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What relation Indian Christians have with Valentine’s Day celebration? | |||
| Published on February 23rd, 2008 In Blogging, Careers-Life, News, Philosophy, Politics | Views 536 | ||||
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The so-called attacks on Christians in India is given undue and wide national and international publicity by the print and electronic media. However, they do not analyze as to why they are attacked. after all, people do not fight with each other under normal conditions, even animals also. According to physics or psychology, “To every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction". So what was the “action" for the “reaction"? Why then, the so-called Christians are attacked? See the interesting reporting (?/!) of “Viduthalai" of Viramani. Evidently, they have reproduced the news that appeared in Dinamalar two/three days back and prints it as if it happened now: http://viduthalai.com/20080222/news18.html கிறித்தவர்மீது பஜ்ரங்தள தொண்டர்கள் தாக்குதல் 1. சாக்ஷிதானந்த் ஆசிரமம் : What is this? Viramani does not doubt to accept it as a Hindu or Christian. If it is a Christian, why they disguise under Hindu ashram? So if any ting wrong happens, they can put blame on Hindus? Any way, how DK and Viramani could not understand the Hindu-brand of Christianty followed there? 2. சாக்ஷிதானந்த் ஆசிரமம் என்ற பெயரில் கிறிஸ்தவ மய்யம் உள்ளது. கடந்த 14 ஆம் தேதியன்று இந்த மய்யத்தில் காதலர் தின கொண்டாட்டம் நடந்தது. What is the connection between the dubious Ashram with the celebration of Valentine"s Day there? Do Jehovah, Jesus Christ, Mary, Joseph, Mary Magdalene and others encourage such love-making days? Why the Christians should encourage such anti-Indian movements? 3. Under the guise of Valentine"s Day, the youth is spoiled and they are dragged into free-sex, pre-marital sex etc., leading to complexities, when they have to concentrate in their studies and career building. 4. Now, media publishes and broadcast how lovers embrace with each other, kiss each other openly on the roads, beaches and so on! Can any sensible parents allow such happenings? How thn, Christians allow? 5. In India, there have been so many festivals respecting culture, tradition, heritage and civiliation, whereas, in what way, it is connected with India? Actually, what morality it promotes in India? 6. When Christians can have “Ashrams" and such Ashrams could have beautiful or hateful Sanskrit name, how the Sangh Parival Bajrangdal attack? 7. All Indians should study thoroughly the happenings, the sponsors behind the events, their motive etc. 8. The communal twist given canot solve the problem. |
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Posted on February 23rd, 2008
The Valentine’s Day has no logic, morality or ethics, but only myths.
I do not know why the Indian christians support and celebrate this?
Posted on February 24th, 2008
Considering relevancy, I reproduce the following from the site:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/valentine2.htm
To many people, Valentine’s Day is one of those nice warm fuzzy times of the year — a totally innocuous celebration which honors love and romance. However, the day does celebrate love, and love can be related to erotic and sexual behavior. Some faith groups are quite concerned that sexual activity be strictly limited to within heterosexual marriages. They worry that the sex drive may get out of control, particularly among youth, who they wish to remain celibate until marriage.
Some groups around the world have observed this day in non-traditional, sometimes violent or argumentative ways. Some recent (and one not so recent) conflicts over Valentine’s Day are listed below. All but one seem to contain a component of religious conflict:
1929-FEB-14: St. Valentine’s Day Massacre: Perhaps the least traditional celebration of Valentine’s Day happened in Chicago. Five men, dressed in police uniforms, lined up seven gang members in a garage and killed them in a hail of bullets. Al Capone was blamed for the Massacre, even though he was in Florida at the time. The crime has never been solved. However, the execution format of this crime shocked the American public. Some blamed Prohibition as the cause of the violence, and began to favor its repeal.
1995-JUN-10: Religion in the public schools: Attorney Craig Parshall delivered testimony before the Subcommittee on the Constitution of the Committee on the Judiciary of the U.S. House of Representatives. 1 He main area of expertise is civil liberties litigation, and particularly religious liberty cases. He works for the Rutherford Institute, a Fundamentalist Christian legal group. He discussed the case of Jennifer Bachhus, a 3rd grade student in a public school in Wisconsin. “A few days before Valentine’s Day she hand-made her valentine in art class along with other students. The assignment was to express what love meant to each of them. Jennifer was a Christian, and she put this message on her card: ‘Jesus is what love is all about.’ She was told by her teacher that the religious message would have to be taken off, and that this kind of message was illegal in the public schools.” This incident clearly violated Jennifer’s civil rights under the “free exercise” clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. constitution. The clause involves religion; it states: “Congress shall make no law… prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” The matter was cleared up quickly after Parshall sent a legal opinion letter to the school principal and the school board. “Jennifer [was] allowed to display her valentine with those of her class- mates.” 1 This type of conflict over religious free speech occurs each year in the U.S. — often at Valentine’s Day, Easter and Christmas. Many school officials still believe that public schools should be religion-free zones because of the principle of separation of church and state. They don’t seem to be aware that the free exercise clause applies to persons of all ages. Students don’t lose their civil rights when they enter a public school campus. Fortunately, these conflicts are easy to resolve. A letter of phone call from a lawyer will usually fix the problem.
1998-FEB-12: Same-sex marriage: Gays, lesbians and their supporters celebrated the first “National Freedom to Marry Day.” The organizers called for an end to discrimination in civil marriage. The day was “held in support of the struggle to allow same-sex couples access to civil marriage. Gatherings in large and small communities, with symbolic weddings, city hall ceremonies, and other events” were held. 2
Evan Wolfson, marriage project director for the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund said: “Valentine’s Day and Lincoln’s Birthday provide the perfect themes for this day — love and equality. The choice of whom to marry belongs to couples in love, not to politicians or pressure groups.” 2
The observance has been repeated annually just before St. Valentine’s day, since 1998. There is a religious conflict over “National Freedom to Marry Day.” Organized opposition to equal rights for lesbians and gays in North America — including same-sex marriage — comes mainly from conservative Christians.
1998-FEB-4: Valentine’s day banned in Hillsborough NJ schools: The public schools in Hillsborough banned the distribution of valentines. They reasoned that Valentine’s Day is named after St. Valentine and is therefore too religious. Ted Forstmann of the Becket Fund said: “if you are a nine-year-old boy in Hillsborough, you can still have a crush on a nine-year-old girl. You just can’t give her a valentine. Instead, you have to give her something called a ’special person card,’ because in Hillsborough, February 14 is now ‘Special Person Day’.” Things may have since returned to normal. The school board seems to be softening a bit on their anti-Valentine stance. Their Auten Road school includes Valentine’s Day in its calendar, and the Sunnymead Elementary School actually holds Valentine’s Day parties. Perhaps there is hope. 3
2000-FEB-14: Coalition asks that emergency contraception be sold over the counter: On Valentine’s Day, a coalition of 76 organizations petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to permit morning-after pills to be sold over the counter in pharmacies and other stores. Emergency contraception, inaccurately called morning-after pills, either delay ovulation, or prevent conception or inhibit implantation of the fertilized ovum. They prevent pregnancy, if taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse. If pregnancy has all ready begun, they have no effect.
Also on Valentine’s Day, the OB-GYN professional society issued its own statement supporting such access. Bonnie Scott Jones, spokesperson for the Center for Reproductive Law and Policy, said: “Because emergency contraception poses no known health risks, has minor side effects, and can be taken in two simple, identical doses without medical supervision, it meets all the criteria necessary for over-the-counter status.” 4 The religious connection in this case is due to the opposition of conservative religious groups to abortion and sometimes to contraception. Many define pregnancy as starting at conception. Thus they believe that emergency contraception can be an abortifacient. They generally oppose making morning-after pills more accessible to women.
2001-FEB-12: Right-wing Indian political group ordered to disrupt Valentine’s Day: Bal Thackeray, who heads the hard line Shiv Sena political party, ordered activists in his party to disrupt Valentine Day celebrations in Bombay. He considers the celebration to be a conspiracy by foreign companies to sell their products in India. Writing in his party paper, Samna, he stated: “This shameless festival has been celebrated by our young people for the last 10 years, but it is totally contrary to Indian culture. We should focus on good work, good thoughts, love and harmony in our society, and not let such Western culture spoil us.” 5
2001-FEB-14: Riots in India: Some Fundamentalist Hindus rioted on Valentine’s Day. “Hard-line Hindus, bent on stopping love-struck couples from celebrating Valentine’s Day, went on a rampage…in many parts of the country, invading gift shops, burning cards and disrupting festivities.” They denounced the holiday as a desecration of the country’s traditional culture. 6 “Members of the Shiv Sena party raged through restaurants and stores, smashing plants, tossing chairs, and threatening couples. ‘Down with Valentine’s Day!’ shouted activists. ‘We will not allow our culture to be polluted. Long live Hindu culture!’ ” 7
2001-FEB-16: Police raids in Malaysia: Religious police from the Mawar Merah (a faith-based police enforcement group controlled by the government’s Islamic Affairs Department) carried out raids throughout the country on Valentine’s Day. 208 couples were arrested. Most of the charges were laid under Malaysia’s 1995 Crime Enactment Code. It prohibits “khalwat” — a situation in which persons other than spouses or blood relations in “any secluded place which may give rise to the suspicion that they are engaged in an immoral act.” Sixty couples who were found kissing or cuddling were ordered to go for counseling. Their offenses were not judged to be as severe as those of the remaining couples. 8
References:
“Committee on the Judiciary: Testimony of Attorney Craig L. Parshall. Subcommittee on the Constitution. U.S. House of Representatives, 1995-JUN-10.” at: http://www.house.gov/judiciary/266.htm
“Non-Gay and Gay Groups Across Country Observe First National Freedom to Marry Day: ‘From Anchorage to Atlanta,’ lesbians, gay men, & allies celebrate growing support for equal civil marriage rights on February 12,” Lambda Defense and Education Fund, at: http://www.lambdalegal.org/cgi-bin/iowa/documents/record?record=183
“Becket Fund Events,” at: http://www.becketfund.org/other/events.html
Dave Gilden, “The Fight to Make Morning-After Pills Available Over the Counter; No Rx Required,” The Village Voice, at: http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0114/gilden.php
“Militant Hindu Valentine threat,” BBC News, at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/
Article in the Toronto Star, a newspaper in Toronto ON Canada, 2001-FEB-15.
“Weblog: Militant Hindus Rampage Against Valentine’s Day,” Christianity Today, at: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/
“Stupid Religious Rules,” T. Rex’s Guide to Life, at: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/
Copyright © 2000 & 2002 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Originally written: 2000-JAN-25
Latest update: 2002-JAN-31
Author: B.A. Robinson
Posted on February 25th, 2008
Why Here also, the Tamil sentences have been distorted.
If Valentine’d day is banned in US school, why then, it is celebrated in India, that too, in Churches?
Posted on February 25th, 2008
The sentences have been readable only.
Perhaps, your computer does not have proper software to read Tamil script.
Coming to the topic, a Christian priest writes ike this in his blog:
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Sexuality and Religion: What’s the Connection?
I’m a minister and a sexologist. Yes, those words do go together! I am also the director of the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing (www.religiousinstitute.org) I hope you’ll join me in exploring the connection between sexuality, religion, and spirituality, and the need for sexual justice in our faith communities and society.
Today’s Teachable Moment: Celebrity Teenage Pregnancy
For those of you who don’t read OK Magazine (and I’m guessing that’s most of you) that’s this week’s issue, where 16 year old Jamie Lynn Spears, sister of Brittany and star of tween TV show, announced she’s pregnant and going to have a baby.
She also tells teens in this issue that they shouldn’t have premarital sex but she isn’t one to judge. Nickolodeon says it respects her decision. The Today Show anchors tsked their disapproval. The AP story says her mother was shocked at first but is now supportive.
NO ONE MENTIONED CONTRACEPTION.
Parents of 8 - 18 year olds, you’ve been handed today’s teachable moment.
They all know who she is, and I’m betting by the time school gets out today they will have all heard about it.
Ask your child what they think. Tell them YOUR values about teenagers having sexual intercourse and what you hope their decision will be. Make sure that they know that abstinence and contraception prevent pregnancies. Most of us will want our teen children to know that we want them to wait to have intercourse until they are mature enough for a sexual relationship — and that if they do have sex as a teenager, they must use contraception and condoms to protect themselves and their lives. Tell them you hope they will talk to you if they are thinking about having sex — and that they will come to you if they think they might be pregnant.
This will definitely be a discussion topic at my family’s dinner table tonight. Tell me how it goes in your’s.
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Her message on Valentine’s Day:
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Thursday, February 14, 2008
Happy Valentine’s Day.
http://debrahaffner.blogspot.com/2008/02/happy-valentines-day.html
I love that Valentine’s Day is almost a national holiday. How great that we have a day to remind us how important love is in our lives. I like that there are organizations that have proclaimed this week as Freedom to Marry Week, V-Day, and even National Condom Week. I like that this holiday has pagan and religious roots, but has transcended all that into a holiday that is celebrated all over the world. I liked the way it was celebrated in elementary school: every child gives a valentine to every other child in the class.
Every Sunday, the congregants at the church I serve as community minister in Westport, CT, begins its affirmation, “Love is the spirit of this church and service its law.” Our religious traditions call us to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Our work at the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing is fundamentally about love. We are working to help create a world where the gift of our sexuality can be celebrated with holiness and integrity. Our core commitments are grounded in love: all children should be loved and wanted; all people should be treated with dignity and respect; all persons should have the right to legal and religious marriage; all people should have the information, education and services they need to make responsible sexual decisions.
We are proud of the work we do at the Religious Institute. In 2007, our budget and our staff doubled in size. We are grateful to those of you who support our ministries and we invite you to learn more about our accomplishments in 2007 in our new annual report.
We don’t need to have a partner to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Take the time to reach out to all the people you love in your life. Be grateful to each person who has taught you how to love with your whole heart and being — parent, friend, partner, lover.
May your heart be filled with love this Valentine’s Day.
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Friday, September 28, 2007
Week End Good News! Hate Crimes Prevention Bill Passes
http://debrahaffner.blogspot.com/search/label/emergency%20contraception
Looking beyond the Episcopal Bishops, it was a good week for sexual rights.
The Bishops in Connecticut decided that Plan B (emergency contraception) can be distributed in Catholic hospitals (a day ahead of the law telling them it had to be offered.)
Verizon changed its policy decision about allowing NARAL, a pro-choice group, to use its text messaging system.
And most importantly, the Senate passed the Hate Crimes Bill by a large margin early today.
My colleague Harry Knox over at HRC sent out the following message:
The Mathew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act passed today by a vote of 60 to 39 in the Senate, an excellent margin! This is a huge victory for the LGBT community and for people of faith who believe that no one ought to live in fear because of who they are.
I believe to the bottom of my soul that we got this far because of the work of the faith community. Senator Kennedy’s office seems to think so as well. We got a frantic e-mail from our legislative team last night to help find scriptural passages in support of Hate Crimes and on the Senate Floor today Kennedy brought up the clergy sign-on letter for Hate Crimes that many of you signed. He also quoted from the letter on the floor.
All the work leading up to this day from the Clergy Call for Justice and Equality in April, to the letters, and sermons, and post cards, and phone calls, and editorials, and even the informal conversations you had in the hallways made this day possible. We are grateful beyond words to be in the company of such fine people.
Me too…and all of you who are working for sexual justice on so many fronts. Celebrate yourselves this weekend.
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So the triangle is complete: Church, sex, Valentine.