Afghanistan: Christian Converts on Death Row

Continuing on the topic of religious freedom.

The New York Times recently wrote about an Afghan man, who has been in prison for months on apostasy charges. His life is hanging by a thread, as he is basically facing the death sentence. He is in prison waiting for his trial, but his defense lawyer isn’t interested in defending him until he returns to Islam.

Sayed Mussa became interested in the Christian faith after seeing some Christian aid workers risk their own lives helping his neighbor. He was touched by their compassion and later got the New Testament from another Afghan and decided to start following Jesus. There might not be many like Sayed in Afghanistan, but there are some. And what happens to them is of critical importance.

The constitution of Afghanistan guarantees people the right to practice their own religion.  But the Sharia law says, apostasy is punishable by death. Afghanistan as other countries depending on Western help are stuck. They definitely don’t want people changing religions, but they say they want democracy and human rights for all.

Politicians and advocates are putting pressure on the government to release Mussa. If they would just release him, the hardliners would be furious and the government shamed for obviously having double standards. And if he is given the death sentence and worse, if it is carried out, Americans and other Westerners might cut the money.

And here’s the thing. Christianity is a faith that states everyone’s equality and freedom of will. Democratic ideas and the right to change ones religion flow out of this. Islam on the other hand isn’t like this. Hence most Islamic nations have had autocratic leaders. Now that they want to embrace democracy and freedom, they have a dilemma on how to be Muslims in the midst of it.

Read the NY Times article.

American Student Files For Bancrupcy

Americans are notorious for their reckless borrowing habits. Credit cards abound as you keep up an un-affordable lifestyle, just to show off to the Joneses. Especially young people find themselves in deep debt, even before they walk out of college.

A 34-year old college graduate in New York filed for bancrupcy, for the $80 000 debt he owes for his college degree and for the credit cards he used to support his studies.

In the last few years I’ve spent a lot of time talking with students about their future plans. Many have very limited options because they are $20 000, $30 000, $40 000 in debt for college. The most shocking aspect of these conversations is, that most seem to think they never had an option! How can it be that no one educates these 18-year-olds on how to make smart decisions about their finances and their futures?

Borrower is always a slave to the lender. It’s easy to say, don’t borrow, but a lot harder in the midst of real life pressures to follow through with it. Much of the debt  students have though, has to do with living expenses. You are used to getting your i-Pod, Dave Matthews concerts, Macs, fancy dinners etc. when mom and dad paid the bills. Now as students many keep up with lifestyles they just can’t afford.

I think we should somehow cultivate a different kind of culture, where your spending wouldn’t define who you are. A culture, where you earn the money you spend, instead of  spending what you yet haven’t earned. A culture, where authenticity trumps fake smiles and “Oh-I’m-Doing-Greats”.

Revolution always starts with one. So does this one.

Watch the full story here.