Posted on 08/18/2007 7:35:53 AM PDT by rhema
GENEVA -- Evangelical groups have joined efforts spearheaded by Roman Catholic, Orthodox and mainstream Protestant churches to create a common code of conduct for religious conversions that would preserve the right of Christians to spread their religion while avoiding conflict among different faiths.
The World Council of Churches, which joined the Vatican last year in launching talks on a code, said Wednesday that the process was formally joined by the World Evangelical Alliance at a meeting earlier this month in France.
The code aims to ease tensions with Muslims, Hindus and other religious groups that fear losing adherents and resort to punishments as extreme as imprisonment and even death for converts from their faith and foreign missionaries.
The Taliban kidnapping of 23 South Korean Christians in Afghanistan last month underscored tensions. Two of the 23 have been killed. The accusations against the South Koreans include wanting to meet with former converts from Islam. But their church has denied they were trying to spread Christianity. The hardline Islamic militants freed two women on Monday.
WCC said the code of conduct should serve as an "advocacy tool in discussions with governments considering anti-conversion laws (and) help to advance the cause of religious freedom." The rules should also address concerns in other religions about Christians seeking converts, and inspire those faiths to "consider their own codes of conduct," it added.
The council noted, however, that "none of the partners involved intend _ nor have the means _ to impose the code of conduct on their constituencies, but they all trust that it will be able to 'impact hearts and minds' and allow for 'moral and peer pressure.'"
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Last week, a religious court in Malaysia ordered a woman trying to renounce Islam to undergo three months of counseling in the mainly Muslim country's latest legal tussle over the issue. In Egypt, a Muslim who converted to Christianity and then took the unprecedented step of seeking official recognition for the change said he had gone into hiding following death threats.
Christians for sharper knifes during “beheading or coversion”?
Funny, it seems Islam and Liberals have the exact same views when it comes to dissent.
Wonder where in Acts or any of the missionary trips Paul too, is found the basis for these constraints.
The only significance in becoming a believer is yielding to God on His grounds. He is the one who regenerates the human spirit and no other. No code of conduct or manmade agreement will ever replicate or substitute the eternal work of God.
The only thing more ironic than those who oppose “Christian conversion” are those who believe man produces the conversion.
I guess this will put an end to the ‘coming home’ threads on the religion forum.
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