Religion needs a new image
Former Met chief Lord Ian Blair speaking at the annual lecture of theology think tank Theos warned that violence, infighting and abuse are obscuring much of the good that people of faith are doing today. The former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police warned that people were not always aware of the achievements brought about by religion because of some of the crimes committed by people of faith as well as internal conflicts, for example within his own Anglican Church. Lord Blair, a practising Anglican, went on to say that Islam had been ‘demonised’ by the acts committed by extremists and that to most people, faith appeared ‘irrelevant, clannish, prejudiced, old-fashioned and violent’. He believed religion was still principally a force for good and the acts of charity and love by people of faith should be and remain the glue that permits modern society to exist. Pray: for Lord Blair and other ‘high profile’ Christians to continue to speak out for truth humility and justice in our society. (Ps.45:4) More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/religion.needs.a.new.image.says.former.met.chief/27093.htm
Scotland’s End Of Life Assistance Bill
Margo MacDonald's ‘End of Life Assistance (Scotland)’ Bill is due to have its first reading on 24 November (the debate may take place earlier). It is vital the Bill is stopped at the first reading. If it progresses to the next stage then some form of euthanasia is likely to be legalised in Scotland. We are asked to pray and/or write to MSP’s to encourage them to vote against the bill. In February the Scottish Parliament established the End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill Committee, to consider the general principles of Margo MacDonald's Bill and report on them to the Scottish Parliament. In March the Committee launched a public call for evidence, inviting individuals and organisations to make written submissions with their views on the Bill. The consultation is now closed. Of the 601 people and organisations who gave written evidence to the consultation on the Bill, only 6.5 per cent (39) were in favour of it. Pray: for God inspired decisions regarding this bill, and for the precious gift of life to be protected. (Mt.10:30,31)
Hindus welcome inclusion of Paganism in UK's schools
Hindus have welcomed the reports of Lincolnshire County Council allowing its schools to teach Paganism to students. Prominent Hindu statesman Rajan Zed living in Nevada said that all religions were different ways to relate to the Divine. Debbie Barnes, Assistant Director of Children's Services for Lincolnshire County Council, said individual schools can decide whether or not to teach Paganism. See http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1328080/Schools-ahead-teach-Paganism-alongside-major-religions.html?ito=feeds-newsxml Currently Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Judaism are part of the religious education. Recently Britain officially recognised Druidry as a religion and the rise of paganism in 21st century Britain has led to police officers advised on how to approach witches, and jailed druids allowed official pagan days of worship off prison work. Pray that Christians will stand against this growing acceptance of primitive beliefs so that new faiths will not undermines our social values. Pray: that Britain will fill her spiritual void with Jesus Christ and stop reaching out to ancient divinities. (Ac.19:18-20)
China: 80 million Bibles printed - and counting
The only authorised Bible-printing company in China marked the printing of its eighty-millionth Bible on Monday, the government’s official press agency announced. Amity Printing Co, located in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing, says it now prints one million copies a month. Since its founding in 1988, the printing company has grown to be one of the largest Bible publishers in the world. ‘The production of 80 million Bible copies can be attributed to the world of China’s Christians, and, more importantly, the country’s reform and opening-up policy,’ said Zhonghui Qiu, chairman of the board of Amity Printing Co. Similarly, David Thorne, the Asia secretary of the United Bible Societies – which is Amity’s partner in Bible printing – credited the Chinese government’s support for the high volume of Bibles being published in the country. About a quarter of the Bibles printed in the world today are made in China. Praise: God that His Word is spreading so amazingly. More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/80.million.bibles.printed.in.china.and.counting/27047.htm
North/South Korea: Reconciliation and food aid
As winter approaches, floods and frosty relations between Seoul and Pyongyang are putting the lives of millions of North Koreans at risk because of local food shortages. Representatives of the Catholic Apostolate Council of Korea met at the Fifth Forum for Intra-Korean Reconciliation in Seoul to discuss ways to end the North-South row to help their fellow Koreans in the North. The archbishop of Seoul asked lay Catholics to help their northern brothers and sisters despite the worsening relations between the two governments; and a deputy director of the Rural Economic Institute said ‘In addition to providing food aid, we can help local researchers develop better farming methods to boost local production. We can also plant trees to lessen the impact of flooding.’ Auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Seoul said, ‘If we ignore our brothers and sisters in the North, we must ask ourselves whether we are true Christians or not.’ Praise: God for opening avenues of Christian outreach to North Korea and ask Him to empower the dialogue towards reconciliation. (2Cor.5:18) More: http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Reconciliation-and-food-aid-for-North-Koreans-19946.html
Iraq: Christian areas targeted
A series of bombings and mortar attacks targeting six districts with strong Christian majorities in Baghdad injured at least 24 people. The attacks come days after more than 40 people died when Islamist militants seized a Catholic cathedral. (See also last weeks Prayer Alert and INSIGHT article on Christian Minorities in Iraq.) The violence came before the talks to resolve the country's political crisis ended yesterday with Iraq's main parties agreeing to form a government. Christian communities are agonising over whether to stay in Iraq or to try to leave. Since 2003 the Christian population has dwindled to roughly half following a number of bomb attacks on churches and abductions or killings of priests and other Christians. Pray: for God to give more protection to Iraqi Christians so that migration ends and refugees return. (Ge.28:15)
Canada: Will stand with Israel no matter what
Speaking at a two-day conference on anti-Semitism on Parliament Hill during Holocaust Education Week, Prime Minister Harper said he is prepared to suffer any political backlash that comes his way for speaking out against anti-Israel rhetoric, telling an audience that while Israel is receptive to fair criticism, Canada is obligated to stand up for its ally when it comes under attack from others. ‘Not just because it is the right thing to do, but because history shows us, and the ideology of the anti-Israel mob tell us all too well, that those who threaten the existence of the Jewish people are in the longer term a threat to all of us.’ The prime minister acknowledged that his position is not popular with all governments and organizations, including members of the United Nations and the Francophonie. Watch the YouTube video of Harper's speech 'More' link below. Pray: for the truth in this message to be heard and seen by many who visit YouTube. (Ge.12:3) More: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUfFdhIOoQM&feature=player_embedded
Haiti: Cholera spreads
Nearly half of Port-au-Prince's three million residents have been living in tents since the January 12 earthquake, and at least 115 cases of cholera, including the death of one person, have been registered in Haiti's capital, the most significant warning sign yet that the epidemic has spread from outlying areas to threaten hundreds of thousands of people in the city's camps. Samples from patients in Port-au-Prince are being tested in a laboratory to confirm the presence of bacteria, which has killed at least 583 people in Haiti. If confirmed, the bacteria could imperil an estimated 2.5 to 3 million inhabitants. Pray: for hospital staff and health workers to be enabled and strengthened as they work to combat the spread of the disease. (Ps.28:2) More: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/11/2010118225019323724.html
Myanmar: Fighting on Thai border
Fighting erupted Sunday and thousands fled to Thailand as Myanmar's military government held its first election in two decades. (See Prayer Alert 4410 re Christian minorities in Myanmar). Myanmar's officials claim to have retaken control after the weekend’s clashes. On the strength of this report Thai authorities are sending home more than 10,000 people, but many are worried about further clashes. The coordinator of the Myanmar Partnership Coalition reported, ‘Many who fled the fighting do not feel safe to go back. I just wish that the Thai authorities didn't send them back yet It's too soon to be certain whether they will be safe or not.’ Some boats ferried people to Myanmar, and then came back to Thailand fully loaded with people. Thousands of men, women, and children are sheltering under blue tents erected on a soccer field next to a border patrol police station, while rocket grenades were still being fired near their homes. Pray: for the fighting to end, shops to re-open and people to feel it's safe enough to return. (Mt.7:7 & Ps.4:8) More: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Troops-Regaining-Control-in-Eastern-Burma-106945193.html
India: Caste System castoffs
India's economy is booming with more millionaires per square mile than anywhere else on earth, the huge and youthful population of nearly 1.2bn will overtake China's by approximately 2050. But hundreds of millions still live in abject poverty in rural areas - more than 830 million live on less than half a US dollar a day. India has more cases of malnutrition than the whole of sub-Saharan Africa and the worst affected areas are central and eastern India where many Christians live amongst the lower caste. Development has come but done little for rural Indians. Mining companies turned people off their land with little in the way of compensation. A civil rights worker fears for the future of the nation if the divide between its rich and poor continues to grow. ‘People have been left out, marginalised completely and are no longer going to take it lying down, if policies are not changed the situation will get out of hand.’ Pray: that God’s laws will inspire government decisions so that repression is removed. (Ja.1:27) More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9166000/9166402.stm