8 Christians Arrested in Jordan for Offering Humanitarian Assistance
Jordan Arrests Evangelists
Written by The Media Line Staff
Published Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Eight people have been arrested in Jordan for propagating the Christian faith,
according to a Saudi newspaper.
Jordanian security forces arrested eight people, mostly foreigners, after they were caught distributing missionary material to Bedouin families north and east of the Jordanian capital, Amman, the Saudi daily Al-Watan reported.
The authorities received information about the missionaries from local residents who said these foreigners were offering humanitarian assistance to poor Muslim families and distributing fliers promoting Christianity.
Darn those Christian infidels! Always trying to do good!
Sources said they were “enticing” impoverished youngsters by paying them money and calling on them to marry foreign girls.
Islam is the state religion in Jordan, though Christianity is a recognized religion in the country.
Evangelism is a practice frowned upon in the Muslim world, and often associated with Western imperialism.
The Jordanian government prohibits conversion from Islam and the proselytizing of Muslims. The Shari’a courts have the authority to prosecute people trying to convert Muslims, according to the United States State Department’s annual report on religious freedom.
Muslims in Jordan who convert to another religion face social and governmental discrimination, the report said.
20 February, 2008 at 9:03 am
I used to ask myself; Why bother going to a hostile region? I even mumbled in the past that the missionaries are partially to blame for their own demise going to war torn areas. Now, I am retracing my thoughts.
My parents are once again in Africa offering humanitarian support to the people. I’ll be honest, I did not want them to go back. I am selfish and do not want them in danger. But, who am I to ask them to stop? The villagers love them, yet there will always be those who want to eliminate all the Christians.
20 February, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Hi all, it’s been some time since I have visited…
This may be an unpopular opinion here, but I agree that these christian missionary types are only propogating christianity. If they only wanted to help then they would help and keep their freakin Jesus pamphlets to themselves…
20 February, 2008 at 2:03 pm
TRM, I cannot speak for all missionaries. But, I know my parents are doing a great deal more than passing out “Jesus pamphlets”.
They have spent numerous hours finding water and having it delivered to the people in their village. Mom is teaching English and showing the women different foods that can be prepared for a more balanced diet. They were very excited to learn about pumpkin pie and peanut butter cookies.
And here is a short piece from the email they sent last night:
Your Dad was feeling right at home last week when he finally got a crew here to pump the septic tanks. They pumped the tanks okay, but it was discovered that lines were plugged at many homes. It was pretty nasty. He tried to find someone who would unplug the lines, but they simply said, “We empty the tanks, but we DO NOT clean the lines, so guess who got to do the job without a snake or machine…Yep, that is who…UGH! It seems he spends more of his time fixing or finding someone to fix the problems … sink faucets that fall off and blow water all over a kitchen, getting water tanks filled … But he keeps moving forward and upward doing all he can. I’m sure proud of him.
(But, then again… my Dad is one in a million!)
20 February, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Cavmom,
Please don’t mis-understand me. I find it honorable and admirable that some have the means and leisure to travel abroad and help those who are having trouble helping themselves.
I know how I would react if some Muslim’s came into American “trailer parks” and started “helping” people only if they accepted the word of Allah…
I have heard numerous times of the cold shoulder being given to those in need if they refused the “word of Jesus”
Its the same principal…
20 February, 2008 at 2:30 pm
NO problem TRM.
But, if you knew my parents, you would understand that they don’t ask a person what religion they belong to before offering a hand, when a hand is needed. Dad might do things backwards by some people’s standards…. He helps all people. He will pick up a crying child from the dusty street and offer the a warm shoulder. If he sees a cart broken in the middle of the street he will jog over to help the family get the wheel put back on.
He does not insist they take a pamphlet, nor does he cram Christianity down their throats. He leads by example. The people come back to him and ask him questions. They want to know more.
My parents are not rich… But, the do have leisure time as dad just turned 70 and mom is only a couple years behind him. They sold their home to finance this trip. Not all missionaries are religous freaks. Some are just honest to goodness decent people who want to help others.
20 February, 2008 at 3:35 pm
I really am not attacking anyone especially your parents….
I am simply addressing the article…
5 May, 2008 at 2:03 am
Religion is the root of all evil.
5 May, 2008 at 8:58 am
Yeah… Just think of all those wars started by religion! WWI … No wait, that wasn’t religious…. WWII…. No wait, that wasn’t religious either…. Korean war… Drat! Vietnam war…. No?
Hmmm… Maybe the love of money is the root of all evil….