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Troll_Bait
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Location: [T]eaching experience doesn't matter much. -Lee Young-chan (pictured)
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 Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:58 pm Post subject: North Korea is the # 1 persecutor of Christians |
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http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2008/02/07/0200000000AEN20080207002300315.HTML
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U.S. watch group names North Korea No. 1 persecutor of Christians
North Korea has topped the list of nations persecuting Christians for the sixth year in a row, a U.S. Christian watch group has claimed.
Open Doors, based in California and with branches worldwide including South Korea, stated in its annual watch list that "There is no other country in the world where Christians are being persecuted in such a horrible and relentless way."
The report did not cite specific sources, except to state that the list was compiled from answers to 50 questions on religious freedom from its indigenous contacts, field workers and persecuted believers. |
(Hat Tip to the RokDrop blog.) |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 1:17 am Post subject: |
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| Considering how everything is persecuted there, the fact that Christianity is being persecuted shouldn't really be a surprise or even cared about. There are a lot more important things to change first, which would filter down to this problem eventually. |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 1:57 am Post subject: |
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| How would Christianity even get up there? I don't understand why people start worshipping Christian gods in our countries, but why would they do it in a country where they could be put to death? |
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thepeel
Joined: 08 Aug 2004
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 2:23 am Post subject: |
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| RACETRAITOR wrote: |
| How would Christianity even get up there? I don't understand why people start worshipping Christian gods in our countries, but why would they do it in a country where they could be put to death? |
I suppose it helps them find meaning in a life full of meaningless suffering and violence. Also, slaves to a state have quite a bit to identify with in the Christian story. |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 2:28 am Post subject: |
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| thepeel wrote: |
| RACETRAITOR wrote: |
| How would Christianity even get up there? I don't understand why people start worshipping Christian gods in our countries, but why would they do it in a country where they could be put to death? |
I suppose it helps them find meaning in a life full of meaningless suffering and violence. Also, slaves to a state have quite a bit to identify with in the Christian story. |
Statistically, Christianity is growing in areas where life is horrible and destitute (Africa, China, etc) while dwindling everywhere education and quality of life is high (the West, etc). There are exceptions, but in general, it isn't hard to believe that North Koreans would take in Christianity, with their lives and some hope there is something later. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 2:56 am Post subject: |
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| Christianity was in Korea, even the northern part, before the communists took over the North. |
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Smee
Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Location: Jeollanam-do
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 3:04 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, Christianity arrived around the turn of last century, and I'd guess that there are pockets of memories somewhere. There are Christian organizations from the US---decendants of the original missionaries---who still do aid and development missions to North Korea.
The article didn't really give any evidence or details. You can easily say "___________ are persecuted in North Korea" and you'd be right. All things considered I think there are places in the world where Christians fare a lot worse, relative to the general population. |
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The Perfect Cup of Coffee
Joined: 17 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 4:08 am Post subject: |
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| I'd say a better headline for Yonhap News to use would be: "North Korea is #1 in persecuting Koreans". Maybe with the next government, some pressure will actually get applied to KJI and his posse up North. Roh's cronies did nothing except prolong and increase KJI's ability to punish North Koreans. Good riddance! |
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Rapacious Mr. Batstove
Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Location: Central Areola
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Mebertz
Joined: 16 Dec 2007
Location: Suncheon
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 6:21 am Post subject: |
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The last Christian died about 33 AD. I wonder who they're persecuting?
Mike |
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mistermasan
Joined: 20 Sep 2007
Location: 10+ yrs on Dave's ESL cafe
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 6:30 am Post subject: |
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| if they are christians and they die for their faith they go straight to heaven! sounds like an upgrade from what they have now. |
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bluelake
Joined: 01 Dec 2005
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 12:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Smee wrote: |
Yeah, Christianity arrived around the turn of last century, and I'd guess that there are pockets of memories somewhere. There are Christian organizations from the US---decendants of the original missionaries---who still do aid and development missions to North Korea.
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Officially, Catholicism arrived in Korea in 1784 and Protestantism in 1884. At one time, Pyongyang was the center of Christianity in Korea and was even referred to as "The Jerusalem of the East". It survived the Japanese occupation (1910-1945), although there were severe problems (i.e. forced Shinto shrine worshipping). It even survived the Communist takeover of the North, but went underground where it remains to this day. There are show churches in the North, but they are only a facade. |
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caniff
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: All over the map
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 2:20 pm Post subject: |
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N.K. #1!! N.K. #1!!
What else are they number one in? Mass games, right? Counterfeiting dollars, I believe. Probably they are #1 in many specialized fields. But the regime is #2. |
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