lessons for hindus in all this.
From: Sush
Planning the Demise of Buddhism
Tuesday, 01 July 2008
source: Lankaweb, June 2008
Peoples of the Buddhist World by Paul Hattaway, Piquant Editions, Carlisle, 2004.
Reviewed by Allen Carr
Some Western drug companies spend millions of dollars developing and marketing a new drug only to have the health authorities later discover that it has dangerous side-effects and then ban it. Needing to recover their investment and unable to sell their drug in the West some of these companies try to market their dangerous products in the Third World where public awareness of health issues is low and indifferent governments can be brought off. Some might say that Christianity is a bit like this.
Having lost much of their following in the West, churches are now beginning to look for opportunities elsewhere. Of course the Islamic world is out of the question. Even the most optimistic evangelist knows that the chance of spreading the Gospel amongst Muslims is nil. The obvious targets are Africa, India and the Buddhist countries of Asia. There are now several evangelical organizations dedicated just too evangelizing Buddhists. The Asia Pacific Institute of Buddhist Studies in the Philippines offers missionaries in-depth courses in Buddhist doctrine, the languages of Buddhist countries and the sociology of various Buddhist communities – the better to know the enemy.
The Central Asia Fellowship is geared specifically to spreading the Gospel amongst Tibetans. The Overseas Missionary Fellowship is 'an acknowledged authority on Buddhism' and 'is available to conduct training sessions and seminars, give presentations and speak on how Christians can work effectively in the Buddhist world.' The Sonrise Centre for Buddhist Studies and the South Asia Network are both on-line communities providing missionaries with detailed, accurate and up-to-date information useful for evangelizing Buddhists. Make no mistake, these are not small ad-hock groups. They are large, well-financed, superbly run organizations staffed by highly motivated and totally dedicated people and they are in it for the long haul.
A book called Peoples of the Buddhist World has recently been published by one of the leaders of this new evangelical assault on Buddhism. The book's 453 pages offer missionaries and interested Christians a complete profile of 316 Buddhist ethnic and linguistic groups in Asia, from the Nyenpa of central Bhutan to the Kui of northern Cambodia, from the Buriats of the Russian Far East to the Sinhalese of Sri Lanka.
There is a detailed breakdown of the size of each group, how many call themselves Buddhists and how many actually know and practice it, which languages they speak, their strengths and how to overcome them, their weaknesses and how to take advantage of them, an overview of their history, their culture and the best ways to evangelize them.
The book is filled with fascinating and beautiful color photos of all of these peoples, many of them little-known. It makes one very sad to think that these gentle, smiling, innocent folk are in now in the sights of worldly-wise missionaries determined to undermine their faith and destroy their ancient cultures.
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http://www.crusadewatch.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=952&Itemid=37
2 comments:
This was supposed to be off-topic, but is related to Christism.... in YSamuelReddy land..
This is an article from the Kaangressi paper Deccan Chronicle. I'm sure the link wont work, pasting the content here:
YSR’s son-in-law a spiritual leader
Hyderabad, July 4: If the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, needs any divine help during election year, he does not have to go very far to seek it. For Brother Anil Kumar, a young evangelist who attracts thousands of believers to his gospel meetings, is his son-in-law.
He was born into a Hindu family and converted to Christianity after marriage. Soon after that he had a "calling from God" and became a preacher. Though he started spreading the good word much before Dr Reddy became Chief Minister, it is evident that he has grown in stature after pa-in-law took over the reins of the state.
Anil Kumar has travelled the length and breadth of the State besides the United States and other countries conducting gospel meetings packed to capacity. Though he started off with a small prayer group, Anil Kumar is now one of the names to reckon with in Christian community thanks to family connections as well as his oratorical skills.
Some of his gospel meetings were also attended by the Chief Minister’s wife, Mrs Vijayalakshmi, and daughter, Ms Sharmila. Anil World Evangelism is making waves and at an exclusive meeting of Christian leaders held recently, he was the toast of all eyes.
"I am not just son-in-law of Chief Minister, but the son of God," was how the evangelist dramatically reacted when asked about his powerful connections. However, he went on to impulsively thank ‘mamaiah’ (and adding "sorry, the Chief Minister") for addressing the Christian leaders and promising to settle their long pending issues. In fact, he wants Christian leaders to bury their differences and work together to build a better society. "Let us put aside every kind of ego," he said. "Hey man. Let us work together. Instead of accusing one another let us start working with each other to build the Kingdom of God on this earth."
The young evangelist made it clear that he was not trying to garner votes but trying to strengthen Christianity. "Ok shall we do that…will you be a partner with me," he said in true evangelical style. Anil Kumar further reiterated that this was not an election strategy. "This is not something like that and God is the witness." And he added in good measure, "God bless you."
The converted ones are the zealots. They want to prove that they are the chosen ones of the faith.
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