Muslim Leader Warns Against Christian Evangelism in Disaster Zone

[Crackingham]

A senior Islamic leader warned foreign relief workers Friday of a serious backlash from Muslims if they bring Christian proselytizing to tsunami-struck Sumatra along with humanitarian help.

<snip>

At Friday prayers in the main mosque of Banda Aceh, the provincial capital, a Muslim leader warned against any attempt by Christian aid workers to evangelize among tsunami survivors. Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation, and Aceh is particularly conservative.

"All non-governmental organizations, either domestic or international, with hidden agendas coming here with humanitarian purposes but instead proselytizing, this is what we do not like," said Dien Syamsuddin, secretary-general of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas, or religious scholars.

He also condemned reports the U.S.-based welfare group WorldHelp had planned to adopt 300 Acehnese children orphaned by the disaster and raise them in a Christian children's home.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB3HG69Z3E.html

[demnan]

1. Missionaries or Kidnappers?

Nothing new about proselytizing. Missionaries have been going around the world for years. Actually Mother Theresa was a missionary and I'm sure the Catholic church wanted to convert people in India, but I think they found that first you had to feed them and keep them alive.

What they did that was so wrong here was wanting to take the children out of their environment and make them conform. That's not being a missionary, that's being a kidnapper.

If people really want to adopt these children, they should go over and live in the native country for a few months and they should learn the customs and promise to raise these children in their own religion. They've lost enough for now. They need the comfort of their beliefs.

[saltpoint]

2. I say good for Dien Syamsuddin for putting up the red flag --

-- to these Christian nutcases who think of a devastated coastline of despairing victims as an opportuity to shove their religion down peoples' throats.

If any of the groups warned to stop prosyletizing fail to heed Syamsuddin's warning, I reiterate my suggestion that those in violation be summarily stuffed into the maws of hammerhead sharks.

We can definitely get by without 'em.

[4MoreYearsOfHell]

3. Any attempt to use this disaster

as a means to convert people and not to just help them is way beyond despicable...

Typical though of any effort backed by our "saved by Jay-sus" fearless leader...

[Wilms]

4. All cult's do the same thing.

They prey on the weak and the traumatized.

[Moderator]

5. duplicate topic, please discuss here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1150243