Reports: Mobs stone 3 churches in south India

[Coventina]

Source: International Herald Tribune

NEW DELHI: Vandals attacked three churches in southern India on Sunday, shattering windows and overturning furniture, news reports said. No casualties were immediately reported.

The attackers pelted the churches in Bangalore with stones, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. Local television channels broadcast images of broken windows and the inside of one church in disarray.

(snip)

Mobs attacked at least 20 other churches elsewhere in Karnataka last weekend. Police blamed the Hindu radical group Bajrang Dal for those attacks and have since arrested more than 70 Bajrang Dal members, including senior leader Mahendra Kumar.

Police said 34 people including five policemen were injured in that violence.



Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/21/asia/AS-India-Religious-Violence.php

[trthnd4jstc]

1. Why are Hindus attacking Christian Churches?

I think that there must be proselytizing by the Christians of the rest of the population, and thus angering the dominant Hindu culture. Is this what it is?

From Wikepedia, Bajrang Dal: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bajrang_Dal

The Bajrang Dal's slogan is 'sevā surakṣā sanskṛti' or "service, safety, and culture." An integral part of its agenda is preventing the slaughter of cows, which is enshrined in Article 48 of Indian Constitution<1>. One of the Dal's goals is to build the Ramjanmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, the Krishnajanmabhoomi temple in Mathura and the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Kashi (Varanasi), which are currently disputed places of worship. Other goals include protecting India's Hindu identity from the perceived dangers of communism, Muslim demographic growth and Christian conversion. The Bajrang Dal is described as a militant organization by several academics.

[Davis_X_Machina]

2. South India has had substantial...

...Christian minorities since the sixth century, when Nestorian Christians came to India from Syria and Iraq. Add that to the descendants of Roman Catholic converts under the Portuguese in the sixteenth century, (That's were the India Sureshes and D'Souzas come from) and we're talking about an ancient diverse, indigenous Christian community -- they've lived side by side for centuries.

The new feature in the landscape is aggressive Hindu fundamentalism -- a recent development, and in part a direct response to militant Islam. They're seeking something that has never existed in South India -- a religious monoculture, and a theocratic state.

[trthnd4jstc]

3. Aye. I appreciate your reply to me. Fundamentalism of all colors weakens humanity.

I have appreciated my readings of the Vedas, and the Upanishads, though admittedly, I am not keen on the Big Book of Adventures (not wanting to enflame anger, so I will leave that title for others to guess, but it should be obvious). I even hung out with a guru in my twenties. One is not weakened by meditation.

I will look up Nestorian Christianity to become educated about their beliefs. Thanks again for your response.

[The Stranger]

10. You forgot to mention the Christian Fundamentalists murdering hundreds of thousands with their wars.

The war in Iraq is just the most recent manifestation of this.

[davidinalameda]

4. you're blaming the victims?

nice

[Shardik]

5. Sometimes, the victims are at blame.

Mostly due to hubris. If I donned a white robe and hood and marched through Watts during the riots of the 60's whilst carrying a confederate flag, would you have blamed me for the troubles I might have encountered?

I doubt it. You would call me an idiot (and I hope other adjectives) and probably say I was asking for trouble. All of which would be true.

Proselytizing one fundamentalist religion in the neighborhood of another diametrically opposed fundamentalist religion will almost always end in some sort of violence.

Any group that has a fundamental belief that "God(s)" is on their side believes they have carte blanche for their actions as they can attribute those actions to a "higher power's" instructions.

[regnaD kciN]

7. And, of course, it's ALWAYS acceptable to blame Christians here on DU...

:eyes:

BTW, the Church of South India is affiliated with the U.S. Episcopal Church, which is reviled by fundies here in this country for being gay-friendly. But, of course, that won't matter around here. They're Christians, so let's all cheer for the attackers! :puke:

[PassingFair]

8. Call the constables, you're being oppressed!!

[davidinalameda]

9. you're comparing Christians to the Klan?

wow-that's just disgusting

that's the best word I can think of

calling you an idiot would be an insult to other idiots

people have the right to talk to others about their religious beliefs no matter where they are

and as another poster pointed out, this area has a long history of Christianity

[Divine Discontent]

11. we are responsible for all the horrible acts performed by all "Christians"

don't you know? It's just like how an AA male is not hired because he's liable to steal the first day on the job since people attribute words like "lazy" and "criminal" to AA males, don't you know? So, therefore, we're responsible for the disgusting acts of atrocity done by other "Christians", for our simply believing in Christ for setting us free from the grave, in our opinion, and have a 100% connection to all the fundamentalists of "religion".

Anyone here who would think that any DUer who is on this board who says they're Christian, would agree with Christofascists and harming others because they choose to be atheist, Muslim, Buddhist, etc, is seriously judgmental. We are liberals, therefore - we wouldn't even begin to relate to that type of baloney.

[trthnd4jstc]

6. No, I am not blaming the victims. This question is simple, "Why is this happening."

Not Nice. Though, I am not a christian, half of my family are. I do not advocate the killing of innocents. I do not know how you get that I am blaming the victims. I was asking for information, which the fellow who posted a reply to me prior to yours had handed me.

Peace to you. And, I will continue to work to not misrepresent any of my intentions. I am sorry that somehow you think that I am blaming the victims. I simply am incapable of being politically correct enough for some people.

[Judi Lynn]

12. Your intentions are clean, believe me, to others. You've encountered some combative "Christians."

It would only enhance their already excellent dispositions to actually open their minds and study more seriously the teachings of the one they want others to imagine they follow. From their own reference book, "By their fruits ye shall know them."