Middle East

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Middle East

By Rowland Croucher and others ⋅ September 18, 2006 ⋅ Post a comment

AUSTRALIAN PRAYER NETWORK NEWSLETTER

* NO WINNERS IN MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT – LEBANON COUNTS THE COST

* EGYPTIAN CHRISTIANS FED UP WITH BEING TREATED AS SECOND CLASS CITIZENS

* RESEARCH SHOWS EARLY PORN EXPOSURE HAS LASTING EFFECTS

* CHRISTIAN ACTIVISM REAPS REWARDS IN NORTH CAROLINA

* GADHAFI SAYS ISLAM TAKING OVER EUROPE

* SURVEY SHOWS NETHERLANDS HOMOSEXUALS MAKE LITTLE USE OF RIGHT TO MARRY

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NO WINNERS IN MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT – LEBANON COUNTS THE COST

Samir Geagea, chief of the Lebanese Forces political movement and a leading Christian politician, has said that Israel may appear to have lost the recent Middle East conflict, “but it does not mean Hezbollah won.” Mr. Geagea’s words indicate the grim new mood of realism across Lebanon as the euphoria of survival wears off and the cost of the conflict is counted. They also reflect a growing belief that far from strengthening Hezbollah, the war may actually have weakened the Shia radicals. “On the Arab and Islamic front they gained fame and Sheikh Nasrallah has become a celebrity,” he said. Inside Lebanon however, the Lebanese who didn’t agree with the strategy of Hezbollah have become more open in their position. They justified not handing their arms to the state by saying that if they used them the Israeli response would be localized rather than affecting the whole country. This has also been shown to be wrong. Many things have been broken by this war. Not only the Lebanese infrastructure but many theories and assumptions.” Gaegea indicated many Lebanese people feel insecure. Hezbollah’s actions “invite attacks from Israel or sanctions from America. They may lead to further Syrian and Iranian penetration inside Lebanon. People have gotten fed up over the years, with outside interference and wars. I am sure that 75 percent of the country wants to have a secure country, and live in peace irrespective of everything else.”

Mr. Geagea commands deep loyalty among a section of Lebanon’s Christians for his incorruptibility, and unwavering opposition to Syrian interference in the country, and it is his party that forms part of the coalition that dominates the government. “We have the potential to be a real democracy in the Middle East,” concluded Geagea, “- pluralistic, scientific and modern.” Source: Telegraph UK

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EGYPTIAN CHRISTIANS FED UP WITH BEING TREATED AS SECOND CLASS CITIZENS

Although they have been persecuted for decades, Egyptian Coptic Christians are fed up with being treated as second class citizens after constant violence against them. Egyptian Human Rights advocate Saad Eddin Ibrahim has documented 55 major attacks on Copts since President Mubarak came to power in 1981. Coptic Christian leaders have banded together to call attention to the persecution of the Christians in Egypt. Officially, Egypt is a Muslim country governed by legislation drawn from strict Islamic shari’a law. An estimated 8-10 percent of Egypt’s 72 million citizens are Christian. Christians estimate that they represent at least 15 percent of the population, most of whom are Orthodox Coptic Christians. But Christians are treated as Dhimmis, or second-class citizens, in an Islamic society. For example, they need a presidential decree to build a church. There is only one elected Christian legislator in the 444-seat parliament and Christians are otherwise barred from occupying high-level positions. They also are portrayed as “infidels” by the state-owned media and educational curriculum, something that fuels Islamic fanaticism. The Coptic Association has called on western governments, the United Nations and human rights groups to develop a strategy for protecting Christians and other minorities in Egypt. They said it is important for the international community and particularly the U.S. to exert pressure on Egypt to guarantee the human rights and equality of all its citizens. Egypt is the second highest recipient of U.S. foreign aid. The U.S. has tremendous leverage in terms of funding if it chooses to use it but too often the State Department has failed to speak up. The Egyptian system is one where justice has been denied to Christians in the past. Six years ago, 20 Christians were killed in sectarian violence but no Muslim was convicted of murder. It is a powerful signal that the Christian minority can be attacked and abused with impunity in Egypt. Source: CNSNews.com

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RESEARCH SHOWS EARLY PORN EXPOSURE HAS LASTING EFFECTS

Recent studies confirm the corruptive impact of pornography on people revealed a growing concern among both secularists and Christians regarding its effect on children, especially if they are exposed at an early age. Author Peter Stock addressed the concern in a document titled “The Harmful Effects on Children of Exposure to Pornography,” in which he noted that viewing pornography distorts the sexual development of children and adolescents. Not only does it give an inadequate perspective of human sexuality, it dehumanizes women. “This possibly violent, very degrading image or depiction of sexuality becomes the normal depiction of sexuality in the child’s mind,” said Daniel Weiss of Focus on the Family Even if the exposure is accidental, research shows that it can warp a child’s understanding of sexuality. The twisted view follows them through life, and creates a plethora of problems along the way. Experts associate early exposure to pornography with an increase in teen pregnancy, abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, and relationship problems. According to researcher Dr. Jeffrey Satinover, these problems surface when external beauty fades after years of marriage.

Source: Agape Press

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CHRISTIAN ACTIVISM REAPS REWARDS IN NORTH CAROLINA

Churches in North Carolina have been taking a stand for morality, and are “winning some of the battles”. Says Flip Benham of Operation Save America, “As the Church comes out of the closet, we are finding out that many of the enemies of God are moving back into the closet.”

Referring to the recent cancellation of the homosexual “Charlotte Pride” parade, he credits to activist members of Operation Save America and their supporters. “They just got so fed up with us that many of them left,” he says. “And by the way, many of them came to know Christ through the witnessing of hundreds of Christians who came out in the street.” In another example, Benham said 900 Christians showed up at a school board meeting where a proposal for a homosexual club in a local high school was denied — because churches took a stand. “I hope this sends a bright ray of hope out to our entire country that many of the battles can be won if we, the Church, will simply come out of the closet, come out of the four walls and just live our faith out in the streets,” said Benham. He added that it is great to see the Church take a stand. “We’ve found out it’s true that when the church of Jesus Christ arrives at the gates of hell, the gates of hell cannot prevail against it”. Source: Agape Press

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GADHAFI SAYS ISLAM TAKING OVER EUROPE

Islam will take over Europe without violent force within a few decades, said Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi in a speech aired on the Arab satellite network Al Jazeera. “We have 50 million Muslims in Europe,” Gadhafi said. “There are signs that Allah will grant Islam victory in Europe – without swords, without guns, without conquests. The 50 million Muslims of Europe will turn it into a Muslim continent within a few decades.” If Turkey is added to the European Union, the Libyan leader said, Europe will have another 50 million Muslims. He pointed out Albania, a Muslim-majority country, and Bosnia, which is half Muslim, already have entered the EU. “Europe is in a predicament, and so is America,” Gadhafi said. “They should agree to become Islamic, or else declare war on the Muslims.” Gadhafi emphasized Muslims view Muhammad the prophet not only of the Arabs or Muslims but “of all people.” “He superseded all previous religions,” Gadhafi said. “If Jesus were alive when Muhammad was sent, he would have followed him. All people must be Muslims.” He said Christians believe Muhammad is not their prophet because their holy texts “are forged and call for hatred.” “The so-called Old Testament and New Testament are neither Old Testament nor New Testament – because both testaments were superseded, and they are forged,” he said. “They were written by hand hundreds of years after Jesus.” Gadhafi continued: “In the Bible there are things that are inappropriate for both Jesus and Moses. If we want to mend the state of humanity, and live in a global village, because of the globalization, we must search for the true Bible, because the Bible that exists today is a forgery. Today’s Bible does not mention Muhammad, whereas our Lord’s Bible mentions Muhammad repeatedly.”

Source: WorldNetDaily.com

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SURVEY SHOWS NETHERLANDS HOMOSEXUALS MAKE LITTLE USE OF RIGHT TO MARRY

Given the right to marry, many homosexual couples opt not to. The Netherlands was the first country to legalize homosexual marriage but only between 2-6 percent of Dutch homosexuals have taken “marriage” vows. Survey author Maggie Gallagher stated, “In most places that have homosexual marriage it looks like the demand for it is pretty small.”

Gallagher says there’s an ulterior motive in homosexual activists making such an effort to legalize same-sex marriage. “If you affirm homosexual marriage as a civil right through the courts, you’ll have a powerful new legal tool to use against people who disagree with you.” Survey data indicated that homosexual marriages surge when first allowed, but then dwindle dramatically. Source: Family News in Focus

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