Impact of teens' postings and pastor's remarks very different

[makapaaa]

Feb 11, 2010

Impact of teens' postings and pastor's remarks very different

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I REFER to the controversy stirred up by the recent remarks from Senior Pastor Rony Tan of Lighthouse Evangelism independent church.
Some online discussions have drawn parallels between this and the racist remarks made by teenagers on the social networking site Facebook, leading to their arrest last month. There is one similarity - both are examples of how speech can be misused to threaten the religious and racial harmony of the nation, whether they are made online or in person.
However, having seen video footage of Pastor Tan's comments online, I believe the differences between the two incidents could not be greater.
The racist remarks seem to have been made in the heat of the moment as a discussion turned into an online spat between teenagers. In contrast, Pastor Tan's interview of the two believers was a prepared delivery that took place on stage to engage and entertain an auditorium of believers, presumably as part of a sharing that lasted many minutes.
The teenagers were relatively unknown to people except in their immediate social network circles and hence the reach of their wrongful words was limited. Pastor Tan, on the other hand, is a mature adult, a senior pastor with thousands of church followers, and the videos were widely circulated by his church, and later by others via the Internet.
It is also clear from the videos that Pastor Tan and the people he interviewed had numerous erroneous views of Buddhism and Taoism that promoted ignorance and harm to inter-religious understanding.
So, notwithstanding his apology, adequate action should be taken against Pastor Tan for exposing the religious fault lines of the nation.
Melvin Tay

 

[macky888]

i would have thought the punishment meted out to the pastor should be more more than the 3 young punks..

 

[singveld]

one more reason to get out of singapore.
religious freedom and religious laws going mad.

 

[†††††]

but i feel pastor rony say the right thing le

 

[SneeringTree]

but i feel pastor rony say the right thing le

Let me get this straight. You are saying that Rony Tan is right to call Buddhism a religion where the "blind is leading the blind"; that reincarnation is preposterous, that demons influence the minds of Buddhists and monks?

Tee Kee, I really hope some day you will slip up and say this unambiguously in a public forum and let the police haul your sorry ass into prison.

You are a disgrace to Christianity.

 

[†††††]

Let me get this straight. You are saying that Rony Tan is right to call Buddhism a religion where the "blind is leading the blind"; that reincarnation is preposterous, that demons influence the minds of Buddhists and monks?

Tee Kee, I really hope some day you will slip up and say this unambiguously in a public forum and let the police haul your sorry ass into prison.

You are a disgrace to Christianity.

i still feel the pastor is right

 

[JinGanKor]

but i feel pastor rony say the right thing le

In a Christian point of view, what he said is right. But if he is right and he has faith in his god, why does he need to apologise for saying the right thing?

this shows that ISD more powerful than god, even a pastor have to bend down.

ISD has forced a God's servant to apologise, let's see the HQ will burn to ashes or not. If it happens, then I might believe the existence, if not then cut the crap.

 

[†††††]

In a Christian point of view, what he said is right. But if he is right and he has faith in his god, why does he need to apologise for saying the right thing?

this shows that ISD more powerful than god, even a pastor have to bend down.

ISD has forced a God's servant to apologise, let's see the HQ will burn to ashes or not. If it happens, then I might believe the existence, if not then cut the crap.

"ISD more powerful than god" in the bible, mortals who acknowledge themselves higher than God die immediately.
1. "Daniel & the hand" .. ... ...
2.Herod
......

 

[SotongMee]

Lucky Pastor Rony Tan did not say the right thing but picked the right people to offend.

Buddhists and Taoists in Singapore are more compassionate and forgiving lot.

Don't worry Rony, no right-minded Buddhists and Taoists will harm you.

but i feel pastor rony say the right thing le

 

[wrcboi]

Lucky Pastor Rony Tan did not say the right thing but picked the right people to offend.

Buddhists and Taoists in Singapore are more compassionate and forgiving lot.

Don't worry Rony, no right-minded Buddhists and Taoists will harm you.

i concur y didint he pick on the muslims? the jews?? he prob get his church burnt down the next day.....

respect others and others will respect u.....if xtian are that good y did he need to resort to such measures and brain wash so many???

 

[exSINgaporean]

Feb 11, 2010

Impact of teens' postings and pastor's remarks very different

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<!-- end left side bar --><!-- story content : start -->
I REFER to the controversy stirred up by the recent remarks from Senior Pastor Rony Tan of Lighthouse Evangelism independent church.
Some online discussions have drawn parallels between this and the racist remarks made by teenagers on the social networking site Facebook, leading to their arrest last month. There is one similarity - both are examples of how speech can be misused to threaten the religious and racial harmony of the nation, whether they are made online or in person.
However, having seen video footage of Pastor Tan's comments online, I believe the differences between the two incidents could not be greater.
The racist remarks seem to have been made in the heat of the moment as a discussion turned into an online spat between teenagers. In contrast, Pastor Tan's interview of the two believers was a prepared delivery that took place on stage to engage and entertain an auditorium of believers, presumably as part of a sharing that lasted many minutes.
The teenagers were relatively unknown to people except in their immediate social network circles and hence the reach of their wrongful words was limited. Pastor Tan, on the other hand, is a mature adult, a senior pastor with thousands of church followers, and the videos were widely circulated by his church, and later by others via the Internet.
It is also clear from the videos that Pastor Tan and the people he interviewed had numerous erroneous views of Buddhism and Taoism that promoted ignorance and harm to inter-religious understanding.
So, notwithstanding his apology, adequate action should be taken against Pastor Tan for exposing the religious fault lines of the nation.
Melvin Tay

Melvin writes it real well. What he wrote is not his opinion but "FACTS". The kids remarks are just "natural reaction on that moment" but Pastor Tan is "deliberate, calculated, well-planned, discussed through and perhaps even rehearsed".

This can be compare as when some argues on the roadside they might use words like: "I will kill you". Do they actually mean it....that's the kids case

But then Pastor Tan would be liken to like a terrorist who planned and exploded the bomb in a full house cinema.

Who is more guilty.

Just because Pastor Rony Tan has a fellower of 10,000, PAP dare not to arrest him but they arrested the 3 kids...this is the type of government Singapore has.

Look at the recent Romanian diplomat who is the prime suspect who killed the pedestrian.

Look at the amount of incidents the FT opening protest.

Look at the continued amount of job advertisements which opening say only PR or even NON Singapore citizens or PRC need to apply.

Look at how the Temasek and GIC lose billions of $ and Singaporeans can't even know about the loses in the Straits Times but need to dig into the the internet or foreign newspaper to know. Perhaps reporting bad news and big loses are against the "PUBLIC INTEREST"!

All these are and will be happening in Singapore....uniquely Singapore

 

[SIFU]

i still feel the pastor is right

your fucking jesus is a 3rd grade magician and 1st grade conman.

CCB to you:oIo::oIo::oIo:

 

[buddhaboy]

We want freedom of speech, but cannot take it when what has been expressed differs from the norm.
Moral judgment aside, I feel both cases have the right to express their views.
There should be no penalty for racial, religious, political views.

If you don’t agree with was has been said by the pastor, just don’t buy that crap and tell others.

 

[wrcboi]

your fucking jesus is a 3rd grade magician and 1st grade conman.

CCB to you:oIo::oIo::oIo:

haha i cldnt agree more...3rd grade is just too kind.....watch passion x a couple of times....damn its just a hilarious fictions movie.....an annoying power crazy lunatic man...if its modern day he wld have been sent to the mental hospital or get shot....

 

[Pek Kim Lui]

Lucky Pastor Rony Tan did not say the right thing but picked the right people to offend.

Buddhists and Taoists in Singapore are more compassionate and forgiving lot.

Don't worry Rony, no right-minded Buddhists and Taoists will harm you.

Agreed. Besides we are not interesting in bickering with fools.

 

[wikiphile]

Why are you people wasting time watching and dicussing about a middle aged old man's nonsense spewing on the net when time is better spent on watching her instead

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrO4YZeyl0I

 

[SotongMee]

I think it is carried abit far, this is actual Lighthouse E-church pastor offended Buddhists & Taoists, he did not offend Islam/Muslims in Singapore.

How other groups or people would react against Rony Tan in same situation should not be discussed for a "what-if" situation because the victims were targeted for purpose only Rony Tan himself knows best .

i concur y didint he pick on the muslims? the jews?? he prob get his church burnt down the next day.....

respect others and others will respect u.....if xtian are that good y did he need to resort to such measures and brain wash so many???

 

[SotongMee]

Angry? Who?

But hor why still got so many angry people here leh...

who are they? what are they trying to achieve? what/who are they really fighting for?

 

[hochiminhcity]

why the big hooha, live and let live,Nobody can force one religion into another throat .
We are multiracial country, if you want to embrace other religion it our freedom.
anyway I believe man can never Seek God, unless God seek us. that my personal belief, I have been to Thailand,seeking monk bless, embrace buddism, hinduism, christain, tow ah peh, other dieties.
You see they can claim what they want, give fiery speeches, I dont care,.

If God want you , he will call you know matter where you are, seek me and you shall find me..Let the poor pastor serve his flock,dont make him a martyr

 

[Highfalutin]

Tee Kee, how many crosses are you carrying on your shoulders? Kinda heavy, ain't it. We are all having a hard time squeezing through narrowed alleys in life just to get by. Bad as it is, we could all do without having you slow us down by blocking our paths with the luggage you carry.