The Incel Terror: Satan’s Latest?

            Satan will exploit every trick in the book to deceive people. The “Incels” are his latest victims.

            On April 23, 2018, 25-year-old, Alek Minassian, drove a van into a group of pedestrians killing 10 and injuring 15 in Toronto, Canada. He did not belong to the ISIS or another terrorist outfit. He is an Incel.

            Ben Shapiro, the editor-in-chief for The Daily Wire and the host of The Ben Shapiro Show, a daily political podcast and radio show, enlightens us about the Incels, “Incels are involuntary celibates — men, generally, who want to have sex but cannot find a willing partner… there are two types of incels: men who can’t get laid as a general rule, and people…victimized by a society that has unfair standards of sexiness (“the overweight and disabled, minority groups treated as unattractive by the majority, trans women unable to find partners and other victims…”¹ (Emphasis Mine).

            The Incel terror – a corollary of the Satanic deception – is a real deal. The self-proclaimed incel & a mass killer, Alek Minassian, had expressed his intense hatred for the society. “Prior to the attack, Minassian wrote in a Facebook post, “The Incel Rebellion has already begun! We will overthrow all the Chads and Stacys!”…“Stacys” are the women who reject incels for “Chads,” the men who are sexually attractive to women…” says an article in The Gospel Coalition.²

            The Incels are a derivative of the “Sexual Revolution.” At the root of this depravity is a claim to “sexual rights.”

            The Incels demand their right to indulge in sex. This, they believe, is fundamental.

            The Incel terror emphasizes the fact that sexual morality is at stake!

            Ben Shapiro articulates this situation well by contrasting commitment and consummation. The Incels consider sex as the goal of their life. Hence they demand to indulge in sex (consummation) even before committing themselves to a partner through marriage. Here’s an excerpt from his article:³

…conservatives have a solution that the rest of the world calls benighted and stupid: a sexual morality that takes into account commitment, and sees commitment as the fundamental need to be fulfilled before consummation of sexual activity. If we measure happiness by commitment rather than by amount and variety of sex, the onus is placed on us to better ourselves in preparation for commitment — we must become worthy of someone else’s commitment, too…This, of course, is an ancient sexual ethos, and a far more fulfilling one…Placing sex into the context of commitment means restoring it to its proper role, rather than as the goal of life itself…

If sex is the goal of life…then…You have been victimized, because everyone but you is having sex, and having sex is the norm — but you're not normal, and thus you have been cast out. Poor you.

If we treat commitment as the goal of life, then responsibility lies with you, not with society at large. We hear the common complaint among incels that “women just don’t get me.” It’s far rarer to hear men who work on themselves and make themselves marriageable partners complain that they can’t find a woman willing to get married. A sex-first society suggests that you are owed sex. A commitment-first society suggests that you owe someone else your commitment — and the work necessary to earn someone else’s commitment — before sex becomes worthwhile. (Emphasis Mine).

            We are no longer a society that treats commitment as an antecedent factor to sex. We belong to a hedonistic society that values pleasure and self-gratification more than anything and everything. We belong to a sex-first society.

            The Bible says, “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days…” (2 Timothy 3:1, NIV). The Incel terror is a case in point.

            Our world is not going to be a better place to live in because Satan is ruling those who disobey God (cf. Ephesians 2:2). The incels’ claim for sex will accelerate the horror caused by evil. Ben Shapiro cites Ross Douthat, who predicts the “…growth of the sex worker industry, and demand for new technologies like sex robots. Douthat points out that our society has embraced the “Hefnerian” ethos of plentiful, variety-seeking sexual activity — and that just as with other measures of happiness unequally distributed across society…”⁴

            What is the role of the churches then? “How should we, as Christians respond to both incels and sexual-rights advocates? While it’s tempting to mock their foolishness and simply shame them for their misogyny (whether explicit, as with the incels, or implicit, as with the sexual-rights advocates), we should offer them an alternative to their false god of sex.

            We should be especially graceful in showing the incels where true hope and freedom can be found. “[I]t is the responsibility of the lonely man to find meaning apart from women,” David French says. “And that meaning happens to be found in a resurrected Christ who—unlike any other false god—can be found by any person who seeks his face,”” these are the words of wisdom in an article in The Gospel Coalition. ⁵ (Emphasis Mine).

Endnotes:

¹https://www.dailywire.com/news/30219/solution-incels-isnt-sex-robots-its-commitment-and-ben-shapiro

²https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/incel-movement-repugnant-logic-sexual-revolution/

³https://www.dailywire.com/news/30219/solution-incels-isnt-sex-robots-its-commitment-and-ben-shapiro

⁴Ibid.

⁵https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/incel-movement-repugnant-logic-sexual-revolution/

Websites last accessed on 5^th September 2018. 

A Christian’s Response To Religious Intolerance In India

            “Intolerance” has raised its ugly hood again in India.

            In the recent past, M.M Kalburgi, former Karnatak University Vice Chancellor, was gunned down for apparently criticizing the Hindu practice of idol worship [1]. A Muslim man was mobbed to death by his Hindu neighbors over rumors of cow carcass sighting in the vicinity. A few days later, two Muslim men were attacked over matters relating to beef transportation in separate incidents.

            Intolerance is being condemned by the opposition parties and quite a few celebrities. A few award winning writers have returned their awards as a mark of protest against intolerance.

            This recent intolerance seems to be a new low for Indian democracy, for, as always, it violates religious freedom and freedom of speech and expression. Reasons for intolerance are being analyzed in the public domain, so that’s not the intent of this article. We will instead focus on Christians’ response towards intolerance.

            Persecution is not solely innate to Christians. Baha’is are persecuted in Iran. Hindus are persecuted in Bangladesh. Muslim minority is persecuted in Myanmar. The list is rather endless; every religious group faces persecution when they are a minority.  

            Intolerance is a subtle term for persecution. How then should Christian minority respond to intolerance?

Pray? Pray for What?

            Praying for intolerance to cease is one option, but is that our only or our primary option? When Bible emphasizes that persecution is certain in Christian life (2 Timothy 3:12), and when religious persecution is increasing, should we really think our prayers would impede or preclude persecution?

            If our prayers are in accordance with God’s will, and if God’s will is for persecution to stop, then persecution will cease. But what if God’s will is for persecution to continue? What then happens to our prayers, if we merely focus on praying for persecution to stop?

            While we pray for persecution to stop, we should primarily pray for strength to endure persecution and a godly response to persecution while and if we are being persecuted.  

            Significantly, we ought to pray for the persecuted; that they would receive God’s comfort, strength and encouragement in abundance.

To Strengthen Faith?

            A frail response to persecution is to renounce one’s religious worldview e.g. to renounce Christ. An equally important response to persecution is to strengthen the faith of Christians. The local church ought to assume this responsibility.

            A majority of Christians are superficially strong in their faith. This superficial strength cannot retain a Christian in Christ during persecution. Hence, the local church ought to disciple their flock to remain and grow strong in Christ (cf. Hebrews 6:1-3).  

Christians Stand United?

            They say that persecution unites Christians. History suggests that the otherwise detached denominations tend to unite during persecution.

            Although this instance of intolerance is not against Christians per se, it could very well turn out so in the future. But do we need persecution for unity? Shouldn’t Christian denominations constantly strive towards unity?  

Help The Persecuted?

            To help the persecuted is a no-brainer. Religion cannot prevent us from helping each other.

            During persecution, we need to transcend religious barriers to help those in need. Some may need kind words of encouragement and support. Others may need material or spiritual support.

            Whatever the case maybe, we exist to love and serve each other.   

Give Up Beef?

            We should consider this option without discrediting it. Isn’t giving up eating beef another valid response?

            Let’s say we love to eat pork.

            Sale of pork is banned in certain Islamic countries because Islam forbids Muslims to eat pork. So we cannot eat pork if we live in those Islamic countries.

            Having lived in such a country for a few years, I know it’s perfectly possible to give up a certain choice of food – in this case, eating pork. So it’s all in the mind. If we do want to give up eating beef, then it is possible indeed.  

            If what we eat, especially in the context of Hindus’ reverence for cows, would offend their sensitivities, then aren’t we perfectly legitimate to give up eating beef? Should we continue eating beef or create communal harmony?

            But in this context, is it necessary to give up eating beef in India?

            Hindus in the Indian State of Kerala eat beef [2]. There seems to be no religious nuance to beef consumption by Hindus in Kerala. Hence, the Hindu protest over beef consumption certainly is inconsistent.

            Within the perspective of legislation, India is a democratic country unlike an Islamic State. In an Islamic State the law of land could prohibit consumption of pork. In India there is no such legislation banning beef consumption. So why give up eating beef?

To Expect Unbiased Governance?

            Good governance is to manage every situation impartially. Impartiality and tolerance is of paramount value, for governance includes administration of multicultural and multi-faith population.

            I lived in the Kingdom of Bahrain for a few years. Many years ago, there was a ban on pork consumption in Bahrain. The Quran forbids eating of pork (Sura 2:173, 5:3, 6:145 &16:115) [3]. Ban on pork consumption in Bahrain was highly valid since Bahrain is an Islamic State; hence those who live there ought to abide by the law of the land.

            However, the rulers of Bahrain relaxed this ban on pork and allowed the sale of pork in the island Kingdom. This remarkable instance of tolerance ought to be hailed.

            But that’s not it! The second most astounding instance was that of the Arabs living in Bahrain. Although they detest the sight and odor of pork, the Arabs behind the billing counters would tolerantly bill the purchased pork to the satisfaction of the customers.

            This instance of tolerance in Bahrain clearly contrasts the intolerant situation in India. The Bahraini tolerance teaches a valuable lesson to the Indian governance. 

            Need we say more? Tolerance could prevail if the rulers desire unbiased governance.

            Every one is intolerant of various aspects that occur within our domain. Absolute tolerance is not the need of the hour.

            However, entailment of intolerance should not viciously injure human life. Extreme intolerance should be condemned. Killing and maiming of human life, created in the image of God, should never be an entailment of intolerance.

Endnotes:

[1] http://time.com/4016747/mm-kalburgi-india-murder-rationalist-idol-worship-hindu-nationalism/ 

&

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/ex-vc-m-m-kalaburgi-who-had-run-ins-with-hardliners-shot/

[2] http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/in-kerala-a-beef-eating-fest-to-protest-against-beef-ban-745587

[3] http://www.islamicvoice.com/february.99/zakir.htm

A Christian’s Response to the Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s Election

            Mr. Modi has been convincingly elected as the Prime Minister of India - the world’s largest democracy. BJP’s (Bharatiya Janata Party) majority numbers in the Indian Parliament offers it a fascinating advantage for independent governance despite having pre-poll alliances.

        The Indian National Congress, having ruled India for the last 10 years, has been unprecedentedly routed from even a simple dignity of being an opposition party (a party should win 10% of the total seats to be an opposition party). The recently concluded election in India is indeed a landmark election.

        In 1984, the Congress won 414 parliamentary constituencies (seats) whereas the BJP, established in 1980, won a mere 2, out of a total 533 seats. A very quick thirty years later, the BJP won 282 and the Congress won a mere 44 out of a possible 543 seats. The tables have indeed turned.

        Hinduism is the largest religion in India with 80.5% adherence, followed by Muslims (13.4%), Christians (2.3%), Sikh (1.9%), others (1.8%) and unspecified (0.1%).¹ The BJP, a member of “Sangh Parivar” – a family of organizations, has a definite Hindu identity² for it is nurtured by RSS (Rashtria Swyamsevak Sangh), an organization that seeks to protect the Hindu Dharma.³

        The RSS has been promoting Mr. Modi as the best man for the Prime Minister’s job, “time has come when Hindus need to unite, and that Modi is the man for the job,” said Mr. Harish Bhatia of the RSS. The Sangh Parivar believes Mr. Modi to be the best defender of Hindu rights, “they say the Sangh Parivar's vigorous participation is because Modi more than anyone in his party, is defender of Hindu rights.” ⁴ Therefore Mr. Modi has a definite Hindu / RSS identity.

        Wikipedia reports Mr. Modi as “a controversial figure both within India as well as internationally as his administration has been criticised for the incidents surrounding the 2002 Gujarat riots.”⁵ As a result, a certain uncertainty plagues the minds of the minority religious groups if whether Mr. Modi would be non-communal in his governance by protecting the minorities.

        Given this situation, I submit my response as a Christian and a citizen of India to the election of my new Prime Minister.

        First, here is a point on the entity that enslaves man.

        We gain knowledge on politics and everyday occurrences through popular media. So in a way, the media is our only source of knowledge. We tend to believe the source.

        When there are conflicting media reports, we believe the source that is more likely credible. Therefore, an objective occurrence becomes a subjective preference, especially under conflicting circumstances. But the fact remains that the media is the major source of information in politics and everyday occurrences.

        The media could either make or break a person. If the media decides to overrate a person, then it could depict an average as an excellent. On the contrary, if the media decides to wreck a person’s character, even a good person can be portrayed as a rank evil human being.

        Therefore, it would be profitable to have more than one source for our knowledge, and that preferably from the extremes of ‘for’ and ‘against.’ For instance, certain media agencies openly align themselves with certain politicians. So if our endeavor is to seek information about an individual or a political party, then we should gain that information from media sources that consistently speak for and against him/them. Thus one can gain balanced information in politics.

        Second, how did the Lord Jesus Christ respond to the Roman government in HIS time? Christ, a Jew in HIS incarnation, healed a Roman Centurion’s servant (Matthew 8: 5-13). Christ did not resist or ignore the plea of the Roman Centurion. This act of healing displays Christ’s loving kindness to the man in need and thus indirectly to the ruling Roman government. Therefore, Christians should exhibit loving kindness to the rulers and authorities.

        In another instance, the corrupt Pharisees sought to trap Christ when they questioned HIM about taxes (Matthew 22: 15-22). They tried to trap HIM into a conflict with the ruling Roman government.

        Christ then taught people to submit to the government in matters pertaining to the government and to submit to God in matters pertaining to God. In other words, pay the taxes to the government and offer our lives to God.

        Therefore, Christians ought to support the rulers and authorities in the government by being prompt and diligent with our taxes and our general support.

        Third, the Apostle Paul teaches similarly. But he emphasizes that all authorities in existence have been established by God (Romans 13: 1). So we ought to know that God ordained the election of Mr. Narendra Modi.

        Hence, Christians ought to be subject to the governing authorities. We ought to be right in our actions (Romans 13: 3c). This would be achieved when we remain as law abiding citizens of our country. This should be our constant endeavor.

        The Bible also mandates us to “show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor” (1 Peter 2: 17, NIV, Emphasis mine). Thus we are called to respect and honor those in power. The Christian mandate is always to do good and not evil. Respect and honor are godly deeds.

        God exhorts HIS believers to “devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Colossians 4: 2, NIV). We ought to be alert in knowing all that’s happening around us, so that we know what to pray for. Therefore, we should keep ourselves constantly updated about the progress of the new government, and keep praying that the new government would bless India.

        Finally, fear and negativity should never be present in a Christian life. Fear and negativity destroy a Christian. Absolute trust in God is the stronghold of a Christian. Fear corrodes and negates Christians’ trust in God. When fear increases, trust in God decreases.  

        The omnipotent God of the Bible is superior and more powerful than everything and everyone. Moreover, God is in absolute control over all that happens. Therefore, a Christian need not fear under any circumstance.

        In conclusion, a Christian response to the new government is rather straightforward:

            (1) Possess balanced, not biased information.

            (2) Exhibit loving kindness to the ruling government.

            (3) Support the ruling government as much as we are able to.

            (4) Know that God ordained the election of Mr. Narendra Modi, and be a law abiding citizen of India.  

            (5) Respect and honor all rulers and authorities.

            (6) Pray that the new government would bless our glorious nation.

            (7) Never fear but always trust in God.

        May the blessings of the Triune God – The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit be upon Mr. Narendra Modi and his government so that they endeavor to bless India against all forces of evil and destruction. Amen.  

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5: 9, NIV)

Endnotes:

¹ http://censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/India_at_glance/religion.aspx

² http://www.bjp.org/en/about-the-party/history?u=bjp-history

³ http://rss.org/knowus/

⁴ http://www.ndtv.com/elections/article/election-2014/truth-vs-hype-the-rss-mission-modi-504888

⁵ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narendra_Modi