One dead after attackers storm Indian Punjab church and shoot worshippers

[Niara]

The attack happened at a Pentecostal church in the Punjab state, raising fears among the local Christian communities for their safety as the call for increased protection from the Punjabi government. The targeted church is located in Amritsar, the state’s largest city and the site of Sikhism’s main place of worship, the Golden Temple.

According to the Union of Catholic Asian News (UCAN), four people armed with guns stormed the church as Christians were leaving a meeting on Friday, October 23.

The network did not say if the assailants were men or women.

Witness Jaspal Masih, whose father is the church pastor said he immediately dropped to the floor when he heard the sound of bullets being fired.

He told UCAN: “Four persons armed with guns entered the church and opened fire at us.

“I laid flat on the ground and saved my life.”

Mr Masih’s cousin was not so lucky and died in the attack.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world...hristians-shot

[GurjantGnostic]

Unfortunate

[Dsinghd]

This is interesting Christian persecution has started in Indian Punjab like the rest of India. Christians felt safe in Punjab because of a Sikh majority.

[Ranjeet01]

After the aggressive proletysation that has been taken place in Punjab, it would seem that it's inevitable that there was going to be kind of push back.

However, we do not know who the assailants were and what the motives would be.

 

[MisterrSingh]

Whomever claims responsibility will be interesting to observe. 

[Ranjeet01]

There are so many different denominations of Christianity but the church is Pentacostalist.

I have heard of it, but never knew what it actually is:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentecostalism

This particular brand of Christianity is not really about the bible, but it seems to be more believing in the spirit of Jesus and uttering words or something and baptisms.

I have provided the link, but it would be interesting that other than the money/bribe aspect, what kind of things would entice Punjabis into Pentacostalism.

This whispering uttering of certain words and having spirits entering you and excorcising spirits seem to be very popular in Sub-Saharan Africa, sounds very shamanistic.

From a Punjabi context, what existing practices would find similarity with this brand of Christianity that Punjabis would be enticed.

[MisterrSingh]

3 hours ago, Ranjeet01 said:

There are so many different denominations of Christianity but the church is Pentacostalist.

I have heard of it, but never knew what it actually is:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentecostalism

This particular brand of Christianity is not really about the bible, but it seems to be more believing in the spirit of Jesus and uttering words or something and baptisms.

I have provided the link, but it would be interesting that other than the money/bribe aspect, what kind of things would entice Punjabis into Pentacostalism.

This whispering uttering of certain words and having spirits entering you and excorcising spirits seem to be very popular in Sub-Saharan Africa, sounds very shamanistic.

From a Punjabi context, what existing practices would find similarity with this brand of Christianity that Punjabis would be enticed.

That also reveals the problems these ex-Sikhs were having (which caused them to turn to Christianity) for which they were receiving ineffective or zero assistance from the Sikh religious apparatus. It's that old sorcery chestnut. 

[Ranjeet01]

32 minutes ago, MisterrSingh said:

That also reveals the problems these ex-Sikhs were having (which caused them to turn to Christianity) for which they were receiving ineffective or zero assistance from the Sikh religious apparatus. It's that old sorcery chestnut. 

There is another well known cult in Punjab that likes to whisper things in your ear.

 

[ChardikalaUK]

I really hope this isn't done by Sikhs. It will just make us look like a bunch of violent extremists.

[GurjantGnostic]

41 minutes ago, ChardikalaUK said:

I really hope this isn't done by Sikhs. It will just make us look like a bunch of violent extremists.

And if they say it is...is it really?