Fiji - Indian minority fights Methodist Church call for Christian state

[LurkerBaba]

Calls for Fiji to become an officially Christian state have been rejected by one of the country's main Hindu groups.

It comes after the president of Fiji's Methodist Church yesterday said the country was ceded to God by the chiefs and was therefore a Christian nation.

Vijendra Prakash, general secretary of Sanatan Dharam, told Radio Australia his members would prefer Fiji be a secular state where religion does not mix with politics.

"Because this country is multicultural religion and a multilingual country, and we have been living so happily," he said.

"All the religious organisations are given respect and rights and no one is given supremacy over another or try to undermine the others."

Mr Prakash said all citizens had a right to worship, regardless of their religion.

Photo: The spire of Centenary Methodist church in Fiji's capital Suva. (Reuters)

Fiji Methodist Church's new president, Tuikilakila Waqairatu, on Wednesday said he supported the idea of of Fiji becoming a Christian state.

"Fiji was given to God," he said.

"When we say that Fiji is a Christian state ... we say it was decided by our chiefs who ceded Fiji to Great Britain that Fiji be a Christian country.

"When it was given to God, it has already established its covenant relationship with God, and that covenant relationship is eternal - it cannot be withdrawn."

Fiji Hindu group rejects Christian state calls - Australia Network News - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

 

[KS]

"When it was given to God, it has already established its covenant relationship with God, and that covenant relationship is eternal - it cannot be withdrawn."[/B]

Eerily similar to the argument propounded by the BMAC on the Ram Janmabhoomi case where they argued that once a mosque is constructed on a land, that becomes Allah's property and cannot be given back or taken under any circumstance.

 

[Virendra]

But doesn't Allah own everything already?
Why would he need those padres and maulvis to further his cause for a piece of land.
He is the landlord and we are tenants.
Lets live in peace and practice religion between our individuals and Ishwara ... not among ourselves.

Regards,
Virendra

 

[pmaitra]

Now we see why a Blue Water Navy helps. These buggers need a military intervention, and need to be put in their right place.

 

[Virendra]

Who will intervene? Not the west at least.
Some Chinese member was suggesting that India doesn't need an Aircraft Carrier

 

[tony4562]

Who will intervene? Not the west at least.
Some Chinese member was suggesting that India doesn't need an Aircraft Carrier

To intervene into someone's (especially when this someone is a true banana republic) domestic affair is not exactly a good excuse to have a carrier.

You guys are pretty much falling in line with people who immigrate to west then subsequently make outrageous demands to the foster nation's government such as getting exempt from local laws on the ground of religion. If there are indians who don't like the new law, then they should get out of Fiji at earlist convenience and go to a land where they are more welcommen.

Many nations have state religion, I don't any indians bitching about them. I don't think India would even dare to take this kind issue up with the saudi arabia.

 

[blank_quest]

To intervene into someone's (especially when this someone is a true banana republic) domestic affair is not exactly a good excuse to have a carrier.

You guys are pretty much falling in line with people who immigrate to west then subsequently make outrageous demands to the foster nation's government such as getting exempt from local laws on the ground of religion. If there are indians who don't like the new law, then they should get out of Fiji at earlist convenience and go to a land where they are more welcommen.

Many nations have state religion, I don't any indians bitching about them. I don't think India would even dare to take this kind issue up with the saudi arabia.

talking about this! http://www.indianexpress.com/news/california-guv-signs-prosikh-muslim-bills-into-law/1000841/
Aren't you ?

 

[ashdoc]

tony is right . we indians are outsiders there .

anyway most indians there are gujaratis . they should appeal to narendra modi .

 

[Dovah]

If there are indians who don't like the new law, then they should get out of Fiji at earlist convenience and go to a land where they are more welcommen.

Atleast read about the ----ing country before bullshitting all over the place. These "Indians" are not immigrants, they have been there for the last 150 years. They have as much say in the government as any other Fijian does and demographically they are 25% of the population.

 

[cloud_9]

tony is right . we indians are outsiders there .

anyway most indians there are gujaratis . they should appeal to narendra modi .

Most of the Fiji Indians are Biharis and they hate Indians from India for some reason.

 

[amoy]

Last time when an Indian dominant gvnmt was overthrown by Fijiian coup India didn't intervene. Basically India is a spectator regardless of Bihari or Gujarati constituting %% of its pop.