Dear all: There has been some discussion on this list regarding Benny Hinn's recent visit to India. I found the visit troubling on a number of counts.
The Christian Right is made up of different factions, many of which are problematic. Some elements of the Christian Right groups: 1. Intolerance of other religions including Catholicism, 2. Pro-war, albeit the chickenhawk kind, 3. Active support of capitalism even when it is clearly exploitative and hurtful to the poor, native people, and native cultures, 4. Racist attitudes towards non-whites, 5. Sexist attitudes towards women, 6. Promotion of western cultural imperialism, and 7. Being anti-gay, part of an overall discriminatory mindset. It is true the Christian Right in the USA is not one homogenous group. Here are some factions: 1. The hard-core faction consisting of Jerry Falwell, head of the (Im)moral Majority. He called the Prophet Mohammed a terrorist. Also in this group is Pat Robertson, who wanted the US State Dept. nuked because according to him it is too pro-UN. He also had some bad press with diamond mine investments in Africa. Ralph Reed headed the Christian Coalition and is active in the Republican party. This faction is anti-Muslim, failing to see Christianity's sisterhood with Islam and Judaism. They are politically active and support a culture of death (pro-war and the death penalty). They further Western hegemony on the East. Political and economic power is their ultimate goal. A good Christian is a rich Christian. An even better Christian is even richer. 2. Benny Hinn belongs to a second, tamer group. They blend Capitalism with Christianity, including economic exploitation. Donate money to them is the mantra! Never mind the historical Christ and his teachings on poverty. Others in this group include the former felon, Jim Bakker, who was caught with his hands in other people's wallets and the discredited Jimmy Swaggart who was caught with his hands in another woman's underwear. But to them, Clinton is a bad man. They are media savvy and are able to convince a former Indian Prime Minister to visit the circus in Bangalore last week and add some legitimacy to the event. (Note, the former Indian Prime Minister would never have visited a similar event hosted by a visiting African Muslim. He enabled racism and the colonial mindset to thrive without probably realizing it). 3. Then there is the small-town preacher in the US, who has rarely ventured out of town, including his own state. Foreign affairs is confined to what happens in border states. They trust a "good Christian" President like Bush to tell them the truth and what is good about the world. If Christian Bush says its evil, it's evil. If Bush says Saddam is responsible for 9/11, then he must be. They believe the WMD lie in Iraq. The best that can be said of this group is they are sincere with a full set of teeth, but not always. Ignorance about this world is nothing to be ashamed of, especially since all those non-Christians are going to hell anyway. There are other factions too but these are the most visible and influential. There is no harm in questioning and being skeptical of other religious beliefs. It is not a question of one religion being better than another. In fact the US government has taken a stand and determined certain religions qualify for religious and non-profit status. Some are rejected. There is good reason for a discerning Indian public to take stock and reject Benny Hinn. Lest we forget, Christ threw people out of the temple. No harm in keeping some out of India and letting them practice their "religion" elsewhere, while at the same time throwing casteism out of the temple too. Ever wondered why no Christian Nobel Prize winner belongs to the Christian Right? Regards, George
