7 easy rules for a more effective union
February 22, 2008
The government on Monday added to Phnom Penh’s statuesque legacy of Mahatma Ghandi with a monument inscribed with seven of the Buddhist leader’s teachings (photo).
- Politics without principle.
- Wealth without work.
- Pleasure without conscience.
- Knowledge without character.
- Commerce without morality.
- Science without humanity.
- Worship without sacrifice.
It is obvious the government has for years been following these rules with steadfast discipline and uncompromising integrity. Without exception, the CPP-led government has excelled at each and every item on the list. Is it no wonder than such men of honor have been showered with riches and fortune by the gods?
No. It is not.
God’s child predators
January 24, 2008
Andy, typically as placid and good-natured as anyone, is spitting mad.
This story turns my stomach. Anyone found recruiting children into Christianity, either with animation, free gifts, other tricks of the trade or by word of mouth, should be deported. Full stop.
The title of his post is “God-botherers” — that’s what polite people from the U.K. call Jesus freaks, apparently — and the story he is referring to is this chest-thumping garbage about saving Cambodia’s heathen children. It is exactly what Andy says: stomach-turning.
The GodMan film debuted in Cambodia last November. It is an animated story of Jesus Christ. Book of Hope is showing the film in schools and churches. In the Buddhist nation, public showings would likely have adverse effects. “Inside church facilities, they are free to invite anybody who wants to come. And people are able to come without hesitation,” said Ty Silva with Book of Hope.
The truth is, throughout history Christians have had a pretty tough time converting Cambodia’s Buddhists. While the poor, hungry heathens are often receptive to gifts of money and rice, and will politely listen to hours of God smack, they remain steadfast in their unwillingness to deliver their souls to the white man’s savior.
So what’s a door-knocking Jesus freak to do?
Go for the kids. And let’s be clear, this cartoon movie is aimed directly at Cambodian children. It has but one purpose: to manipulate children into renouncing their religion. To call it stomach-turning is putting it mildly. It’s predatory. And this modus operandi is frighteningly similar to that used by human traffickers and pedophiles. Distributing religious material outside of official churches is also illegal.
That’s not to say that all Christians in Cambodia are dishonest criminals preying on the Kingdom’s children. Of course. There are surely decent Christians out there doing honest work with no intention of converting anyone. But because they’re not incessantly trying to shove their religion down your throat, these people are hard to identify. To these Christians we say: Thank you for keeping you religious ideas to yourself. And not preying on the weak. Especially the little kids. Because that’s really not cool.
