Unethical conversion of tsunami victims.

[Ryokan]

The article revealing the methods and tactics of Christian relief organizations was first published by the Swedish Svenska Dagbladet, but I read it first in the Norwegian Dagbladet.

I will translate a few paragraphs from both, and write SvD behind quotes taken from the Swedish newspaper, and NoD behind those taken from the Norwegian one.

Många thailändska barn känner sig utnyttjade och kränkta av frireligiösa organisationer efter tsunamin. Såväl Rädda Barnen som lokala thailändska organisationer upprörs över att vissa kristna hjälporganisationer villkorar hjälpen till de srabbade. (SvD)

Many Thai children feel they have been exploited by evangelical organizations after the tsunami. Save The Children and local Thai organizations are in uproar over how some Christian relief organizations set conditions for helping the victims.

Flodbølgeofre blir tvangskristnet og kjenner seg utnyttet av hjelpearbeidere. Det kommer fram i en ny rapport laget av svenske og britiske Redd Barna sammen med Unicef, ifølge Svenska Dagbladet.

Organisasjonene har intervjuet 5000 barn i de tsunamirammede områdene.

Det er ikke kjent hvilke organisasjoner som tvangskristner ofrene, men det skal spesielt gjelde amerikanske frikirkelige hjelpeorganisasjoner.

- Det er et sammensurium av organisasjoner som sloss om menneskenes oppmerksomhet. I visse områder har det blitt som på 1800-tallet, når misjonærer krevde omvendelse for at folk skulle få mat og klær, sier Inger Östergren fra Redd Barna i Bangkok, regionalt ansvarig for kystområdene i Sørøst-Asia, til Svd. (NoD)

The tsunami victims are forced into Christianity and feel exploited by the relief workers. This is revealed in a new report made by the Swedish and British Save The Children together with UNICEF, says Svenska Dagbaldet.

The organization has interviewed 5000 children in the tsunami disaster areas.

It's not known which organizations who force the victims into Christianity, but it's supposed to be especially American evangelical relief organizations.

- There are many organizations here who fight for the attention of the people here. In some areas it has become like in the 1800's, when missionaries demanded convertion before they gave out food and clothes, says Inger Östergren from Save The Children in Bangkok, who is regional manager for the coastal areas of South East Asia, to Svenska Dagbladet.

Svd har besøkt et av de lokale barnehjemmene, og funnet bemerkelsesverdig mange barn med t-skjorter med kristne budskap. Barna kommer fra buddhistiske hjem, og kan ikke selv forklare hva det som står på t-skjortene betyr.

I undersøkelsen kommer det fram at mange barn kjenner seg krenket og utnyttet av organisasjonene. Barna har tegnet og fortalt om sine erfaringer, og den røde tråden i svarene er at hjelpen fra utenlandske frikirkeorganisasjoner har blitt opplevd som påtrengende og krenkende.

Personalet på barnehjemmet kan fortelle at representanter for religiøse organisasjoner har tilbudt ny bolig, mat och klær, mot at befolkningen lar seg omvende. (NoD)

Svenska Dagbladet has visited one of the local orphanages, and found a large amount of children with t-shirts with Christian messages. The children came from Buddhist homes and couldn't explain what the messages on their t-shirts meant.

The report reveals that many children feel violated and exploited by the organizations. The children have drawn and told about their experiences, and one common element in the answers is that the help from foreign evangelical organizations have been experienced as intrusive and injurious.

The personell at the orphanage told the newspaper that representatives of religious organizations have offered new houses, food and clothes in exchange for convertion.

– Om du inte blir kristen kan du inte få någon hjälp av Gud är budskapet, berättar Marinee Charenperd, en 35–årig väverska som hjälper till på barnhemmet i mån av tid.

Hennes hus försvann och hon förlorade en bror och två brorssöner i katastrofen. En tid senare fick hon erbjudande om att få hjälp att bygga upp sitt hus igen, men bara om hon gick över till kristendomen.

– Jag sa nej men jag har bekanta som accepterat och blivit hjälpta, berättar hon.

Liknande vittnesmål finns också återgivna i dagstidningen Bangkok Post. (SvD)

- If you don't convert to Christianity and become a Christian, God won't help you, is the message we're given, says Marinee Charenperd, a 35-year-old seamstress who helps at the orphanage from time to time.

Her house was lost in the disaster and she lost a brother and two nephews. Later she got an offer to have her house rebuilt, but only if she converted to Christianity.

- I said no, men I know people who have accepted and been helped, she says.

Similar stories have been published in the newspaper Bangkok Post.

– Självklart accepterar vi bidrag även från kristna organisationer, men vi vill inte att det ska ställas några villkor för hjälpen, säger Rotjana Phraesrithong. (SvD)

Of course we accept aid from Christian organizations, but we don't want them to set conditions for the aid, says Rotjana Phraesrithong (owner of the orphanage that the SvD visited).

10-year-old Mucc Nomnois, a Buddhist girl, with a t-shirt that says 'God loves you'.

These people are scum. Pure scum.

But I'm sad that this is what it took for the West to notice what's going on in the poor areas of Asia, and probably other parts of the world as well. These unethical conversions are nothing new, they've been going on for as long as missionaries have been going there. Sri Lanka has passed a law banning unethical conversions of any kind, and even the Roman Catholic Church has expressed disgust with the methods some evangelical organizations have used.

I have nothing nice to say about these people. They're scum, pure and simple.

 

[Ryokan]

I can't believe no one has commented on this one, is no one as appaled as I am?

 

[l0rca]

I did comment, but it didn't show up. I get into a "screw the system" mood when that happens.

I'm glad you brought this to my attention. Randi should comment about it.

And it's cliche, but I have to say it: I'd be surprised that the media would care to show us.

 

[Skeptical Greg]

The major U.S. News players need to be hammered with this...

 

[jjramsey]

I can't believe no one has commented on this one, is no one as appaled as I am?

Other than "AAAAAAGGHHHHH!!", there's not much more to say.

 

[rharbers]

"The tsunami victims are forced into Christianity and feel exploited by the relief workers."

How can someone be forced to convert?



"It's not known which organizations who force the victims into Christianity, but it's supposed to be especially American evangelical relief organizations."

Sounds like "Let's cry about the Americans again." I'm about as skeptical of all this as I can be. "It's not known...but it's supposed to be...Americans!

 

[l0rca]

Sounds like "Let's cry about the Americans again." I'm about as skeptical of all this as I can be. "It's not known...but it's supposed to be...Americans!

It's consistent with the American outlook on religion. True that most countries are religious, but America is one of the most fundamental.

 

[rharbers]

It's consistent with the American outlook on religion. True that most countries are religious, but America is one of the most fundamental.

It's consistent, but is it true?

 

[l0rca]

It's consistent, but is it true?

It was published by two newpapers from different countries. It's also consistent, and typical. I don't see a good reason to think it's false.

 

[Ryokan]

"The tsunami victims are forced into Christianity and feel exploited by the relief workers."

How can someone be forced to convert?

That's pretty easy, when you don't have a home, food or clothes.

"It's not known which organizations who force the victims into Christianity, but it's supposed to be especially American evangelical relief organizations."

Sounds like "Let's cry about the Americans again." I'm about as skeptical of all this as I can be. "It's not known...but it's supposed to be...Americans!

Problems with translations, and the kids' young age. You don't expect them to know the difference between different Christian relief organizations, or even between Americans and different European nationalities, do you?

Would you know the differene between different Buddhist denominations and the accents and languages of the different nationalities in South East Asia?

Besides, as I said, unethical conversions are nothing new.

http://www.fisiusa.org/fisi_News_items/news567.htm

This article was found here :

http://www.lankaweb.com/news/conversion.html

 

[Ryokan]

It was published by two newpapers from different countries. It's also consistent, and typical. I don't see a good reason to think it's false.

Save the Children hasn't published their report yet. When they do, hopefully that will be proof enough.

 

[rharbers]

I stand corrected. To save my family I'd convert to worshipping Zeus and the Olympian gods if that is what it took. But it wouldn't be a real conversion. I's get my house, clothes and food, then I'd do something to get excommunicated. Those folks are nuts, but they want real conversions.

 

[Ryokan]

I stand corrected. To save my family I'd convert to worshipping Zeus and the Olympian gods if that is what it took. But it wouldn't be a real conversion. I's get my house, clothes and food, then I'd do something to get excommunicated. Those folks are nuts, but they want real conversions.

If the entire state of Texas was invaded by Zeuz missionaries, who converted a big block of the population into Zeuzism through unethical means, tore down churches and built big Zeus temples and raised children through Zeuz schools who taught that Zeuz was the only way and that all other religions were false and led to Hades, I think you'd probably voice your concerns over what was happening.

To put it mildly.

 

[l0rca]

To put it mildly.

I hear they're not Buddhists in texas.

 

[rharbers]

If the entire state of Texas was invaded by Zeuz missionaries, who converted a big block of the population into Zeuzism through unethical means, tore down churches and built big Zeus temples and raised children through Zeuz schools who taught that Zeuz was the only way and that all other religions were false and led to Hades, I think you'd probably voice your concerns over what was happening.

To put it mildly.

They may try, but here in Texas a man still has the freedom to think on his own. Besides, we like Thor's Hammer better.

 

[rharbers]

If the entire state of Texas was invaded by Zeuz missionaries, who converted a big block of the population into Zeuzism through unethical means, tore down churches and built big Zeus temples and raised children through Zeuz schools who taught that Zeuz was the only way and that all other religions were false and led to Hades, I think you'd probably voice your concerns over what was happening.

To put it mildly.

They may try, but here in Texas a man still has the freedom to think on his own. Besides, we like Thor's Hammer better.

But seriously, I know what you mean. I'm told I'm going to hell several times a year. I say "Good, that's where I want to go!" They just leave me alone then.

 

[Ryokan]

They may try, but here in Texas a man still has the freedom to think on his own.

Lucky you, children orphaned by a tsunami often don't have that freedom.

And there's some nasty people out to exploit it.

 

[rharbers]

Lucky you, children orphaned by a tsunami often don't have that freedom.

And there's some nasty people out to exploit it.

Agreed. Let's hope the Buddists and the Muslims put a stop to it.

 

[Huntster]

Agreed. Let's hope the Buddists and the Muslims put a stop to it.

They could have "put a stop to it" before it ever started by actually responding to the disaster.

One good way to keep those nasty Christians out of your life is to refuse to accept their largess.

 

[Ryokan]

They could have "put a stop to it" before it ever started by actually responding to the disaster.

One good way to keep those nasty Christians out of your life is to refuse to accept their largess.

Are you saying that only Christian organizations responded to the tsunami disaster?