China Suprresses Christians Again.

Brian George

April, 15^th, 2011

Blog 12

9:43 am

In many countries, regions and villages; people practice their chosen religion. Some do it without the worry of being prosecuted while others know very well the consequences that can fall upon them if they’re unwilling to conform to the religious desire of their country or state. Being ostracized from one’s community, being thrown in jail or killed; are all possibilities.

Once again those who practice the Christian religion in China have had their human rights violated without true reason. After being removed from their usual place of worship, quite possibly a church or home fashioned as such, the worshipers decided to hold their services in a public area. .

“Leaders of the unregistered Shouwang church had told members to gather at an open-air venue in Beijing for Sunday morning services, but police, apparently alerted to their plans, taped off the area and took away people who showed up to take part…. No major protests have occurred in China following the calls, but the security crackdown they sparked has resulted in the arrest or detention of dozens of public interest lawyers, writers, intellectuals and activists.” (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_china_human_rights)

While their act was unwise, due to them knowing the cruel and idiotic repercussions for such a thing, this is not limited only to those who are religiously ‘free’ of their government; where a estimated 20 million worship in the state church and possibly more than 60 million Christians worship in China’s independent churches.

This sparks a ‘if you are not with us then you are against us’ attitude that is a sure fire way to break apart families, neighborhoods and quite possibly an entire country. Many who dedicate themselves to the government’s church may believe others are below them and are attempting to destroy the country by being radicals.

The lawyers, writers and others who were arrested were pro-democratic and posed a threat to China’s communist nation. In what way exactly…it is very hard to say.

It is difficult to admit openly but China has an ‘excellent’ way of keeping its people under control. Their government is the prime example of a ‘Big Brother Bully’ hybrid that will eventually take itself down such as Egypt’s government is being taken by its denizens.

None the less, the fact that China’s government continually discriminates against its own kind simply because they choose to worship outside of its government walls, is quite foul and depressing.

But it is how they keep their control.

And while the United States has attempted to intervene by calling into play the Human Rights act, the country of China has simply ignored them and basically chosen to tell the U.S to ‘mind their own business.’.

While denying people their right to deviate from other’s path of enlightenment and find their own, is how they attempt to keep every individual under their thumb; they should take a page from the events happening in Egypt and realize revolution can and may possibly be in the process of occurring within their strongly built walls. Whether they’re Christians who wish to worship where and when they please, or citizens who want a democratic government, China’s attempt to divide and suppress it’s people will work against them.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_china_human_rights

Changes in Egypt Government Can Bring More Religious Division

Brian George

4/8/10

Blog 11

12:34 pm

For the past few months there has been a visible unity between the Christian and Muslim community in Egypt. The desire and need to remove Hosni Mubarak from power brought the two religious groups together for a modern revolution, to demand change not just for their political freedom. In addition, it was for some the desire to obtain true religious freedom as well.

All this change occurring in a place where the country’s laws have been based upon the book of one religion, namely Islam. “Under Mubarak, Christians were often excluded from positions of authority and influence. They held fewer than two percent of seats in the recently disbanded parliament. They continue to face restrictions when they want to build or fix churches, and Islamic law remains Egypt's main source of legislation.” (Presto, Suzanne. ‘Egypt's Christians and Muslims Face Unity and Tensions.’). While Mubarak was in power Copt Christians were similar to second or third-class citizens, churches were burned down and many lives on both sides(Muslim and Christian) were lost in battles in villages and cities.

On top of that, they have been underrepresented in their government’s political system and this does nothing but slow or kill the progress that the country could make towards recognizing other religions as equals.

The clear difference between the treatment of Muslims and Christians by their government could become even more apparent should another more ‘radical’ individual or group, assume power.

And at the moment the one that stands out is one that makes many Copt Christians in Egypt and other countries worried, the Muslim Brotherhood, an group that favors a pure Islamic state.

This causes some to worry though they seem willing to accept that possibility to simply have Mubarak out of power. “I have fears that they (the Brotherhood) come to power, however, I'm still very happy about what's happening and I will still be very happy that Mubarak leaves, at any price," said Rasha, 29, a marketing worker who, like most of the others, did want her full name used.” (Dziadosz, Alexander. ‘Copts say Egypt regime change trumps Islamist fears’.)

Even with the change that is bound to come to their government, many are worried that Islamic groups would gain even more favor and influence after Mubarak’s departure is complete…even though the two religious groups have been working together despite an brutal bombing in March that killed many and a battle that quickly followed and left more dead.

Between those events and others that have occurred over the past few years, it could be very difficult to hold one another up in these trying times; and there’s the possibility that the Muslim Brotherhood would seek to use those past and even current events to their advantage and separate the Copt Christian community even further away from the Muslim community.

Right now, Egypt is a country and society that is not only dominated by Islamic virtues and people, but it discriminates against the Christian community. From the restrictions on building churches to the forced Islamic conversions that have come to light in the past few years, it boils down to whether Egypt would be content with the discrimination from Mubarak or a potential similar of worse one under the Muslim Brotherhood.

Should extremists obtain power in Egypt, they may suffer a bigger division of religion and life than they have already experienced in the past. While the two groups are unified, the best thing would be to acknowledge the possibilities ahead for peace and a permanent union that would see no discrimination on a social, physical, mental or spiritual level; be inflicted upon anyone simply because of their religion.

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/middle-east/Egypts-Christians-and-Muslims-Face-Unity-and-Tensions--118526659.html

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/01/us-egypt-copts-idUSTRE7109C220110201?pageNumber=1

Religious Division In Egypt Shows Potential To Change Despite Hardships. Blog 10

Brian George

Blog 10

12:05 pm

4/1/11

One year ago the gap between Muslims and Copt Christians in Nag Hammadi, Egypt appeared to be bridged by an unsteady and rotted plank that had the ability to give way and break only to be replaced by yet another rotted and unsteady plank.

On Christmas Eve, a Muslim gunman opened fire on Christian worshippers as they left church; seven were killed and ten were wounded. The motivation behind the attack was due to the alleged rape of a Muslim girl by a Christian male who has since been jailed.

While the authorities have since arrested the male accused of sexual assault, they have also been able to arrest three individuals who killed the Christians. Despite this and previous events that have occurred over the years, the government of Egypt had yet to address the issue at hand; the brutality between its citizens when it comes to religion. As I’ve mentioned before, there is no immediate solution to a problem that has plagued this country for decades, but if no effort is put forth to solve troubles that occur, then the only thing that can come of it is more fighting and death.

“Egypt has experienced many clashes over the years between its Muslim majority and Christian minority, and has always insisted that the conflicts were driven by something — anything — else. A land dispute, a personal grudge, a crime for profit. The official narrative is that these are singular, unrelated crimes…But local people, commentators, members of Parliament, Christian and Muslim alike, say that the government’s narrow view of the shooting ignores an underlying tension that is roiling society all across Egypt, where an estimated 10 percent of the population of about 80 million is Christian. No matter the gunman’s motive, the attack and subsequent clashes and riots have underscored the religious divide.” (In Egypt, Religious Clashes Are Off the Record http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/world/middleeast/01egypt.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2).

Clearly this type of lack of authority in the government begets interreligious tension and violence, not only did the system do little to protect the religious minorities but promoted the fact that little would be done to calm any situations that flared up between opposing religious forces.

Some Copts have said attacks from Muslims against them have gone either unpunished or if any sentences are given they are usually light. Again this is an environment where the lack of enforcing laws and basic civil rights will in turn bring more violence and tension into communities and between individuals who practice different religions openly.

Yet some still manage to form limited bonds with Christians despite being Muslim and vice versa, but it’s often limited in many ways.

But since then, there have been many changes. The revolution that has begun in Egypt not only has brought forth the idea that things could drastically change within its government and the protection offered to all religious organizations and its members.

But also because of the unity that has occurred between the two religions due to the fighting that most are involved in against the government they oppose.

“Muslims and Christians joined hands and formed human shields to protect each other from riot police as members of the different faiths prayed during the protests in Cairo. Alongside banners demanding Mubarak's resignation and an end to emergency rule, protesters held aloft posters of the Christian cross and Islamic crescent together against the red white and black of Egypt's flag.” (Egyptian revolution brings show of religious unity, http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/18/us-egypt-christians-idUSTRE71H6KA20110218?pageNumber=1).

In my eyes this is a sure sign that there can be peace and harmony between the two religions…even though it did come at the expense of more fighting; it is a start. Despite a bomb that killed several Christians that have occurred in January of this year and this past December, the two groups have been able to stand together against a common enemy.

I hope peace and a mutual understanding of some kind and can be a starting point for a way of life that won’t involve harming one another due to the actions of someone else or because one felt insulted due to not wishing to learn the other’s religious word.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/world/middleeast/01egypt.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/18/us-egypt-christians-idUSTRE71H6KA20110218

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8444851.stm

Inter-Religious Dating and Religious Tensions in Egypt Cause Problems

Brian George

Blog # 9

11:43 am

3/25/2011

Needless to say, there’s almost always turmoil when an unnatural act results in the loss of one’s religious building, but to have one’s sacred building destroyed by individuals of an opposite religion is normally cause for strife between those who practice it.

This was the case in Sole, a city that lay outside of Cairo, Egypt; where there have been tensions between the Christian and Muslims who live near or in the same community. After a group of Muslim residents burnt down a Christian church in the village of Sole, they proclaimed that they would build a mosque in its place.

“If it had been a mosque, the reaction would have been different,” said Moenes, a demonstrator. “So now anyone can say: ‘Lets move this church from here.’ It will open the way to more abuses against Christians.”…..Faced with an intransigent Muslim community in Sole whose members insist they will not give up the church, the army has been reluctant to use force. Any violence in the village could turn public opinion against the military rulers who are leading the country in a sensitive period after the revolution which ousted Hosni Mubarak, the former president.”

The military has a very difficult task ahead of them; in a way they must tread a very fine line when attempting to solve this issue. The religion of Islam is prominent in Egypt and their actions may have a traverse affect along with the still developing foundation of their new government.

However if they take their time or don’t use political and social skills to rectify the situation; similar events may occur in other locations from both Christians(seeking revenge) or Muslims who see fit to destroy another’s religious building and place their own there.

Alas the problem does not stop there; the separation of religions within the community’s residents must be addressed.

“The origin of the dispute, according to residents, is a suspected relationship between a Muslim girl and a Christian youth. The girl’s relatives are said to have wanted to “cleanse their honour” by killing her. Her father refused and in an ensuing family argument, he and another relative were shot dead. After their funeral on Friday, hundreds of angry Muslims took their revenge by burning down the church. Incidents of sectarian violence against Christians have been rising in recent years. Most are triggered by disputes over building churches or by relations between men and women across the religious divide.”

Clearly, this is an issue that may increase as the years go by and the world’s population grows as well as the religious practices adopted by different people. But to kill or attack another person or their religious ‘home’ seems very drastic.

Though I honestly have no solution or recommendation of how or if it could succeed, a social awareness and acceptance of inter-religious dating would suffice. But it is clear that the acceptance of social norms or suggested social norms would be overshadowed by one’s practiced religion in some countries.

Over the years I have heard many stories of honor killings that result from seemingly small and insignificant encounters and events, in some cases to recommend anything would be to change one’s religion, culture and likely his/her beliefs to their inner core.

In the mean time I am sure that most, if not all, would see that life is dear to any individual regardless of the religion he or she practices as well as those of the ones they choose to date or marry.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/13389f98-49ab-11e0-acf0-00144feab49a,dwp_uuid=66951ab0-1ff6-11e0-b458-00144feab49a.html#axzz1HcjyjCvK

Religious Divide And Discrimination In France

Brian George

Blog # 8

3/18/2011

Currently the country of France has the infamous reputation among its Islamic citizens for being quite discriminatory against those who practice the religion. In a way it’s common knowledge that France yields a large population of Catholics and Protestants, it’s only ‘recent’ that individuals of the Muslim faith have migrated to the country. “Islam is today constitutes the second largest religion in Europe. There are currently believed to be about five million Muslims in France, many of whom are of North African descent. Muslims first started immigrating to France in large numbers during the 1950’s and 1960’s when France needed manpower to sustain it’s economic boom.” (Religion In France http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/article/France/Religion-in-France/565). So in the past the presence of Muslims were in a way welcome and very much needed to keep the country from loosing it’s economic growth.

But currently it’s been quite the opposite, during a research study there was proof that many places of employment don’t care to hire Muslims; “The researchers next conducted a “correspondence test,” creating employment CVs for three fictional job-seekers with differing religious and national signals, one an apparently French-indigenous individual, one a French-Senegalese with a Christian given name and one a French-Senegalese with a Muslim given name. The CVs were then sent in pairs, one from the “French” applicant and the other from either the “Christian” or “Muslim” applicant, in response to advertised positions at 300 French companies. The results showed clearly that the “Christian” job applicant was more than twice as likely to receive a call back as the “Muslim” applicant..” (New study points to religion as basis for discrimination against Muslims in France http://bignews.biz/?id=854641&pg=1&keys=muslim-france-discrimination-stanford ). In many places of employment in the city, there’s hiring discrimination against individuals who practice Islam. Perhaps they’re afraid their customers may be a bit ‘intimidated’ or afraid of a employee with a ‘Muslim sounding’ name, or they simply don’t want to hire someone who didn’t want to assimilate to the majority who lived there aka French Catholics or maybe even Protestants.

There’s been no recent report of discrimination against other religions in France regarding those who practice other religions that may be seen as respectable in their region but the divide placed against Muslims has been clear.

Along with the unfair discrimination when it comes to gaining employment there has been blatant and sadly successful attempts to keep signs of Islam and Muslim denizens out of the public eye by enforcing laws that keep the women from wearing certain attire that is significant in their culture as well as the religion they practice; “In the mid 1990's, religious freedom in France was restricted by a law which outlawed religious proselytizing by persons of all faiths. The French Minister of Education strictly interpreted this law as prohibiting the wearing of the hijab. This is a scarf that covers a woman's head, neck and throat. It is traditionally worn by teenage and adult Muslim women for protection, and to display modesty. It is not simply an expression of religious affiliation, like a Christian cross or crucifix. It is considered an obligatory covering for devout Muslim women.” “France, Attacks On Religious Freedom; http://www.religioustolerance.org/rt_franc2.htm). While there have been reports of innocent girls and boys being suspended from their schools for wearing certain attire pertaining to their Islamic religion; there were no such reports indicating that those who were crosses or other items dealing with various other religions were suspended.

Both instances are twisted and infuriating facts that let us know that people in other countries harbor the same disrespect and hate towards things they don’t understand. It would be a pleasure knowing that there is little to no worry when it comes to filling out one's job application and knowing my religion nor name will be a determining factor in whether or not I get hired. And it would also great knowing future offspring won't have to worry about any small religious trinkets or attire they may want to wear will result in them being expelled or suspended.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/rt_franc2.htm

http://bignews.biz/?id=854641&pg=1&keys=muslim-france-discrimination-stanford

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/article/France/Religion-in-France/565