Religions battle for souls on Sumatra

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/world/10637415.htm

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The groups include everyone from al-Qaida-linked militants to evangelical Christians, and their presence is most profound in Indonesia, where the needs are greatest and the cash-strapped government has thrown open the doors to foreign aid groups.

The heavy Muslim influence in Aceh province - one of the few Indonesian regions that has instituted Islamic law - has defined how the groups operate. While Muslims are bragging about their religious credentials, Christian groups are mostly invisible and instruct workers not to display their church names or wear crosses.

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But evangelists like Wisconsin native Mark Kosinski say it's impossible to separate relief activities from sharing the Gospel. He acknowledged he was warned to tone down his message but says he has "a job to do."

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"Any time you have a strong Muslim community and concerns about Christianization, there is going to be conflict," said Eddy Rubble, a North Carolina Christian who is volunteering here. "I'm afraid that after months of people helping one another survive, it will only take one spark to create a big issue."

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Is anyone else having a difficult time understanding why a bag of rice or a jug of clean water must be handed out in a certain diety's name?

if they can't shut up, they need to go home. These poor people don't need to hear sermons about Christianity...they need food, water, shelter, clothing.

and all these fundie fucks can do is argue over religion. Here's a suggestion, do the real will of God...Pick up a hammer and help re-build their country!

There would be American-based Evangelical missionaries, and their Wahhabi counterparts from Saudi Arabia, taking advantage of this tragedy to proselytize.

India is a huge target too, naturally.

their omnipotent god let that tsunami happen in the first place..

Talk about cognitive dissonance.. :-P

the Islam God. Unreal creeps.

Don't you think?

That polytheistic thingy that the jews supposedly walked away from 2500 years ago?? :-)

Turning social services over to so-called "faith based" entities (as Bushco wants to do)is wrong on so many levels. 1. They are not subject to federal hiring guidelines so they can discriminate against anybody they want to. 2. What kind of pressure is exerted on those they are trying to help? Do they have to convert if not of the "right" faith? Will people be turned away if they don't convert? Will people be pressured to vote a certain way (i.e. support Bushco) to make sure the help keeps coming. 3. Tax dollars should not go to churches or church-entities for any reason. 4. There is no civil service or GAO oversight protection of these groups - how will we know if the people at the top are not skimming off a health "administrative" fee. arrrrrrggggghhhh

5. Many times their priority is proselytizing, not doing what they volunteered to do. It's excused away by saying that nothing is more important than saving souls. This is a perfect example of this.