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All religions are equal?


 

He was a healthy infant whose top teeth grew in before his bottom ones. The village elders claimed it was a sign that he was mingi (cursed) so they took the child to the middle of the river and threw him to the crocodiles. Children born out of wedlock or with deformities are often singled out and sacrificed in the river so that they won’t invite evil spirits to come into the village. This is not a story from long past. It’s happening now in southern Ethiopia!  (Christianity Today, August 2011)  When I read the account of child sacrifice, about the sorrow it brings to young parents, about the persistence of superstition – it made me think about the nonsense we hear about the equality of religions.
I am so thankful that I know Christ, that I do not fear evil spirits, demons, or the unknown.  He has brought me freedom from such fears, relieved any need to appease God, by inviting me into “life to the full.” Christ Jesus brings light and life, not sorrow and death. A true disciple is invited to care and love for others, even his enemies. He calls us to give life, not to attack and kill. Yes, I know that millions of “Christians” through the centuries have killed in His name. I know that witches were burned, heretics hanged, and wars were waged supposedly because of Christ.  But, it’s hard to convince me that Jesus Christ really was the reason for those things. Where the Spirit of the Lord is invited to reveal the truth of the Gospel, there is peace.
The story of an Ethiopian tribe that is a neighbor to the one that sacrifices children contains a glimmer of hope. “One small band of Christians in one tribe has pledged to protect these accursed children until mingi is no more. They are determined to show village elders that there is something stronger than mingi – the power of Jesus Christ.”  These Christians, with help from outsiders, have created orphanages to take in the children that would otherwise die. They are resisting evil with love which is what Jesus teaches. Just 1 to 2% of the tribe is Christian, but their influence and devotion has almost eliminated mingi killings in their tribe. One Christian family has taken in 17 foster children, at great risk to themselves and their own families!

Disciple, that is true religion! “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” (James 1:27-28, NLT) 

Jerry Scott Avatar

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Jerry Scott
Follower of Jesus Christ, father, grandfather Retired pastor https://www.facebook.com/jerscott
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2 responses to “All religions are equal?”

  1. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Rev. Scott:Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this story — and I appreciate the opportunity to share with you my own.Whether or not all religions are equal is certainly a matter of legitimate theological debate — a debate in which I believe followers of Christ should engage with open hearts and open minds. I can't, however, get behind the logic that mingi killings are evidence of the superiority of Christianity. Sure, the followers of mingi are not Christian — but nor are they Muslim, Buddhist, or any other religion. It is, of course, not hard to identify the evil inherent in the practice of mingi — indeed, that is why we traveled to Ethiopia to report on this tragic situation. But what we witnessed in the Omo River Valley was not a consequence of religion or even superstition, but of ignorance and fear — the very same factors that have contributed to vast evils that have been and continue to be perpetuated in the name of (but not because of) Christ.shalom,matthew Matthew D. LaPlante

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  2. Jerry D. Scott Avatar
    Jerry D. Scott

    How is something done to ward off evil spirits not religious in nature? I'm not a sociologist, but I believe that actions taken for spiritual reasons are in some way religious. The stand out feature of the story for me was the change in the culture brought about by those who have embraced Christ and taken His mandate to bring His kingdom to bear on their daily lives.Thanks so much for taking time to comment.Jerry

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