September 7, 2004
Dear all:

Namaste and good wishes.

You must have read about Nepalese tragedy in Iraq that twelve of our poor innocent brothers are killed by the Islamic terrorists. May their souls rest in peace. Why such cold blooded murder? What motivates people to do such heinous crime unprovoked? The motivation comes directly from the religion of Islam. Let Quran speak for it self on non-Muslims. The attached article is posted by a group of Iranian intellectuals who cry out against rape of their Persian civilization by Islam. You may visit their web site. A short reference is also given at the end for further information. You may also forward it to interested friends. It is not about hating any body, but about being informed. Thank you very much.

Sincerely, Tilak Shrestha

_________________________________________________________________

Iran Politics Club.

http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/ahreemanxii/page7.html?mtbrand=AOL_US

Quran on Non Muslims!

This is the pure true Islam. Islam is one & there is non but only one Islam & that is the Pure Islam of Muhammad. The same Islam that: Islamic Republic of Iran, Taliban of Afghanistan, Al Qa'ida of Osama Bin Laden, Al Bashir of Sudan, Moamar Khadafi of Libya, Palestinian PLO, Al Hamas, Al Jihad, Hezbollah of Lebanon, & other Muslim Nations, Groups & Individuals around the globe preach & practice. The one & only Islam which exists. Below are the exact quotes & experts from the exact verses of The Quran, Holy Book of Islam. These verses supposed to be words of Allah (God) revealed to Muhammad The Arab Prophet, in places like the famous "Cave" that he used to go in & out of every time that Allah was connecting to him! After the revelations, Muhammad used to inform his close circle of followers Salman Farsi (a Persian Traitor who wrote Quran), Ali (The Fourth Khalifat of Rashedin & CO-Designer of Quran), & Abu Bakr (The First Khalifat of Rashedin) plus a few others, so they would write all these revelations down, add, deduct & design all the material & name it Quran, The Holy Book of Islam! Understand that according to Quran:

"All Non Muslims are Apostates, Atheists & Kafar Infidels, to fight them. & to shed their blood is Halaal & recommended."

"When conquering The Non Muslim's Land, they shall either: Become Muslim, Pay Jaziyah (ransom) to remain in their faith, or be eliminated by the sword of Islam."

Of course there was always the fourth choice for the conquered: To leave one's home & land to exile in to the foreign lands, like the Numerous of The Persian Opposition is now in Exile! The problem with many Muslims & many other Non Muslims who say: "Fundamentalism is not the true Islam", is that they have never actually read the original text of Quran on their own. They have always heard about Mullahs or other religious cleric's commentaries & interpretations of Quran! If one reads Quran on his own, he shall see the reality & the true nature of Quran as it is. The text & scripture is very clear & understandable.

During these days of crisis & uncertainty that the Neo Muslims around the world are trying to defend Islam & do a "Patch Job" & "Cover Up" on all the inhuman murders which Islam has been committed throw the centuries, it is our duty to educate ourselves so then we can educate the others about the true nature of Muhammad, Islam & Quran. Here are some of the quotes from the famous verses of Quran to Muslims & Muhammad regarding how to deal with Non Muslims & how Allah shall deal with them:

Believers, take neither Jews nor Christians for your friends. They are friends with one another. Whoever of you, seeks their friendship shall become one of their number. Allah does not guide the wrong doers. (Quran: Al Ma'idah: 5 - 51)

Believers, do not seek the friendship of the infidels and those who were given the Book before you, who have made your religion a jest and a pasttime. (Quran: Al Ma'idah: 5 - 57)

Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last day, nor hold the forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and his messenger, nor acknowledge the Religion of Truth from among the People of the Book, until they pay the Jaziyah with willing submission. And feel themselves subdued. (Quran: Al Taubah: 9 - 29)

When your Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them. (Quran: Al Anfal: 8 - 12)

"The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land Is: 'Execution, or Crucifixion, or the Cutting and Removing Off of hands and feet from OPPOSITE sides, or exile from the land.' That is their disgrace in this world and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter." (Quran: Al-Ma'idah: 5 - 33)

Lo! those who disbelieve, among the people of the Scripture and idolaters, will abide in fire of hell. They are the worst of created beings. (Quran: Al Bayyinah: 98 - 6)

When you meet the unbelievers in the Jihad strike off their heads and, when you have laid them low, bind your captives firmly. Then grant them their freedom or take ransom from them, until War shall lay down her burdens. (Quran: Muhammad: 47 - 4)

Take him and fetter him and expose him to hell fire. And then insert him in a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits. Lo! he used not to believe in Allah the tremendous, and urged not on the feeding of the wretched. Therefore hath he no lover hear this day nor any food save filth which none but sinners eat. (Quran: Al Haqqah: 69 - 30.37)

O ye who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you and let them find harshness in you and know that Allah is with those who keep their duty. (Quran: Al Taubah: 9 - 123)

"They question you prophet, with regard to warfare in the sacred month. Say: Warfare therein is a great transgression but to turn men from the way of Allah and to disbelive in Him and the inviolable place of worship and to expel its people thence is a greater transgression, for persecution is worse than killing." (Quran: Al Baqarah: 2 - 217)

"O Prophet exhort the believers to fight. If there be of you 20 steadfast,they will overcome 200 and if there be of you a 100, they shall overcome a 1000, because the disbelievers are a folk without intelligence." (Quran: Al Anfal: 8 - 65)

"It is not for any Prophet to have captives until he hath made slaughter in the land. You desire the lure of this world and Allah desires for you the hereafter and Allah is Mighty, Wise. Now enjoy what you have won as lawful and good and keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is forgiving, merciful." (Quran: Al Anfal: 8 - 67.68)

He it is who hath caused those of the People of the Scripture who disbelieved to go forth from their homes unto the first exile. You deemed not that they would go forth, while they deemed that their strongholds would protect them from Allah. But Allah reached them from a place where of they recked not and cast terror in their hearts so that they ruined their houses with their own hands and the hands of the believers. So learn a lesson, O you who have eyes! "And if Allah had not decreed migration for them, he verily would have punished them in this world and theirs in the hereafter is the punishment of the Fire!" (Quran: Al Hashr: 59 - 2.5)

The fruit of the Zaqqum tree shall be the unbelievers's fruit. Like dregs of oil, like scalding water, it shall simmer in his belly. A voice will cry: "Seize him and drag him into the depths of Hell." Then pour out scalding water over his head, saying: "Taste this, illustrious and honourable man!" This is the punishment which you have doubted. (Quran: Al Dukhan: 44 - 40.49)

For the unbelievers We have prepared chains and fetters and a blazing Fire. (Quran: Al Dahr: 76 - 1.5)

Garments of fire have been prepared for the unbelievers. Sclading water shall be poured upon their heads, melting their skins and that which is in their bellies. They shall be lashed rods of iron. Whenever, in their anguish, they try to escape from Hell, back they shall be dragged, and will be told: "Taste the torment of the Conflagration!" (Quran: Al Haj: 22 - 19 & 22 - 23)

The unbelievers among the People of the Book and the pagans shall burn for ever in the fire of Hell. They are the vilest of all creatures. (Quran: Al Bayinah: 98 - 1.8)

May the light of truth shines from beneath of the clouds of ignorance.

Reference:

Koran ý www.sacred-texts.com/isl/index.htm (Islam)

Hadith ý http://voi.org/books/uithxx/ (Ram Swarup: Understanding Islam through Hadis)

Ali Sina ý www.humanists.net/alisina/ (Links, Discussions)

Anwar Shaikh ý www.hindutva.org/anwarshaikh/

Ibn Warraq ý www.secularislam.org/index.html

Iran Politics Club - http://members.aol.com/ahreemanx/page35.html

Muhammadanism - http://muhammadanism.org/default.htm

Paul Fregosi - http://debate.org.uk/topics/books/fregosi-jihad.html

Taslima Nasrin ý www.humanists.net/nasrinxx/

Yossef Bodansky ý www.freeman.org/m_online/bodanska.htm

Ali Dasti and F.R.C. Bagley ý ýTwenty three years: A study of the prophetic

career of Mohammadý. 1994.

Amir Taheri ý ýHoly Terror: Inside the world of Islamic terrorismý. 1987.

Ibn Warraq ý ýWhy I am not a Muslimý. 1995.

Pine thanx for the info. To all those "liberal" yet dumb Nepalis, wake up you morons. Last time we sympathised, our ass got ruled for 900 years by these "believers."

Hi Pine,

Its Shocking to read such lines (from H? O? L? Y? BOOK).........After reading these lines I am unable to understand, why peoples are following/converted to this religion.......................Is there any Justification/reason for this........???????

Sept. 11, 2004
Dear 'Major' and 'Yours dipen',
Thanks for your comments. I am not proposing hate or attacking Muslims. However, I am proposing to analyse the reason behind such heinous act. It is the 'motivation' we need to understand. The murderers stated - 'These people (Nepalese) are servants of Christians and Jews and worshippers of Buddha'. So it is not political or criminal issue, but Islam. For them we are 'infidels' or 'kafirs' fit for capital punishment merely for our religion.
Muslim brothers and sisters around the world need to know that these murders are done in the name of Islam. So wherther they like it or not it becomes their duty to condemn the act and reach out to the victims. They also need to read Quran objectively and strike out objectionable 'Shuras'. Rest assured that Nepalese will not bomb Iraq. We are too poor and weak. But Americans, Israeli and Russians will.
It is true that millions of Nepalese are working in Gulf countries. However, the job does not mean free money. We do most dirty job for pennies. That also at what price? Dignity? Death?
I do not propose to go to war or attack Muslims or Mosque. I propose to learn and be informed. And wish our leaders derive national policies accordingly.
Sincerely, Tilak

Pine77

I wholly agree with you. I have read the Quran and it is indeed shocking. Our Nepali intellectuals and liberals, without even reading a single stanza from their book, make grand statements such as - "all religions are same. Not all muslims are fundamentalists etc." These are vacuous statements, too general to be useful, too idealistic to reflect an iota of the naked reality. One of my friends used to say,"There are two types of people. Man and mussalman." How correct it is. Muslims believe/must believe that only they are correct, all others are sinners. Let me pose a few questions to our so-called intellectuals as a challenge.

The goal of muslims is to make the whole world muslim. Unless the whole world is not muslim, these people will keep fighting, killing, converting. Is there any other religion that is so stubbornly pursuing this goal?
Muslims believe/must believe that only they are right and pure. All other religions are worthless, impure and sham. Muslims must convert or kill other non-muslims. The more they convert or kill a non-muslim, the more secured the heaven is for them. Is there any other religion that is so intolerant as this one?
A pure muslim, in heaven is given wine and beautiful virgins (hoors) as his reward. He can enjoy the eternal sex and drinks. How can the ultimate reward of God be sex and booze?
If a person changes even a comma from the Quran, he will be killed immediately. Muslims believe that the Quran was revealed by the God, even comma, semicolon was dictated by him. The punishment of modifying Quran is death.
There is no God but Allah and Mohammad is the last prophet. Nobody can come after Mohammad. All human beings must follow and believe him. All other Gods are sham, only the Allah as described in the Quran is right. At judgment day, buried people will rise. Their deeds will be evaluated by Allah. Pure muslims will get drinks and girls, others will suffer in eternal hell.
A non-muslim can not even step in their holy city of Mecca. Is there any religion which bars the whole city to its non-followers? In the hindu country of Nepal, they have been allowed to build mosque in the center of the Capital. Give me one example of a muslim country which has allowed non-muslims to build their place of worship in such prominent place.

Now I challenge our intellectuals to prove these above statements wrong. I also challenge to find a single muslim school of thought which does not agree in these statements. For ALL MUSLIMS in the WORLD, these are ULTIMATE TRUTH. COMPROMISE IS IMPOSSIBLE.
Show me a single sentence from the Quran acknowledging that other religions and people may be good and correct. Do not generalize without having knowledge in the rush for trying to pose as intellectual, rational, kind-hearted, liberal, and educated. Buddha said, "Find the truth yourself. Do not believe even in me." Quran says, "Only what I say is right. Kill all those who donot accept this." NOW YOU ARE TELLING ME THAT BUDHHA AND QURAN ARE SAME BECAUSE BOTH ARE RELIGIONS? GIMME A BREAK!

Dear Gatta jee,
Namaste and thanks for your comments. Appreciated.
As I wrote before one way to tackle the problem is by
being informed. The knowledge is best medicine against
these kind of ignorance and resultant bad policies.
Please help others to learn about it. Thanks a lot.

More Quotes from Quran:

2:191 kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from wherever they drove you out

9:123 Oh ye who believe! Murder those of the disbelievers and let them find harshness in you.

9:5 Slay the idolaters wherever you find them

8:12 I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off.

9:14 Fight them, and Allah will punish them by your hands, cover them with shame, help you (to victory) over them, heal the breasts of Believers

9:29 Fight those who do not believe in God and the last day... and fight People of the Book, who do not accept the religion of truth (Islam) until they pay tribute by hand, being inferior"

3:85 Whoso desires another religion than Islam, it shall not be accepted of him; in the next world he shall be among the losers."

9:30 The Jews call 'Uzair a son of Allah, and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah's curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth!

5:11 And as for those who disbelieve and reject Our Signs, they are the people of Hell"

2:193 Fight them on until there is no more tumult and religion becomes that of Allah

IF ANY BODY THINKS ISLAM IS A RELIGION OF PEACE, I WILL CHALLENGE THAT PERSON FOR A DEBATE ON "PEACEFUL" ISLAM.

Quran Surah 4: Women

Those who disobey Allah and his messenger will be burnt with fire and suffer a painful doom. 14

For the disbelievers, We have prepared a painful doom. 18

For disbelievers, We prepare a shameful doom. 37

Hell is sufficient for their burning. 55

Unbelievers will be tormented forever with fire. When their skin is burned off, a fresh skin will be provided. 56

Allah will bestow a vast reward on those who fight in religious wars. 74

Believers fight for Allah; disbelievers fight for the devil. So fight the minions of the devil. 76

Have no unbelieving friends. Kill the unbelievers wherever you find them. 89

If the unbelievers do not offer you peace, kill them wherever you find them. Against such you are given clear warrant. 91 ( Offering peace in Islam means surrendering. All 67 out of 68 wars of Muhammad were offensive. They are called qazwah (raid, ambush, sudden attack). That is how Muhammad waged his wars. He raided, massacred and looted civilians with no warning. The one defensive war, 'ditch' was not fought. That is why the Islamic terrorism 'jihad' will continue until the West "offers peace". This was made clear by Bin Laden.)

Those who oppose the messenger and become unbelievers will go to hell. 115

Those who believe, then disbelieve, then believe and disbelieve again will never be forgiven by Allah. 137

For the hypocrites there will be a painful doom. 138

Allah will gather hypocrites and disbelievers into hell. 140

The hypocrites will be in the lowest part of hell and no one will help them there. 145

You must believe everything Allah and his messengers tell you. Those who don't are disbelievers and will face a painful doom. 150-151

For the disbelievers, Allah has prepared a painful doom. 161

God will guide disbelievers down a road that leads to everlasting hell. 168-169

Quran Surah 2: The Cow

Don't bother to warn the disbelievers. Allah has blinded them. Theirs will be an awful doom. 6

Allah has sickened their hearts. A painful doom is theirs because they lie. 10

A fire has been prepared for the disbelievers, whose fuel is men and stones. 24

Disbelievers will be burned with fire. 39, 90

For disbelievers is a painful doom. 104

For unbelievers: ignominy in this world, an awful doom in the next. 114

Allah will leave the disbelievers alone for a while, but then he will compel them to the doom of Fire. 126

The doom of the disbelievers will not be lightened. 162

They will not emerge from the Fire. 167

Those who hide the Scripture will have their bellies eaten with fire. Theirs will be a painful doom. 174

How constant are they in their strife to reach the Fire! 175

Kill disbelievers wherever you find them. If they attack you, then kil them. Such is the reward of disbelievers. 191

War is ordained by Allah. 216

Those who die in their disbelief will burn forever in the Fire. 217

Disbelievers worship false gods. They will burn forever in the Fire. 257

Allah does not guide disbelievers. 264

"Give us victory over the disbelieving folk." 286

Thanks 'Major.' Your posting is appreciated. Basically we all need to know.

From Sept. 11th to 12 of my brothers in Iraq.....thousands of people have died as a result of Quran's teachings.....and yet the muslim population is growing at an alarming rate not only in Nepal but all over the world. Why?? 5% of Nepal's population is Muslim... and believe me! at the rate they are growing; it'll be double in the next 10 to 20 years. I don't get it!
How can they grow to 5% in such a short period of time.
Who is funding them?
Who is converting non-muslims to muslims and how do they target them?
Is Nepal a safe heaven for muslim terrorists?

Thanks for a very infomative thread on Islam. I have a question. I hear that the Mahabharat is also about war and killing....isn't there anything that says...Hey Partha...its ok to kill all who are a threat to Hindus?

Such onesided myopic stereotyping! Widen your knowledge beyong finding fault with only one religion.

********************************************************************

Teaching Religious Intolerance
Christian fundamentalist textbooks display a breathtakingly arrogant attitude toward other religions.

By Frances Patterson

To say that Christian fundamentalist textbooks portray Roman Catholicism and non-Western religions in a negative way is to understate the case by several orders of magnitude. All the texts are imbued with an arrogance and hostility toward non-Western religions that is truly breathtaking.

This animus toward other religions is intimately tied to the theological roots of fundamentalist Christian perspectives. As researchers Gaddy, Hall, and Maranzo have noted, because Christian fundamentalists believe that truth can only be found in ýGod's infallible, literal Word revealed in the Bible, religious tolerance toward others with different values and different world views must be rejected.ý 1

Criticism of other religions and Christian denominations frequently revolve around the issue of salvation by faith alone versus salvation by good works. Indeed, this was and remains one of the primary differences between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism (with Catholics upholding the importance of good works). As one booklet notes, ýOnly Christianity requires simple faith rather than good works. Only in Christianity is salvation provided through a person rather than through good works.ý 2

In looking at the treatment of religion, I again studied three major textbook publishers for fundamentalist Christian schools and home-schoolers: A Beka Press, Bob Jones University Press, and School of Tomorrow/Accelerated Christian Education. I drew on a wider range of the textbooks and materials than in my discussion of politics and included substantially more material from world history and geography textbooks and, in some instances, from English literature texts.

Materials from the three publishers have a recurring theme: that the lack of material progress in various Third World countries and among indigenous peoples can be attributed to their religious beliefs. The publishers also share a tremendous emphasis on conservative Protestant missionary activity; approving passages abound about individual missionaries and Christian converts and the need for both historical and contemporary evangelism.

In one textbook's discussion of India, for example, students are asked how Hinduism contributed ýto this country's sad fate.ý Students are then encouraged to contrast India with the United States and told, ýIf we refused to kill disease-carrying insects, allowed filthy animals to roam around in public places, and refused to eat meat for nourishment, do you think we would be as prosperous as we are?ý 3

A great majority of material in the books and literature studied are unobjectionable: map studies, discussions of Revolutionary War battles, information about the kings and queens of England, facts about the invention of the cotton gin, and so forth. Nevertheless, many statements related to non-Western religions raise serious issues that should be part of the public debate over the use of public funding for sectarian education and the use of these materials for home schooling.

Following is a brief summary of how the materials studied describe religions that differ from fundamentalist Christian Protestantism.

AFRICAN RELIGIONS
In general, A Beka's history textbooks emphasize Africa's need for Christian evangelism. 4 In addition to derogatory comments about the religious beliefs of non-Christian Africans, the textbooks assert that their religious beliefs have been the major cause of the continent's lack of cultural and material progress and political instability and repression.

In A Beka's fifth-grade text, students read that traditional African religions were ýfalse religious beliefs.ý 5 In one text box, students are introduced to a Christian convert, Chief Khama, who successfully ruled his people even though the ýland was ruled by witchcraftý and the people drank their traditional corn beer which made them ýlazy and wicked.ý 6 While discussing the work of Scottish missionary Mary Slessor, the text uses the term ýsavageý on three separate occasions.7 The text also notes that ý The witch doctors used many evil and cruel practices. Some of the people were cannibals.ý 8

Oppressive governments are ascribed solely to the influence of traditional African religions: ýIn countries where the people are still held in fear by witchcraft and spirit worship, [postcolonial] self-government soon turned into dictatorship.ý 9 A Beka's senior high text ascribes southern Africa's economic problems to the absence of Christianity: ýFor over a thousand years, there was no clear Christian witness in the vast heartland of Africa; the fear, idolatry, superstition, and witchcraft associated with animism (the belief that natural objects and forces are inhabited by mostly malignant spirits) prevented most Africans from learning how to use nature for man's benefit and thus develop a high culture like that of the other African empires.ý 10

Bob Jones' seventh-grade text takes a particularly strong stance regarding the spiritual error of traditional African religions: ýThis religion, like all false religions, is based on works and cannot give blessing or salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). The strong influence of magic and demonism on African religion made much of African life unhappy and savage. Satan's strong hold on these people kept them worshiping him rather than the true God.ý 11

Teachers are advised to ýemphasize that African religion was one of superstition and demonism. This kind of religion is growing today in the West, and Christian students must be prepared to stand against it. Satanism is especially prevalent in contemporary music ... .ý 12

ISLAM
In A Beka's elementary world history text, fifth graders read that Islam is ýa false religion.ý 13 Seventh graders read that although ýover 500 people saw the resurrected Jesus Christ, no one witnessed Mohammed's supposed encounters with the angels.ý 14

According to A Beka's senior high school textbook, Muhammad ýcombined elements of a corrupted and distorted Christianity in a legalistic religion.ý 15 Islam itself is described as ýa fanatically anti-Christian faithý that has resisted the efforts of Protestant missionaries.16

The authors' theological difference with Islam is similar to one of their primary criticisms of Roman Catholicism. Because Catholics and Muslims both believe salvation can be achieved by the activities of human beings, (as opposed to salvation by grace alone), it falls short of Christian salvation: ýExternal requirements,ý such as prayer, fasting, giving alms, and making pilgrimages ýinvolve no true repentance or miraculous regeneration as does Biblical salvation.ý 17

Bob Jones' world history text for sixth graders emphasizes the need for conversion of non-Protestants. Thus, after a fairly straightforward description of Muhammad and the origins of Islam, students read that ýthe darkness of Islamic religion keeps the people of Turkey from Jesus Christ as their savior.ý 18

HINDUISUM
Hinduism comes in for, perhaps, the strongest antipathy. In A Beka's texts, the term ýpaganý is frequently used to describe the Hindu religion and the beliefs of its adherents. 19 The term ýevilý is also used. 20

Its fifth-grade history textbook emphasizes what it considers to be the negative effects of Hinduism on India: ýThe effects of Hinduism have been devastating to India's history.ý 21

The seventh grade text quotes an unidentified scholar arguing that the Hindus are ýincapable of writing history [because] all that happens is dissipated in their minds into confused dreams. What we call historical truth and veracity - intelligent, thoughtful comprehension of events, and fidelity in representing them - nothing of this sort can be looked for among the Hindus.ý 22

BUDDHISM
Buddhism, like Islam, traces its origins to a particular individual and Buddha, like Muhammad, is denigrated in Christian school texts. Fifth graders reading A Beka's history textbook learn that Buddha's search for enlightenment involved ýleav[ing] his wife and newborn soný and engaging in unsuccessful ýself-torture.ý 23 The students are reminded that ýwe serve a living Savior, not a dead teacher.ý 24

For sixth graders using one text published by Bob Jones University Press, each mention of Buddhism is accompanied by a brief passage comparing Buddhism's deficiencies with the true religion of Christianity. For example, students read that ýalthough these [Burmese] Buddhists are sincerely trying to live a good life and do good deeds, they will never receive the peace they seek. These people need to know the Savior.ý 25

The School of Tomorrow/Accelerated Christian Education materials describe Buddhism's nirvana as ýa type of heavený and students read that ýit is very important to note that Buddha's nirvana was in direct contrast with what the Bible teaches about heaven.ý 26 Later, the text states: ýHinayana Buddhism has retained Buddha's belief in a lifeless heaven where people would have no knowledge of being alive. Jesus Christ directly opposed this belief in John 3:15-17 and many other passages.ý 27

ROMAN CATHOLICISM
Anti-Catholic bias is most prevalent in books published by A Beka. One particularly striking aspect of the texts is the sense that theological battles of the Protestant Reformation continue unabated to the present day. In the texts, bias against Roman Catholics and the Catholic Church is exclusively theological rather than socio-cultural.

Descriptions of contemporary life in European countries that are primarily Roman Catholic frequently include derogatory statements about the Church: ýAlmost all the children of [the Republic of] Ireland grow up believing in the traditions of the Roman Catholic church without knowing of God's free salvation.ý 28

A Beka's seventh grade world history book, for example, describes the early Roman church (before 500 A.D.) as ýa monstrous distortion of Biblical Christianity.ý 29 Speaking of the Crusades, the text speculates that ýif Christendom had succeeded with its crusades, distorted Christianity might have been imposed on all mankind.ý 30 In the chapter titled ýThe Age of Darkness,ý which is subtitled ýDistorted Christianity, Holy Roman Empire, Renaissance,ý the author writes, ýThe papacy had always distorted Christianity. ýý 31

In all, the seventh grade book uses the term ýdistortedý or its variants 28 times in the six chapters in which its discussions of the Roman Catholic faith are most concentrated.

Tenth graders using A Beka books are taught that ýthe doctrines and practices of the Roman church had digressed so far from Scripture that the church was compelled to keep its members from reading the Bible and discovering the truth.ý 32

COMMENTS
The materials' attitude toward Roman Catholicism and non-Western religions raises serious issues that should be part of the public debate over the use of public funding for sectarian education. Two of the many questions raised:

How much respect for the rights of members of minority religions could ordinary citizens, elected representatives, and government employees, including judges, have if their educational background included a school curriculum based on these textbooks?


Is it fair to use the coercive power of the state to collect tax revenues that are then used to support educational institutions that malign the religion of the taxpayer? It is one thing to say, ýThis is what I believe.ý It is something else to say, ýYour religion is in error.ý
It is surely far removed from the spirit of religious tolerance, however imperfectly applied in our nation, to make statements that encourage American children to despise the religion of their fellow citizens.

Footnotes
1 Barbara. B. Gaddy, T. William Hall, and Robert J. Marzano, School Wars: Resolving Our Conflicts over Religion and Values (San Francisco, Cal.: Jossey-Bass, 1996), p. 145.

2 World Geography-10. Social Studies (#1106), rev. 1998 (N.p.: Accelerated Christian Education, 1994), p. 6.

3 Old World History and Geography, Teacher Edition (Pensacola, Fla.: A Beka, 1991), p. 213.

4 The term ýChristianý applies only to conservative Protestant evangelism. Missionary activity by other Christian denominations, including Roman Catholic missionary activity, is ignored, given perfunctory coverage, or criticized or ridiculed.

5 Old World History, p. 247.

6 Old World History, p. 252.

7 ýSavage warriors,ý ýsavage tribe,ý and ýsavage land.ý Old World History, p. 256.

8 Old World History, p. 256.

9 Old World History, p. 256-57.

10 George Thompson and Jerry Combee. World History and Cultures in Christian Perspective. 2nd edition (Pensacola, Fla: A Beka, 1997), p. 86.

11 World Studies for Christian Schools, Teacher's Edition (Greenville, S.C.: Bob Jones University Press, 1993), p. 353.

12 World Studies, p. 78T.

13 Old World History, p. 89.

14 Jerry H. Combee, History of the World in Christian Perspective, Teacher Edition, 3rd ed. (Pensacola, Fla.: A Beka, 1997), pp. 147, 151.

15 Thompson and Combee, p. 34.

16 Thompson and Combee, p. 36.

17 Thompson and Combee, p. 35.

18 Heritage Studies for Christian Schools 6, p. 186.

19 See, for example, Old World History, p. 210.

20 Old World History, pp. 213, 214.

21 The senior high school text also mentions idols. A discussion of Indian contributions to the world is prefaced by this phrase: ýAlthough India culture was dominated by Hindu idolatry. . .ý Thompson and Combee, p. 47.

22 Combee, p. 279.

23 Old World History, p. 212.

24 Old World History, p. 212.

25 Heritage Studies for Christian Schools 6, pp. 222-23.

26 Early Middle Ages, p. 31.

27 Early Middle Ages, p. 31.

28 Heritage Studies for Christian Schools 6: Eastern Hemisphere Nations (Greenville, S.C.: Bob Jones University Press, 1986), p. 41.

29 Combee, p. 192.

30 Combee, p. 155

31 Combee, p. 184.

32 Thompson and Combee, p. 167

Winter 2001 / 2002

HINDU FUNDAMENTALISM RIFE!

For Dissent Against Hindu Extremism
by Angana Chatterji

July 28, 2002



The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Bajrang Dal, and other Hindu extremist organisations, collectively known as the Sangh Parivar (Hindu fundamentalist family of organisations), are utilising religion to foment communal violence toward organising ultra right, non-secular and undemocratic nationalism in India. Once again, this year has borne heartbreaking testimony to this. As the Sangh Parivar goosesteps to a future predicated on injustice and bigotry, we, as ordinary citizens, must not be lulled into complacent comfort that denies our own complicity. Minorities in contemporary India are becoming the evil ýotherý that must be annihilated or assimilated. For those of us not explicitly under attack, it is time to examine our privilege and use it to empower the conscience of a democratic and secular India, where necessary religious and social reforms are enacted.



Hindu fundamentalism is well funded by Indians abroad. These organisations receive substantial contributions from Hindus in the United States and elsewhere. Outlook Magazine in its July 22, 2002, issue published an article by A. K. Sen, titled, ýDeflections to the Rightý highlighting a component of the chain of funding that sustains Hindu extremism. The article states that the India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF) is one of the more conspicuous charity organisations that fundraises in the United States to support RSS battalions in India. IDRF lists Sewa International as its counterpart in India. Sewa International and the various organisations that it oversees receive over two-thirds of IDRF funding. Sewa International, in its mission to transform India, states on its website in a section on ýExperiments and Resultsý with ýSocial Harmonyý that social consolidation can be achieved through social cohesion. Among other things, their website quotes Manya H. V. Sehadarji, Sarkaryawah of the RSS: ýThe ultimate object of all these endeavours is Hindu Sangathan -- consolidation and strengthening of the Hindu society.ý Hindu extremism, like other xenophobic movements, functions through carefully fashioning exclusionary principles whereby all non Hindus, and dissenting Hindus, identified as Hindu traitors, become second class citizens. In addition, justification of caste inequities, subordination of Dalits (ýlowerý caste communities), women, adivasis (tribal) and other minorities, and the consolidation of a cohesive middle class base are critical to its momentum.



In the United States, where substantial funding is raised for Hindu extremist agendas, the government must act to ensure that organisations that broker terror should not continue to enjoy their non-profit status within the country. It is interesting that in 1999, the VHP failed to gain recognition at the United Nations as ýa cultural organizationý because of its philosophical underpinnings. However the VHP of America is an independent charity registered in the United States in the 1970s, where it has received funds from a variety of individuals and organisations.

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Non-resident Indians and Americans of Indian descent must examine the politics of hate encouraged by extremist Hindu organisations in the name of charity and social work. Indians, one of the most financially successful groups in the United States, must take seriously their moral obligation to ensure that their dollars are not funding malice and scrutinise the organisations that are on the receiving end in India. The issue is not whether these organisations are undertaking charitable work, but if they are doing so to promote separatist and non-secular ideals. Param Vaibhav Ke Path Par (On The Road To Great Glory) written by Sadanand Damodar Sapre, and published in 1997 by Suruchi Prakashan, Jhandewalan, New Delhi, the central publication house of the RSS, lists the 40+ organisations maintained by the RSS in India for its multivariate programs.


In addition, VHP and other Parivar outfits target the communalisation of education through the ýVanavasi Kalyan Ashramý and ýEkal Vidyalasý (schools). One strategy is to Hinduise adivasi communities, exploit divisions among the marginalised, and indoctrinate the youth, in order to both turn them against one another and use them as foot soldiers in the larger cause of religious nationalism. Such inculcation has had serious repercussions in Gujarat this year where tribals were manipulated into attacking Muslims during the carnage in February and March. While Hindu fundamentalists do not have a monopoly on religious intolerance in India, their actions are holding the country hostage. Well organised, wide spread and acting in the name of the majority religion in India, Hindu extremism is positioned to silence diversity through force and terror, the rhetoric of Hindu supremacy, and the positioning of minority groups as depraved enemies who must be punished.


Indians at home and abroad must oppose the deep infiltration of the Hindutva brigade into the press, as well as the political, military, bureaucratic, civic, business, educational, law and order institutions of India. Such infiltration is creating a nation where the constitution is violated by religious fundamentalists, with such violation tolerated by the state. While the current government at the centre holds open and close links to organisations within the Sangh Parivar, citizens are assured that secularism and democracy are sacred and secure. In reality, the government's handling of communal violations and sanctioning of communalism jeopardises our capacity to function as a nation

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The VHP, in its meeting with Muslim leaders in New Delhi on July 15, 2002, stated that if Muslims agree to resettle Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir, Muslims in Gujarat would be rehabilitated. Hindus must understand that issues connected to the democratisation of Pakistan, ethical resolutions to Kashmir, or gender reforms within Islam are separate from India's commitment to upholding the rights of minorities or to reforms within Hinduism. Hindu extremism against Muslims and other minorities in India collapses distinctions that must be made to honour human rights in India. Also, Hindutva's discourse of history posits Hindus and Hinduism as under siege and preposterously asserts the idea of India as a Hindu nation. Such revisionist history strategically and hideously poses that a vengeful justice can be found for the crimes of history committed under non-Hindu rulers. Retribution is sought by attacking contemporary Indian Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and others.



Hinduism is critical to the fabric of India, as are all the other cultures and religions that inhabit this land and frame the imagination of this nation. It will require considerable effort on our part to conceive a secular nation where religion is indeed separate from the integrity of the state, where pluralism guarantees rights and respect to the religious and non-religious alike. Every Hindu and every citizen must denounce that to be Indian is to be Hindu, challenge assertions that a secular constitution is anti-Hindu, and refute the call for a Hindu nation in India as anti-national. Patriotism and nationalism demand that all social, political and religious groups work for an India free of disenfranchisement, institutionalised violence, corruption and rampant inequities. We cannot permit India's secular and democratic fabric to be irreparably compromised. The politics of segregation and hate cannot determine the century before us.



Angana Chatterji is a professor of Social and Cultural Anthropology at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. http://www.ciis.edu/faculty/chatterji.htm

Email: Angana@aol.com