Lisa Shea Forums General Discussion Religious Research Christian Missionaries in Birmingham England

I can understand if the situation got volatile and perhaps this was the officers' concern. However, what's good for one group is good for another. I do find it a bit much if he threatened to arrest them.

Blessings,

Emilie

I find myself asking myself a number of questions on this matter.

What was the background of this officer?

Was he anti- these missionaries because they were Christian, because they were American, or because they were missionaries?

Perhaps he wasn't anti-them at all, but was just wary of what might happen ~ worrying that they might be attacked.

So ~ was it likely that they might be attacked?
Are Birmingham Muslims likely to attack American Christian missionaries?
The Muslim locals interviewed didn't seem to think so. They said that it was a free country.

I've said before that I am wary of missionaries going into countries / cultures and trying to change them, but Britain is a 'Christian' country. It is also a very secular country.

Are these men here to try to make England more actively Christian again?

If so, well, it's a free country ~ people can listen or say no thank you.

The story reminded me of the one we discussed regarding the medallions:
http://www.wineintro.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=296410&fpart=1

In that case, I think that most of us agreed (??) that it was wrong for American Christian soldiers in Iraq to act as missionaries ~ and some of us ~ those who are wary of missionary work ~ felt that it was just wrong for any Christians to go into a predominantly Muslim country and try to convert them.

I was wondering if the officer in question thought that it was equally wrong for any Christians to go into a predominantly Muslim area of Britain and try to convert the inhabitants.

There are Mormon, Jehovahs Witness, Christian, and other missionaries working in this country. If people choose to follow them, well, that's their choice, but if it is allowed generally ~ then why shouldn't it be allowed in the Islamic areas?

I wonder if they are specifically targetting the Islamic population. It would make sense. There is little point in preaching to the converted.

Indeed, in a country that is officially Christian, actually secular, and generally agreeable to accepting anyone's religious beliefs or lack of them, should we even consider some parts of the country to be 'Islamic' and therefore out of bounds for missionaries?

My first thought was that this is a free country and that they should have been allowed to get on with it.

I often feel quite confused over this sort of issue.

I found an article in the Birmingham Mail: [quote][b]Christian preachers to gather in Birmingham 'no-go' area[/b] Jun 13 2008 By Jasbir Authi 'CHRISTIANS from all over the country were gathering in Birmingham today following claims that two ministers were ejected by police for preaching the word of Jesus. 'Stephen Green, national director of Christian Voice, said: “We are coming to preach the Gospel and to show West Midlands Police that they cannot create a Muslim ghetto for the Gospel. ... “If a West Midlands Police Community Support Officer and a police constable told the preachers to leave the area that sounds like a no-go area and they need to be told that this is just wrong. ...“I’m sure that most Muslims would agree with having freedom of speech”.'[/quote] Apparently the evangelists in question were accused of being [i]‘off-limits’[/i] and [i]'committing a hate crime'[/i] by Naeem Naguthney, a community police support officer, who also warned them that they [i]'risked being beaten up if they returned'[/i]. West Midlands Police are reported to ne investigating, and announced: [i]“West Midlands Police would like to reiterate its reassurance to all communities that there are not any ‘no go’ areas in the West Midlands Police area....”[/i] Local Anglicans, Roman Catholics and Muslims have [i]'issued a message of solidarity'[/i] http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2008/06/13/christian-preachers-to-gather-in-birmingham-no-go-area-97319-21070709/

And the Mail gave another update: [quote][b]Defiant preachers ‘spread the word’[/b] Jun 16 2008 By Edward Chadwick DEFIANT preachers spread their Christian message in streets where they claim two evangelists were accused of committing “hate crimes” just two weeks earlier. Mr Green said: “This isn’t a protest as such but we want to make sure that our liberties are preserved. “I’ve spoken to local police who have assured me that there won’t be any problems in the future.'[/quote] One local man said: [i]“It’s important to remember that we already have a lot of different religions being practised in Alum Rock. “Yes, it’s mainly a Muslim area but there are Sikhs and Christians. “For anybody to say that the people who live here are so intolerant that they would attack someone for preaching Christianity is insensitive.”[/i] http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2008/06/16/defiant-preachers-spread-the-word-97319-21081586/

Now see this is what I hate about an incident like this. Christian groups and organizations are over-reacting to what was clearly the actions of 1 person (the community police support officer) who overstepped his authority. The locals clearly don't have an issue with this-it is a mixed community-so reprimand the cpso--and let it go!