Faith Freedom International

[jihadjay]

jihadjay

We could debate all day about the merits of Jesus and Buddha, and others, and in truth both Jesus and Buddha were people who showed the world nothing but love and wisdom. Yet people do not solely judge Christianity by Jesus, instead they focus on negative sides like war and so forth.

MYANMAR (BURMA) - Tens of thousands of Christians, mainly Karen and Shan, have been killed by Buddhists and churches have been burned, while hundreds of thousands have had to flee and many live in refugee camps in Thailand. Muslims have also been massacred in the Arakan state and thousands live in refugee camps in Bangladesh.

While in Bhutan, Laos, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and other mainly Buddhist nations, Christians and other minorities face enormous persecution. For example in parts of Southern Bhutan many Christians have been forced to renounce their faith; and in Udomsay Province, Laos, 21 out of 25 churches remain closed and three Christians, Mr. Boon Chan, Mr. Yot and Mr. Leu have been sentenced to between 12 and 15 years due to being Christian evangelists.

While Pastor Samantha in Sri Lanka recieves death threats form militant Buddhists in the Monaragala district. Apart from this, many churches have been destroyed and many Christians and Muslims have been killed in Sri Lanka by Buddhists.

It is also worth noting that the small Christian population in Tibet also suffers two types of discrimination, one from the central government in Beijing, and the other from Tibetan monks and Buddhists who discriminate against the small Christian community.

With regards to materialism, the wealth gap between rich and poor in Buddhist societies is often like most Islamic nations, it is massive, and small elites dominate society and wealth.

Also, one of the main reasons for the growth of Communism in Asia was blamed on Buddhist corruption and backwardness, with regards to China, Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, and Vietnam.

AN ALTERNATIVE VIEW - CURRENT BUDDHIST SOCIETY AND CULTURE

christianjihad@hotmail.com

[Varanasi]

If Buddhists kill Christians in Sri Lanka did not christians kill Budhism in Sri Lanka under the British colonila rule by discriminating Buddhists from the civil service?

If Buddhism cause Communism in Vietnam did not America support a corrupt Christian regime in Vietnam that led the Vietnamese to commmunism?

Did not communism come from Christian west? Were not East European countries christian that also founded communism. Communism is an export from the west.

Christian priests kill in the name of god . A monk was made saint and slept with Chinese converts to Christianity. He incited the Boxer Rebellion and burnt two summer palaces.

All the present pope did was apologised.

Chinese persecute Christians? Did not Clinton not pray to an invisible god in a church on his visit to China?

If your god exists your god must be sleeping on Sep 11 2001 and Oct 1 2002.

Buddhism is on the rise in the west.

When the iron birds fly Buddhism goes west.

Your christian bullshit is here

http://www.thehappyheretic.com/

Had the Vietnamese government imprisoned Christians there would be no churches in Vietnam today. How is it that there are Chritsian Vietnamese bishops today?

When the church is weak they play victim or cry baby. When the church is strong they play big bully.

Did not the Roman Catholic Church in US asked for immunity from the law.

There are so many Roman Catholic priets who abuse children. CaniIt not be said that the Roman Catholic Church cannot discipline its own priests?

If not why not when it has a proper hierachy.
The Roman Catholic priests need to convert to Buddhism

[jihadjay]

VARANASI

The British did not crush Buddhism in Sri Lanka, the British had a colonial Empire, and the British re-built Bodh Gaya where the Buddha taught.

Communists existed before the Christian Vietnamese leader, if you are refering to the French, then the French Constitution is secular.

Communism was forced on Eastern Europe, they did not have an option.

Boxer Rebellion was Chinese nationalism, and this applied not only to Western imperialism, but also Japanese imperialism.

No Monk would have been canonised if he slept with Chinese women, this is just stupid.

God must be sleeping because of September 11, again this is ignorance, this was due to human folly; the Christian God does not dictate like Islam and all humans are created free.

I could turn round and say where was the Buddha in Cambodia or China when the Japanese killed 25 million Chinese - BUT THIS WOULD BE STUPID, FOR THESE WERE DUE TO HUMAN FAILINGS

Buddhism is growing in the West - good, Western societies are open.

However, Christianity is 40% in South Korea; 10% in Vietnam; 11% in Myanmar; 8% in Sri Lanka; so that proves nothing.

NAME ME A CHRISTIAN NATION IN 2002 which puts Buddhists in prison?

I CAN NAME BUDDHIST COUNTRIES - LAOS, VIETNAM, BHUTAN

christianjihad@hotmail.com

What about democracy in Buddhist nations, not got a very good record, the same applies to the massive gaps in wealth.

christianjihad@hotmail.com

[Varanasi]

Buddha does not play god.

If your god is almighty then show its almightiness.
The Buddha is a human being. We do not claim Buddha to be god .

Your god is supposed to be almighty. Yes or no?

There are no Buddhist countries. China is communist .All the laws in Sri Lanka or Vietnam are secular laws.

There are no Buddhist laws.Only the faith of the people is Buddhism.

Do not make false statements like Vietnam or Tibet imprison Christians.

Name me with proof that these countries imprison Christians.

http://pub6.ezboard.com/fhinduunityhinduismhottopics.showMessage?topicID=11069.topic

[Varanasi]

Who is god?

What proof that you have that god created anything?

I am not interested in god nor Christianity

It is always the Christians who go to other websites and spread false news.

The Christian monk slept with Chinese converts before the girls got married so that god will sanctify the marriage. Do not deny. The Chinese government complained to the pope.

The west accept Buddhism because not that it is open but Buddhism is more logical. People are convinced of its teaching.

The British brought Christianity to Sri lanka. Do not deny that Christianity was not promoted by the British. Wherever the British went the church came too.

Before I had the land you had the Bible. Now I had the Bible you have my land.

This is Christianity. Killing off the whole Aztec civilisation.

[Varanasi]

Communism came from the west. If christianity has nothing to do with Communism then why has Buddhism got to do with Communism?

Buddhism existed before Communism. So what has Buddhism got to do with Communism.

Just because some countries have Buddhism and communism that does not mean the government is Buddhist. The people are Buddhists .

The laws are communist just like Poland and Eatern Europe.

[Varanasi]

We are not interested in god because god is not a reality.

This god business is all abstract. Do not use an unreal thing to talk about a real thing.

There is no basis for logic.

No one has seen or heard from god. It is all one man hearing from another.

Until and unless you bring god to me then I will believe what god says or does not say. Quoting from any book about god is useless to me.

Either I see god or else I am not interested in talking about god. If I cannot see and talk to god I am not interested in god.OK

I am not interested in saved and be saved. If Jesus cannot save himself from the Romans Jesus cannot save me from god. Simple.

Buddhism is reality.


http://www.enabling.org/ia/vipassana/Archive/N/Nyanatiloka/WOB/wobTOC.htm

This is the truth of no god.

http://www.atheists.org/

[Varanasi]

The British did not rebuilt Budhigaya.

General Cunninham did when General Cunninham took to Buddhism

During the colonial rule some British civil servents took to Buddhism.

Christmas Humphrey founded the London Buddhist Soceity.

[roshan]

jihadjay, have you ever heard of the TAIPING REBELLION?

it was started by a christian guy read the bible. after that he started getting visions of jesus etc. he then studied with a baptist priest and became a christian fanatic. this murderer SLAUGHTERED TWENTY MILLION NON CHRISTIANS in his attempt to turn china into a christian nation.

this christian war is the bloodiest war ever fought. not even the muslims or the nazis ever commited such a huge massacre of people.

christians purposely make up stories about how they are being persecuted in order to cover up their own crimes and massacres.
_________________

[jihadjay]

Firstly the British gave military and economic assistance to defeat the Taiping Rebellion; and many millions massacred were Christians. Just like Japan had killed hundreds of thousands of Christians under the rule of Hideyoshi.

You see what hurts you both is that Christians do not persecute Buddhists in any nation; however, many Buddhist societies persecute and kill Christians, notably Myanmar which also kills Muslims in the Arakan state.

With regards to Jesus not being able to defeat people, you are wrong, for Jesus did not teach the "sword" nor did he have an army. Jesus was born poor, and died poor and between two common criminals. His life was short, but His impact great.

Can you prove that Buddhist Canon Law is true? Can you prove that reincarnation is true, and how come the population keeps on rising, surely reincarnation would just be the same people being reborn. And isn't it barbaric that if you were bad in your past life (again no prove) that you will be punished? And who punishes you? And who states you have reached enlightenment?

If nothing exists, for example a God or Gods, then who judges enlightenment? And are you really telling me that picking young children to be future Buddhists leaders is enlightened because they happen to like the same toy, or something?

I can not see molecules, or oxygen, but I know it exists. If you need proof VARANSI, then what proof do you have of Buddha reaching enlightenment? And who judged Buddha to obtain enlightenment?

Anyway, how come Buddhist societies are poor and backward like Laos, Cambodia, Bhutan, Mongolia, and so on?

With regards to the British Empire you are dumb, and I mean dumb. The British supported the Druze in Lebanon against Maronite Chrisitans; the British left the Muslim elite in power in Nigeria and not Christians; the British were allies of the Ottoman Empire in the Crimean War against Russia; I could go on, but what is the point, I have already proved you have a lot of ignorance.

With regards to the Aztecs, weren't they also very violent? And how could small numbers of Spanish soldiers conquer the Aztecs? Surely internal dynamics took place?

Also, with regards to Sri Lanka many Christians are Roman Catholic, strange if the British did this, wouldn't you think so?

christianjihad@hotmail.com

[jihadjay]

VARANSI

You quote from the Chinese government with regards to this priest, so does this mean you believe the same Chinese government when it states that they do persecute Tibetans?

You can not have it both ways?

FOR PERSECUTION of non-Buddhist minorities then check numerous websites with regards to the KAREN and SHAN in MYANMAR

The HMONG in LAOS

Christian persecution in Vietnam

I also named the region in Sri Lanka in message 1.

christianjihad@hotmail.com

[Hmmm]

Even if Buddhists attacked Christians, it is those Christians who are responsible for the actions of Buddhists. Why ? because Christian missionaries show an attitude that is the EPITOME of INTOLERANCE as established in the following website.

http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0016/0016_01.asp

All missionaries should stop conversion and proselytizing by immoral means(includes allurements, fooling poor people with cheap tricks and lies, using money as an instrument to take advantage of people living in poverty).

http://kwelos.tripod.com/russia.htm
http://kwelos.tripod.com/mongolia.htm
http://kwelos.tripod.com/memes.htm

http://forum.faithfreedom.org/viewtopic.php?t=2345

So to begin, Christianity is based on FALSEHOOD and is very similar to ISLAM as Christians and Christianity preaches hatred for anything non-Christian. Christianity is based on so much DOGMA which often conflicts with it's own scriptures.

Let us see how Christian barbarians and Islamo barbarians persecute Buddhists.

http://buddhistfaith.tripod.com/pureland_sangha/id22.html

Buddhists being persecuted in Korea

http://www.buddhapia.com/eng/tedesco/pic1/list.html

Deacon Lee Bahn Sung

"If I acted on what I believed I, too, could have vandalized temples. When I consider those who commit such acts I think to myself that they have a much stronger faith than me." BBC-World (TV), Asia Today, May 21, 1999.

Christian attitude toward other religions in America:

http://www.waf.org/familyarchives/relijus/
%27Screw%20the%20Buddhists%20and%20kill%20the
%20Muslims%27%20says%20S.C.%20education%20official.htm


'Screw the Buddhists and kill the Muslims' says S.C. education official

COLUMBIA, S.C. (May 16, 1997 12:25 p.m. EDT) -- A state Board of Education member, talking Tuesday about displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools, had a ready suggestion for groups who might object to it.

"Screw the Buddhists and kill the Muslims," Dr. Henry Jordan said during the board's finance and legislative committee meeting. "And put that in the minutes," he added.

The remarks made Tuesday were expunged from the written minutes, but were recorded on tape. The (Columbia) State obtained the tape under the Freedom of Information Act.

Jordan, a surgeon who failed in a bid to get the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in 1994, said Thursday he thought the meeting was over and members were engaged in private conversation.

The tape, however, shows the committee proceeding to other items on the agenda.

Jordan also said he didn't mean for his comments to be taken literally.

"I was expressing my frustration. We can't teach basic Christianity even from a historical standpoint, but they can teach about Muslims and Buddhists," he said. "They can teach any kind of cult. Buddhism is a cult. So is Islam. I'm getting a little tired of it."

In a television interview Friday, Jordan said no one wants to be tolerant of Christians, although Christians are expected to tolerate other religions, adding: "I did not wish these two religious groups any ill will."

Jordan plans to offer a proposal at the next board meeting to allow students to vote to display the commandments at their school and to pay for it with private money.

"What I want to do is promote Christianity as the only true religion," he said. "This nation was founded to worship, honor and glorify Jesus Christ, not Mohammed, not Buddha."

State Superintendent of Education Barbara Nielsen has dissociated herself and her department from Jordan's remarks. "He's one person, and I don't think his comments reflect the views of the board," she said.

Carl Eisenstadt, a leader of the Buddhist Dharmadhatu in Columbia, said Jordan obviously was intolerant of other religions, while Muhammad Sayed Adley, the imam for the Masjid Al Muslimiin mosque in Columbia, said a school board member should not advocate the killing of Muslims or anyone else in a public meeting.

The two men oppose displaying the Ten Commandments because they feel such efforts are designed to promote Christianity.

It appears unlikely that Jordan could be removed from the board for his comments. The governor can remove state board members only if they are convicted of misconduct.

Jordan was appointed to a four-year term on the 17-member board last month. Board members are chosen by state legislators from each of the state's judicial districts.

Copyright 8 1997 Nando.net
Copyright 8 1997 The Associated Press

http://www.angelfire.com/ab/jumma/religion.html
http://www.tibet.ca/wtnarchive/2001/8/5_1.html

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Rhodes/3991/mission.html

So the only way to stop Islam and Christianity is to prove that these are false religions.

[Hmmm]

Persecution of Buddhists by Christians


http://www.buddhapia.com/eng/tedesco/3.html

Chronology of Events January 1997- December 1998

January 1997. Minister of Government Administration, Han-gyu Kim who is a Christian elder announced that the national exam for public officials (Level 7) would be administered during weekdays. Buddhists called for rectification since it is a religiously discriminatory policy to set the exam date in consideration of a particular religion.

June 1997. Human feces were scattered around the Dharma Hall in the Special Forces¡¯ School under the Ranger-commando Force. Candidates for Noncommissioned officers who tried to attend dharma meeting had to write a letter of self-criticism. It was revealed that the officer in command forced the candidates without religion to believe in Christianity and applied unspoken pressure on Buddhist candidates. Buddhists organized Countermeasure Committee against Oppression of Buddhism and protested strongly. Defense Ministry issued an apology under the name of its minister. Lieutenant Colonel H i-man Park, head of the Special Forces¡¯ School was warned, and Commander, Lieutenant Chin-gyu Lee and Chaplain. Captain Siyong Chang were dismissed. ¡°Military Affairs Regulations¡± were formulated and directed to the whole army.

July 3, 1997. Fire, presumably arson, broke out at Kubog-am in Pyongch¡¯ang-dong, Ch¡¯onghak-sa and Samdong-sa in Chongnung 3 Dong. The origin of the fire is unknown.

July 8, 1997. Fire, presumably arson, breaks out at Kumgang-am in Tobong-dong and Pomjong-sa in Ssangmun-dong. CBS denounces Buddhism in a program called ¡°Make us anew (Saerop-ge Hasos ).¡± This incident is revealed during deliberations of Broadcasting Committee and a warning is issued to CBS accordingly.

July 26, 1997. Fire, presumably arson, breaks out at Kungnak-sa in Mang¡¯uri around 1:50 a.m. The main dharma hall and living quarters are burned to the ground. Estimated damages are 500 million won.

August 2, 1997. Attempted arson attack occurs at Inson-sa in Pyongch¡¯ang-dong. The masked perpetrator tries to set fire while threatening the abbot of the temple with a container of gasoline. He escape when interrupted by students. Inson-sa requests a thorough investigation by the police and supplies evidence used by the perpetrator.

August 3, 1997. Fire, presumably arson, breaks out at Homyong-sa in Inch¡¯on and destroyed main dharma hall.

August 18, 1997. Chairman of the Grand National Party (Shinhanguktang) Hoich¡¯ang Lee, in a special live program with presidential candidates organized by the Far East Broadcasting (Kukdong Pangsong), replies that ¡®Sundays should be avoided for national or group functions since Sunday is a day to rest¡¯ when asked a question regarding national exams administered on Sundays and the infringement of religious activities.

August 20, 1997. National exam for public officials (level 7) for the year of 1997 was held during the week instead of Sunday as requested by Christians. Chairman of United Liberal Democrats (Chaminnyon) Jong-pil Kim mentioned that if he is elected president, he would try his best to eliminate hindrances in religious life. However, it may be difficult to eliminate them all, regarding national exams administered on Sundays and the infringement of religious activities.

August 25, 1997. Fire, presumably arson, breaks out in a studio on the 1stt floor of the Buddhist Television Network (BTN). Evidence found at the scene includes partially burnt paper and traces of fuel. This is the second incident in which that the Buddhist media is targeted.

October 5, 1997. Fire, presumably arson, breaks out at Yongsan Pophwa-sa in Hyehwa-dong, Seoul around 2 a.m. It destroys the library in the basement. The fire is extinguished in two hours. Two people including a resident monk are treated for suffocation caused by smoke inhalation. Damage caused by another fire in 1991 amounted to 60 million won.

October 23, 1997. Inch¡¯ n Union of Christianity (Inch¡¯ n Kidokkyo ch¡¯ongyonhap) held a prayer service at Inch¡¯ n gymnasium attended by 5,000 ministers and lay followers demanding removal of the Buddha statue in Inch¡¯on Detention House. In an effort to press their demand, they make a protest visit to the Detention House after the service.

November 3, 1997. Munhwa Broadcasting Company (MBC) airs a program on monk Yongsan at PD Notebook (PD Such¡¯ op) which was derogatory against Buddhism.

November 1997. Presidential candidate Hoi-ch¡¯ang Lee printed ¡°an apostate monk mask¡± in his publicity leaflet as the symbol of deceit and lie. Even though this can provide enough ground for misunderstanding, the fact that they did not thoroughly check the leaflet is the indication of their lack of understanding of or prejudice against Buddhism.

December 30, 1997. Fire of unknown origin breaks out at Kimyong-sa in Munkyong, Kyongbuk. Three buildings including Solsondang Pavillion, and living quarters are burnt to ashes. Solsondang, a huge lecture hall built about 100 years ago, was the biggest wooden building in the country.

February 16, 1998. Marine Corps Commandant Tobong Chon says that he would make the Marine Corps soldiers of Christ at a ground-breaking ceremony of a church for the Second Division of the Marine Corps. Buddhists made a strong protest against the incident. Marine Corps Commandant sends a letter of explanation stating that the incident was found groundless through self investigation under the directives of the Chief of Naval Operations (March 13, 1998) and promises to prevent any recurrences of the kind (March 14, 1998).

May 7, 1998. President DJ Kim and the First Lady invite a Catholic priest and a minister to the Blue House for Mass and worship service. It was announced that President Kim could not attend mass the last two months. This is to save the President trouble of going out during the weekend and to avoid causing inconvenience to other parishioners. Buddhists express concern

1998. Joog-ang Daily Newspaper¡¯s Chicago Office publishes 1998 version of the Joong-ang Ilbo Korean Business Directory omitting four Buddhist temples including Pult¡¯a-sa, Pongbul-sa, Pulsim-sa Sonryon-sa in the religious category. Joong-ang Daily sends a letter of apology to the Chogye Order and promises to prevent any recurrences. Head of the Chicago office visits the temples and apologizes.

1998. Jae-sop Lee, head Minister of Joong-ang Holiness Church (Joong-ang Songgyol Kyohoe) in Taejon distributes leaflets denouncing Buddhism. Upon a protest by Buddhists, Minister Lee visits the Buddhist Association in Taejon and promise to run an apology statement in the daily newspaper.

1998. The government revokes its intention to engrave a dragon image on the handle of National Seal due to a strong protest by Korean Christians. Christians assert the ¡°animal symbolizes Satan¡± and should not be used in an image representing our nation.¡¯

May 16, 1998. Police investigator following a tip without evidence about organized gangsters barge into a dharma hall where a special ritual (Yesujae) is in progress, put handcuffs on a monk and take him to the police station without an arrest warrant using violent language in front of the worshippers. This case is now on trial.

June 3, 1998. A certain Kim breaks into the Main Dharma Hall of Podok-sa in Pangbae-dong and trie to destroy the Buddha triad. He is arrested but is later released without being charged due to the indifferent attitude of the Pangbae Policebox. The Kim had threatened arson attack against the temple several times during the past month. Pangbae Policebox rearrest the suspect who was found to be a Christian, upon strong demand by the temple.
Damage traces indicate that someone smashed a door of the dharma hall and tries to set fire to Hyangnim-sa, Yangch¡¯on-gu, Seoul. Temple residents catch two suspicious people including a wife of a minister who was wandering around the dharma hall and reported them to the police. Police find no evidence and they are released.

June 26, 1998. Su-jin Kim, a Christian, breaks into Wonmyong Sonwon (Zen Center) in Cheju Island, decapitates 750 granite Buddha statues and destroys a gilt bronze Buddha triad, gold-plated jade Buddha and many other Buddhist items. He is caught by people at the temple while breaking windows of the living quarters. Kim confesses at the police that he destroyed Buddha statues in order to convert the temple to a church.

June 27, 1998. Thirty Christian naval men from the First Division of the Marine Corps missionize in front of Seoul Railroad Station after attending a spiritual retreat. Only three months before the Chief of Naval Operations promises to prevent recurrences of such incidents.

July 1, 1998. Songsun Kim, ward chief of Sonpa-gu district and Chong-shik Chang, ward chief of Kangbuk-ku district are sworn in with their hands on a Christian Bible, which evoked public criticism. Kim apologizes later. Chang refuses at first but apologizes later when repeatedly demanded by Buddhists.

July 6, 1998. Someone intentionally sprays kerosene in the well at a Taego Temple, Wohyo-sa in Sadang-dong, This case is under investigation.

July 16, 1998. Leader of the Grand New Party Hwa-gap Han stirs up trouble when he states, ¡°if President Kim¡¯s reform fails, the future of the country will be grim. This government was given to us by God¡± in an interview with Sisa Journal dated July 16.

July 26, 1998. Two right hand fingers of the Shakyamuni Buddha statue and four left fingers of Manjusri Boddhisattva at Torim-sa in Cheju island are damaged. Police suspect a Ms. Yang who damaged Buddha images the same way in 1995.

July 30, 1998. Newsmaker which is published by Kyonghyang Daily uses an expression derogatory to the ordained clergy and Buddhism in an article, ¡®Money Loving Elite Worldly Desires Gone Astray¡¯ and ¡®Safe in hell, no keys¡¯, written by the reporter Kil-gon Chong. ¡°Once a monk acquires the taste of meat, not even a fly in the dharma hall will be spared.¡±

August 25, 1998, Two Buddha statues in Pohyonsa Temple in Ch¡¯ongju City are damaged by a Mr. Oh Pyong-gak, a member of a local church. He had a psychiatric history.

August 29, 1998, Four policemen from Public Security Division of Seoul Metropolitan Police rough up Ven. Song Kwang at the entrance of Chogyesa Temple, the main headquarters temple of the order in Seoul at 9:30 am. The police had been blocking the driveway of the temple and he asked them to step aside so he could drive in and park. They hit him and used abusive language in response. Outraged lay people struggled with the police and a few people received injuries. The police escaped the scene when the protest by lay people escalated. Immediately after the incident, Police Chief Kim, Yonghwa and Kim, Hongjun, Director of the Public Security Division visit Chogyesa to make formal apology and to promise that police involved in the incident will be disciplined. The four perpetrators of the violence visited Chogyesa later that afternoon and apologized to the victim and laypeople involved and performed many prostrations in the temple.

September 1, 1998, Rev. Kim An-shik of Kunbit Church in Ch¡¯ongju visits Ven. Wonbong, abbot of Pohyonsa Temple with a letter of regret for desecration incident committed by a former church member. Rev. Kim¡¯s letter states ¡®it broke my heart upon hearing of the desecration at Pohyonsa¡± and asks forgiveness of the abbot and hopes that these acts should never be repeated in the future.

September 4, 1998, Korean National Council of Churches (KNCC) responds sympathetically to destructive actions of some Christians against Buddhist shrines in previous months. There is a spectrum of reactions by Korean churches to the KNCC announcement as be seen in the following news report.

SEOUL (Yonhap) 980904 KST - In response to incidents of vandalism targeting Buddhist statues, the Korean National Council of Churches (KNCC) expressed concern about the destructive actions of some Christians.

The KNCC's announcement has eased the tension between Christians and Buddhists.


However, a Christian non-denominational weekly newspaper published by the Rev. Kim Chul-young ran articles justifying vandalism of Buddhist property.

The newspaper, Hanil-nara (Heavenly Kingdom), published on its front page a photograph of a decapitated Buddhist statue, with the caption from the Old Testament's Book of Judges urging the destruction of religious idols.

A page-two editorial, entitled "All religious idols should be eliminated," said, "The Buddhist community's criticism of the government over these incidents is unfair."

The editorial added, "The Buddhists' criticism of former President Kim Young-sam for holding Christian religious services in the Blue House led him to stop; and this refusal to allow the President to pray resulted in disasters.

"The recent flooding in Korea struck hardest those areas in which there were many Buddhist statues. There was no flooding on Cheju Island, where a Christian destroyed many Buddhist statues this summer."

In addition, the editorial said that "if people do not respect the one God, they will be subject to disasters." The editorial concluded that "it is unfortunate that it is illegal to destroy Buddhist statues."

In response to the KNNC's recent announcement, the editorial said, "Do you think God will be happy with your announcement? We fear his reaction." The editorial stressed that "since the current environment is accepting of all religions, Christians should prevent others from worshipping false gods and encourage them to worship the true God."

Earlier, Kidok Shinmun (Christianity Newspaper) said, "Buddhists are overreacting to these incidents." The newpaper printed a cartoon and articles suggesting that Buddhists were overly sensitive."

But another newspaper, Kidokkyo Shinmun (Christian Newspaper), a Presbyterian publication, expressed deep concern about conflict with other religions and dedicated a series of articles to the subject.

It said that because of certain incidents - including "continuous vandalism, Christians' open support for Kim Young-sam in 1992, Christians' destruction of totems at Yonsei University and Seoul's Noryang-jin area, and their opposition to building a memorial to Korea's mythical founder, Tangun" - that the public has criticized Christians for extremism. This criticism, it said, "has resulted from Christians' cultural insensitivity and failure to acknowledge other belief systems."

September 14-16, 1998. The Daily Sports Newspaper (Ilgan Sports) prints a cartoon series called ¡°Toshi-uhon with a sorcerer who tries to kill someone by using the mantra ¡°Om mani padme hum¡± as an incantation for three days in a row from September 14 through 16. ¡®Om mani padme hum¡¯ is frequently recited Buddhist mantra. Buddhists are shocked that this mantra was quoted as a curse to kill people. The newspaper prints a statement of apology on September 25 due to a strong protest by Buddhists.

September 23-24, 1998, One hundred and eighty Buddhist police chaplains participate in training meeting to deal with religious prejudice and prevent the desecration of Buddhism. They resolve to 1) to take initiative to overcome economic crisis and protect the national culture, 2) to make efforts to prevent religious prejudice and 3) to strongly urge the placement of policemen in charge of Buddhist desecration and arson in every police station to prevent future incidents.

November 3-11, 1998, The faces of Buddha statues and paintings in seven temples in Chungch¡¯ongbukto are attacked and severely damaged by razor. Witnesses indicate that a car with license plates from another region was spotted in the temple precincts.

November 27, 1998, Six Buddha statues are found severely damaged outside of Chongsu Am Temple in Pusan. They are decapitated, with damaged noses, and human feces are smeared all over them. Police assume the crime was perpetrated by 2-3 people weilding implements judged by the severity of the damage.

December 1998, Buddhist circles raise concerns about the so-called ¡°Historical and Cultural Tour for Youth¡± conducted by the Korea Youth Federation of Seoul April through August this year. According to the Seoul Federation¡¯s recent publication ¡° Visiting Cultural Sites of Seoul,¡± thr youth visited Protestant Chongdong Church and Catholic Myongdong Cathedral as representative cultural and historical sites while Buddhist sites, relics or remains were neglected. 20,000 youth in the Seoul area participated in the program over five months.

December 15, 1998, A Kwanum statue carved on a rock in Pukhnsan National Park on the hiking route between Hwagyesa Temple and Sansong Am (both of which suffered serious arson attacks in 1996) is damaged by public employees of the Suyu Branch Office of the National Park Authority. They were ordered to remove an artifact of ¡°folk belief.¡± After investigating the case, the National Park Authority delivers an official letter of apology to the Chogye Order Headquarters and decides to provide training for NPA employees on Buddhism and national culture.

[Hmmm]

Is Christianity any different from Islam which only inspires hatred for anything non-Christian.


http://www.buddhapia.com/eng/tedesco/1.html

Many Korean Christians claim :


1) Buddhism is superstition
2) Buddhism is idol worship
3) Jesus is God but Shakyamuni is (was) a human being
4) Buddhism is too difficult to understand. It is a philosophy, not a religion. Belief in Jesus is easy to understand and to do
5) Buddhism is baseless. It has no substance at its root. It is responsible for the wrongdoings of its monks and nuns.
6) Buddhism is an evil religion which must be eradicated from the face of the earth.

In response to these hateful accusations Ven. Chi Myông encourages people to:


1) Deal with clannish attacks perpetrated by followers of other religions (Face them. Do not ignore them. Engage them).
2) Set up an organization(s) to dissolve hostility and show bodhisattva action.
3) Eliminate one's own exclusivistic and aggressive inclinations. Fighting against violence is against Buddha's teachings. Refrain from habitual, nervous reactions.Practice the bodhisattva spirit in silence with friendliness without angry retorts. Avoid fighting provocateurs who want to see Buddhism disappear from earth. And the outraged Dr. Pyôn adds in aggravation: "People who damage and desecrate Buddhism. People who are bound to the letters of bible and church. Christian fanatics who attempt to destroy their own cultural assets and smash their own traditional religion. Puppet-like pseudo-Christians. These people are the enemy of the open democratic society toward which our nation is striving."

[Hmmm]

http://www.buddhapia.com/eng/tedesco/2.html

Buddhism under Siege 1982-1996:
A Chronology of Fifteen Years of Incidents Against Buddhism in South Korea

The following is an incomplete listing of defamations, acts of vandalism and arson attacks against Buddhist temples and facilities in South Korea which have occurred since 1982 and which have earned the attention of the news media and the dismay of the Buddhist population in the country.

Buddhism under Siege 1982-1996 : Fifteen Years of Incidents Against Buddhism in South Korea including at least twenty temples or Buddhist shrines seriously damaged or totally destroyed by arson since 1986.

Sources :
Newspapers :
Dong A Ilbo daily newspaper (Seoul), May 2, 1990, p. 1
Pulgyo Shinmun weekly newspaper (Seoul), May 28, 1996, p. 4
Pôp Po Shinmun weekly newspaper (Seoul), May 15, 1996
Hyôndae Pulgyo weekly newspaper (Seoul), May 22, 1996
Kitokkyo Shinmun weekly newspaper (Seoul), July, 1996 advertisement
(Other major dailies and such weeklies as the Haedong Pulgyo and regional papers have not been consulted at this time.)

Reports :
We have also corroborated and compared reports of incidents with records maintained in the headquarters of the Chogye Order in Seoul and the official written police report on the incidents at Hwagyesa, Pônwôn Chôngsa and Samsông Am (Hermitage).
TV :
A cable TV report (BTN) of the Pônwôn Chôngsa and Samsông Am incidents was also consulted.

(The modified McCune-Reischauer system of transliteration as appears in the Korea Journal of the Korean National Commission for Unesco is utilized for Korean names)

1982 May.A man by the name of Myông Chinhong organizes religious gatherings in Seoul to publicly denounce Buddhism. He erects a banner "Jesus Heaven, Buddhism Hell!" He claims to have once been a Buddhist monk who has "repented," though no records can be found to support the claim of his ordination. Using this claim, he puts up posters claiming: "A Dharma Hall is a hall of demons."

1983 March 1. During a Christian revival meeting held on the occasion of Korean Independence Day observations, a woman falsely claims to have been the daughter of a famous Zen master and revered national independence hero, Paek Yongsông. She makes statements denouncing Buddhism.

1984 February. Red crucifixes are painted on priceless temple wall paintings at Muryangsa Temple and Ilsônsa on Samgaksan Mountain outside Seoul. Dirt is smeared on the paintings and on a statue of the Buddha located outside one of the temples. A large ancient carving of the Buddha chiselled into stone is damaged with axe-like instruments.

May. Ignoring the pleas of Buddhist leaders, the Roman Catholic Church invites Pope John Paul II to visit South Korea to celebrate the bicentennial of the church in Korea. This event happens to fall during the annual national Buddha's Birthday holiday celebrations. Because it is the first ever visit of a Roman pontiff to South Korea, and because the Vatican announces that 93 Koreans and 10 French missionary martyrs will be beatified as saints during the visit, the visit becomes a major national event. It is the first time that a canonization ceremony is held outside of Rome and the largest number ever canonized at one time. This ceremony gives Korea the fourth largest number of Catholic saints in the world. When the Pope tours the country, in the days immediately preceding and during Buddha's Birthday, there are immense traffic jams which diminish attendance at Buddhist events in several key cities. Buddhist leaders protest the timing of the event as "disrespectful" and "in bad taste" because the Korean and Roman Catholic Churches schedule the mass beatification ceremonies to take place during Buddha's Birthday celebrations, a day sacred to Buddhists and a national holiday.

November. In an official Korean textbook, Buddhism is called " a fading religion."

1985 April. Four major daily newspapers accept and publish advertisements which assert that the content of the Buddhist scriptures are "selfish" in intent.

May. A Protestant minister named Kim Jingyu publicly claims to have once been an ordained monk in the Chogye Order. Though there is no record of his ever having been a Buddhist monk, he hangs up banners which read "Why I Became a Protestant Minister," and organizes meetings to denounce the Buddhist faith.

September. An individual by the name of Kim Sônghwa organizes a series of mass gatherings to denounce Buddhism in the cities of Pusan, Taegu, Kwangju, and Taejon. (This individual and his wife Kim Mija regularly advertise their mission to convert the "25 million Buddhists of Korea" in the Christian Newspaper Kitokkyo Shinmun, July 1996).

October. An unidentified man disrupts a Dharma talk at the Nûngin Zen Center by driving nails into the tires of believers' automobiles parked outside. The perpetrator also pours corrosive chemicals into various car engines. An accomplice meanwhile uses portable amplification equipment to sing Gospel songs up at the Buddhist gathering, located on the third and fourth floors.

1986 December 6. Several days before the annual Buddha's Enlightenment celebrations, the Taejôkkwangjôn, the main Dharma Hall, a large building of ancient origin at Kûmsansa Temple is completely burned to the ground in an event which makes top news throughout the nation. The Hall is listed as National Treasure Number 476, and is the central hall in a temple which is a regional headquarters and major monastic training center for the Chogye Order. A man active in a local church is apprehended at the scene, but is released because the police claim that, since the fire consumed everything, there is "no evidence." Although he admitted to the crime, he is released without being charged. Discounting widespread opinion and belief, local police claim that "religious heretics" are not suspected. However, in an unprecedented move, the Korean government pays to have the building quickly rebuilt. It is widely believed that this unusual action was undertaken to preempt the possibility of interreligious strife.
(1 building)

1987 December. A fundamentalist Christian by the name of Yang Shinha from the Tamna Church on Chejudo Island is apprehended after setting fire to two temples - Kwanûmjôngsa and Taegaksa - completely burning them to the ground.
(2 buildings)

1988 September 25. In the early morning hours, a fire is set at Pômôsa Temple in Pusan, a major monastic training center of the Chogye Order and regional headquarters. The fire completely destroys the Myôngbujôn (Chijang Bodhisattva Hall- a funeral hall), taking with it 16 priceless altar paintings of the Buddha. The paintings were considered treasures and the hall a registered Cultural Asset. The cause of the fire is unknown but deemed "highly suspicious" by Pusan city authorities.
(1 building)

December 8. Several days before the annual Buddha's Enlightenment celebrations, the Chônggagwôn, the main Dharma Hall on the Kyôngju campus of Dongguk University is completely burned to the ground. Arson is suspected but no one is apprehended.
(1 building)

1989 January. A stone lantern and pagoda is destroyed and statements attacking Buddhism are painted on the temple's gates Okch'ôn Am Hermitage located in the Sôdaemun (Hongûndong), Seoul.

March. Several individuals enter Kupok Am Hermitageon Samgaksan Mountain on the outskirts of Seoul and destroy a stone lantern and stone pagoda, seriously damage a Ch'ilsônggak (Big Dipper Hall), and paint red crucifixes on a large gilded Buddha statue.

April. Five to six individuals destroy a Buddha statue and paint red crucifixes on a large outdoor Ma-ae Buddha figure carved into the rock on Samgaksan Mountain on the outskirts of Seoul. In all, some 10 temples are severely damaged or desecrated in the days immediately before and after the national Buddha's Birthday holidays.

April. The Hyangmok Committee of the Seoul City Government gathers military reserve forces under its control for a (taesônghoe) church service. Some of the members are compelled to attend even though they are not Christian.

July 29. The huge main Dharma Hall and a temple dormitory at Potasa Temple, Oksudong, Sôngdonggu, Seoul are completely burned to the ground. A 23-year old follower of the Taesônjillihoe (Great Conversion Truth Church) is arrested at the scene. Damage is estimated at $1.1 million according to the Chogye Order report.
(2 buildings)

October 27. The huge Taeunjôn, the main Dharma Hall, and a temple dormitory at Pohyônsa Temple in Taegu are completely burned to the ground. Though the modern buildings were erected in 1985, the police determine that each building must have suffered an "electrical short circuit," and no further investigations are conducted.
(2 buildings)

1990 May 2. Two men break into the Buddhist Broadcasting System (BBS, the first Buddhist radio station in Korea) in Seoul, two days before it is due to begin broadcasting a combination of popular music and Buddhist teaching and cultural programs. They tie up two guards, and proceed to destroy all of the radio station's recording and transmission equipment. They smash expensive electronic gear and tear up several state-of-the-art recording booths. At one point, they use a statue of the Buddha as a battering ram to break through several plate-glass recording booth windows and use the Buddha's head to damage computer equipment, sound boards, reel-to-reel decks, and screens. Damage is estimated in the millions of dollars, and delays the opening of the station by several months. No arrests are ever made.

November. A man by the name of Myông Chinhong falsely claims to have been a Buddhist monk some 20 years before, and organizes mass spiritual revivals under the heading, "Why I Became a Minister." In the course of his "revivals," this purported "ex-monk-turned minister" makes inflammatory and abusive statements about the Buddhism. There is no record of his ever having been ordained a monk, or living in any temple. (See May 1982)

Students and parishioners at a Christian theological school in Pusan misinterpret an ancient, traditional Buddhist death ceremony as being "slanderous" of Jesus Christ. The name of the ceremony, for many centuries called "Yesu-jae," sounds similar to the Korean pronunciation and Korean spelling of "Jesus" (Yesu), though the Chinese characters are unrelated to Christian vocabulary or sacraments. (It is a traditional merit-making ceremony in anticipation of death). The students and parishioners mail a letter of "warning" to Buddhist leaders at several area temples, schools, and organizations. The letters slander Buddhist teachings, and are plastered on the walls of Buddhist temples and organizations throughout the city of Pusan.

1991 April. Yun Ch'anggyu and Shim Yôngch'o, teachers at the Taesông High School in Kôch'ang, direct their students (many of them Buddhist) to recite Biblical passages and sing Christian hymns in class. In the same month, the Buddha statue of the Buddhist student club at Ch'ôngju University is vandalized.

Sept. 23. Pudo Am Hermitage at Tonghwasa Temple is destroyed by fire.
(1 building)

Oct. 15. Haeundae Buddhist Mission Bldg in Pusan is destroyed by fire.
(1 building)

October. The huge main Dharma Hall (Taeunjôn) at Pongwônsa Temple in the Shinch'on district of Seoul is totally destroyed by fire. The hall was registered as Seoul city Cultural Asset Number 68. This temple was the headquarters of the T'aego Order, the second-largest Buddhist sect in Korea at the time of the incident. A guard at the temple testified to seeing two men flee into the mountains behind the temple as the building burst into flames. Local police conclude that there is no evidence, that there was probably an "electrical short circuit," and the fire was quickly declared "an accident." Three large Buddha statues and altar portraits considered treasures are destroyed.
(1 building)

November. Military reserves stationed in Kyôngnam Province (many of them Buddhist) are forced to attend a Protestant revival meeting, presumably by a superior officer.

The Kwanûmjôn, the Kwanûm Bodhisattva Hall and a large Dharma Teaching Hall (Sôlpôpchôn) at Sôngjusa in Changwôn city are completely burned to the ground.
(2 buildings)

P'yo Ch'ajong, a member of the Pedel Church in Pusan, publicly declares that the world-famous Sôkkuram Buddha statue is a subject of "idol-worship" and the product of "a heretical religion". He attempts to damage the priceless statue, but is stopped. The Sokkuram Buddha was declared a "World Cultural Treasure" by Unesco in 1995, and has twice been renovated and preserved with Unesco financial and technical involvement.

1992 April. The Main Dharma Hall on the Kyôngju campus of Dongguk University is completely burned to the ground a second time. The event makes national news. No arrests are made.
(1 building)

December. An unknown assailant cuts the two arms off a statue of Maitreya Buddha at Puljosa Temple in Wonju. Various temple artifacts are burned and over 100 threatening phone calls are made to the temple office.

1993 February. Colonel (battalion commander) Cho Pyôngshik of the 17th Tank Battalion, claiming a lack of warehouse space, has the Dharma Hall on his base dismantled. The gilded statue of the Buddha is taken from the Hall, burned, and openly discarded behind the mountain. Taejon. The event makes national news.
(1 building)

April. Within two months of Cho's actions, the Dharma Hall and stone lantern are damaged at Kimhae Air Base.

The Yôngdo Church in Pusan organizes to prevent a temple from being built beside them, claiming that they "cannot accept the construction of a place of idol worship" near them.

May. At Hyundai High School, all students are required to attend church services, and their attendance at these services is reflected in their school records.

Lee Yun-sun, a teacher at the Paegun Primary School in Uidong, Seoul, teaches the Christian Bible in his class and declares that any Buddhist children in the class are "followers of the Satan," and excludes them from certain class activities.

Professor Im In-hûi rejects the admission application of a Buddhist student. He claims he was only following the orders of the board chairman of Taejôn Junior College Lee Pyông-ik.

Lotus lanterns prepared for Buddha's Birthday celebrations are destroyed at Pongguksa Temple and Chonjôngsa Temple in the Chôngnûng district of Seoul.

July. An assailant severely damages the Buddha statue and other Buddhist artifacts in a Buddhist meeting room at Sônggyungwan University in Seoul. Valuable religious objects are not stolen but thrown into a garbage basket.

1994 May. Before and after Buddha's Birthday, various acts of vandalism and desecration are inflicted upon the properties (especially the richly painted gates) of Daesôngsa Temple and Kwanûmsa Temple in the Saegômjông and Shinch'on districts of Seoul. Approximately 30 acts of vandalism against Buddhist temples in Seoul are recorded during this period.

The Rev. Yu Sûng-hwan of Yuchongni Church declares that Buddhism is "idol worship." He forcibly attempts to "convert" the abbot of Sudosa Temple to Christianity, even mentioning Korean President Kim Young-sam, a Presbyterian.

According to Dr. Pyôn Sôn-hwan, "the thoughtless speech and behavior of this minister who understood that the government was protecting Christianity simply because Kim Young Sam is an elder and the alleged remark by the President that he would make 'hymn songs reverberate throughout the Blue House' at the time of the presidential election damaged confidence in the government that was supposedly based on the principle of religion and state (politics).

June. A fundamentalist Christian enters Mirûk Chôngsa Temple in Kwangju and damages the Buddha statue and Dharma Hall.

1995 September. A fundamentalist Christian by the name of Pak Oh-Sun is apprehended after entering and causing serious damage to five temples on Chejudo. He burns Buddha statues at the temples, in addition to other damage.

A Protestant minister is apprehended after painting a large red cross onto the altar painting behind the Buddha at Mu-ûi sa Temple in Kangjin, Chollanamdo. He is released without charges. Later an unknown person carves a crucifix below the same Buddha image.

1995-96. Students belonging to a fundamentalist Christian group begin an aggressive campaign of proselytizing on the campus of Dongguk University (Seoul), Korea's main Buddhist university. The students proselytize directly in front of a large statue of the Buddha - the campus symbol and central meeting-point - making anti-Buddhist statements and handing out Christian literature to ordained sangha members.

1996. President Kim Young Sam attends services at a Protestant church located on the nation's central military base at Kyeryôngsan Mountain. In an event which sends shock waves throughout Buddhist and Catholic circles in Korea, many troops based there are compelled to attend the service in order to create the appearance of a larger number of Protestant troops. (Many of the troops are not Protestant Christians, and many are not even Christian.) Moreover, people attending services at a nearby temple and Catholic church are placed under virtual "house arrest," their religious sanctuaries being encircled with troops while the President makes what is deemed a "preferential" visit to the Protestant chapel. Those inside the Buddhist temple and Catholic church were made to remain inside for several hours while President Kim completed his visit. Buddhist and Catholic leaders lodge strong protests. Some Buddhist leaders perceive the President's actions as a license, a virtual "green light" for abusive actions to be taken against them, citing the centuries-old tradition in Korea of leaders signalling, through thinly-veiled actions, the unstated "allowances" that the government will make for actions which coincide with "non-legislateable" policies.

1996. The long-awaited tentative plans related to the new Education Law are announced by the government's Education Reform Committee. The plans are based on the educational system of the Renewal Church of Christ, and include plans to establish (with government money) a special graduate school for the education and training of Christian ministers. Buddhists lodge strong protests, which are initially ignored. Eventually the Committee agrees to restate their objectives at a later date.

TheWônmi ward office of Puch'on city near Seoul sends official letters to several Buddhist kindergartens, primary schools, and other Buddhist organizations and temples. Language in the letters beseeches them to find "the peace of God and the comfort of Jesus Christ.

The swastika - for centuries a symbol of good fortune throughout Asia, and also a Buddhist symbol of the same - is replaced on many flagpoles in Seoul with crucifixes.

A large red crucifix is painted in a concrete shelter used by Buddhist monks for meditation, located one hundred meters above Hwagyesa Temple on Samgaksan Mountain on the outskirts of Seoul.

A school teacher by the name of "Lee" at Songwu Primary School in P'och'ôn, Kyônggi Province, urges students to attend church services as part of their lessons. She forces them to sing certain Christian hymns in class to confirm their attendance, and does other "missionary work" in her capacity as schoolteacher.

April 6. Fires are set to the Abbot's quarters, the lawn (dried from the recent spell) and nine other places (out-buildings) at Pulguksa Temple in Kyôngju, the most famous Buddhist temple in Korea, seen on travel posters everywhere.

According to the report filed with the headquarters of the Chogye Order, a Mr. Kim Yông-shik was caught on the spot and reported to the police. The police transferred him to a Taegu city mental hospital. Although he admitted to the crime as "a follower of another religion," he was released without being charged because there was no material evidence.
(1 building)

April 19. Two temples on Samgaksan Mountain on the outskirts of Seoul are severely damaged by fires which are set within an hour of each other. The two-year-old large bell platform at Samsông Am Hermitage is burned to its foundation. The assailant(s) also cause damage to the Main Dharma Hall, burning holes in the locked doors while trying to gain access to the sanctuary containing the temple's main Buddha statue. Damage to the ruined bell platform is estimated at $250,000 according to police.
(1 building)

April 20. Two recently-constructed Dharma Halls at Pônwôn Chôngsa Temple are burnt to the ground, and another is severely damaged by flames, just after midnight. The Nahanjôn enshrined 519 wood statues of arhats and bodhisattvas, each of which was painstakingly hand-carved and hand-painted over a period of seven years. Damage at Pônwôn Chôngsa Temple is estimated at $5.6 million according to the local police. The unfinished buildings were not insured.
(3 buildings)

April 21. The next day, fire is set to the Taejôkkwangjôn, the main Dharma Hall at Hwagyesa Temple, also located on Samgaksan Mountain, within a short walk of Samsông Am Hermitage and Pônwôn Chôngsa Temple. Damage is minimal. Two police guarding the temple fail to catch the assailant, who is interrupted in his task when a monk spots him while walking to the outhouse. (1st attack on Hwagyesa, home of the Seoul International Zen Center and living quarters of more than twenty North American and European monks and disciples of most successful Korean Buddhist international teacher, Master Seung Sahn (Haengwôn Sûngsan sônsa).

May 12. Arsonists attack the main Buddha statue in the Taejôkkwangjôn at Hwagyesa Temple in Seoul for the second time. A lit candle is placed in a box of papers and wisk brooms under the main altar. The fire is quickly extinguished by a passing monk. At the time, more than 30 police and army are patrolling the temple in plainclothes in broad daylight, but fail to apprehend the assailant. (2rd attack on Hwagyesa)

May 14. Two days later, again with over 30 police and military patrolling the temple, a massive fire is set beneath the main Buddha statue in the Taejôkkwangjôn at Hwagyesa Temple in Seoul for the third time. Superb altar paintings, ornate woodcarvings and traditional wall paintings are lost. Damage estimated at about $775,000 according to the police.
(3rd attack, 1 building seriously damaged).

May. Rev. Pae Sông-ho, a Protestant minister, enters the main Buddha Hall at Ch'ôngryongsa Temple in Chinhae on the southern coast of the peninsula. He swings a microphone over his head like a bolo, smashing the main Buddha statue and damaging beyond repair the altar paintings hanging behind the main altar. Witnesses who apprehend him hear him shouting abusive statements about "idol worship" and that "now [he] will go to heaven for destroying these craven images." Though taken into custody by police, the minister is released within hours with no charges filed by the local authorities. Damage to the Dharma Hall is extensive.

May 22. Two days before Buddha's Birthday, the main Dharma Hall at Mangyông Am Hermitage in Sôngnam, a city bordering Seoul, is burned to the ground. Christian fundamentalists active in the area are suspected but not investigated.

[roshan]

simply vile and disgusting. what the hell is wrong with these christians?

they claim that they have a message of love, but they have committed the most vile and barbaric atrocities in all of history.

clearly, christianity is an intolerant dogma. history has shown us that christianity is no better than islam.
_________________

[jihadjay]

HMMM

Having been to South Korea, you are clearly a major liar, so what if some Christians and Budhist individuals clash, are you really trying to tell me that the SOUTH KOREAN STATE puts Buddhists in prison for converting from CHRIISTIANITY?

I know this is not true. So you are a liar!

In the meantime more than 100,000 Christians and Muslims have been killed in Myanmar alone and the Karen, Shan, and other Christian groups are not just persecuted, they are killed.

HMMM - Since you are fascinated with South Korea why not state that thousands of Christians were killed by Japanese Imperial Forces and the Buddhists sided with Japan against their own people; AND THIS IS WHY CHRISTIANITY GREW!

To state that Jesus and the New Testament is based on hatred is rubbish, just like if I stated that Buddhist scripture is based on hatred, this also would be rubbish and a lie. SO IT IS CLEAR THAT THE HATRED IN THIS PLACE OCCURS TO THE NICE BUDDHISTS WHO FAIL TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND JUST COME UP WITH RIDICULOUS STATEMENTS.

So why are mainly Buddhist nations poor?

Why are Buddhist nations mainly backward?

Why are mainly Buddhist nations like Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, and others, killing non-Buddhists or putting converts to Christianity in prison?

Notice how I do not have a problem when Buddhists come to the West and also state nice lies about how Buddhism is great, the Buddha did this, and did that.

SO WHO JUDGED THE BUDDHA WHEN HE OBTAINED ENLIGHTENMENT?

AND IF NO GOD OR GODS - HOW WOULD YOU KNOW? OR DID BUDDHA TELL PEOPLE AFTER HE DIED?????

REINCARNATION - interesting, you just keep on coming back, and back, and back, and back, and back, YET IF YOU ARE BAD YOU COME BACK LOWLY - and you may be born poor or not even be a human, SO HOW DO YOU WORK YOURSELF BACK UP THIS CHAIN LADDER?

NOTICE THAT MY FIRST MESSAGE WAS MERELY ABOUT BUDDHIST PERSECUTION - BUT YOU REBUKED MY RELIGION - SO I WILL ASK YOU ABOUT YOURS - but all I hear is silence!

ANYONE interested in Buddhist societies then openly check these nations and with regards to Buddhist persecution just focus on the KAREN, SHAN who are mainly Christian and the ARAKANESE MUSLIMS in MYANMAR.

christianjihad@hotmail.com

[roshan]

jihadjay, taiping rebelion was about a guy trying to turn china into a christian nation. where is your proof that he also killed christians? this is just christian propaganda to cover up their atrocities.
_________________

[jihadjay]

ROSHAN - are you in the nice nation of India which kills Christians and Muslims? Only asking, for I wish the Indian army would leave Nagaland and Bodoland.

ANYWAY - that is getting away from things, and I promise I will not ask what nice HINDUS did to the Buddhists in the past - or how Buddhist converts from Hinduism were threatened by the HINDU RSS, for I am too polite!

Now, I have stated already that the TAIPING REBELLION was defeated due to the British and French supporting the Confucian and Buddhist elite - and millions of Christians were killed, yet you omit this, don't you!

Look, because I know you are a little simple, the British Empire supported Islam in Nigeria and Sudan, for it was easier to do deals with elites; the British supported the Druze against Christian Maronites in Lebanon; and the British supported the Ottoman Muslim Empire in Crimea against Russia, ok!!!!!!

And this is the main reason why the British and other colonial powers supported the defeat of the TAIPING REBELLION, ok, for they feared that the Christians in China may rebuke the colonial powers.

ANYWAY - your silence about who judged BUDDHA TO BE ENLIGHTENED and REINCARNATION, sums up your Buddhist faith, it is clearly lacking, isn't it!

So no BUDDHISTS can mention one single Christian nation which persecutes BUDDHISTS - yet I can state many Buddhist countries which persecute, simple, isn't it!

And when will Hindus leave the Naga's and Bodo's alone, they don't want to live in India; they want their own nation!

I ALSO WELCOME THE GROWTH OF BUDDHSIM IN THE WEST - unlike you bigots who rebuke the opposite; maybe this is due to your so-called Buddhist enlightenment?

christianjihad@hotmail.com

[Pagan Prophet]

[roshan]

whether christians died during the taiping rebellion is IRRELEVANT. the point is that the taiping rebellion sought to turn china into a christian nation. the christians who died, if any actually died died because of CHRISTIANITY AND CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES. face the facts.

[jihadjay]

PAGAN PROPHET AND ROSHAN

Now neither of you can answer my simple question; so name me Christian nations which persecute Buddhists now in 2002?

I have told you about Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Laos, Vietnam, and the worst nation of them all Myanmar. So is it that your stupid statements are mere empty words, so just stick to this point!

PAGAN PROPHET - you are just dumb - look the early Germanic, Slavic, Turkish, Mongol, Romans, and so forth, were Pagan invasions, and guess what, they slaughtered millions and enslaved, ok!

So you have no point in rebuking Christians going to other lands, for Pagans did the same, ok!

ROSHAN - Many Chinese turned to Christianity due to the corrupt elite in this nation, and you are dumb also, you see in all major civil wars people get killed on both sides.

And note that now you have around 90 million Christians in China; and most Chinese people in Indonesia and Singapore are Christian also.

NOW WITH REGARDS TO INDIA

Who killed Buddhists in the past, for at one point Buddhism was very powerfull, wasn't it? Then Hindu nobles slaughtered Buddhists and re-Hinduised India.

And many Christians have been killed in recent times in India - and thousands of Christians in Bodoland and Nagaland have been killed and they want to be free of Indian slavery and Hindu migration.

ROSHAN - I also often read about the Dalits being killed, and what a great religion which persecutes from birth; and you wonder why Christianity and Islam is growing in India?

AND ROSHAN and PAGAN PROPHET - remember that at some point in history Europeans were colonized by Arabs, Turks, Huns, and Mongol Empires - stop being so ignorant about reality!