Clash of mentalities

[Rafa]

Rafa, I encountered exactly this when I was exploring options for donating money for the Tsunami appeals and similar. There are many charitable groups but within the explanatory text there was the by line that the 'work was done for the Christians of this area' or words to that effect. Perhaps this is more an overseas missionary issue rather than a local one but I prefer to donate money overseas anyway.

thanks for clarifying that, i was pretty sure this wasn't the case in Australia...

BTW, agreed about donating money overseas... with the welfare system, no one should technically require charity... (now thats another can of worms, so i'll leave it at that...)

 

[Stan 101]

All religion is flawed. Look at it analitically and you will always find gaping holes (The lord is all powerful, yet he can't defeat "Satan"). People look to religion due to fear. Fear of needing to be a part of a community, the fear of death, life, fear of evil deeds, fear of their lack of self control, and many other things. Religion is a business. So many truly bad things stem from religion, yet I am sure it also gives a great deal of comfort to people. Sometimes religion is the only thing that keeps people wanting to live.

What am I saying? Nothing. I'm just adding my .

Have read about an Egyption religion where they actually worship the devil. They do so out of pity. They believe that seeing as God is such a great entity, he requires no prayer or swooning as that would only make him arrogant. They pray for Satan as he is the one with all the troubles and has lost his way. They think he needs all the love he can get.
I wonder why Christians don't think about Satan as this Egyption religion (whose name escapes me for now) does. Aren't they meant to be ultimately forgiving?

cheers,

 

[anon]

Stan 101

Below is an extract from google -


Satanic panic grips Cairo

by Philippa Nugent

Around a hundred heavy metal and rock music fans were arrested by officers of the Bureau of State Security in Egypt in late January, on suspicion of 'Satan-worshipping'.

The arrests began on 22 January (1997) when 97 teenagers were arrested in Cairo and more in Alexandria, most of them taken from their homes by police. Many were residents of wealthy suburbs, the university-attending sons and daughters of Egypt's middle class.

Homes were searched and material such as compact disks by bands including Metallica and Megadeath, T-shirts, key rings with little plastic skeletons, a Chicago Bulls basketball cap with a horned logo, and posters were taken as evidence of devil worship. The brother of one of those arrested, interviewed by the Middle East Times, said: 'All the proof they have they took from the kids' homes. They took some CDs, a T-shirt and a sketch of Bob Marley.' Police reportedly said that they would be listening hard to all the evidence.

As a result of the arrests, the Egyptian band Cartoon Pillars has halted performances and the release of its first album. The design of its album cover, depicting a skeleton's hand, was regarded as too risky in the current climate. Satanic worship has been a favourite topic of the press in Egypt recently, with allegations that Satanists regularly hold meetings outside Cairo.

Some of those arrested have admitted practising Satanic rituals, which included meetings in the Commonwealth cemetery in the wealthy Cairo suburb of Heliopolis, where bodies of Allied servicemen who fought in North Africa in World War II are buried. The participants admit dancing to heavy metal music, digging up skulls, desecrating religious symbols, smearing themselves with the blood of animals that they had killed, indulging in drugs and alcohol, and conducting orgies. Others, however, claim that they attended the meetings for more straightforward reasons. In Rose el Youssef magazine one of the accused said: 'I don't have anything to do with Satanism. I joined because their parties were exciting. I used to go to feel up the girls when they were dancing.'


Belief in God of whatever denomination can be ennobling. But Satan??? I don't think we need to feel sorry for him.

anon

 

[Stan 101]

Anon, by all accounts the "religion" was not into the things described in your post. They believed in God and loved him, but they also felt for Satan. They didn't worship Satan. Big difference.

I'll have to have a look for the book and do some research.
If in fact there is a Satan. I certainly wouldn't feel sorry for him. I think He needs a ruddy good talking to.