The Causes and Roots of Religious Persecution – Part 1
Jan 9th, 2012 by Andy Bannister Dr. Andy Bannister, RZIM Canada
Introduction: Dying to Make a Difference
Dr. John Joseph was the Catholic Bishop of Faisalabad in Pakistan and a prominent human rights activist. On 6 May 1998, he travelled from his home to the city of Sahiwal to address a prayer meeting being held for victims of blasphemy cases. In Pakistan, the notorious 295-C law makes insulting Muhammad or the Qur’an a crime punishable by death. The law is often used to falsely accuse religious minorities, especially Christians,[1] and Dr. Joseph was concerned about one Christian in particular, Ayub Masih. Arrested in 1996 for allegedly violating the blasphemy laws, Ayub Masih had been held in solitary confinement in a tiny cell, denied medical care, and frequently abused. In April 1998, he had been formally found guilty and had been sentenced to death. After addressing the prayer meeting, Dr. Joseph made his way to the courthouse to the spot where, during the trial, somebody had shot at Ayub Masih and tried to assassinate him. At about 9:30pm, Dr. Joseph took a pistol and took his own life. In a letter to a local newspaper, published after his death, he had written: “dedicated persons do not count the cost of the sacrifices they have to make”.[2]
Christian Persecution Expert Insists 'Islam Needs a Reformation'
A controversial new book concludes that Muslims must change Islam or risk making it inseparable from violence and discrimination.
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(Photo: International Christian Concern)"Islam Uncensored" collects 14 interviews across the political and religious spectrum in an attempt to understand Islam.
Sudanese pastor understands Refugees
Sudanese pastor understands Refugees
THEY COME from Sudan, Iraq, Iran and other Middle Eastern countries to escape war, persecution and repression. Scattered in camps throughout Europe, the refugees need food, shelter and medical treatment. But most of all, they need hope.
An Edmonton pastor who fled his native Sudan 13 years ago to find a haven in Alberta is helping provide that hope to these refugees in Europe.
Isn’t It Arrogant To Say That Only Christianity Is True?
Isn’t It Arrogant To Say That Only Christianity Is True?
An excert from an article written for: stayintheconversation.org
A common accusation flung at Christians is that we’re arrogant. “How can you believe that you’re right and Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims — all the thousands of other religions — are wrong?” Isn’t it the height of arrogance to claim that Jesus is the way to God. A way, possibly. But the only way?
Many Christians struggle with this issue. We don’t want to appear arrogant, bigoted, or intolerant. And so a pluralistic view of religions thrives easily here in Canada. It’s easy to slip from the true claim — “all people have equal value” — to the false claim that “all ideas have equal merit”. Those are two very different claims indeed.
