Political Season in India

[Rachel20]

Hey everyone,


Changes in the political scenario in India is about to take place. I am following it, with some interest albeit not with passion.

If anyone is following it closely, I'd love to hear what they think.


But also more importantly, I hope that everyone remembers to keep this in prayer. Please pray that whatever the outcome, and whoever forms the government of India they would be people who would support and not suppress our Christian brethren.


A lot of the exit polls show a saffron trend, and the rise of Narenda Modi as the new PM.

It's worrying to know that right wing Hindutva powers might come next in the government, and what that would mean to India on a national and spiritual level, I am unsure of. So please keep this in prayer.


Also, please keep praying that elements of corruption and people who practice injustice will be dealt with by God.


Thank you,


God bless you.

A sister in Christ.

 

[HeIsNowHere]

Yes, this would mean slavery and people who rule others with their own evil intentions. Kings Jesus Christ taught us
whoever wants to be first must be the servant or slave of others. We must treat others as ourselves. This is so different than the Hindu and Caste worldviews where people put themselves first which is anti-God, anti-Creator, and evil.

 

[Rachel20]

Yeah, well.

Being a country of diverse religions, if India loses its secularism, via influx of right wing Hinduism etc, it would be really unfortunate.
Minorities face a lot of persecution, more so at the grassroots than maybe in the urban areas.


But for peace, for safety, I would really hope and pray that God protects India from such elements.

I am just so frustrated with the country and the people. Putting themselves first, is the reality of every situation.
I am tired of all the corrupion and the injustice etc. I want God to intervene and bring changes and put good leaders in our Parliament.

I will be praying for that. Also I will be following AAP closely.
It's so much, but I hope people keep India in their prayers, for the sake of their brothers and sisters here.

 

[jimmydiggs]

I don't see any parties worth backing, just from a glance of party ideologies.

I would focus resources exclusively on the Gospel in India.

I have preferences in the UK, France, and Germany... but I am more familiar too.

 

[Rachel20]

I don't see any parties worth backing, just from a glance of party ideologies.

I would focus resources exclusively on the Gospel in India.

I have preferences in the UK, France, and Germany... but I am more familiar too.

Yes, I agree! All the parties are similar and their manifestos so generic.
To be honest, it's like the same hand but different faces.

However the AAP, seems interesting because they're emergent, formed from the middle class movement against corruption and they're social media savvy.
They appeal to the youth of India. So, they might be an anchor of change.

I am a bit confused. Focusing resources only on the gospel - do you mean Indian Christians? I agree that we'd have to look to Christ all the time, and it doesn't matter who the authority is in place. But I am going to keep praying about this anyway.

Maybe most parties seem generic but there are major right wing influences and Hindutva idealogies in certain parties that could spell trouble for Christians. And they do make annoying laws and rules such as - Anti Cow-Slaughter Bills and stuff like that. (They tried to in Karnataka before they got shot down, and new government came in place! yay!)

Many party leaders pay huge sums of money to temples, and Hindu outfits which mushroom everywhere during that tenure. It's really not nice to be constantly surrounded by such blatant religous displays.

Oh about Europe - I did follow French politics, before I got bored. The French were more fun when they were running around using the guillotine for everything

 

[jimmydiggs]

What I am saying, is that if I were a Christian in India, with my western perspective of course, I wouldn't be too concerned with supporting a party because I don't see any worthy of that effort. I don't think I would even vote. I would just focus on putting all my energy into the Gospel. Especially northern india.

 

[Rachel20]

What I am saying, is that if I were a Christian in India, with my western perspective of course, I wouldn't be too concerned with supporting a party because I don't see any worthy of that effort. I don't think I would even vote. I would just focus on putting all my energy into the Gospel. Especially northern india.

Well maybe there's hope.
If you have the right to choose your authority, then use it, and use it well. That's what I think. It's pessimistic to say that all parties are terrible, therefore I am not going to vote.

Also, since Christians are a minority in India, it makes all the more sense to vote for the right government, the right leaders, and pray for the country.
How will the gospel be preached, if it it's a crime to? You can vote and you can preach.
There is no one or the other. Unless you're a wandering soul without a voter id than it's understandable you don't vote.

 

[jimmydiggs]

Well maybe there's hope.
If you have the right to choose your authority, then use it, and use it well. That's what I think. It's pessimistic to say that all parties are terrible, therefore I am not going to vote.

Also, since Christians are a minority in India, it makes all the more sense to vote for the right government, the right leaders, and pray for the country.
How will the gospel be preached, if it it's a crime to? You can vote and you can preach.
There is no one or the other. Unless you're a wandering soul without a voter id than it's understandable you don't vote.

I vote in America, because there are parties I can vote for that would not be a sin.

From impression, it appears that the parties that would allow some religious freedom in India are also the ones that would usher in another form of oppression. Christians will get the hatchet from left wing and right wing in India. The left wing is just better at making it sound like it's not a hatchet. Look at Europe. Christians have little legal freedom to speak.

As far as being legal to preach... I don't care. I'll go to jail and minister to those in jail.

 

[Rachel20]

I vote in America, because there are parties I can vote for that would not be a sin.

From impression, it appears that the parties that would allow some religious freedom in India are also the ones that would usher in another form of oppression. Christians will get the hatchet from left wing and right wing in India. The left wing is just better at making it sound like it's not a hatchet. Look at Europe. Christians have little legal freedom to speak.

As far as being legal to preach... I don't care. I'll go to jail and minister to those in jail.

That's interesting. I am pleasantly surprised to see someone who claims to follow Indian politics. (It's such a mess. Not even my own friends know what's happening.)

Both the left wing and right wing are terribly corrupt, I agree, it's more oppression, but a secular yet corrupt front would be the lesser of two evils. I don't know.
I hope new, young, middle class and urban populations usher the rise of parties like AAP. Get the Lokpal Bill passed hopefully. It's a wait and watch game.

 

[jimmydiggs]

That's interesting. I am pleasantly surprised to see someone who claims to follow Indian politics. (It's such a mess. Not even my own friends know what's happening.)

I don't really follow it. I have looked at the parties briefly before. I tend to follow European politics a little more closely. This morning I was reading about the Japanese Prime Minister.

Both the left wing and right wing are terribly corrupt, I agree, it's more oppression, but a secular yet corrupt front would be the lesser of two evils. I don't know.

The secular will oppress just as much as the hindu nationalists. The difference is that the secular proclaims their oppressing others as tolerance.

I hope new, young, middle class and urban populations usher the rise of parties like AAP. Get the Lokpal Bill passed hopefully. It's a wait and watch game.

According to wikipedia, these are a few ideas the AAP has that seem rather respectable.


Jan Lokpal legislation
Right to Reject[SUP][/SUP]
Right to Recall
Political decentralisation



I'm definitely interested in decentralization. I prefer local governance quite strongly, as I think it keeps corruption smaller, and at a more managable level. I also think government closest to the people is most generally better.

I have a strong preference for Republics, Constitutional Republics, and Constitutional Monarchies.

I'm generally more right wing in American politics. I'm a mixture of Paleo-Conservatism, Social Conservatism, Fiscal Conservatism, Traditional Conservatism, tempered by a mean libertarian streek. I like Ron and Rand Paul very much.

 

[jimmydiggs]

I favor free markets (with some minimal regulation such as anti-fraud laws, ingredient labeling laws, etc.)
I favor a moral society, in which the government is not promoting sin, I think government should promote righteousness. Societies that are full if immorality don't survive.
I favor the Bill of Rights that we have here, I just wish we actually believed it still.
I favor limited government (that is, government has a limited role)
I also favor fiscal responsibility, so government shouldn't be racking up tremendous debts.
I generally favor self-responsibility, with charity fulfilling needs of the poor.
I prefer slow change to fast change. I think if you let societies evolve on their own, with out attempting social engineering, it will be much less bloody. (See French Revolution)

 

[Rachel20]

I don't really follow it. I have looked at the parties briefly before. I tend to follow European politics a little more closely. This morning I was reading about the Japanese Prime Minister.

Thailand is interesting in South Asia right now. It's been dealing with unrest.

According to wikipedia, these are a few ideas the AAP has that seem rather respectable.


Jan Lokpal legislation
Right to Reject[SUP][/SUP]
Right to Recall
Political decentralisation

I am very much for this too. Right to recall and Decentralization as well as an independent anti corruption body is what I really want too.

I'm definitely interested in decentralization. I prefer local governance quite strongly, as I think it keeps corruption smaller, and at a more managable level. I also think government closest to the people is most generally better.

Agreed.

I have a strong preference for Republics, Constitutional Republics, and Constitutional Monarchies.

Republics yes. Constitutional Monarchies....hmmm...an unnnecessary expenditure according to me.
Though as people who belong to the Kingdom of God, we are in a way in a Monarchy

I'm generally more right wing in American politics. I'm a mixture of Paleo-Conservatism, Social Conservatism, Fiscal Conservatism, Traditional Conservatism, tempered by a mean libertarian streek. I like Ron and Rand Paul very much.

Oh ok that's cool. I am all about equality, freedom and open source movements. You and I might clash. Be warned

 

[Rachel20]

I favor free markets (with some minimal regulation such as anti-fraud laws, ingredient labeling laws, etc.)
I favor a moral society, in which the government is not promoting sin, I think government should promote righteousness. Societies that are full if immorality don't survive.
I favor the Bill of Rights that we have here, I just wish we actually believed it still.
I favor limited government (that is, government has a limited role)
I also favor fiscal responsibility, so government shouldn't be racking up tremendous debts.
I generally favor self-responsibility, with charity fulfilling needs of the poor.
I prefer slow change to fast change. I think if you let societies evolve on their own, with out attempting social engineering, it will be much less bloody. (See French Revolution)

I agree and agree.

I feel governments must be open, and accountable at all points of time.
Sometimes though, I feel a drastic change, is what makes people sit up and take notice. Drastic situations also remain in memory. So, I don't believe in slow change, and unfortunately even though I don't like the french too much, I kind of think their barbaric ways got a lot of things to speed up (and were amusing)

 

[jimmydiggs]

I agree and agree.

I feel governments must be open, and accountable at all points of time.
Sometimes though, I feel a drastic change, is what makes people sit up and take notice. Drastic situations also remain in memory. So, I don't believe in slow change, and unfortunately even though I don't like the french too much, I kind of think their barbaric ways got a lot of things to speed up (and were amusing)

I fail to see how Robespierre was amusing.


Government needs to be open and accountable yes, but I would say as well it should not be so open that everything falls out.

I'm quite sympathetic with Edward Snowden for example, but I don't think government should let chaos reign regarding moral issues.

I'm in favor of limitations on abortion, no-fault divorce (they get bored with each other, he doesn't like her cat, his farts really stink, etc) marriage being for male-female only, public indecency, television and film content (to a limited degree, and I would maybe let this one go as long as it was a moral society that could regulate itself). I'm for minimal and basic regulation. After that, if you want to tell me I can't drink raw milk, we're in disagreement.

 

[Rachel20]

I fail to see how Robespierre was amusing.

He killed all the smart people of France.
(Just kidding. Liked his views. Hate his methods)

Government needs to be open and accountable yes, but I would say as well it should not be so open that everything falls out.

I'm quite sympathetic with Edward Snowden for example, but I don't think government should let chaos reign regarding moral issues.

I'm in favor of limitations on abortion, no-fault divorce (they get bored with each other, he doesn't like her cat, his farts really stink, etc) marriage being for male-female only, public indecency, television and film content (to a limited degree, and I would maybe let this one go as long as it was a moral society that could regulate itself). I'm for minimal and basic regulation. After that, if you want to tell me I can't drink raw milk, we're in disagreement.

I believe the government should be moral. But moral policing over here is annoying and stupid.
Moral police - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As for Snowden, I don't get him.

Limitation in government - What do you think about the 3D printed gun? the Liberator?

Oh and Raw Milk is dangerous. Think Mad cow disease.

 

[jimmydiggs]

Limitation in government - What do you think about the 3D printed gun? the Liberator?

I think it's great. I would like to get a semi-automatic, or even automatic if it was legal. What keeps me back is that I think investing in the Gospel is more important that a gun.

Oh and Raw Milk is dangerous. Think Mad cow disease.

It's not dangerous when you follow God's recommendations about farming.

Most livestock in America are raised in tremendously unsanitary conditions. I'm generally supportive of organic food production.


http://familyfriendlyfarm.com/ <--- know this guy personally

 

[jimmydiggs]

I believe the government should be moral. But moral policing over here is annoying and stupid.
Moral police - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

All societies will have moral police anytime there is interaction.

 

[Rachel20]

WOOO HOOO.

Parliament passes Lokpal Bill!!!!

YAY!

 

[jimmydiggs]

What do you think about the gal who got strip searched here in the US?

I've read it's kind of a big deal in India.

 

[Rachel20]

What do you think about the gal who got strip searched here in the US?

I've read it's kind of a big deal in India.

Do you mean the senior level diplomat? Didn't know she was searched, just thought diplomatic immunity was overriden.

Do they strip search all citizens?