Religion Today Summaries – Jan. 8, 2007
Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
In today's edition:
- Anti-Christian Attacks Mark New Year in India
- Poll Shows Many Americans Wary of Islam
- British Christian Group Takes Legal Action
- Uzbekistan's Christians Face Escalating Persecution, VOM Reports
Anti-Christian Attacks Mark New Year in India
After launching several anti-Christian attacks during the last week of 2006, Hindu extremists went on to beat more Christians, vandalize vehicles and organize a protest rally against a church, dampening New Year celebrations. Extremists beat four pastors and vandalized a vehicle in the north central state of Uttar Pradesh state on Tuesday (January 2). They attacked two more Christians and damaged another vehicle in neighboring Madhya Pradesh state, while others staged an anti-Christian rally in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, the same day. Dr. John Dayal, secretary general of the All India Christian Council, condemned the Uttar Pradesh attack near Delhi. “The fact that Christians can be attacked in the National Capital Region reflects how insecure we are in this country,” he told Compass Direct News.
Poll Shows Many Americans Wary of Islam
According to AgapePress, a pro-family organization has published the early results of an online survey dealing with Islam. The poll shows an overwhelming number of respondents have an unfavorable opinion of that religion. The online survey asks nine questions, including: "Do you consider Islam to be a tolerant religion?", "Would it be good for America to have more Muslims in elected offices?", and "As a general rule, are women treated better in America than in a Muslim country?" Randy Sharp, director of special projects for AFA, explains the reason for conducting the survey. "Islam is a growing religion in America, [and] it is concerning for a great many people," says Sharp. "And this [poll] gives everyone an opportunity to share their opinion and let us know how they feel."
British Christian Group Takes Legal Action
ASSIST News Service reports that a British Christian Union group banned from student facilities is taking legal action under the Human Rights Act. BBC News in a report said, “Exeter University Evangelical Christian Union were suspended from the student guild and had a bank account frozen. “The guild decided on the measures because the group asked members to sign a statement of religious belief. “Similar groups have been accused of discrimination against non-Christians and gay people. The Union is seeking a judicial review at the High Court. “The case could have implications for religious groups across the UK.” The Archbishop of Canterbury has said moves against the Christian Unions are wrong. Dr. Rowan Williams said the refusal by some student unions to recognize evangelical Christian groups looked like a “fear of open argument.” Dr. Williams said that while the views of evangelicals on the issue of homosexual sex may be “embarrassing” to liberal Christians, traditional values should not be compared to holocaust denial or racial bigotry.
Uzbekistan's Christians Face Escalating Persecution, VOM Reports
AgapePress reports an official with Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) says Christians living in one former Soviet bloc country are facing increasing persecution. According to the ministry, Christians in Uzbekistan house churches are choosing to meet in groups of five people or less to avoid being arrested, imprisoned, deported, or fined by the government. Todd Nettleton of VOM says there are several reasons for the harsh treatment, one being that many of the country's leaders were part of hard-line communist regimes led by the former Soviet Union. "Many of the leadership there were raised on the communist doctrine of distrusting all religion," Nettleton explains. "Literally they distrust Christianity, and they also distrust Islam," he says; "however, the people there are primarily Muslims."
Originally published January 08, 2007.
