Islamic extremism and local governments closed more than 100 churches in Indonesia within three years, according to a persecution watchdog agency.
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Indonesia: Over 100 Churches Closed in 3 Years
By
Ethan Cole
Christian Post Reporter
Sat, Apr. 05 2008 12:55 PM EDT
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Let's pray for that Honest
"a total of 1,025 churches have been closed or destroyed in Indonesia since the island nation claimed its independence in 1945"
That's mean 570 more churches have been closed or destroyed since 1998!
1985-1994 (9 years period) 104 churches closed or destroyed
1995-1998 (3 years period) 275 churches closed or destroyed. http://www.fica.org/Laporan/ChurchPersecution/a21.html
http://www.fica.org/hr/Banyuwangi.html (pictures)
"Christians make up only about 8.7 percent of the population, according to the CIA World Factbook." I don't know when this data has been taken or from where it's come from.
From Indonesian Christian sources, the Christians in Indonesia could be up to 25% of the population, and it is 30 % according Indonesia Christian Mission Organization! http://indonesianchristianmission.org/index.html
Christian's persecution is a sad news, and it is also a good news for by it the Christian getting stronger and growing much more faster than without it!!
If persecution to Indonesian Christians going on, probably in the next 40 years, Indonesia would not become the most populous Muslim country anymore!!
Islam extremism is not always been apparent in day to day lives in Indonesia.
All Indonesian used to be united under PANCASILA and BHINNEKA TUNGGAL IKA state philosophy which include freedom of religion as stated in Chapter 29 in UUD45 Constitution.
This story begins when The Saudi Arabian Wahabbi started their covert influence in Indonesia in mid 1980s in Aceh and escalated after the fall of President Soeharto in 1998 – but the Islamist in Indonesia toady are still not totally united and do not have adequate influence to take over political and economic power from the Nationalist, even though they won Jakarta, Aceh and West Sumatera legislature.-thus the Jihadists discontent and terror attacks such as JW Marriott and Bali.
Meanwhile the money keep flowing in from the Saudi Arabian Wahabbi financing pesantren, madrassa and terror training camps all over Indonesia, mostly in West Java, Central Java, Banten and Aceh. Nowadays these include Papua, Ambon, NTB and Poso.
–The army troops and the Police mobile brigade who usually keep these pesantren, madrassa and terror training camps in check are stopped with post-Soeharto human rights abuse reports and chose to look away –and some units even chose to collaborate with these money rich Islamist Jihadists.
That is why Ambon (Molluca) and Poso (Central Sulawesi) sectarian genocide happens.
The body of Christ in Indonesia does not submit to these worldly atrocities and keeps receiving abundant new souls saved to our Lord Jesus. The CIA world fact book numbers of Indonesian Christian shall remain going up and up, regardless of church denomination, because after the year 2000 church bombings, church closure and destruction, pastors & Sunday school teachers incarcerated, 2005 school girls beheadings and others –the Churches keep their faith resolute & united and always look to the Spirit of the Lord Jesus for guidance which keep them from further trouble and slowly but sure increase that 9% Christian population. That number used to be 5%
Hallelujah to the Lamb of God
Steiner,
Completely agree. Anyone who says Islam is a religion of peace, is out of their mind. I know of no majority Islam countries that have tolerance and equal rights for other faiths. I can respect a good Muslim, but it is impossible for me to respect the Quran or Muhammad. Both are evil.
Just a thought for the politically correct..
With all the hoopla about how islam is peace, and how the extremists that do not represent islam have ruined its image….You would think that governments like the Indonesian government and other islamic ones were doing something about it right?
In Indonesia over 100 churches were forced to close by both government order and extremist attacks…
Guess how many extremist mosques were forced to close down?
Apparently, the Indonesian government must not believe there are any extremists in its country other than the Christians…
And yet they demand more and more foreign money to deal with terrorism….
I wonder…where is the foreign money going? Is it going to systematically persecute Christians and their churches…?!
-In one recent incident, a church in Sepatan, Tangerang province, was attacked by extremists last December when it refused to adhere to government orders to shut down.-
How many mosques have been given orders by the islamic governments to shut down? I
t is time that Christians begin to protest at every muslim embassy located in the free world. To preach against the collective persecution of Christians and nonmuslims by muslim governments...
Even now, as our governments stand down and allow these very same in the U.N. to formulate and legalize their poisonous ideology.
If we are not willing to speak out against the atrocities committed by Islam now, then it will be so much more difficult to confront these issues in our own countries in the very near future...
Jesus proclaims justice and mercy, and yet he warned those that subvert justice, or mercy of a coming judgement...and they must be warned...
Matthew 25:41 - Depart from me , you cursed, into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; .... truly I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.
APXH,
Do not expect the same treatment from Muslims that Christians give them. The Quran and Hadith are cruel and hateful, the only way we should expect peace with them, is if they take many parts of the Quran and hadith out. The only reason why the "majority" of Muslims are peaceful, is because they either do not know what the Quran and Hadith says, or do not practice it.
And an Iraqi Orthodox Christian Priest was shot dead too. It's all within Muslims game-plan. In an overwhelming Christian country like England, Muslims are able to practice their religion freely, what's more we have no-go area for non-Muslims already in those places. Muslims need to wake up from their slumber and intolerance of others. Peace Be Upon Them! Whoaaa.