Posted on 01/17/2005 8:48:26 AM PST by 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 thats 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 peoples 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, its now organising and arranging Mr Hinns 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.
This is not a debate on religions I am just quoting to you verbatem what Jesus said not what I said.
Hindus have done Christian persecution as you will see many links providing you that info on this thread.
I am not condemning your for your belief in Hindusim but if you say you beleive in Jesus then you have a responsibility of knowing what he said and what he did not say.
I agree with this statement actually. If you understand the context in which it is being spoken, it is scriptural. Hinn used the word "attack". I am reminded of Michael the archangel who would not rebuke satan because of the annointing that once covered him but, said "the Lord rebuke you". Jude 8:9&10 If the archangel of the Lord would not slander satan then who are we to think that we can say despicable things about someone who may or may not be anointed (set apart for a particular work or service) of the Lord.
Jude 8:[9] But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" [10] Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals-these are the very things that destroy them.
As for whether Benny's father was mayor of Jaffa, that can easily be proven or disproven through records. I don't believe I have ever heard him say that, but he may have. I am only aware of the fact that he grew up in Israel.
"Hindus have done Christian persecution as you will see many links providing you that info on this thread. "
--Yes I have seen those. Christian propagandist sites citing a few examples of random attacks on christians by stray lunatics is hardly worthy of the comment "Hindus have done Christian persecution". Search the internet for Hindu propagandist sites and you will get plenty of "Christian atrocities on Hindus".I live in India and take my words for it ....both these are far from reality.
If you choose to see the larger picture you will find that the majority of Hindus and Christians have lived far more peacefully in India (for centuries) than they have in most other parts of the world.
Its easy to be blinded by a few articles and loose site of the historical fact that (as I have said in my previous post) when Christians and Jews were being purged under Roman Empire, India under Hindu rule gave them shelter.
There is no part of the world where hate crimes have not occured and on whatever pretext. More so in case of countries with a lot of diversity. Even in America hate crimes have been committed on Indians after 9/11 but we dont call it persecution. I never said that attacks on christians donot happen in India but they are committed by a lunatic fring minority and in no way reflect or represent the mood of the majority of the Hindus.
You will find several Indian Christians at FR. Do find out from them what they have to say about Hindus. There opinion would be more reliable then those links you are talking about.
Obviously you lack an understanding of that which constitutes a cult and you clearly know nothing about Masonry or the Shriners.
Obviously you lack an understanding of that which constitutes a cult and you clearly know nothing about Masonry or the Shriners.
Oops. Sorry, guess I'm sarcasm impaired.
Can't argue with you there.
'sallright.
Thanks for posting the article.
I have yet to see any of Hinn's defenders deal with any of the documented fabrications and frauds the man has engaged in.
Hinn's followers here seem to deflect the issue onto secondary matters and delight in dragging around red herrings.
The issue is not Hinduism; the Shriners; etc. Hinn may pass out Bibles and in spite of his heresy, the gospel, or at least elements of it, may be proclaimed. Scripture tells us that the Gospel can be advanced even by those with misguided or evil intentions. It doesn't mean Christians are called upon to support or defend such men.
Has Benny Hinn healed anyone? Where is the proof and independent verification? Hasn't he clearly lied about his 'healing' missions? What does the Bible tell us ought to be done with false prophets or those promoting false gospels? Hasn't he made outlandish claims that run counter to orthodox Christianity?
Evangelicals, Fundamentalist Christians, etc. all seem to take issue with Hinn. Not because Hinn is healing people, but precisely because he isn't. Hinn is making money off this crap and shattering people's hopes in the process of failing to bring healing to very hurting people.
Hinn brings reproach upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In previous posts links to or copies of articles critical of Hinn have been posted from Christianity Today and The Door -- mainstream evangelical opinion rejects Hinn as a fraud and huckster.
Are any of his defenders willing to deal with that objective data or are we going to continue dancing around mulberry bushes on unrelated issues?
So is Hinduism based upon a guessing game of religion?
Does not the Word of GOD have any meaning? (Which is from the Bible) Why do so many Muslims and Hindus hate the Jewish People? Because they were Chosen by GOD to be a light of all nations to the world. Maybe Jealosuy? The TORAH was given to Moses for all of the world not denominations of religion but for all the world.
Hindusim might have some great life principles to live by
but GOD gave us his word and everyone knows what Jesus said because it is written in the GOSPELS we don't have to guess what Jesus said?
There is proof in GOD's word the JEWS have that documented proof. Once Muslims and Hindus realize the importance of Israel and GOD's promise to the Jewish people all religions will be making headway with GOD the one and only that created the world. Jesus Christ will be revealed to the Jews in GOD's own plan and prophectic time peace.
This my friend is not a guess IT is the WORD OF GOD.
o yes I do know they are saved. I know these people well and the bible makes it clear we know our fellow believers.
Err,Im a Indian Christian & I pretty much concur with what GK said about Hindu-Christian ties in India.About Hindus hating Jews-where did you get that from???India is home to the world's oldest Jewish communities outside the Middle East.Infact many Jews proudly say that,apart from the US,it is only in India that they have never been persecuted.Most Indians,irrespective of their religion(though a good chunk of muslims should be excluded from that list) don't mind the religion(s) of their neighbours,as long as they are not poking their nose into each others lives.
& a related fact is that India & Israel are undeclared strategic allies-that wouldn't exactly be possible if Hindus hated Jews,would it??
Thank you for the info, I did not know that.
It is just that the USA is the only country that truly supports Israel, because as Christians we realize the importance of Israel.
The Bible says only God can judge a man's heart.
I'll take Hinn for all his possible faults over a cultist any day of the week.
As someone with a close family member wrapped up in the Benny Hinn cult, I think you have things backwards.
I've been to more of those Benny Hinn Miracle Circuses that I care to admit. If you want to see the true face of Benny Hinn Ministries, try this some time: go stand outside a venue where Hinn is holding his dog and pony show and carry a sign that reads "False Prohpet." You will see classic cultist behavior. Some people will yell at you. Some people will cuss you. Others will spit on you. Some will writhe on the ground in front of you and others will holler oogah-boogah at you in an attempt to drive the demons from you. When that fails, the Benny Hinn Bouncers will come out to intimidate you from exercising your first amendment rights on a public sidewalk. They will claim you need a permit. They will threaten to call the police. When that doesn't work then they will station some of the "faithful" around you to run interference and keep you from talking with passers-by. They will use intimidation tactics on people who are trying to talk to you. They will yell at them, too. They will call you crazy and dangerous. They will call you of the devil. They will try to prevent you from holding a conversation by yelling in your ear interrupting everything you say. And this is nothing compared to the madness that ensues inside.
The Benny Hinn Circus is a carefully orchestrated excercsise in mass hypnosis. I ask you what kind of "church" subjects its congregation to two to three hours of chanting? The music and choir start of low and soft, "hallelujah" the refrain goes. Imperceptibly slowly, the volume grows over the next couple of hours, punctuated by commands by Hinn to "keep your hands up in the air" and "keep standing." A few hours of this later, the volume is so loud it makes my ears hurt. By this time the crowd is worked into a complete frenzy. People are rolling and shaking all over. When Hinn jumps to the front of the stage to begin "preaching" there is a deafening cheer from the audience, partly out of excitement partly from relief. Hinn opens his bible and throws out a few verses seemingly at random. There's no time to look them up and read along before he throws out the next one. His sermon, if you can call it that, lasts about five minutes. That's right, five minutes of preaching after three hours of chanting, and then he moves on to next segment of the show in which he begins tossing out the names of various maladies and diseases that are spontaneously being healed at that very moment. This goes on for an hour. Cancer is being healed, eyesight is being restored. Some sort of liver ailment has been cured. Hallelujah! The crowd goes wild. Now the staff begins handing out plastic buckets for donations. Hinn begins his pitch at this point, claiming if you want to receive, you must give. Money flows like water. Full buckets are exchanged with empty ones. This goes on for some time until stage hands begin tossing wheelchairs up on to the podium. No one has actually gotten up out of a wheelchair. People who came in using a wheelchair leave by them. The chairs were brought in from an off-stage entrance. Again the crowd goes wild. This is when Benny Hinn asks for volunteers to go up on stage to received his special anointing. Instantly the aisles are floode with people desparate to go up on stage, desparate to "feel" something. That's why people go on stage: to have a supernatural experience. Long before anyone gets to the stage, I can see audience members being vetted by stage handlers. Each one is asked a few questions and sometimes the staff member writes something down on a little piece of paper. Only selected people get to go up on stage. There are plenty of Benny Hinn Bouncers and they only let in few people at a time or the stage would be swamped.
It's usually late on the third day of one of his three day "crusades" when Hinn does his prophesying. He's cleaned up his act for television audiences, but he feels comfortable enough at these events to let his true message come out. Hinn preaches a message of prosperity and health. To received a miraculous healing is as easy as being saved. That's it. As easy as is it to ask Jesus into your heart, it is that easy to be cured of any disease, that easy for any money problem to solved. Truly, Hinn preaches "ask and you shall receive" to its fullest extent. But there's a catch. If you lose your faith, you lose your healing. If you don't receive a miracle healing, come back on the next night. Make another love offering. If it doesn't happen, maybe it is because you have not truly let the Lord into your heart. Miraculous healing is as easy as becoming a Christian, Hinn stresses. The implication is that if you do not receive a healing, then maybe you are not really saved after all. Your salvation may be in doubt. This is the essence of Hinn's teachings: if misfortune befalls you it is because of your lack of faith in the Almighty. Good things happen to believers. Bad things happen to unbelievers. Hinn preaches nothing resembling Judeo-Christanity. Hinn preaches prosperity. Finally, Hinn begins telling of his prophetic visions. A hush falls over the audience, people wait expectantly for news of the future. On tap for 2002 - 2004 was this: Oral Roberts and Jimmy Swaggart were to pass away within close proximity in time of each other. After this was to have happened, a second September 11th was to have occured in the United States; a terrorist attack that would make 911 look like peanuts. After this great calamity was to befall our nation, a new revival was to have taken place. People, Hinn claimed -- no prophsied -- that people would spontaneously be saved and start performing miraculous healings on the street. Just like that.
I ask you, have any of these wild fantasies come to pass? No. Benny Hinn is not just misguided. Not just unorthodox. Hinn is evil. Hinn leads people away from the Lord. If Hinn leads people to the Lord, it is only through rejection of Hinn's teachings. That he calls on Jesus' name every other breath does not make him holy. That he continuously calls on the name of the Lord is no matter. That he makes prophecy in the name of the Lord does not matter. If any of his prophecies are false, Hinn is a false prophet. Any Jew or Christian should understand that. QED.
2) At last glance, Ireland was well ahead of Indian in rate of growth. That doesn't diminish India's growth, but don't overstate it.
3) Fine. If my source was outdated, I stand corrected. But it was a western reporter in India in the late 1990s reporting this.
4) People do not just go where there is money, but where there is opportunity and liberty. Let me know when there is mass immigration into India, even from her far more backward neighbors.
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