North Korea: Christianity is deemed a ‘serious threat’
A reporter named Ryan Struyk linked to a UN report on Twitter today. Here’s the link, and a couple of quotes:
“Inmates are imprisoned, usually for life, in camps without ever having been brought before a judge… They have never been charged, convicted or sentenced… [Many] are incarcerated based solely on the principle of guilt by family association. Some are even born prisoners.”
“There is an almost complete denial of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, as well as of rights to freedom of opinion, expression, information and association… The State operates an all-encompassing indoctrination machine that takes root from childhood.”“The police… systematically employ violence and punishments that amount to gross human rights violations in order to create a climate of fear that pre-empts any challenge to the current system of government… The institutions and officials involved are not held accountable.”
“These crimes against humanity entail extermination, murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortions and other sexual violence, persecution… the forcible transfer [and] the enforced disappearance of persons and… knowingly causing prolonged starvation.”
I’d encourage everyone to read the 36 page report he links to at the end of the Tweets.
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
I’m actually impressed that the Human Rights Council, a group which currently includes Venezuela, China, Saudi Arabia, and Cuba, put out this report. It’s far better than I’d expected, really.
And it’s worth noting that Christianity is indeed an opponent of all repressive governments, and even of expansive governments in general. The reason is simple; real faith in Christ is worked out primarily in relationship to the Church and the family, the two great rivals to human government in this world. North Korea is only different inasmuch as it is an especially egregious example of a repressive government.
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
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