The Bible Society of Australia recently published the following statistics:-
"80% of all acts of religious discrimination have been against Christians.
11 Christians have been killed every hour, every day for the past decade.
Christians are oppressed in 139 nations - in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Latin America ( by drug lords).
Persecution happens at the hands of ( different) extremist religious groups; but in some countries, government authorities participate in torturing, arresting, and harassing believers."
The Christian organisation 'Open Doors' has full details of persecution in these countries, but why is Christianity such a target? Like King Canute who tried to stop the tide, Communism tried to wipe out Christianity but history tells us that that did not happen.
Back in Peter's day ( Acts chapter 5) and up against the Jewish religious leaders, Peter, when told he must no longer teach about Jesus, had the temerity to state "we must obey God rather than human authority". Fortunately, Gamaliel had the wisdom to tell the authorities "if this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them."
There are numerous stories of the suffering of persecuted Christians, but that is not the object of this blog. My question is, if Christianity is not for real, or is no longer relevant, why is there so much opposition to this religion? Even in Australia, various authorities and progressives are opposed to Christianity being taught or even discussed in the public space. The few times I have read of the New Atheists, I have heard them attack Christianity but not other religions. However, due to my limited exposure to them, I realise that may not be a proper assessment of their philosophy, although one prominent Australian athiest regularly refers to the Christian God in his weekly column.
I just find it interesting that such opposition exists towards a religion which many people want to dismiss. Why is Christianity the most persecuted religion? Why is it such a target?
Maybe just maybe, Christianity is for real after all.
"80% of all acts of religious discrimination have been against Christians.
11 Christians have been killed every hour, every day for the past decade.
Christians are oppressed in 139 nations - in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Latin America ( by drug lords).
Persecution happens at the hands of ( different) extremist religious groups; but in some countries, government authorities participate in torturing, arresting, and harassing believers."
The Christian organisation 'Open Doors' has full details of persecution in these countries, but why is Christianity such a target? Like King Canute who tried to stop the tide, Communism tried to wipe out Christianity but history tells us that that did not happen.
Back in Peter's day ( Acts chapter 5) and up against the Jewish religious leaders, Peter, when told he must no longer teach about Jesus, had the temerity to state "we must obey God rather than human authority". Fortunately, Gamaliel had the wisdom to tell the authorities "if this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them."
There are numerous stories of the suffering of persecuted Christians, but that is not the object of this blog. My question is, if Christianity is not for real, or is no longer relevant, why is there so much opposition to this religion? Even in Australia, various authorities and progressives are opposed to Christianity being taught or even discussed in the public space. The few times I have read of the New Atheists, I have heard them attack Christianity but not other religions. However, due to my limited exposure to them, I realise that may not be a proper assessment of their philosophy, although one prominent Australian athiest regularly refers to the Christian God in his weekly column.
I just find it interesting that such opposition exists towards a religion which many people want to dismiss. Why is Christianity the most persecuted religion? Why is it such a target?
Maybe just maybe, Christianity is for real after all.
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