conversion Controversy
• Christian Convert Sues Egypt Over Legal Status

http://www.christianpost.com/Intl/Persecution/2007/08/egypt-in-uproar-over-christian-convert-case-10/index.html
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Church Rumors Incite Mob Attack in Egypt
By Ethan Cole
Christian Post Reporter
Sat, May. 12 2007 09:49 AM EDT

A mob of Muslims in Egypt attacked Christians on Friday after being stirred up by a sermon and distributed leaflets that informed them that Christians were planning to build a church without permission.

Following a Muslim prayer meeting Friday, Christian homes and shops were set on fire and ten Coptic Christians were injured in clashes in the village of Bamha, about 15 miles south of Cairo, reported Agence France-Presse.
Hundreds of people from both faiths took up arms brandishing sticks, hatchets and hurling bricks and firebombs at one another.

“It’s a recurring problem,” commented Sameh Fawzi, an expert on Coptic affairs, according to Los Angeles Times. “Most sectarian conflicts that erupted in the past were due to fights over the construction of churches.”

http://www.christianpost.com/Intl/Persecution/2007/05/church-rumors-incite-mob-attack-in-egypt-12/index.html

And the stories go on....but oops, I think I upset the vetters of comments, because my comments on one of the stories was not published...Seems I don't fit in with their PCness.

“It’s a recurring problem,” … no shit Sherlock!!!!!!! Doesn’t matter where I roam…(on the internet) the same sort of persecution is happening to Christians everywhere. So much for all the 'Interfaith" gatherings of the egyptians huh. NB.

As an aside, I was required to go to the airport last night to pick up my grand daughter, and while waiting for the plane, which had been delayed, I got talking to a couple of people (as us Aussies will do) waiting on the same arrival. Now one guy and I had a lot in common, he had knife-scars on his wrist where he was attacked by 5 muslims a couple of years ago. He left the area of Northern/Eastern suburbs of Melbourne, and moved out to South West Victoria as he just couldn’t handle his children being in such dangerous surroundings as the muslim groups had taken over the surrounding suburbs, blacking out all the windows of the –PUBLIC--swimming pool, the gangs, schools etc. Now, this area about a 30 minute drive south from me, is slowly being turned into an African/muslim town, creating conclaves and definitely not safe to be out of a night time as they congregate with their weapons of choice. .NOW, the other 2 women were together, and they honestly had no idea as to what is happening anywhere in the world, let alone their own backyard…I did ask where they lived, and they live in one of the ‘yuppified’ areas, where there are not too many muslim groups. They did not know of any of the stories as to what has been happening in Springvale, Sunshine, Sunshine West, Heidleberg, Broadmeadows, Glenroy, Flemington, East Melbourne, Footscray, or any other areas where the Muslims and other groups from Somalia, Sudan, etc. yes even Tongans and other islanders, who fight each others’ gangs, and then the African gangs fight the Islander gangs, are all placed, thus we get ‘gang wars’.


And as we were at an Airport, obviously the subject of cabs came up and these women just stood there jaw dropped… they had never heard of ‘a person’ being in Australia for a very short time ie.4 weeks, and driving cabs on cousins, brother’s etc Taxi Licence and not being able to speak more than 6 words of English, etc.
Now I was extremely careful not to use any “RACIST” terms as I am by no means a racist, as people who know me will attest to, and the other guy was not making any derogatory remarks either. I was following suggestions from people I get Blog/newsletters from who suggest ways of responding to people who are throwing the “Social Justice Issues” and “vilification spiels” and she “had never heard of any muslim proclaiming their hate for a white person,” and how “these people may have come from countries where they have been through so much hardship” rah rah rah!!!! To which I responded that is all the more reason for them to appreciate what they have come to Australia for….which would be a free life…free from war – oppression – starvation – brutality – etc. I stated that yes, I also believe in a ‘Social Justice’ for the peoples of the world, but I am sick and tired of losing my rights…rights to free speech, rights to enjoy the local swimming pools on a day I choose to go to, ….by this stage I was feeling my frustration building up, and saved by the people spilling out of the doors from the landing of the plane…these 2 women couldn’t get away from us fast enough. I commented to the guy, that these 2 women had obviously lived a very sheltered life, and know absolutely nothing other than their own little world.

I feel sorry for these women and people like them, they are in for a rude awakening, and one day they will think back to the conversation they had with me and this guy at the airport, and think and remember what we had said.

Christians Respond to Obama as President

Here is one of the sites that has mixed reactions...from the readers, but quite often, the columnists are all for obama.....

For the full article go to...http://www.christianpost.com/article/20081105/christians-respond-to-obama-as-president.htm

Christians Respond to Obama as President.
The diverse Christian body has, as expected, responded to news of Barack Obama’s victory in the presidential election with mixed reaction – some congratulating, others wanting to put aside differences to work together, and still others insisting on challenging him when he takes office.
By Jennifer Riley
Christian Post Reporter
Wed, Nov. 05 2008 09:59 AM EST

The diverse Christian body has, as expected, responded to news of Barack Obama’s victory in the presidential election with mixed reaction – some congratulating, others wanting to put aside differences to work together, and still others insisting on challenging him when he takes office.

National Council of Churches USA, a left-leaning network of 100,000 local congregations, congratulated president-elect Obama and pledged to support him in the tough times ahead as he navigates the country out of the dangerous waters it is currently in.

“Mr. President-Elect, the 45-million Christians represented by the member communions of the National Council of Churches stand ready to work with you to respond to the realities that a loving God places before us each day,” stated Michael Kinnamon, general secretary of NCCUSA, in a statement issued early Wednesday.

In particular, he pointed to social concerns such as poverty, education, and health care.

“All of us are dependent on God's loving mercy, and we will regularly pray for you and others elected to high leadership,” the NCCUSA head wrote. “May your wisdom and discernment serve you well, and may your health never wane.”

But the religious right had a much different tone in response to Obama’s election victory.

Focus on the Family, the most prominent religious right organization, rejoiced that Obama will not have a 60-seat Democratic Senate that would have allowed him to push forth legislation without serious contention.

While the Democratic Party has a solid majority in both the House and Senate, they do not have the 60-seat majority needed that would give Majority Leader Harry Reid the power to invoke “cloture,” a procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or other matter, and end a Republican filibuster.

The Senate results combined with the approval of three state amendments banning gay marriage “give values voters reason to stay tuned to development on Capitol Hill,” FOTF Action wrote in its Election home page.

“God can use any president for his own purposes,” encouraged Focus Action’s Tom Minnery during an election special broadcast.

Meanwhile, Tony Perkins of Family Research Council, another prominent conservative group, encouraged values voters to keep praying for America and not lose heart.

Former FRC staff Dr. Charmaine Yoest, who is now president and CEO of Americans United for Life, congratulated Sen. Obama on his win, but pointed out his contradictory actions on abortion rights.

While Obama has called for “common ground” on abortion rights during his campaign, Yoest said, he promised Planned Parenthood that his first act as president will be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), which would eliminate every state and federal law regulating abortion.

"We will continue working in the days ahead to educate Americans about the threat to common sense that FOCA poses,” the AUL president vowed. “And we will make common cause with defenders of life in both the Democrat and Republican parties, fully committed to the ultimate goal of seeing both parties dedicated to the defense of life.”

Exit polls show that 74 percent of white evangelicals or born-again Christians voted for Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain and 24 percent voted for Sen. Barack Obama, according to CNN. Twenty-six percent of American voters described themselves as evangelical or born-again Christians.

Obama won 338 electoral votes, far more than the 270 needed, to win the 2008 presidential election. Sen. John McCain won 163 electoral votes.


Part of one of the comments from dannygirl, Wed Nov 05, 2008 6:27 pm, which is my sentiments pretty much....
Ah, it is not the end of the world. While I really like Sarah Palin. Personally I feel with help of all those phony voters with Acorn and the Liberal media. Barack Obama stole the vote.

I'm sick with fear of what this man can do to us!

Good News is there are 56 million + family members who are true Christians in the US who voted against Barack Obama. That could be 150 Million +. Hey, Praise God. God is soverign. Amen!

How Christians are treated in Muslim Countries

How Christians Are Treated In Muslim Lands
How Christians Are Treated In Muslim Lands
09/oct/2008
fccn.com

Saudi Arabia - Conversion by a Muslim to another religion is punishable by death. Bibles are illegal. Churches are illegal. Easter celebrations are illegal. It is punishable by death for a non-mulsim to enter the “holy” muslim cities of Medina and Mecca.
Yemen - Bans proselytizing by non-Muslims and forbids conversions. The Government does not allow the building of new non-Muslim places of worship.
Kuwait - Registration and licensing of religious groups. Members of religions not sanctioned in the Koran may not build places of worship. Prohibits organized religious education for religions other than Islam.
Egypt - Islam is the official state religion and primary source of legislation. Accordingly, religious practices that conflict with Islamic law are prohibited. Muslims may face legal problems if they convert to another faith. Requires non-Muslims to obtain what is now a presidential decree to build a place of worship.
Algeria - The law prohibits public assembly for purposes of practicing a faith other than Islam. Non-Islamic proselytizing is illegal, and the Government restricts the importation of non-Islamic literature for distribution. The country has passed the “Regulation of Religious Practice” law, which stipulates a punishment of two to five years’ imprisonment and heavy fines for anyone convicted of urging a Muslim to change his religion.
Syria - The constitution requires the president to be a Muslim and specifies that Islamic jurisprudence is a principal source of legislation. Sharing your Christian faith is discouraged as “posing a threat to the relations among religious groups” and carries a penalty of up to life in prison. A Christian is not allowed to proselytize – ever. Churches who want to hold an extra service must get a government permit. Sermons are routinely monitored, as is church fundraising.
Jordan - Has the death penalty for any Muslim selling land to a Jew.
Sudan - Conversion by a Muslim to another religion is punishable by death.
Pakistan - Conversion by a Muslim to another religion is punishable by death. Bans proselytizing by non-Muslims. Christians regularly put in prison for charges of blasphemy. Islam is the state religion, and in a court of law the testimony of a Christian carries less weight than that of a Muslim. Section 295(c) of the Penal Code calls for a death sentence for anyone who defiles the name of the Prophet Muhammad and requires the testimony of four Muslims for a conviction. This fosters an environment in which Muslims can feel free to use intimidation and violence against religious minorities for personal gain. Also, if any criminal Muslim rape with any Christian female and then take plea that she has accepted Islam and marry with him. Such person is not culpable under Pakistani criminal law
Qatar - Islamic instruction is compulsory in public schools. The government regulates the publication, importation, and distribution of non-Islamic religious literature. The government continues to prohibit proselytizing of Muslims by non-Muslims.
Malaysia - Under Malaysian law, any convert to Christianity must apply to a shariah (Muslim law) court to legally renounce Islam. Many Christians prefer to remain silent converts rather than take their battle to the shariah courts, where apostasy or conversion out of Islam is punishable by whipping, fines, imprisonment and—in the most extreme application—death. In a country where Muslims account for more than half of the population, conversion from Islam is punished with a 5-year prison sentence and a $3,000 fine. A Malaysian Muslim who marries a non-Muslim and who converts the non-Muslim to Islam is rewarded with an apartment, a car, a one-time payment of $2,700, and a monthly stipend of $270.
The Maldives - In the island paradise visited by tens of thousands of tourists each year, Christianity is simply not tolerated. While local Christians – said to number around 300 out of a total population of 300,000 – do get together to worship, they do so at the risk of imprisonment or worse if discovered by the Muslim authorities. Bibles are banned, and tourists can be arrested for trying to bring them into the country.


Whatever happened to what the musos say that Christians can practice their religion, and all the interfaith twadswaddle about inter-religious dialogue and friendship. A total lot of bullshit. I say we should send the muslims back to the country of origin. No arguments. No more wasting tax-payer dollars on their keep in our countries when they profess to hate us so much, and we have a total insane person in iran saying he is the future mahdi.... When Jesus does return, will be the only time when amadman will get to see who is the Truth, the Way and the Light.

What sort of Christian are you?

I got this Prophecy Watch, and it struck me that we can sometimes lose sight of where we are in our lives...sometimes we can get so busy and distracted that we lose sight of our sense of Christianity. Where are you in the scheme of things?

Are you a kind-of Christian?How can you tell a no-doubt Christian from a maybe Christian? Answer: There will be spiritual results, or hard evidence, in his or her life. In fact, I propose that what is considered Christianity by many in the United States today would not even qualify as conversion in the first-century church. And what is considered normal as far as a Christian was concerned in the first century would be considered radical by today's standards. There are a lot of people running around today who could be described as kind-of Christians. Now, that is not a theologically correct term, because according to the Bible, you either are or are not a Christian. But I am talking about people whom you are not really sure about. He or she is sort-of a Christian or maybe a Christian or could be a Christian or almost is a Christian. You see some things in their lives that make you believe they might be followers of Christ. They attend church regularly and talk about God periodically. Maybe they pray before their meals. But then there are other things in their lives that seem to contradict this behavior. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people today who believe they are Christians yet probably are not. And one of the reasons for that is a lot of shallow and anemic preaching in our churches today. I fear there may be a generation of people running around who believe they really know God when, in fact, they don't really know him at all. One recent poll indicated that seven out of 10 American adults have no clue as to the meaning of John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." And barely one-third of all adults know the meaning of the expression "the Gospel." I question whether most Americans have ever heard the authentic Gospel message. I know we have heard a lot of preaching. I know we have heard a lot of sermons. But have most Americans really heard the Gospel? And do they have a basic understanding of it? In their book, "unChristian," David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons identify behaviors that so-called Christians share with non-Christians. When asked to identify their activities over the last 30 days, those identifying themselves as born-again Christians were, according to the book, just as likely to gamble, visit a pornographic website, take something that did not belong to them, consult a medium or psychic, consume enough alcohol to be legally drunk, use an illegal drug, or lie about someone to retaliate. My question is not whether these people are Christians who are ignoring God's commands. My question is whether these people are really Christians at all............ read more