I read in the forum about the Christians in the Orissa area of India being martyred and today received a link to this article in the NY times about the continuing violence in the region. Here are some snippets from the article:

One villager, Asha Lata Nayak, said, “I saw the mob carrying sticks, axes, swords, knives and small guns. They first demolished the village church and later Christian houses. Nobody came forward to help us.”

The scene in Tiangia was repeated in villages throughout the Kandhamal district and several other areas of Orissa, a remote and destitute state in eastern India, witnesses and the police said. The violence, which left at least 16 dead, was among the worst in decades against Christians in this Hindu-dominated nation and appears to have been fueled, at least in part, by discontent at a time when the gap between India’s haves and have-nots is growing.

Orissa has long suffered from government neglect, and Christian missionaries provide services, including schooling, much better than most residents receive from the government. While that has caused friction before, the stakes are higher now that better-educated people have more of a chance of joining the economic boom.

The attacks in Kandhamal have destroyed or damaged about 1,400 homes of Christians and at least 80 churches and small prayer houses, which were set on fire, a local government official said. Clergymen say orphanages were also destroyed. Estimates from Christian groups put the death toll at more than 25, though a state official in Orissa said 16 were killed.

Christian missionaries in India have focused on indigenous and lower-caste groups, including untouchables, or Dalits. Despite laws dating almost from Indian independence, Dalits are often discriminated against or worse. They are sometimes denied basic amenities, such as clean water; relegated to hazardous jobs; and raped or killed because of their social status.

I have heard about how the Dalits are considered to be the lowest of the low in the caste system and how Christianity provides them a sense of worth, hope and purpose, something they never thought possible in their caste. It's great to hear of how folks in lower-castes are becoming educated and have a chance for a better future, through various organizations including those started by Christian missionaries.

It's sad however to hear about this type of reaction to the improvement of these folks lives. I can imagine how economic advancement and religious differences build tension in areas that are underserved by government.

“Across India today, the disenfranchised and repressed peoples, the tribes and the low castes are exiting the caste system” that is entrenched in the Hindu religion, said Joseph D’souza, the president of the All Indian Christian Council and an advocate for Dalit rights. They are converting not only to Christianity, he said, but to Buddhism, Islam and Marxist atheism.

“People are in revolt” after 60 years of their rights being trampled, he said, adding, “It has nothing to do with any particular religion.”

If I were a member of a low caste I have no doubt the Gospel message would offer hope and an alternative to the life that I would most likely have instead. I think anyone would rather choose education and opportunity over enslavement. The articles continues...

Pramod Pradhan, a young Hindu farmer in Tiangia village, views the conversions differently, and echoed the feelings of many of the state’s Hindus. “Christian missionaries lured Hindus to convert to Christianity. They bring a lot of money to do that.”

The recent violence has reignited debate about a long-standing Orissa state law that bans some religious conversions. The law makes it illegal to use force, “allurement” or benefits to induce people to convert. Hindu activists say Christians often break the law, but Christians say conversions are voluntary.

I could see how converting to Christianity would be very appealing to someone in a lower caste but I don't see how missionaries could force people to believe. So I wonder if the tension is not necessarily because of Christianity itself but out of discontentment and disparity of lifestyles for people that are suffering from lack of education or government aid and their caste status. 

Do you think the tension in India is caused because of Christianity itself or jealousy over the much improved lifestyle for people that leave the caste system and the Hindu faith?

I've been blogging for many years. It's actually one of the few hobbies I keep up with regularly. However, before Revelife I never blogged much about my relationship with Jesus Christ. I mentioned Him here and there but never devoted entire posts about Him or my faith. I wondered why that was. Why do I keep something so important, actually the most important thing in my life, to myself? I didn't hide my faith but I didn't exactly advertise it either. 

Then I started to blog here on revelife and I realized that blogging about faith isn't as easy as posting a picture update of my weekend or complaining about the latest crazy thing that happened to me. I think the best example I can give of this is that I'm married. I definitely have a husband and I am deeply in love with him. However, I never blog about my husband in detail because my relationship with him is extremely personal.

My faith is like that too. I'm definitely a Christian and I love God so much but for me my faith is something so incredibly personal. It's hard to put into words all that He has done and continues to do in my life. I definitely want to share my faith with others but time and time again I fail to express in words how much my relationship with Jesus really means to me.

I really admire folks, including the other writers on the site, that can easily blog about their faith. In a day and age when we spend more time online than at church or with others, it's so encouraging to read about the ins and outs of their struggles and victories.

Do you blog regularly about your faith?  Do you ever have trouble expressing your faith to others?

Hi everyone welcome to revelife!!

I'm so excited the site is up. The frontpage looks amazing and things are only going to get better each day! Please keep coming back and checking out the site and all the people in this community. Feel free to sub to me and add me as a friend and I'll do the same! =)