American Missionary Meets Maker?

[MineralMan]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2018/11/21/american-believed-dead-after-encounter-with-remote-indian-tribe-hostile-outsiders/?utm_term=.ce05ba916fdd

American tourist killed after encounter with hostile tribe on isolated Indian Ocean island

NEW DELHI — A 27-year-old American tourist was killed by members of one of India’s most isolated hunter-and-gatherer tribes, according to police in the remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The American man, John Allen Chau of Alabama, paid five fishermen to take him to North Sentinel Island, said Deepak Yadav, a senior police official in the city of Port Blair.

{snip}

Chau had made four prior trips to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands starting in 2015 and arrived in Port Blair in mid-October on a tourist visa, according to police. Police also discovered a journal belonging to Chau where he wrote about his desire to spread God’s word.

Dude went to save the heathen natives' souls by proselytizing. Instead, I guess he's meeting Jesus for real, if you believe that sort of thing. Not a bright guy.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. It's a restricted area where outsiders aren't supposed to go

without special permission, but maybe he thought God's permission was all he needed (it wasn't). What happened to him was unfortunate, but in this case the chances of winning a Darwin Award were high from the beginning (a little irony there, maybe). My attitude toward religion in general is pretty relaxed for the most part - you can believe whatever you want as long as you don't bug me about it and don't mix it into my government - but my message to missionaries is, No, you may not bigfoot your way into other people's societies because you think your religion is better than theirs and you have to save their souls. Leave them the hell alone.

[MineralMan]

2. I'm sure permission to proselytize wouldn't be granted, anyhow.

So, he decided to just barge in. For his impetuousness and pride, he got killed by the inhabitants, who probably weren't interested in his foreign religion anyhow.

There are some Christians who believe that Jesus won't return until everyone on the planet has heard the "Word." It's a sort of weird belief, but some hold it. That guy may have been one such believer.

Now, I'm not friendly to proselytizers who stop by my house uninvited, but I simply point at my "No Solicitors" sign and ask them to leave. I don't feel that such intrusions call for deadly force. Those islanders, apparently, have a different outlook on it.

For some persistent missionary types, getting killed trying to spread the "Word" gives people martyr status. I remember a "missionary fund" drive in my childhood church where we were told of such a martyr, somewhere in the Amazon region. Even then, I thought that trying to raise money to send some more folks to those places didn't make a lot of sense.

[Pope George Ringo II]

3. Certainly appears to be a Darwin Award candidate.

There are various emotional reactions possible, but it's hard to get around the fact that he died because he was stupid.

[Major Nikon]

9. If nothing else a proof of concept

[Lordquinton]

4. Not related to religion! He was a tourist!

It says so at least 10 times so it must be true, no way at all religion was involved.

Tourist.

[MineralMan]

5. So was Jesus in Galilee, I guess..

Assuming that ever happened.

[edhopper]

6. And Jesus was a sailor when he walked upon the water

And he spent a long time watching from his lonely wooden tower
And when he knew for certain only drowning men could see him
He said all men will be sailors then until the sea shall free them

No point being made, just free associating.

[MineralMan]

7. Jesus is all things to all people, apparently.

Well, not all.

[edhopper]

8. Jesus is just alright with me

oh yeah.

[Major Nikon]

10. Jesus thinks you're a jerk

[edhopper]

11. Did he tell you that?

What's that buzz, tell me what's happening.

[Major Nikon]

12. Close. Frank Zappa

[edhopper]

13. Good one

I don't believe in magic
I don't believe in I-ching
I don't believe in Bible
I don't believe in Tarot
I don't believe in Hitler
I don't believe in Jesus