The New Age of Christian Martyrdom

[DonViejo]

WORLD NEWS 01.13.14

The New Age of Christian Martyrdom

Lions have been replaced by firing squads and concentration camps as record numbers of Jesus’ worshipers are persecuted from Syria to North Korea.

The concept of Christian martyrdom may seem like something from a bygone, uncivilized era when believers were mercilessly thrown to the lions. Not so. This week, Open Doors, a non-denominational group supporting persecuted Christians worldwide, reported that Christian martyrdom has grown into a pervasive and horrifying human rights crisis.

In their annual report of the worst 50 countries for Christian persecution, Open Doors found that Christian martyr deaths around the globe doubled in 2013. Their report documented 2,123 killings, compared with 1,201 in 2012. In Syria alone, there were 1,213 such deaths last year. In addition to losing their lives, Christians around the world continue to suffer discrimination, imprisonment, harassment, sexual assaults, and expulsion from countries merely for practicing their faith.

Once again, the worst persecutor of Christians is North Korea, where an estimated 50,000 to 70,000 followers of Jesus are suffering in prison camps for “crimes” such as owning a Bible, going to church, or sharing their faith. In November 2013, it was reported that 80 prisoners were publicly executed, many for possessing Bibles. Last year, North Korea sentenced an American missionary, Kenneth Bae to 15 years of hard labor in a prison camp. The U.S. State Department has lobbied unsuccessfully for his release.

Christians are obviously not the only North Koreans in prison camps. But former captives have reported that they often attract the worst treatment because the regime is particularly enraged by the worship of any other being than the Supreme Leader, who forces North Koreans to treat him as a deity.

more
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/13/the-new-age-of-christian-martyrdom.html

[el_bryanto]

1. Don't people of all religious beliefs suffer Martyrdom? nt

[uriel1972]

2. Not to mention the imprisonment and execution of Atheists...

Not that you could call that dying for your faith, which is part of the martyrdom thing, or "Witnessing" as it I have seen it translated

[el_bryanto]

3. You are right; people of all faiths and people of no faith at all are prosecuted. nt

[cleanhippie]

4. People of faith (and none) are persecuted by people of faith because of their faith.

To me, the problem is clear.

[el_bryanto]

5. I would think it would be, given your position. nt

[cleanhippie]

6. Is there another group persecuting and killing people for not believing what they believe?

[el_bryanto]

7. China and North Korea I suppose - and persecuting political dissidents throughout the world

But as far as religious belief, the bulk of the persecution is probably done by believers.

Bryant

[cleanhippie]

10. So we agree on what the basic problem really is?

[el_bryanto]

11. Of course we don't. Why would you think we would? nt

[cleanhippie]

12. "But as far as religious belief, the bulk of the persecution is probably done by believers. "

[el_bryanto]

14. I'm sorry you are confused - perhaps you are mistaking me for an atheist? But i'm a believer

So while I admit there are some problems with believers, I don't think those problems are beliefs only characteristics.

Bryant

[cleanhippie]

17. I can see how you would believe that belief is not the shared factor.

[el_bryanto]

20. Well - that and, as a believer, life is cheap to me.

[cleanhippie]

22. How sad. Life is everything to me.

[el_bryanto]

24. Well I'm a believer - we are shallow murderous thugs who hate knowledge

Why do you think we go around killing each other so much?

Bryant

[cleanhippie]

29. You tell me. You're the one doing it.

[el_bryanto]

30. I think it's our basic irrationality - we just can't accept reality. nt

[cleanhippie]

31. Interesting.

One would think you could do something about that.

[el_bryanto]

32. Well we can - many of can choose to accept reality - we just choose not to.

Because it's easier for us to cling to our irrational beliefs than to accept reality. Of course some of us are actually delusional.

Bryant

[cleanhippie]

34. You are, of course, 100% correct.

Because it's easier for us to cling to our irrational beliefs than to accept reality. Of course some of us are actually delusional.

[el_bryanto]

35. I thought you'd like that. Gives you that warm tingle of superiority doesn't it? nt

[cleanhippie]

38. Not at all.

I do find it interesting that you accept reality while saying you don't.

Which begs the question: do you always find it so easy to be hypocritical?

[el_bryanto]

41. Well - it depends on who I'm talking to. If I'm debating a serious person worth debating

I would try very hard to avoid hypocrisy and to speak clearly - but I think I've come to a realization that some people just aren't worth taking seriously.

Bryant

[cleanhippie]

42. I discovered that many posts ago.

Have a nice day.

[rug]

8. Nazis, the robber barons, the Red Guard, republicans . . . .

[cleanhippie]

9. The first 3 don't exist anymore, the last use their faith as their weapon.

Did you have a point you wanted to make?

[rug]

13. No, robber barons are extinct and fascism can never return.

I'll give you the Red Guard so long as you do not deny the reality of their existence.

You seriously misunderstand republicans if you think their attempts to dismantle Social Security, promote the TPP, destroy unions, et cetera, et cetera, are religious undertakings.

[cleanhippie]

15. You seriously misunderstand republicans of you think they are not using belief as a weapon.

One could use the republicans as the textbook example of how to use religious belief to control people.

[rug]

16. And you seriously misunderstand your own question.

Is there another group persecuting and killing people for not believing what they believe?

Using an ideology for another purpose is from adopting that ideology, let alone killing people for not believing it.

By that standard, you must consider republicans the greatest patriots America has ever produced. Millions of lapel flag pins cannot be wrong.

[cleanhippie]

18. You keep telling yourself that.

Have a nice day.

[rug]

19. I'm telling you that.

Adieu.

[cleanhippie]

21. And you're telling yourself that.

Adios.

[rug]

23. 35 to go.

[cleanhippie]

28. You really need to get the last word, don't you.

[rug]

36. ^

[cleanhippie]

37. Or the last symbol. It's the same to you.

[rug]

39. .

[cleanhippie]

40. QED

[DonViejo]

46. Sorry, the American Nazi Party exists...

Granted, it doesn't compare to the original Party but, the Nazis do exist.

Uploaded on Oct 19, 2011
The American Nazi Party is looking for quality men and women to join our Political organization. We represent true National Socialism as discussed in Adolf Hitler's masterpiece: Mein Kampf

Their web site:

http://www.americannaziparty.com/

[DonCoquixote]

27. yes

The Chinese do it all the time, especially when they called Falun gong a religion, and actually said they were allies of Al-Qiada.

Yes, Religions do kill, and are responsible for a lot of killing, but let's be careful not to speak as if that is the whole of the problem. As large a problem as religious persecution is, it is but one branch of the general human problem, which is that we like to kill people we see as different from us. If it was not religion, it would be skin color, hair, or simply the fact that nature rewards us for killing others and taking their resources.

[cbayer]

25. That is a terrifying read.

I am glad that this is getting some attention, but will it fade from the page by next week?

[struggle4progress]

26. Syria is in the middle of a civil war

In recent years, at least 126K (and probably more) have died there, including over 11K children.

Syria death toll hits nearly 126,000: monitoring group
By Erika Solomon
BEIRUT Mon Dec 2, 2013 11:03am EST

More than 11,000 Syrian children killed in civil war, report says
By Steve Almasy, CNN
updated 11:16 AM EST, Sun November 24, 2013

[dimbear]

33. As a general principle, don't believe anything you hear about North Korea. We just don't

know anything. The numbers getting thrown around aren't sourced.

[hrmjustin]

43. this is heartbreaking! Religious Freedom is a right.

[arely staircase]

44. A prayer

For those who suffer for the sake of Conscience O God our Father, whose Son forgave his enemies while hewas suffering shame and death: Strengthen those who suffer for the sake of conscience; when they are accused, save them from speaking in hate; when they are rejected, save them from bitterness; when they are imprisoned, save them from despair; and to us your servants, give grace to respect their witness and to discern the truth, that our society may be cleansed and strengthened. This we ask for the sake of Jesus Christ, our merciful and righteous Judge. Amen.

BCP pg 823

[hrmjustin]

45. Amen!

[skepticscott]

47. And what's your prayer

when it's that god's believers who are doing the persecuting, the torturing and the murdering, in his name?

[hrmjustin]

48. Lord forgive us.

[arely staircase]

49. for the oppressed

Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

BCP pg 826

[hrmjustin]

50. Amen!

[skepticscott]

51. Doesn't apply, sorry

How about: "dear god, please stop us from being such cruel and oppressive bastards in your name. We really, really thought you wanted us to torture and slaughter everyone who wasn't worshipping you in just the right way, so if you don't, give us a sign, any sign. Otherwise, we'll just keep asking you for the strength to continue doing what we've been doing"

Amen, brother! Praise the Lord!

[arely staircase]

52. he says while ironically telling me how I should pray

pricelss

[hrmjustin]

53. I know.

[skepticscott]

55. Would you care to elaborate on that?

[hrmjustin]

56. We don't need you telling us what ppayers we should say.

[skepticscott]

57. That's not what I was doing

I see irony escapes you as well, and I'm not going to waste half my day trying to enlighten you.

Feel free to get the last word in..I know you can't help it.

[skepticscott]

54. I'm not surprised that the real irony still escapes you

But I'm sure you think you're being persecuted.

[arely staircase]

58. lol

It is hard to tell where one of your logical fallacies ends and another begins. but I see your strawman amuses you the most.