(Image via Wikipedia)

In 2007 I ran across an interview on Al-Jazeerah with Sheikh Ahmad Al Katani  lamenting the fact that over 6 million Muslims were being converted to Christianity in Africa every year.

Since that time, Muslim leaders have substantially failed in the arena of ideas and persuasion and have increasingly turned to violence and persecution against Christians in order to stem the growth of Christianity in Africa.

Now every where you turn in reading news coming out of Africa you find one story after another about Muslim extremists Attacking Christians and burning churches. Here’s just the latest sample:

1. Egypt: Muslims Burn Christian Homes and Shops, Attack Church

(AINA) — A Muslim mob attacked Copts today in the Upper Egyptian village of Rahmaniya-Kebly, Nag Hammadi, Qena province, destroying and torching their homes, straw huts and shops, while chanting Allahu Akbar. No one was reported killed or injured. According to reports, security forces were present but did not intervene and the fire brigade arrived 90 minutes late.  …

In another incident today, a large number of Salafis and members of the Muslim Brotherhood entered the Abu Makka church, in Bahteem, Shubra-el-Khayma, Qaliubia province, and informed the congregation that the church has no licence and no one should pray in it. One Muslim said the 1300 square meter church would be suitable for a mosque and a hospital.

Response: As usual the attacks come after Muslim Friday services. According to the reports, the attacks were made by Salafists (Islamic radicals) in order to keep the Coptic Christians from voting in the parliamentary elections on Friday. So much for a new ‘democratic’ Egypt. Notice that the Egyptian security forces refused to protect the Christians.

2. Nigeria: Death Toll Climbs in Islamist Attacks in the Northeast

Members of the Boko Haram group continue their attacks on Christians. This week alone, 9 Christians were killed in Gombe, Nigeria while worshipping in a revival meeting. Also, at least 21 Christians were killed in the neighboring Adamawa state.

Response: Violence against Christians in Nigeria is a daily occurrence. This is just what happen this week. Typically the Nigerian army cannot be counted upon to keep the peace since Muslim members of the forces many times refuse to protect the Christian community.  

3.  Zanzibar: Radical Muslims Burn Two Churches

Muslim extremists destroyed two church buildings on the island of Zanzibar. Meanwhile the government is not doing anything to stop violence against Christians or the destruction of churches on the island. According to Bishop Fabian Obedi of the Pentecostal Evangelical Church of Zanzibar:

“The Muslims are burning our church buildings quite frequently here in Zanzibar, but the government is not speaking against this kind of destruction of our church premises.”

Response: Again this is a situation where the Muslim dominated government authorities are doing nothing even though the churches were legally built and approved.

4.  Sudan: Church Leaders are Threatened

Sudan President Omar al-Bashir told cheering crowds on Jan. 3:

“We are an Islamic nation with sharia as the basis of our constitution. We will base our constitution on Islamic laws.”

His government recently ordered all church leaders to register the names and contact information of all of their leaders in Sudan, sources said. They were also warned not to participate in any evangelistic activities.

Hamid Yousif Adam, undersecretary of the Ministry of Guidance and Religious Endowment, recently sent threatening letters to church leaders warning them:

“We will take legal procedures against pastors who are involved in preaching or evangelistic activities.”. “We have all legal rights to take them to court.”

Response: Thousands of Muslims had converted to Christianity but nearly all of them have fled to breakaway South Sudan as the persecution of Christians has increased in the north.          

Conclusion: The point is that Muslim violence against Christians is on the rise in Africa and very few of these stories are in any way carried by the Western media who are overly concerned with the PC claims of Islamophobia.

These are just a few prominent stories of recent Muslim persecution of Christians. The fact is that there are many other incidences that go unreported.  Literally you can now find stories like these every week on the Internet with very little effort.

One thing for sure, the violence against Christians will not stop Christianity from increasing in Africa nor will it force converts back to Islam. The new Christians have found the reality of a relationship with a loving God and a community of believers who care for one another. No amount of force or violence will convince them otherwise.

I am however concerned about the Coptic Christians in Egypt who now seem to be facing new rounds of persecution. Also, thanks to the so-called ‘Arab Spring’ they now have a very bleak future under the domination of a future Islamic extremist government run by the Muslim Brotherhood and even more radical Salafist party. Already with the tide of change on the horizon, the Egyptian Security forces are refusing to protect them.           *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Nigeria: Dozens of Christians Killed on Christmas in Islamist Attacks
2. -Nigeria: Muslim Attacks on Christians Continue -45 Killed

Open Doors’ 2012 ‘World Watch List’ ranks countries where Christians suffered the most in 2011. The vast majority of the worst 50 are countries with a Muslim majority. Then comes the old Communist standbys with North Korea in its usual #1 position along with Vietnam (#19) and China (#21) as countries among those where Christians are persecuted the most.

Open Doors provides the list with the hope and suggestion that Christians pick some of these countries to remember in their daily prayers.

According to a cover article, Sudan, Nigeria, and Egypt saw the greatest increases in persecution of Christians in 2011.

World Watch List:

Follow the link for each country for details:

1. North Korea
2. Afghanistan
3. Saudi Arabia
4. Somalia
5. Iran
6. Maldives
7. Uzbekistan
8. Yemen
9. Iraq
10. Pakistan
11. Eritrea
12. Laos
13. Nigeria
14. Mauritania
15. Egypt
16. Sudan
17. Bhutan
18. Turkmenistan
19. Vietnam
20. Chechnya
21. China
22. Qatar
23.  Algeria
24. Comoros
25. Azerbaijan
Read 26-50                *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -The Worst Countries for Persecuting Christians
2. -The Ten Worst Places to Live if You’re a Christian

       (Laos, & S. Prov. via Wikipedia)

Laos: Eight Christian leaders in Boukham village of Savannakhet Province were arrested on Friday (Dec. 18) following a Christmas celebration attended by some 200 church members.

According to the report, the leaders had received permission for the event and the village chief had even attended part of it. However, following the formal worship, the village security forces entered the building and detained the 8 leaders without any formal charges.

Provincial authorities were alerted and district police arrived on Saturday to investigate the incident. Later that afternoon, a denominational leader from the Lao Evangelical Church (a church recognized by the Lao Government) came to plead for their release. Unfortunately, the leaders remain in custody and in stocks.

Following the payment of a large fine, at least one leader was released. Meanwhile the other 7 remain in jail under the worst of conditions with no formal charges against them.

According to Compass Direct:

“…the village chief told the detainees that they had violated “hiit,” or the traditional spirit cult of the village, by gathering for a Christian worship service. He then ordered them not to practice Christianity in Boukham for fear that the spirits would be offended, HRWLRF reported (Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom).
Under hiit, residents must worship and placate the spirits of the village to ensure the fertility of their fields and to ensure ongoing safety and prosperity for their families.
Many believe that the departure of a few people from this practice will bring distress for the entire village.
Boukham’s chief asked the detainees to admit their guilt and agree not to worship Christ in the village, but all seven refused, …”

Response: This is a ‘War on Christmas’ of a different kind entirely. In fact it is an attack on Christians and freedom of religion period.

Regardless of all of the controversy in America over Nativity scenes on public property we still have freedom of worship in this country. Stories like this help us to appreciate what freedoms we do have even if those freedoms seem to be challenged at times.

This would be a good time to remember our Laotian Christian brothers and sisters in prayer. May they be blessed with greater freedom and understanding from their village leaders and their country in the months and years to come.            *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Laos: Authorities Threaten to Expel More Christians from Katin village
2. -Laos: Christians Forced from Worship and Homes at Gunpoint

            (Image via Wikipedia)

According to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, offering prayers in ‘Jesus name’ during legislative invocations are unconstitutional.

The American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State took the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners in North Carolina to court over opening prayers given before commission meetings ending “in Jesus name.” 

Judge James Harvie Wilkinson III in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals wrote the majority opinion that:

legislative invocations offered in Jesus’ name are inherently "sectarian" and thus should be censored lest they make some attendees feel "uncomfortable, unwelcome and unwilling to participate in … public affairs."

Also, even "a solitary reference to Jesus Christ" in invocations before the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners’ meetings could do "violence to the pluralistic and inclusive values that are a defining feature of American public life."

Alliance Defense Fund Senior Counsel Brett Harvey disagreed with the ruling:

"The decision is troubling on many fronts. It is out of step with many other federal courts that have considered the validity of public invocations, including the United States Supreme Court. It ignores the religious heritage and history of our nation. But more troubling is the impact of the court’s decision on prayer itself. … It requires the government to censor private prayers and engage in comparative theology."

"The Constitution prohibits the government from deciding which religious words are acceptable and which are not, even if the goal is to make people feel more comfortable."

The decision is going to be appealed to the Supreme Court.

Response: One wonders what titles for God are acceptable after this ruling? Also, who decides what is acceptable? Can a mullah pray to Allah or is it just Jesus Christ that must be censored and eliminated?

Actually this case was decided on July 29th so hopefully the Supreme Court will soon take on this case and resolve it in a way that our freedom of religion is not compromised.

From this ruling it does seem to me that Christianity is the only religion that is actually being restricted and Christian prayers and the ‘name of Jesus’ seems to be the only target. Another case of discrimination against Christians in the name of pluralism and PC inclusiveness? Looks like it to me.            *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -4th Circuit Ruling Stands: Prayers in Jesus Name Are Out
2. -Circuit Court Nominee Said No to Jesus but Yes to Allah?

                               (Burlington, VT  via Wikipedia)

According to a Task Force report to Burlington, Vermont School Board, white middle-class Judeo-Christian values and culture must be eliminated.

A new educational strategy proposed to the school district is openly hostile to Christianity and biblical values claiming that Judeo-Christian culture “perpetuates inequality.”

The report repeatedly cites  "white, middle-class, Judeo-Christian culture" as a major problem that needs to be defeated in the future by properly educating the children against that traditional American belief system:

"The Task Force recommends that the school board and superintendent infuse the district with the message that the social and educational climate in our schools requires urgent attention to erase many negative stereotypes, subtle and overt behaviors, assumptions, and decisions that favor conventional, white upper middle class Judeo-Christian values and beliefs through the following recommendations for the first year of Strategic Plan implementation."

The School district administrators are totally on-board with this new approach and feel like that have ample community support to carry it through. According to Burlington Superintendent Jeanne Collins, they are already focused on implementing the new "strategic action":

"The report includes recommendations for strategic action… . Many of these recommendations already are under way; others are forging new ground for the district. ‘This report is thorough and deep.”

"’With this many passionate and dedicated community members behind us, there is no way we can fail as we move forward to build a culturally competent and inclusive school environment.’"

Meanwhile, Christian pastors in the area are objecting to the rhetoric in the report and the new ‘strategic action’ to eliminate Christian values. However, that part of Vermont is among the most liberal/progressive areas in the entire country so evangelical Christians represent a small minority there and have very little hope in changing the new philosophical direction of the schools.

Response: This is the first time that Judeo-Christian values and Biblical beliefs have actually been boldly labeled as a ‘problem to be eliminated’ by some government agency in America. In this case a school district. 

Many school districts in America have stealthily opposed Christian values in the name of political correctness without actually naming them. I fear that this is just the beginning of outright opposition to Christian values and the actual naming of them as an ‘evil’ and a problem to be eliminated by propagandizing the next generation through school curricula.

We have already seen an example of this in California where children beginning with the 1st grade and up are being taught to accept and respect homosexuality. Something similar is coming to a school district near you if it hasn’t already arrived in a more subtle way.            *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -School Ban on Christmas Carols Upheld?
2. -Florida: Teacher Suspended for Anti-Gay Marriage Comments on Facebook

                              (Image via Wikipedia)

Here’s another case where a Christian student group is in trouble over expecting groups leadership to adhere to a core set of beliefs.

The InterVarsity Christian group at The State University of New York-Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo) is in the process of being investigated for dropping a leader who wanted to pursue an openly gay relationship.

While the campus group allows all students including gays to participate, group leaders are required to be in agreement with its doctrinal statement and living a life of Christian integrity. Gay sexual relationships violated the core set of beliefs set down for InterVarsity leaders.

According to SUNY Buffalo administrators and the student senate, the faith-based agreement for leaders puts InterVarsity in violation of campus policies. Unless the leadership requirements are dropped, the Christian group will probably be ‘derecognized’ and kicked off campus.

Response: This is happening all across the country. Christian student groups are being challenged because they are deemed to be ‘discriminatory’ in their demands for a leadership that adheres to a Christian standard of behavior. In most cases, homosexuals are barred from leadership positions along with ‘unbelievers’ in violation of current campus rules.

I read of at least one case where a Christian student group dropped the ‘core-beliefs’ requirement for leadership in order to stay on campus at one school and a group of secularist/atheists took over leadership of the group and started disseminating anti-Christian propaganda. So the group actually became ant-Christian instead under the old Christian name and logo.

So one way or another, Christian groups as they have been for over a  hundred years on college campuses in America are in jeopardy of disappearing or changing beyond all recognition. In final analysis, it is the Christian faith and lifestyle that is actually being ‘discriminated’ against on college and university campuses all across America.

Funny thing is that Muslim groups never seem to be challenged even though they would seem to be ‘discriminatory’ by the same campus standards?            *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Update on Vanderbilt U. ‘Nondiscrimination Policy’ Directed Against Christian Groups
2. -Anti-Semitism On a College Campus Near You

             (Image via Wikipedia)

The U.S. government shut down the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on November 18 due to lack of funding. The USCIRF was the government agency that monitored religious freedom in countries around the world.

According to reports, the allocation of funding for the commission could not get out of a Senate committee to be voted on. It is known that only one Senator blocked the funding which would have easily passed the Senate on a up or down vote. That Senator was Dick Durban (D-Ill.) who supposedly allowed the commission to die because one of his pet projects for Illinois could not get funding.

The USCIRF routinely met with minority religious leaders in Africa, the Middle East, and central Asia, and released reports to the US government and UN agencies concerning the violation of religious rights and freedoms and the persecution of minorities around the world. Their annual report analyzed and rated every country including the USA in respect to religious freedoms extended to their citizens.

Countries like China, North Korea, Cuba, followed by Muslim countries in the Middle East and North Africa were consistently on the USCIRF list as the worst offenders of religious rights.

Response: This is outrageous. Try to find this story in the main stream media anywhere- good luck.

Lately the USCIRF has been very critical of Muslim countries and their treatment of Christians and other minority religions. I was constantly reading their reports and they will be sorely missed.

Who is really responsible for this shutdown? One stubborn selfish Senator? I don’t think so. Here is my take on this issue. The Obama administration wanted the USCIRF shutdown because of all the complaints it was receiving from Muslim organizations and Muslim dominated countries and because the Commission was openly opposing the passage of  a UN Blasphemy Law. A UN proposal that the administration supported.

If the Obama administration really wanted to keep the Commission going, all the President had to do was pick up the phone and tell Sen. Durban to send it on. No, the Senator is the fall guy here in an election year.  President Obama is now free to claim he wasn’t responsible for the demise of a US commission that was making him look bad to his Muslim friends around the world.              *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -US Commission: Pakistan Schools Teach Religious Intolerance
2. -What’s the Difference: ‘Freedom of Religion’ vs. ‘Freedom of Worship’