Religious Freedom, Shariah Take Center Stage During Egypt’s Presidential Debate

By Luiza Oleszczuk , Christian Post Reporter May 11, 2012

The two front-runners for the Egyptian presidency recently faced off during the country’s first televised presidential debate, with religion and Islamic law dominating the discussion.

The Islamist candidate, Abdul Moneim Aboul Fotouh, a former leading figure in the Muslim Brotherhood who some fear may impose an Islamic state should he be elected, debated on Thursday Amr Moussa, the one-time Arab League chief and former foreign minister under Hosni Mubarak. Moussa, a moderate, is seen by experts as a favorable choice for Egyptians, who long for stability after more than a year of economic and political tumult and fear the rise of Islamic fundamentalism. Meanwhile, Fotouh has been reaching out to Islamists, liberals and supporters of the revolution, of which he was a supporter.

After the country’s parliament was dominated by Islamist parties, the next big step in establishing a new government — after Mubarak was ousted following the Arab Spring uprising of Jan. 2011 — is choosing the new president. Egypt’s presidential elections will take place on May 23 and 24. The president will be named in June.

Among foreign policy and domestic topics, religion was a big issue to which candidates referred each other on several occasions. Following the revolution, Egypt fell shortly into chaos, which seemed to have unleashed violence against certain religious minorities in this overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim country. Most notably, multiple counts of violence against the Coptic Christian community were reported over the past year.

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Obama endorses gay ‘marriage’: says support based on Jesus, Golden Rule

by Ben Johnson May 09, 2012 

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 9, 2012, (LifeSiteNews.com) – President Barack Obama has flip-flopped on gay “marriage” for the second time, endorsing same-sex marriage in an interview today, in which he said his decision was motivated in part by his Christian faith and his belief in the Golden Rule.

“I’ve just concluded that for me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married,” Obama told ABC News reporter Robin Roberts in an interview to air this evening.

He added that his wife, Michelle, agreed with him. “We’ve talked about it over the years and she, you know, she feels the same way,” he said.

“We are both practicing Christians and obviously this position may be considered to put us at odds with the views of others,” Obama stated, “but, you know, when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing Himself on our behalf, but it’s also the Golden Rule.”

He explained his foot-dragging reticence to support full same-sex “marriage” by saying he “was sensitive to the fact that, for a lot of people, the word marriage was something that evokes very powerful traditions – religious beliefs and so forth.”

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RUA Party SA Great Breakthough / Many challenged by Pr Daniel Scot regarding the dangers of Islamic Sharia Law in Australia

Dear family & friends in Christ,

1) It is with great joy we announce that Rise Up Australia Party is now on track to contest the next Federal Election also in South Australia!

Pr Daniel spoke at a gathering in Adelaide on the 9th of May and was very successful in setting up a state team to run the operation in South Australia for the next Federal Election in November 2013.

Pr Daniel stated, “I am so happy to see people rising up and being willing to take a stand for our nation Australia. One main reason for this is that the general public are absolutely fed up with our current government and most political parties. We have a great opportunity to step into Parliament right now. We cannot and must not miss this wave. I have spoken to many Christians and non-Christians alike. Interestingly, the response is the same, ‘We need change’ and I say, ‘Yes, we can do it’”.

2) On Sunday, which was Mother’s Day, Pr Jenny Jack from CTFM brought a great word on ‘Why women and men are equal in the sight of God‘. Many were mightily touched by the Word and Spirit of God. Pr Daniel called all the mothers to come up to the front and then he laid hands and prayed for them. Many of them received prophetic words from the Lord and were mighty impacted by the presence and power of God.

At the evening service, Pr Daniel Scot, along with his wife, ministered the powerful Word of the Lord. He spoke on the topic of ‘Why Islamic Sharia Law is bad law’.  Many people who came to the meeting were shocked to learn as to what is real Islamic Sharia Law. Pr Daniel Scot and Pr Daniel Nalliah had both lived under Sharia Law in Pakistan & Saudi Arabia, and know very well as to how this law will destroy our nation of Australia.

This meeting was also live webcast, although the video was out, due to technical failure.  Nevertheless, we thank God that the audio carried through without any interruptions. Yesterday morning we received good feedback from those who listened to it. We are so sorry for the video dropping out.

Pr Daniel Scot’s speech was very well received by the people. He spoke of how Australia will lose its freedoms and identity if Islamic Sharia Law is introduced. He quoted many references from the Koran to back up every statement he made. This very challenging and informative message is a must watch on DVD. You may order your copy for $15 + $5 postage, by emailing angelene@reformationharvestfire.com or calling Angeline at CTFM on 03 9794 8211.

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Islamic Sharia Law is bad law, Hear the two Danny’s to Speak on Sunday 13th May at 6.30pm at CTFM

Media Release – For immediate release

In 2002 the Islamic Council of Victoria brought an allegation of vilification against Pastor Daniel Nalliah of Catch the Fire Ministries and Pastor Daniel Scot, which resulted in a court battle that lasted for almost five years. This court case, better known as the two Danny’s case, was a highly publicized court case that received much coverage by the Australian and international media.

The two Danny’s successfully defended themselves and won the court battle for freedom of speech in the Victorian Supreme Court, when the three judges overturned the VCAT decision, clearing the two Pastors any wrong doing and upholding their basic rights of freedom of speech in a democratic nation. This decision resulted in most state governments rejecting the racial and religious vilification laws across Australia.

After ten years, the two Danny’s together will be addressing a gathering this Sunday the 13th of May at 6.30pm at the Catch The Fire Ministries base at 23 Melverton Dr in Hallam, Victoria, and will be speaking on ‘Why Islamic Sharia Law is bad law and should not be tolerated or accommodated in Australia’.

Pastor Daniel Nalliah, who is also the founding President of the new political party Rise Up Australia Party – ‘Keep Australian, Australian’, will be running a national campaign in the next federal election.

He stated this morning, “I lived and worked for two years with my family in Saudi Arabia and know very well the effects of Islamic Sharia Law. It is bad law, it is from the dark ages. We in the West should not touch it, as it completely goes against everything we stand for. France, Germany, UK and many nations in Europe who have embraced some parts of Islamic Sharia Law, under the banner of Multiculturalism, now regret doing so, although it seems a bit too late for them.

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Half of All Americans Believe Bible, Quran, Book of Mormon Hold Same Truths

By Stoyan Zaimov , Christian Post Reporter – April 17, 2012

An in-depth study released by the Barna Group on behalf of the American Bible Society found that 50 percent of Americans believe the Bible, Quran and the Book of Mormon hold different expressions of the same truths. The survey also found that Americans’ reliance on the Bible has decreased slightly in 2012 from 2011, although the Christian holy book retains an important place in people’s lives.

The study, which was conducted in March and surveyed over 2,000 adults through phone and online interviews, found that 85 percent of American households own a Bible – although that number was down from 88 percent in 2011. Similarly, 48 percent agreed that the Bible has all the knowledge needed to live a meaningful life, while that number was 53 percent in 2011.

Mormonism, which has been in the news lately because of Mitt Romney, the likely GOP presidential candidate and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, registered a slight gain in terms of recognition – six percent of people interviewed said the Book of Mormon is sacred or holy, which is up two percent from 2011. The Bible, on the other hand, dropped by four percent to 82 percent in the same question.

The survey’s findings suggest that “Americans desire to read the Bible more and turn to it for the answers to life questions but have an increasingly less reverent view of its contents,” David Kinnaman, president of Barna Group, said in a press release.

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Atheists chant at Muslim protesters – 2012 Atheist Convention Melbourne

24th April 2012 - Jenny Stokes of Salt Shakers  Someone took a video of a group of Muslims protesting at the recent Atheist Convention in Melbourne. The Muslims were chanting -…

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Why Christians Must Be Involved In Politics

by Rev. Johnny Lee Clary © www.johnnyleeclary.com

There is a huge movement underway, with books being written and endorsed by pastors of large churches telling people that Christians should never be involved in politics and that if they are then they are turning unbelievers away from Christ. These books are not worth buying. Their authors are worthless because they lack knowledge and wisdom when it comes to God’s word and therefore should not be telling Christians how to live their lives.

All political power has been delegated by God. As Apostle Paul says in Romans 13:1, in speaking on the subject of civil authority, “Every person should obey the government in power. No government would exist if it hadn’t been established by God. The governments which exist have been put in place by God.”

People accuse me all the time of being disobedient to God’s word for criticizing government officials, using Romans 13:1 to justify that accusation. I always point out to them that if that is true that I am disobedient, then so were the Apostles, John and Peter. The ruling authority commanded and ordered them not to preach Jesus and they replied they must obey God rather than men. Therefore, the word of God is plain; we do not have to obey government authority when it conflicts with God’s word.

Now the key here is that when you have a government that is hostile to or just plain old anti-Christian, you must get involved with politics in order to change the government to be favorable to God’s word and the way to do that is to put Christians in power! (more…)

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Britain’s Christians are being vilified, warns Lord Carey

By John Bingham, Religious Affairs Editor Telegraph.co.uk – 13 Apr 2012

 

Christians are being “persecuted” by courts and “driven underground” in the same way that homosexuals once were, a former Archbishop of Canterbury has warned.

Lord Carey says worshippers are being “vilified” by the state, treated as “bigots” and sacked simply for expressing their beliefs.

The attack is part of a direct appeal to the European Court of Human Rights before a landmark case on religious freedom.

In a written submission seen by The Daily Telegraph, the former leader of more than 70?million Anglicans warns that the outward expression of traditional conservative Christian values has effectively been “banned” in Britain under a new “secular conformity of belief and conduct”.

His comments represent one of the strongest attacks on the impartiality of Britain’s judiciary from a religious leader.

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Christianity gets less sensitive treatment than other religions admits BBC chief

By Paul Revoir  27 February 2012

BBC director-general Mark Thompson has claimed Christianity is treated with far less sensitivity than other religions because it is ‘pretty broad shouldered’.

He suggested other faiths have a ‘very close identity with ethnic minorities’, and were therefore covered in a far more careful way by broadcasters.

But he also revealed that producers had to consider the possibilities of ‘violent threats’ instead of polite complaints if they pushed ahead with certain types of satire.

Mr Thompson said: ‘Without question, “I complain in the strongest possible terms”, is different from, “I complain in the strongest possible terms and I am loading my AK47 as I write”. This definitely raises the stakes.’ (more…)

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Jesus Red Bull Commercial Dropped in South Africa Amid Christian Outcry

By Daniel Blake , Christian Post Contributor – March 14, 2012

Red Bull has said that it will drop a commercial released in South Africa due to fierce criticism from Christians, who have said the ad mocks Jesus’ miracle of walking on water.

Christians in the country, although not asked to take part in a full boycott against Red Bull, were told by South Africa’s Roman Catholic bishops not to drink the energy drink during their traditional fast for Lent ahead of Easter.

The commercial has also been released in Brazil, where it has also received huge criticism. As revealed through a previous CP report, the commercial could be banned in the South American country by the National Advertising Council (CONAR).

In the cartoon ad, Jesus and two of his disciples are sitting inside a small fishing boat. Jesus suddenly gets up and with frustration says: “Well guys, that is it! Nothing is going to happen today! I am getting out of here!” (more…)

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Open Doors: Growth of Christianity in Iran ‘Explosive’

The Christian Post Middle East Sunday, Mar 25, 2012

Despite the Iranian government’s ongoing crackdown of Christians living in the primarily Islamic country, the number of Muslims converting to become Christians is growing at an explosive rate, according to the persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA.

There is even talk of witnessing a Christian revival, especially among young people living in the country, say Open Doors ministry workers in the Middle East.

A house church movement within Iran is part of that revival and has triggered “many secret meetings.” The growth in the number of Christians is happening in all regions, but mostly in larger cities, say Open Doors workers in the region.

Iran is ranked 5th on the Open Doors 2012 World Watch List of the top 50 worst persecutors of Christians.

“Open Doors workers think that the growth of Christianity has everything to do with Iranians getting to know the real face of Islam, the official religion of Iran, and the mistrust of the people toward the government and leaders following the fraudulent 2009 presidential election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,” said a Middle East worker for Open Doors (name withheld for security reasons).

Since the beginning of this year, authorities have arrested Christian converts in Tehran, Ahwaz, Shiraz, Isfahan and Kermanshah, according to news reports from the Middle East and U.S. (more…)

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Palestinian Christians Focus on Peace, Not End Times Prophecy, at ‘Checkpoint’ Conference

By Stoyan Zaimov , Christian Post Reporter – March 15, 2012

A conference held last week in Bethlehem between March 5-9 brought together more than 600 international and local Christians to discuss the future of Palestinian Christians and the ongoing Middle East conflict.

“Christ at the Checkpoint” addressed how to keep hope and faith in Christ amid the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, and discussed biblical ways of viewing the issues that have historically divided the two communities. It was hosted by Bethlehem Bible College, an organization of Palestinian Evangelical Christians.

Although a lot has been written in recent times comparing the current Middle East situation to prophecies highlighted in the Bible, the conference leaders wanted to steer the discussion away from End Times talk and encourage the evangelical community to join Palestinians in following Jesus in the prophetic pursuance of justice, peace and reconciliation.

Some of the other goals of the conference included seeking ways to empower and encourage the Palestinian church; expose the realities of the injustices in the Palestinian territories and create awareness of the obstacles to reconciliation and peace; create a platform for engagement with Christian Zionism and motivate participants to become advocates for the reconciliation work of the church and its ramifications for the Middle East and the world. (more…)

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The Historical Reality of the Muslim Conquests

Catholic Lane ^ | March 3, 2012 | Raymond Ibrahim

Because it is now almost axiomatic for American school textbooks to whitewash all things Islamic (see here for example), it may be useful to examine one of those aspects that are regularly distorted: the Muslim conquests.

Few events of history are so well documented and attested to as are these conquests, which commenced soon after the death of the Muslim prophet Muhammad (632) and tapered off circa 750. Large swathes of the Old World—from the India in the east, to Spain in the west—were conquered and consolidated by the sword of Islam during this time.

By the standards of history, the reality of these conquests is unassailable, for history proper concerns itself with primary sources; and the Islamic conquests are thoroughly documented. More importantly, the overwhelming majority of primary source materials we rely on do not come from non-Muslims, who might be accused of bias. Rather, the foremost historians bequeathing to posterity thousands of pages of source materials documenting the Islamic conquests were not only Muslims themselves; they were—and still are—regarded by today’s Muslims as pious and trustworthy scholars (generically, the ulema).

Among the most authoritative books devoted to recounting the conquests are: Ibn Ishaq’s (d. 767) Sira (“Life of Muhammad”), the oldest biography of Muhammad; Waqidi’s (d. circa. 820) Maghazi (“Military Campaigns [of the Prophet]“); Baladhuri’s (d. 892) Futuh al-Buldan (“Conquests of the Nations”); and Tabari’s (d.923) multi-volume Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, (“History of Prophets and Kings”), which is 40 volumes in the English translation. (more…)

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Schools and Same Sex Marriage / Pray for QLD Election / Anti-Sharia Conference Video / Is President Obama a Muslim?

Dear friends and family in Christ, 1) For your prayerful interest click the following link to read a very important article titled 'Same-sex marriage set to transform our schools' by…

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Christian Soldiers Banned from The Quran in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan

Thursday, March 01, 2012 - Pam Geller The collapse of American will. More sharia provisions in the military. Non-Muslims are not allowed to handle the quran unless they are considering…

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