The Great Separation

Christian in Pakistan Sentenced to 7 Years for Tearing Qu’ran.

They hate you because of me - Christian Bashir Masih, age 30, was sentenced to seven years in jail under Pakistan's blasphemy laws.

Qaiser Felix reports for AsiaNews that Masih was accused of tearing pages out of a copy of the Qu'ran and writing spells upon them for the purpose of some occult practice.

AsiaNews reports:

According to local police, Mr Masih confessed to the deed. However, doubts remain as to how the confession was obtained. Past experience shows that many blasphemy accusations were unfounded.

Masih’s case is but the latest in a long series of victims—both Christian and Muslim—of the country’s blasphemy laws, namely articles 295 B and C of Pakistan’s Penal Code.

Violence against Christians Threatened Again in Israel.

They hate you because of me - On 2005.02.16., I posted the news article from ASSIST News Service titled, "Christian Businesses Torched after Druze Teen Spreads Internet Rumor."

This is an update and some new information.

A reader, Amer, left a comment pointing to a large collection of photographs that catalog some of the damage done to the Christian community in Maghar. You can view those images here: Maghar's Pogrom. The image above is one such image.

As to new information, Jack Khoury is reporting for Haartez that a new pamphlet is being circulated by someone or some group threatening more violence against Christians in Maghar:

The pamphlet, which was distributed Sunday and signed by a group calling itself "The Heroes of Hamza Ben Ali" after a Druze saint, expressed support for the riots and included detailed threats to open fire on any Christians venturing onto the village's main road starting Wednesday.

The threat is under investigation by the police in the area who are taking it very seriously. The police have also been threatened in the pamphlet because of the arrests and investigation into the violent riots earlier.

The Great Separation continues.

HIV Infected Teenagers Spreading the Disease Around.

Disturbing trend. - Terry Weber reports for the Globe and Mail:

Teenagers with HIV are engaging in riskier sex with more partners than their counterparts before the advent of powerful new treatments for the AIDS virus, a new U.S. report suggests.

The study, conducted by researchers at the UCLA AIDS Institute, surveyed the habits to two groups of teenagers during two periods, one before the introduction of highly-active, antiretroviral therapies – so-called AIDS drug “cocktails” – and the other after.

Weber writes that the study found that the teens in the group after the introduction of highly-active, antiretroviral therapies also showed more symptoms of the virus because it appeared they were being diagnosed later and that they were having almost twice as much unprotected sex with almost twice as many people.

So in this sex driven society, perhaps these children think drugs will solve what ails them and if not, why not take as many people with them as possible?

Halle Berry Accepts Razzie.

Now that takes some class. - Either that or she didn't know what she was showing up for. Perhaps she just has guts.

Here's an oddity of the Hollywood variety, which, well, makes it really odd.

Ananova™ is reporting that Halle Berry showed up at the Razzie Awards ceremony to receive a Razzie for the Worst Actress in her portrayal of Cat Woman.

She brought her agent up on the stage and said: "Next time read the script first."

She added: "Oh gosh, I never in my life thought I'd be here winning a Razzie. They can't take this away from me."

Of course, I don't know how much class she has. She's quoted as referring to the movie script with an expletive. It's probably just me, but I find swearing very unattractive.

And no, I did not see the movie.

Robin Williams and Your Children.

Just how far is too far? - It's a good question. One that should seriously be considered, but do you want Hollywood deciding how far the "sophisticated" dialog goes in children's movies?

Here's a rather telling quote from Robin Williams on SCI FI Wire:

Robin Williams, who voices a character in the upcoming computer-animated Robots movie, told SCI FI Wire that he loves doing voice-over work for animated films. "It's the closest thing you can get to doing standup other than HBO, where you're free," Williams said in an interview. "Yes, there are certain boundaries, because it's a kids' movie or a PG, but now, given the level of sophistication of children, even that's been pushed."

I believe it gives you an idea about what some in Hollywood are thinking.

Consider too, the skit Williams did in a 2000 DNC tribute to President Clinton which contained profanity and sexual connotations even though a child was in the front row.

Something to consider the next time your standing in line at the cinema or video rental line.

Update: 2005.02.25.

This is interesting.

The day after posting this, I learn of Variety's release of this: F-bombs catch a break MPAA lets 'Palace' push profanity limits.

This item is about what is being labeled as a documentary titled "Gunner Palace." It a film about U.S. soldiers hunkered down in Uday's palace in Iraq. Of course "Fahrenheit 9/11" and "Bowling for Columbine" were also called documentaries. Which isn't to say that "Gunner Palace" isn't a true docu, it's just that trust is sorely bruised.

The folk working on this film didn't want the "R" rating that the MPAA originally gave it because of the strong use of obscenities, drug references and violent situations. However, Gabriel Snyder and Ian Mohr report for Variety that the people behind "Gunner Palace" appealed the rating ruling because they felt teenagers interested in going to the military should be aware of what goes on in a war zone. I would contend that a two hour movie, documentary or not, cannot clearly represent what happens in a war.

So, apparently some with tears in their eyes, the MPAA reversed their original rating and awarded "Gunner Palace" a "PG-13" rating.

Synder and Mohr write:

Last summer, the producers and distribs of "Fahrenheit 9/11" made a nearly identical but unsuccessful case to appeal their R rating.

Hat tip to the Drudge Report.

Another Christian Organization Petitions Officials in India.

They hate you because of me - Yesterday, I posted the information that the Catholic Bishops's Conference of India (CBCI) voiced concerns to officials in India over recent persecution that Christians have been undergoing.

Today, New Kerala, is also reporting that the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) had a dharna because of the recent persecution.

A dharna is defined by Dictionary.com as:

A fast conducted at the door of an offender, especially a debtor, in India as a means of obtaining compliance with a demand for justice, such as payment of a debt.

New Kerala reports:

New Delhi, Feb 24 : The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) today staged a dharna here and presented a memorandum to President A P J Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, protesting the recent incidents of alleged attacks on members of the Christian community, particularly in Kota, Rajasthan.

"Christians in India are being persecuted. Narayan, a Christian, was killed in Bangalore a month ago, and more recently around 250 Christian students were attacked during a convention in Kota, Rajasthan," C J Babu, Coordinator, GCIC alleged.

Continue to keep India and our brothers and sisters there in prayer.

The Great Separation continues.

Can America Return to Christ?

Worth reading. - What with the rapid growth and linking of Christian weblogs I can't help but hope it is representative of a trend in America to return to greater morality and faith here in America. Of course there are a large number of weblogs that are anything but morally focused, let alone Christian. Both are in a way microcosms of the greater American society.

Susan Jones has a report for CNSNews.com titled: "Evangelical Christians Seek America's 'Moral Renewal'".

It's worth reading. It is about a recent conference called, "Reclaiming America for Christ," where 900 evangelicals gathered at the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church to hammer out a course to that very end.

Dr. Gary Cass, one of the conference organizers, unveiled four new initiatives intended to expand the impact of the Center for Reclaiming America (a grassroots outreach project of Coral Ridge Ministries): The initiatives include:

-- Liberty's Voice, a lobbying office in Washington that is expected to open in March.

-- Strategic Institute, a think tank that will "add intellectual muscle" to the Center's pro-family efforts.

-- National Grassroots Alliance, an initiative to boost the Center's existing grassroots network of 400,000 evangelicals up to one million.

-- Reclaiming America Media to communicate the Center's message.

"Click over for the full report.

Catholic Bishops's Conference of India Voicing Concerns.

They hate you because of me - New Kerala has an India News item reporting that the Catholic Bishops's Conference of India (CBCI) has voiced concerns to officials concerning "forcible conversions" in the Rajura village of the Buldhan district.

According to CBCI, the atmosphere in and around Rajura had become tense and vitiated after a Hindu preacher held a prayer meeting and attempted to forcibly convert Christians.

"Christians were asked to convert and those who refused to do so were socially boycotted," the statement said.

Edwin Colaco, the bishop of Amravati, asked for police protection as he feared "religious fanatics in Rajura village might cause damage to property and personnel of the church in the area".

The Great Separation continues.

Four Children Married to Four Puppies.

What a weird world. - Here's an animal and human oddity all rolled up into one.

In a misdirected mystifying attempt to keep evil at bay, some villagers in Kuluptang India had a marriage ceremony for two young boys, two young girls, and four puppies.

The boys and girls didn't marry.

The boys married female puppies and the girls married male puppies.

Yahoo!® News has the AFP report:

After a bath in a nearby river, the children are taken to a place of worship in a procession accompanied by a band.

Neighbours and relatives of the four children danced to music performed by the band before the marriages were solemnised with puppies of the opposite sex, the report said.

Columbian Christians in Remote Areas Facing Threats.

They hate you because of me - Missionaries and churches in remote areas of Columbia are facing persecution and extortion from the country's guerrilla groups.

The Christian Post reports:

According to Christian Aid Mission, pastors and many church members had to flee the villages where its churches were located following threats and pressure from guerrilla fighters.

In their efforts to exert total control over the region, the fighters were targeting evangelical believers, the agency reported. This was partly because “the effect their gospel was having on fellow guerrillas,” the agency stated. “Those led to the Lord were laying down their weapons and refusing to fight”

You know that really is something to praise Christ for. Click over for the rest of the article.

Pray for the guerrilla fighters and our brothers and sisters in Columbia.

The Great Separation continues.