Benny Hinn’s Bangalore congregation kicks up a fuss

Religion News ^ | January 17th, 2005

[missyme]

Bangalore, Jan 16: The proposed ‘Pray for India’ programme later this week by American evangelist, Mr Benny Hinn has sparked a controversy with the Bharatiya Janata Party and Sangh parivar organisations up in arms against it, dubbing it as one that’s intended to promote religious conversion.

The Florida-based pastor, who claims to have the power to heal the sick and dying, is slated to attend the three-day prayer meeting from January 21 at Jakkur Airfield here which has been touted by the organisers as a big show, saying lakhs of people from across the country are expected to attend it.

The event has drawn strong opposition from the BJP, the Bajrang Dal and the Hindu Jagarana Vedike who see it as a conspiracy to convert the poor and vulnerable sections to Christianity.

The Bajrang Dal has already announced that 10,000 people would stage a demonstration at the venue. Vedike activists yesterday burnt publicity material of the proposed congregation. In fact, hoardings, banners and posters are now dotting various parts of the city.

Speaking to reporters here today, the Opposition BJP Leader in the legislative assembly, Mr B S Yediyurappa sought to take the state government to task for granting permission to hold the event at Jakkur Airfield, which is “sensitive” from the defence and security viewpoint.

Mr Yediyurappa termed as “unpardonable crime” and “insult to Hindus”, the circulation of pamphlets by organisers of the event criticising idol worship.

“Is the event not a conspiracy to convert people?,” he asked.

Accusing the organisers of promoting “wrong propaganda” that Mr Hinn is a “godman”, Mr Yediyurappa asked the government to reconsider its permission to the prayer meeting at Jakkur.

He said Hindus would voluntarily protest the event.

The Chief Minister, Mr N Dharam Singh has already stated that the government would not take any step to stop the programme, saying the administration cannot interfere with religious events.

Defending the convention, the organisers have said it is being conducted with “noble intention”. During his previous visit to Mumbai last year he did not speak anything about conversion or anything that affects the people’s religious sentiments, they said.

There are reports that Chief Ministers of some Congress-ruled states are likely to attend the meet. Mr Yediyurappa said while the government did not allow conduct of certain rituals at the Hindu-Muslim shrine at Bababudangiri Hills in Chikmagalur district late last year and amassed police force to enforce its decision, it’s now “organising and arranging” Mr Hinn’s programme.

Renowned Kannada litterateur and Jnanapeeth award winner, U R Ananthamurthy has cautioned Mr Dharam Singh against associating himself with the prayer meeting.

“The Chief Minister should not identify himself with this mass hysteria. We should not encourage this (mass hysteria),” Ananthamurthy said.

The police have said they have made elaborate security arrangements for the event.

[free_life]

I have spent plenty of time myself with folks in the hospital prior to surgery, in recovery, by the death-bed.

I don't claim to heal folks whether with my minty fresh breath, my sport coat or a bottle of vegetable oil.

As for children's hospitals - I am a Shriner and try to do my part toward raising money for research and treatment for children suffering from burns, skeletal defects, etc.

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Ok

But do you lay your hands on the sick and see them made well as Jesus instructed? If not why not? If you care to answer, which you do not have to. I am curious - are you a Christian? I figure non Christians will mostly be critical of all Christian leaders.

Shriners you say, well with their mystic masons background ...oh boy I could write volumes. I know alot maybe most of them are just secluar doing some good but the religious aspects to shriners and their anti-Christian history, the red hats alone symbolize the blood of the saints.

I realize I may take a few blasts here for my words about shriners from those who don't know and see them as basically a charity, but they are more of a cult and since you a shriner are criticizing Hinn...well people in glass houses.

[PleaseNoMore]

Which book are you quoting? Of course, as usual, they are without the preceding & proceding comments for clarification.

[PleaseNoMore]

Can you provide a reputable source for this claim?

[Lucas McCain]

The difference is that the miracles Jesus performed were obviously real. Even his enemies acknowledged that they were real. Benny Hinn's are obviously not. So from him I require proof. Let's see him walk on water like Jesus did. Or raise a stinking corpse from the dead. The only "miracles" that Hinn does are phoney baloney plastic banana tricks that only fool the gullible. If he could do an actual indisputable miracle, let's see it. He can't.

[PresbyRev]

http://www.masonicinfo.com/redfez.htm

Your claim regarding the Shriners is baseless and a repetition of a religious 'urban legend.'

The Shriners work tirelessly for their children's hospitals that show real results in alleviating suffering, healing defects, ameliorating pain and disability in so far as is possible.

Just tonight at the local Shrine meeting prayer was made in the name of Jesus Christ. It is his example and teaching that motivates most Shriners I know.

[steve86]

Thank you for the new link. I would be the last to minimize religious persecution of Christians by any group, in any country, but the proportion of Hindus who might sympathize with that is minuscule. For the record, I do have Christian relatives in India, and I do hear both good and bad anecdotes about the Hindu majority there. My experiences in terms of personal contact, however, have been overwhelmingly positive with the Hindus.

[PresbyRev]

I am curious - are you a Christian? I figure non Christians will mostly be critical of all Christian leaders.

Yes, I am a Christian. As a Christian, I am called upon to judge righteous judgment - that is discernment rooted in God's Law-Word. I am called to test the spirits. Judged by Scripture - Hinn's own fabrications; false prophecies; failure to produce healing of organic maladies, etc. -- all require me to judge him a false prophet, a wolf in sheep's clothing and an heretic.

[reagan_fanatic]

Benny Hinn was caught, on camera, secretly receiving instructions from offstage as to the names and afflictions of people in the audience. He had a hidden earpiece through which HE DECEIVED HIS AUDIENCE. Benny Hinn is a fraud, simple as that.

LOL. That anyone takes this clown seriously amazes me. Here's one of my favorite Hinn quotes:

"Somebody's attacking me because of something I'm teaching. Let me tell you something, brother: You watch it! ...You know, I've looked for one verse in the Bible; I just can't seem to find it. Once verse that said, 'If you don't like them, kill them.' I really wish I could find it! ... Sometimes I wish God will give me a Holy Ghost machine gun; I'll blow your head off" (Praise-a-Thon, TBN, 8th November 1990)

Amazing.

[free_life]

Your claim regarding the Shriners is baseless and a repetition of a religious 'urban legend.'

---

No it is not a urban legend. I suggest you put half the research into the history of the shriners and the religion that is behind them. It ain't pretty.

The Shriners work tirelessly for their children's hospitals that show real results in alleviating suffering, healing defects, ameliorating pain and disability in so far as is possible.

Just tonight at the local Shrine meeting prayer was made in the name of Jesus Christ. It is his example and teaching that motivates most Shriners I know.

---

Neither one of your last two statements make them Christian. Do you want to know the truth? Hinn I am not sure about but the shriners I am sure about and it is a cult. I know much about the inner workings of their cult. Get informed, for if you are a Christian you are playing with darkness.

[185JHP]

BUMP

[Gengis Khan]

"perhaps it is worth noting that some in the Janata party have called for a return to "sutee," or ritual wife-burning (mandated) when the husband dies. So progressive, those Indians."

--HUH??? Where did you get that? The Janata party does not exist any longer and if you are talking about the BJP, they will NEVER win another election in India if they say something like that. Dont argue with me on that I live in this country.

Yup the "progressive Indians" have elected women Prime Ministers in the past and even today the Leader of the Ruling Party is a "Catholic" women of foreign origin who could have easily been the Prime Minister had she not refused it herself. Can you ever imagine something like that in "progressive America"? I cant.

[RightOnline]

"The Florida-based pastor, who claims to have the power to heal the sick and dying,..."

Stop reading the piece right there. Wrong.

Think what you will of Hinn, but he has never, EVER claimed to have the power to heal the sick and dying. He gives 100% of the "credit" to God. He knows full well that only God can heal the sick and dying, and he has never said otherwise.

Whoever wrote this piece is lazy and laden with snide preconceptions because of Hinn's profession.

[RightOnline]

"The problem is that what Hinn does has nothing to do with the Gospel of Christ."

......then I suggest you go back and re-read the New Testament, friend. Hinn's minisry has everything to do with the gospels and Christ's admonitions to his disciples.

A little homework goes a long way around here.

[Gengis Khan]

"If Benny Hinn can convert these 3rd world and Muslim countries of there ritual jihad hate agaisnt Christians and Jews to understand the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ I am 100% for that."

---All of what you call "third world" isnt Muslim and dose not practice jihad hate agaisnt Christians and Jews. I am a hindu. I love own my religion but I also have respect for Christianity. We hindus also consider Jesus as one of our gods. Hindus dont preach hate against Christians and Jews. No wonder when Rome was purging the Christians and Jews, those very early Christians and Jews found shelter and protection under Hindu rule in India. Christianity came to India much before it came to Europe.

[Sir Gawain]

I know people who have been saved at a Hinn event

No, you don't know that. Only God can look into somone's heart.

[LS]

Yah, India is really progressive. That's why so many immigrants are streaming to live there. But I'm sure you're right about the BJP.

As for electing whoever, that's hardly a sign of an "advanced" society. Great Britain elected a Jewish-born Disraeli at the very time it began down the long road to socialism. You, above all, should know that diversity does not equal common sense.

[missyme]

No dis-respect to you as a person but Jesus is not one of the "Gods: Jesus spoke as to 1 GOD who is the creator of Heaven and earth.

[Gengis Khan]

"That's why so many immigrants are streaming to live there."
--People are streaming to your country from all over the world and India is no exception. People go in the direction of the buck. US has the buck. What has that got to do with anything?

Yes GB elected a Jew.... So whats your point?

My post was in relation to your misinformed comment about "Sutee". In todays India (and I dont know how much you know about todays India) anybody even talking about legalising "sutee" would be considered a lunatic.

You shouldnt always rely on your western media which only dishes out news about castism and poverty. Those kind of news sell like hot cakes in your country so those are the only news you get to hear.

If you choose to have a look, you will find plenty of threads at FR about how much India is progressing. This dosent mean we are there yet. We know we have a long way to go but women empowerment is a reality in todays India. Many of the knowledgeable people from your country who have visited India in the past have endorsed this fact. If you want to get some real info about India's progress as against the biased stereotype you would get from your media, try and find out for yourself about the percentage of women working in India's Silicon Valley. You will get an idea about the progress we have made. Today we are the fastest rising economy in the world, come to think of it not so long ago we were ranked alongside Ethiopia.

[Sybeck1]

Benny Hinn's Duplicity
The following report is from Christianity Today, Oct. 5, 1992:

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Television preacher Benny Hinn, whose sales in Christian bookstores in the last year-and-a-half have exceeded those of James Dobson and Charles Swindoll combined, told CT last September that he would submit to the counsel and constructive criticism of others (Christianity Today, Oct. 28, 1991, p. 44).

But Hinn's rhetoric since then has raised questions in some people's minds about his sincerity. For instance: "Now I'm pointing my finger with the mighty power of God on me. ...You hear this. There are men and women in Southern California attacking me. I will tell you under the anointing now, you'll reap it in your children. You'll never win. ...And you children will suffer. You're attacking me on the radio every night; you'll pay, and your children will. Hear this from the lips of God's servant. You are in danger. Repent, or God Almighty will move his hand. ..." That is what Hinn told an audience on August 7 at Melodyland Christian Center in Southern California.

In a recent interview with CT, Hinn, whose books Good Morning, Holy Spirit and The Anointing have sold 1.7 million copies combined, said he stands behind the Melodylaiid statement. "The Bible warns us clearly that we must not attack men of God no matter how sinful they may have become or wicked in our eyes," Hinn said. ...

Hinn acknowledged that the radio show he alluded to during the Melodyland talk was the Irvine, California-based broadcast of Christian Research Institute (CRI). ...

Representatives of CRI and other evangelical apologetics ministries say they have noticed a pattern of Hinn telling people behind the scenes that he has changed, but then going on as before. Said G. Richard Fisher, who writes for the newsletter of the St. Louis-based ministry Personal Freedom Outreach (PFO), "When Benny Hinn speaks, he speaks for effect. He tells people what he thinks they want to hear."

Indeed, for those who have been keeping an eye on him, Hinn has proven to be difficult to pin down. Not long after telling Christiaiiity Today that the "faith message" (as articulated by such teachers as Kenneth Copeland) does not "add up," Hinn said that speaking out against Copeland was tantamount to "attacking the very presence of God." Also, though affirming the concept of a triune God, he continues to maintain that the Holy Spirit has a "spirit-body."

In last year's interview with CT, Hinn said he would no longer use the term revelation knowledge in reference to some of his teachings because of the implication that those teachings were directly from God and thus infallible. While he has shunned the term revelation knowledge, just a.few months ago on TV Hinn said that the Holy Spirit was at that moment teaching him that God originally designed women to give birth out of their sides.

In a recent conversation with Hinn, Hanegraaff [Hank Hanegraaff, president of CRI] questioned him about that episode. (Hinn had initiated the contact after learning that he was to be featured prominently in Hanegraaff s [forthcoming] book.) According to Hanegraaff, Hinn several times denied to him having made the statement about women and birth. Hanegraaff said he finally told Hinn where he could find the disputed remark on the videotaped sermon. Hinn later acknowledged making the statement, calling it "dumb." Hanegraaff said that when he reminded Hinn that he had credited the Holy Spirit with the teaching, the evangelist chuckled and said he had actually picked up the teaching from the (1963) Dake's Annotated Reference Bible.

But those disturbed by Hinn's growing influence say this is no chuckling matter. They note that Hinn has achieved popularity largely through his oral and written accounts of frequent intense, and direct interaction with the supernatural. ...

Critics have also questioned Hinn's account of his testimony. Hinn says he was miraculously cured of stuttering, but PFO claims it has talked to several people from Hinn's youth who do not recall him stuttering. And in an article in PFO's next newsletter, Fisher challenges Hinn's claim that his father was the mayor of Jaffa, Israel. Hinn acknowledges that his father did not have the title of mayor, but says he performed the functions of mayor. Fisher says Hinn's father, who is now deceased, was "a clerk in an Arab labor office" (Christianity Today, Oct. 5, 1992).

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[Gengis Khan]

Yes and so I am a Hindu and you are a Christian. I am not asking you to accept my point of view and I dont think you are asking of me to do the same. We can peacefully coexist despite our religious difference as we have been doing in India. My point was Hindus have never spread jihad hatred against anybody.