Religion Today Summaries – May 20, 2003
Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world. In today's edition:
- China: SARS Virus Causes Panic and Discontent
- Supreme Court to Hear Religious Scholarship Case
- Pakistani Christians Injured in Church Attack
- Three Missions Meet for Joint Consultation: "Moving Past Cultural Christianity"
China: SARS Virus Causes Panic and Discontent
Compass Direct
In China, cinemas and theatres are closed. Classrooms are empty, restaurants and business centers are deserted. Residents in major cities remain indoors, fearful of contracting the SARS virus. On May 12 the total number of cases on the Mainland had soared to 5013 cases with 252 deaths — double the number of cases reported only two weeks before. Hysteria is sweeping through China as a result of the epidemic. On April 27, more than 10,000 people rioted in the rural town of Chagugang, two hours east of Beijing, ransacking a local school after word spread that it would be used as a hospital for SARS patients. Meanwhile, Christian organizations are reeling from the impact of the virus. Some have withdrawn expatriate workers. One large mission has advised against visits to China until the end of June, when the situation will be reviewed. In this climate of fear, Christians in China have found new opportunities to share their faith, reporting a growing responsiveness to the gospel as neighbors and friends seek counsel and prayer.
Supreme Court to Hear Religious Scholarship Case
Kevin Eckstrom, Religion News Service
The Supreme Court said Monday (May 19) it will decide whether students at religious colleges can use state scholarships for their studies. The high court agreed to hear the case of a Washington state student, Joshua Davey, who received a $1,125 state scholarship to attend Northwest College, which is affiliated with the Assemblies of God. When state officials learned that Davey was majoring in theology, they revoked his scholarship. They said the public money could not be spent on religious instruction, but could be used for other majors, such as business. The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last July in favor of Davey. The high court agreed to hear Washington's appeal during next year's term, which begins in October. Davey's lawyers at the American Center for Law and Justice said state officials violated Davey's constitutional rights to practice his religion. "This anti-religious, viewpoint-based discrimination clearly offends the federal Constitution," ACLJ chief counsel Jay Sekulow told the justices in a filing for the case. Washington Attorney General Christine Gregoire told the high court that the state policy "does not impair Davey's free exercise of his religion -- he is free to believe and practice his religion without restriction." Fourteen other states have similar restrictions on scholarship funds.
Pakistani Christians Injured in Church Attack
Voice of the Martyrs
Radical Muslims targeted a prayer meeting at the New Apostolic Church of Pakistan in the district of Narowal, leading to the serious injury of at least two believers. According to VOM representatives and sources in Pakistan, the Muslims first stopped and harassed a group of Christian girls on their way to the church on the evening of Friday, May 9, 2003. They stood in the girls’ path, making humiliating remarks and attempting to pull off their scarves. Once the prayer meeting had begun, the Muslims broke up the meeting, carrying weapons into the church compound and yelling. When Mughal Masih stepped outside to reason with the men, some of the Muslims took him to a field and beat Mughal in the head and chest with guns. The rest of the Muslims entered the church and dragged Ashraf Masih, the guest pastor from a neighboring town, by his collar out of the church. There, they stripped him of his clothing and beat him. "The stabbing of Mughal Masih and the beating of the pastor are just more examples of radical Islam’s intolerance of Christians," says Gary Lane, VOM spokesman. "The Pakistani government and local police need to do a better job of protecting the Christian minority from these violent attacks."
Three Missions Meet for Joint Consultation: "Moving Past Cultural Christianity"
Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
Focused on the theme, "Missions on the Edge: Moving Past Cultural Christianity," three mission organizations will meet together this fall in Virginia Beach, VA. "The globe has seen the spread of Christianity over the past 2000 years. It is felt almost everywhere, but in many places the feelings associated with it are not positive. Why?" asks Greg H. Parsons, chair of the EFMA/ISFM/AFMA '03 Program Committee, and General Director-United States Center for World Mission (USCWM). "How can we get past the history where ill will has been created?" Paul McKaughan, President of the EFMA, says, "People used to think the edge was the place where one fell off into the abyss. Today we know the edge is where innovation takes place. It is at the edge that true transforming mission happens." Event organizers say the edge is "that location where Biblical faith encounters the belief systems of those who do not acknowledge Christ as Lord. This same faith also impacts our own culture."
Originally published May 20, 2003.
