21st Century Martyrs?

Seems that converting to Christianity is considered an Attack on Islam and poor Afghan citizen Abdul Rahman has the paranoid branch of Islam howling for his death.

Pity the poor man - if I had a family who'd turn me in knowing I was likely to get the fatal chop, I'd probably convert too, hopefully to something far, far away. His mistake was not dumping his rabid family and leaving them to rot in their own little bit of Hell on Earth. I suppose that is where the Christian bit comes in. He can't have met too many of them, other than missionaries, or he'd know only the lunatic fringe is into the forgiveness, turn the other cheek thing Christians are supposed to be famous for.

I thought I'd have a look and see how much of this is going on. In less time than it takes to type this I found a nice little selection. I was expecting the attack from Islam so Hindus and Buddhists came as a surprise. I imagine if I bothered to look deeper the list would expand but three major world religions are enough to make a point.

Mohammedans;

ABUJA, 20 February (IRIN) - At least 17 people, including a Catholic priest, were killed and 30 churches burned in the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri when Muslims protesting cartoons caricaturing the Prophet Muhammad turned on local Christians, police said.

The above were simply rampaging and killing for the love of it. I don't for the life of me believe they could possibly blame the local Christians for the Danish cartoons. The only good Christian is a dead Christian?

Buddhists:

The Buddhists are getting uptight as well. Can't blame them - I'd be annoyed if someone came poaching on my patch too. In July the Sri Lanka's Supreme Court declared that Christian groups could not register as social charities. The court said their proselytizing work contravenes the Sri Lankan constitution.

Hindus:

Rajasthan maltreating Christians: Raj Babbar

JAIPUR: Terming the deregistration of the Emmanuel Mission and the freezing of its accounts by the Rajasthan government as "illegal", cine actor and expelled Samajwadi Party leader Raj Babbar on Tuesday criticised the state government for its "treatment" of Christians.

The lesson for Christians is clear. Stop poaching other faith's faithful. OK? This of course goes for the followers of Mohammad too - they boast the fastest growing religion on earth so killing the few who fall by the wayside seems a trifle harsh.

Killing Christians might turn out counterproductive. Forcing them to choose between Christ and Oil could just tip them over the edge causing them to become a tad vengeful.

We wouldn't want a Crusades type scenario developing now would we?