Indonesia

Palu, the city devastated by the quake and tsunami on Friday, is the capital of Central Sulawesi Province. The island of Sulawesi has been divided, at times bloodily, between Muslim and Christian populations. While Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, it also has a significant number of Christians.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, there was widespread communal violence in and around Poso, a port city not far from Palu that is mostly Christian. More than 1,000 people were killed and tens of thousands dislocated from their homes as Christian and Muslim gangs battled on the streets, using machetes, bows and arrows and other crude weapons.

In 2006, three Christian militants were executed by firing squad in Palu for their role in the communal violence. Christians in the area complained that fewer Muslims were held accountable for the Poso religious violence than Christians were. A government-brokered peace deal was eventually signed, but central Sulawesi remains a tense area.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/28/world/asia/tsunami-palu-indonesia-earthquake.html





Christianity is Indonesia's second-largest religion, after Islam. Indonesia also has the second-largest Christian population in Southeast Asia after the Philippines, the largest Protestant population in Southeast Asia, and the fourth-largest Christian in Asia after the Philippines, India and China. Indonesia's 24 million Christians constitute 10% of the country's population, with 7% Protestant (17 million) and 3% Catholic (7 million).[1] Some provinces in Indonesia are majority Christian (Protestant or Catholic).


In 2010, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found, for purposes of U.S. immigration law: "[T]he record compels a finding that Christians in Indonesia are a disfavored group."[51][52] The definition of this term is "a group of individuals in a certain country or part of a country, all of whom share a common, protected characteristic, many of whom are mistreated, and a substantial number of whom are persecuted" but who are "not threatened by a pattern or practice of systematic persecution." The court blamed the rise of anti-Christian sentiment on Suharto consorting with militant Islamic groups in the 1990s in order to maintain his power, noting that he had "purged his cabinet and army of Christians and replaced them with fundamentalist Muslims", and adding that support and protection for violent Islamic militia such as Laskar Jihad by the military and political elite had continued since Suharto's exit from power. According to the ruling: "Christian churches throughout Indonesia have been burned, bombed, and vandalised by Muslim extremists. According to the ruling: "Christian churches throughout Indonesia have been burned, bombed, and vandalised by Muslim extremists. These attacks are often accompanied by threats, such as: 'God has no son. Jesus could not help you. Until doomsday, Muslims will not make peace with Christians. Death to all Christians.'"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Indonesia



The way I see this is like this and which has been for some time. The Christians believe that God has an only Begotten Son. However, The Muslims do not. And when the Christians have to decide if God does truly have an Only Begotten Son or not, they have to either 'fend' or 'retreat' in their belief/faith. However, since The Holy Bible has said that God has an Only Begotten Son, they believe God. But the Holy Qur'an says that God has no 'son'.

And so without the proper knowledge of how to apply both 'Only Begotten Son' with 'no son', there is fightings. It is true that God cannot procreate mankind as a human can. God is unable to procreate as humans do. However HE can create with HIS Word. And in The Qur'an chapter 3 verse 45, God does say that The Messiah, Jesus, is the son of Maryam. And we do know that Maryam even herself asks God how she will have a son since she never had intercourse with a man.


Although both The Holy Bible and The Holy Qur'an speak of the same God, the same results are not produced. It is as if they are different 'Gods' but in actually this not true. They are the same God. It must have to do with the lack of proper teaching which the religious teachers of both faiths/religions, which is towards the One God, are teaching which is causing all these fightings between the 'same' religious/faith Scriptures.


This goes to show the 'power' of words. Words spoken in Churches/Mosques from leaders which the society has accepted as 'trustworthy'. Their words can shape the hearers' lives; present and future.

The same applies even in Universities and Educational Schools. What the students will hear, if that school is held in a good reputation, is what they will accept as being the 'truth'. And to these 'truths' they have accepted, they will defend and maybe even 'fight' for/over.

Certain Governments have 'taught' that it is okay and 'normal' to question your own personal sexuality and gender 'issues'. These things which many young citizens accept as 'truthful' is what keeps many of them in their pursuit(s) to live the life they believe they 'found' as 'their calling'.

Government is as schoolmasters which teach the citizens about certain 'laws' as well as the parents to children.


For the Government and citizens in Indonesia, they have been teaching and they have been learning that Christians are the lesser preferred due to some kind of 'God has no son', verse in The Qur'an which is definitely being taken out of True context. And these 'teachings' are probably effecting everybody in Indonesia.

What the U.S is teaching is that noone has a right to say how another should live as far as having any sort of 'personal' affiliation to any organization which might be known to 'infringe' upon the individual rights to have own moralities.


Because of these Muslims/Christians fights, 3 school girls had their lives ended because of some kind of 'God has no son' propaganda.

A huge problem is NOT in their 'lack of knowledge' towards God, the problem is their lack of responsibility which continues to be enabled. Living peaceably with others requires an effort and for either Christians or Muslims to not work at living peaceably with others is what a major problem is. With Societies, there are laws and there are morals. To break certain laws and morals within those societies is only causing friction among the peaceful ones. It is called personal respect towards others by acknowledging that the others have rights also. The rights to their own personal joys just as the friction causers have rights to their own joys. And to step upon their rights for well being and safety and joy is the same as they stepping on theirs for well being, safety and joy. Although fun is fun and a person is free to do as they desire, there are still certain boundaries. I cannot go into wherever I desire and do whatever I want. It just might not sit well with the residents.

Helping the Deaf in the “Emerald of the Equator”

Millions of deaf people live in Indonesia, sometimes called the Emerald of the Equator. To assist these people, Jehovah’s Witnesses arrange a wide range of Bible-based material and educational programs in Indonesian Sign Language. These efforts have not gone unnoticed.

A Sign-Language Convention
In 2016, in Medan, North Sumatra, Jehovah’s Witnesses held a convention in Indonesian Sign Language. A key security official in the region visited the event and praised the Witnesses for offering the educational program without charge. He was so moved by what he saw that he even attempted to join the audience in song by imitating their signs.

The convention “took place safely and successfully,” said the facility manager. “I hope the Witnesses continue to arrange such benevolent activities to help our deaf neighbors.” He added that when the owner of the facility learned that the convention was for deaf people, “he wanted to do something good for the Witnesses. So he instructed me to provide lunch for [all 300] in attendance.”

Appreciation for Sign-Language Videos
Jehovah’s Witnesses also visit deaf people personally to share the Bible’s message. The Witnesses often use videos in Indonesian Sign Language that are designed to help people enjoy productive and satisfying lives.

“The work that you do to care for the deaf and their needs is praiseworthy,” stated Mahendra Teguh Priswanto, regional deputy director of the Indonesian Association for the Welfare of the Deaf in Semarang City, Central Java. “For example, the video Your Family Can Be Happy is very helpful. We would appreciate it if this work is continued.”

They “Show Love”
Yanti, a deaf woman, has been profoundly affected by the Witnesses’ efforts. She explains: “People often mock the deaf, but Jehovah’s Witnesses show love. Many hearing Witnesses learn sign language to help deaf people get to know the Creator and improve the quality of their lives. I was touched by their sincere efforts.”

Yanti eventually became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and is now part of a translation team that produces sign-language videos in Indonesian Sign Language. She says: “The materials we produce help some who are limited in sign language to improve their signing skills. But they also teach people how to have happy and meaningful lives.”

https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witn...deaf-people-emerald-of-the-equator-indonesia/