Islamic Tolerance Alert. "Muslim hardliners storm Indonesia church," from Agence France-Presse:
JAKARTA (AFP) - Muslim hardliners stormed a church in Indonesia during services, smashing images of Jesus Christ and demanding that it be closed down, the pastor said on Monday.
Dozens of churches have had to be closed in the Muslim-majority country in recent years, and Sunday's attack was the second on the small Protestant church in the West Java town of Soreang since 2005.
Reverend Robby Elisa, who heads the church, said around 100 hardliners attacked while Sunday school was in session. He said his wife was beaten and that at least four stained glass depictions of Jesus were smashed.
"They came and forced their way into the church," he said. "The attackers claimed to be from the Anti-Apostate Movement Alliance. The same group had already attacked the church in 2005."
The secretary of the church's headquarters in Jakarta, Reverend Budi Setiawan, said that the attack had been reported to the Indonesian Church Association (PGI).
West Java, where Islam is strong, has seen a series of attacks on churches to force their closure.
The Jakarta Post newspaper said that more than 30 churches have had to close their door in West Java since 2004 because of attacks by Muslim hardliners. Dozens of churches have also been forced to close in other provinces, it said.
According to a current decree by the religious affairs ministry, houses of worship must obtain the approval of at least 60 percent of local residents and have at least 90 followers to be able to operated.
Elisa said that his church was small and only had a congregation of some 20 adults and 40 children and teenagers.
"Where else can we go? We are too far from the city and our congregation needs a place to worship," Elisa said.
The district police chief could not be immediately reached for comment, and the officer on duty at the district police declined to comment.
[...]
Although the constitution gives all religions equal footing, laws make it difficult for religions other than Islam to establish houses of worship.
Robert Spencer has said elsewhere that he disagrees with the concept of nuking Mecca.
However, I can't see why there can't be a worldwide warning to Islamic militants issued, to the effect that if there are any more terrorist attacks (including attacks on Churches) it will be bye bye Mecca.
If that was to happen, "moderate" Muslims would have to shoulder the responsibility of calming down their neurotic brethren.
A nuked Mecca makes sense, as the Islamic religion has less of a centre already with the ceasing of the caliphate in 1924. Less centre means less organisation and motivation to get anything done.
It may seem violent and rash. But consider the churchgoers of Indonesia, not to mention millions of other victims of Islam all over the world.
James
www.jamesforsyth.net
The silent, quiet suppression; oblique legality.
In recent years I have wondered whether the residually Christian parts of the world should encourage the migration of certifiable non-Muslims from nations where they are persecuted (Iraq, Indonesia, Egypt, Malaysia, and on and on) to their own borders. This would help to slow the demographic decline of the West and would damage the economies of the Muslim nations. Of course, it would have to be accompanied by a strict prohibition on Muslim migration and, ideally, a suppression and expulsion of undesirable elements.
One can dream.
Dhimmis of the world, unite! You have only to lose your chains.
Reciprocity law. Whatever is the treatment of foreigners or minorities in any country, the same should be the treatment of it's majority on our soil. No public islam for indonesians and saudis.
This incident is nothing new in terms of Islamic treatment of those religious minorities who receive "protection" under Sharia "law".
It is interesting how there are folks who claim that Islam is a peaceful religion in the face of these long standing "laws" and practices.
Assertive, continued pressure on these countries by coalition of Western and non-affiliated nations might make a difference.
God forbid that we should regress to the values of a more primitive era by imitating the primitive values of these intolerant nations.
Assertive, continued pressure on these countries by coalition of Western and non-affiliated nations might make a difference.
God forbid that we should regress to the values of a more primitive era by imitating the primitive values of these intolerant nations.
f Muslim militants are not stopped, what is happening in Indonesia will happen everywher else.