By Father S.J. Emmanuel –
Rev. S.J. Emmanuel
Today Tuesday 23rd April 2019 is a day of national mourning in honor of all the victims of the evil forces let loose last Easter Sunday when Christians proclaimed and celebrated victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ.
All Sri Lankans mourn & reflect
We as a whole nation of many ethnicities and religions are one in observing this national mourning in sympathy with the victims of this horror but also as a protest against the forces of evil against humanity. Although the horrific incidents occurred in particular places chosen by the evil-doers according to their intent and convenience, it’s a wake up call to all Sri Lankans, especially as followers of all four religions.
Let’s look into our own religions and surroundings
As one belonging to the Christian religion, I like to invite the faithful and leaders of all four religions in Sri Lanka, to go deeper into their own faiths, not only to identify any weakness for evil to thrive even within the sanctum of their religions and weed out those evils but also to fight against these evils present outside the walls of religion in our societies.
How did these religions appear on earth
In looking within our own religions let us first weed out our misunderstandings about religion. No religion, as religion, is formulated and founded by God. God remains a nameless, formless, super-human power (Albert Einstein) behind all the wonders of creation we see and explore. But to man, helplessly wondering and searching for the power-beyond, God has revealed himself to all mankind in various ways and in various times. These revelations to mankind have given birth to various religions among all people originating from all corners of the earth.
No religion can claim exclusivity of any kind.
All religions have taken their origins from some form of revelation and been built up by men with formulas of faith, rituals and morals. All religions have grown among men to help man recognize his nature and end, and to help him struggle against the forces of evil and death and live a morally good life. In short, religions are at the service of men, not vice versa.
Christianity proclaims & celebrate Easter
My own religion is one of these – taking its origin in God’s revelation to the Israelites in their history where Jesus born a Jew, reveals himself as the Messiah or Redeemer of humanity, announces the coming of God’s Kingdom, suffers death in the hands of the Jewish & Roman authorities, and rises from death as Risen Christ, establishing victory over sin & death. It is this faith in Risen Christ conquering sin and death, that we celebrate on Easter Sunday.
All religions struggle against evil hoping in the victory of Good
Though religions started from divine revelations, yet the growth and formation of these religions are mostly the work of man, who believes and guided by super-natural divine or super human forces but remaining subject to evil forces of the world. Followers of all religions undertake a continuous struggle believing in the ultimate victory of good against the evil forces of sin in this world. Hence the commonality of all religions to struggle against surrounding evil forces believing and hoping in the triumph and liberation of the good.
Adam’s Peak – a standing reminder to all Sri Lankans
In Sri Lanka we have Adam’s Peak, visited by followers of all four religions, and claiming to recognize the feet of Buddha, Siva, Mohamed and Adam. Prof. Hans Kueng of Tubingen, a world renowned theologian, in studying the religions of the world, has opened his film with a scene at Adam’s Peak pointing out the potentialities for common understanding among religions.
We Sri Lankans after a long period of ethnic conflict and civil war, are struggling to rebuild Sri Lanka, a multi ethnic multi religious communities, a united island of peaceful coexistence for all. Though politicians and governments make blunders in handling our situation and not at all cooperating with those inside and outside the country to rebuilding, true followers and leaders of all religions must respond to the wake up call on Easter Sunday:-
1. Do not allow any room for evil to thrive even within the walls of your religion.Within a man-made religion, it is natural for humans to descend into extremism and fundamentalism which ignites hate and anger against other faiths.
2. In combating evil forces in our society, do not stop with mere armchair condemnations, but come out of your religious houses, join hands with other civic and political leaders to cry halt to evil.
More harm is done by the passivity of good people than by the activity of the evil.
K A Sumanasekera / April 23, 2019
Wish Rev Emmanuel preached this to Mr Pirahaparan as well…
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Ajith / April 23, 2019
Today in Parliament, the former President Mahinda Rajapakse himself accepted that Pirabhahran did not target civilians during the civil war between LTTE and Sinhala military.
“Even during that 30 year war, no single attack carried out by the terrorists targeting civilians ever resulted in as much carnage as the Easter Sunday attacks”.
We can remember how Sinhalese thugs and Military behaved in 1958, 1977 and 1983 with the guidance Sinhala Political & religious leadership.
I know even Lord Buddha could’nt succeed in preaching humanity to Sinhala Fundamentalists.
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Amarasiri / April 23, 2019
Shut,
Mahinda Rajapaksa is a liar. He is believed by the low IQ Modayas, both Sinhala and non-Sinhala.
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Meenachchi / April 23, 2019
It is perfectly true that LTTE attacks did NOT kill as many Sinhala civilians as people believe. What they did was spread terror of unexpected attacks. Over 30 years, more civilians died in motor accidents and the Tsunami than due to the Tigers.
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paul / April 24, 2019
Oh yes thangacchi the Tigers were innocents, we remember them fondly. These are just a few of their acts. May they all rot in hell along with those who funded them. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_attacks_attributed_to_the_LTTE
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Meenachchi / April 24, 2019
Paul,
Why don’t you read your own link? Count the casualties. Civilian deaths were less than 5000. Disprove it if you can. I
know people like you are brainwashed.
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paul / April 24, 2019
Meenachchi, re-read what I posted –
These are just a FEW their acts.
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Meenachchi / April 24, 2019
Paul,
The complete list is in the link I gave. There were no others. If you have different figures, show the evidence.
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Native Vedda / April 24, 2019
paul
–
“Oh yes thangacchi the Tigers were innocents, we remember them fondly.”
-.
Why?
Is it because Tigers fought and got the 4th largest army in the world out of the country in no time?
Or is it because they helped to elect MR twice and won the war him?
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SJ / April 23, 2019
Political memory is selective.
Who did the bombing of the Central Bank target?
Whom did the various bombs in public places like bust stands target?
Then there were bombs in trains and buses.
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Ajith / April 23, 2019
Who did the bombing of the Central Bank target?
LTTE. It is not the civilian target.
Whom did the various bombs in public places like bust stands target?
Both LTTE and Srilanka military.
Then there were bombs in trains and buses.
These are done by Military to put the blame on LTTE.
Who did the Daladha Maligawa attack?
It is former LTTE deputy Laeder Karuna Amman who was given ministerial post by Mahinda. Do you know that?
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paul / April 24, 2019
Do you know Ajith, even the air attacks on Colombo were carried out by the military disguised as Tigers. Of course they could not have a final meal with Thalaivar before their mission, so they had a slap-up thosai feed at Saraswathie instead, all paid for by GoSL’s MOD.
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Meenachchi / April 23, 2019
Mr.SJ,
You have only to check the various casualty figures provided by the government itself. Here is one, but there are more. There were not more than 4000 or so Sinhala civilian deaths over 30 years.
The CB bomb killed 80 people. 106 at pettah bus stand.
Terrorists are supposed to terrorise, and that theLTTE did.
Facts are stubborn. Politically inspired hype must be discounted
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Meenachchi / April 23, 2019
SJ.
Sorry, here is the link
http://www.internationallawbureau.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Law-Paper-Attachment-1-List-of-LTTE-attacks-on-civilian-targets.pdf
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Native Vedda / April 23, 2019
SJ
–
“Then there were bombs in trains and buses.”
–
Then there were bombs on hospitals, temples, churches, houses, ……….
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Native Vedda / April 23, 2019
KASmaalam K A Sumanasekera
–
“Wish Rev Emmanuel preached this to Mr Pirahaparan as well…”
–
Had he preached this to Prabaharan, the Hindians would have had no incentive to leave this island and you would not have started admiring him. As a consequence there would not have been a single “single handed” leaders like Dr Mahinda, Dr Gota, Kamal, Weerawansa, Jegath Dias, Shavendra Silva, Sarath Fonseka, Sarath Weerasekera, ……….. Champika, little Dhinesh, ………….. and not many made millions, …….. VP had contributed to increase in your wealth and status.
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K A Sumanasekera / April 24, 2019
Dear Native,
–
It is nice of your Spiritual Leader to commiserate with the poor Sinhala Catholics, who suffered this Tragedy.
Most people who lost their lives and the many more who were maimed, are the poor in Colombo Batti and Negambo,
–
They not only need spiritual consolation but they also desperately need financial assistance..
Wonder whether you can put in a good word to the Reverend and get at least 0.1 % of that 4 Biilion USD , which one of Rev Emma’s diocese members, Mr Surendran promised to Mangala Samaraweera to help Yahapalanaya in return for decimating the Intelligence Network and release of the Tiger suspects.
–
Wonder whether your local mates in the TNA , specially Mr Sampathar and Mr Abraham got that Intelligence Alert from Dr Ranil’s UNP Police Chief..
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paul / April 23, 2019
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Old codger / April 23, 2019
“No religion can claim exclusivity of any kind. “
What a statement for a Catholic priest to make. LTTE supporter or not, Fr. Emmanuel deserves praise for honesty.
Neither does he go to town calling all Muslims Islamic terrorists. “Evil forces” is as far as he goes , compared to the Cardinal, who wants harsh punishment in spite of Jesus Christ recommending forgiveness even for the worst sinners.
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K.Anaga / April 23, 2019
Father!
” No religion can claim exclusivity of any kind”
Why not? Jesus Christ was born on the earth without the help of a Father, unless god in heaven is considered his father on earth too.
Hindus have many gods which is rather exclusive for any religion.
Buddhism if considered a religion, they have no god. Of course they have borrowed HINDU GODS to get over difficulties.
Muslims appear to Have only one god termed Allah whose native place I believe is MECCA.
Catholics pray to mother and son.
Hence, I believe there is some sort of exclusivity in all religions.,?
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Native Vedda / April 23, 2019
paul
–
Thanks man/woman.
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Amarasiri / April 23, 2019
Rev S J Emanuel,
Let’s look into religions.
“Religion is the opium of the masses “ Philosopher Karl Marx.
“Keep Religion and State Separate” US Constitution.
Today is a day of mourning for all the victims of this heinous crime. This is day of infamy committed by those who follow Devils, Satans, Iblis orders, even by their own religious sources, the Hadith of Najd, They love death and destruction, the hallmarks is a Satanic faith, Wahhabi-Salafism and it’s clones, ISIS, Tauheef Jaamath etc. The Sri Lankan Muslims warned in 2014 to ban these Devil Followers, and the Authorities, ignored them, like the recent warnings. Is it Sri Lankan lethargy?
Religion is the only business in which the customers do not get what they are promised for their efforts or no support is provided for their efforts, after death.
Some fanatics of the religion can’t wait to get killed, to get to an unproven heaven, and get unproven heavenly pleasures or unproven rebirths of a higher order.
Where is the body? Here on earth, buried, decaying biologically. So how are they going to enjoy heavenly pleasures like 72 virgins etc. without a body?
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Chitra / April 23, 2019
Please be aware that there are fake websites with anti Muslim articles being circulated. I researched an particle that was circulating and it seems the many articles were pro Israel, anti Muslim, anti Palestinian, and shedding a bad light on the religion.
Beware, check the source before circulating these deliberate efforts to mislead, spread hate, and make Sri Lankans angry. This is how they operated in Myanmar too, through negative articles, fake news against Muslims, and efforts to cause chaos and confusion. There are filthy scumbags out there, who want us to retaliate and turn against each other.
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Sach / April 23, 2019
This beast called Emmanuel once said Prabhakaran was the Jesus who had come to take them to Chosen land. I request our people to write to the Pope, Desmond Tutu about this man.
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Meenachchi / April 23, 2019
Sachoo,
If he said so, give the references, and please not from Shenali the Stupid.
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K.Pillai / April 23, 2019
Your imagination is not only fertile but bloody fertile.
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JD / April 23, 2019
I don’t know why Sinhala Catholics were targetted. I think they simply wanted to carry out some attacks. So, in order to chase out Catholics from Colombo or from their neighbourhood, they blew up catholics. Tamil Catholics were working in the LTTE Bankk robber groups, Hiding robbed money, jewellery and weapons behind the Altar. Every Tamil – Catholic priest name came forward with LTTE. It is the JOseph who said, Pabakarn is the angle of christ. We believe about kArma and ditta dhamma Vedaneeya karma. even though I do not wish harm to any one, I hear Ex bishop Rayappu Joseph is now paralyzed and can not talk. So, the present Killing of Catholics won’t go unpunished.
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Lanka Don / April 24, 2019
Can someone give me irrefutable proof that the attackers (bombers) who did this are radical Muslims?
There have been more than 60 churches threatened by Sinhala Buddhist thugs in the last year itself. How do we know this was not done by the same people.?
Please don’t flame me. Just give me the proof for my question.
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soma / April 24, 2019
“God remains a nameless, formless, super-human power (Albert Einstein) behind all the wonders of creation we see and explore. “
Infinitely grateful for ending my lifelong quest reverend Father. My elders never told me that He was born in Germany.
–
Soma
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Native Vedda / April 24, 2019
somass
–
“My elders never told me that He was born in Germany.”
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The public racist the founding father of Sinhala/Buddhist Fascism Anagarika Homeless Dharmapala thought so.
Buddha was not born in Medamulana Walawwa either.
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Mallaiyuran / April 24, 2019
There was a vigil in NYC. All color feathers flocked. They told in their note that the Aanduwa is going to be too happy to use the emergency regulation and bring another round of crack down on Tamils, Muslim & Christian minorities.
Reality is, this is a pleasant experience Aanduwa waited for, for some time. 10 Minutes before, 48 hours before, 4 days before & 10 days before the attack, Aanduwa was warned of it. The man was fired from his organization 2 years ago because they felt (other Muslims) that he was a Muslim Extremist. He was on the CID file from Old Royal time. Ponny is saying anybody in the power from 2010 should share the responsibility for Easter Sunday. But this is all what Aanduwa did with that info. If Aanduwa can do one thing beyond what it on Sunday that is providing ammunition from military bunkers & providing transport to the terrorists on the military vehicle to the churches they wanted to go.
Dirty Rascal ministers warned each, other but let the churches in peril because they are predominantly Tamils’.
Ranil is too shy to accept that he needs INTERPOL, FBI help. But he could not hide because Australia is concerned about this because this is connected to New Zealand; so Australia wants to investigate itself.
These rotten comedians are bragging them that they defeated the World’s marvelous organization without international help. Comedy Thamai.
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sinhalese buddhist / April 24, 2019
Condemn all who deserve condemnation: Muslim fundamentalist terrorists and their supporters, our politicians – including by not limited to – RW,MS, MR, Mangala S., and our “civil society” groups that spout hatred: BBS, RSS, the various fundamentalist muslim groups with Arabic names, and the schools established by Saudi/Gulf states to indoctrinate SL muslims in their fundamentalist version of Islam that demean women and people of other faiths.
Forgive those who wish to change – but verify that they do change their fundamentalist ideologies that lead to death and destruction.
Those who do not wish to change – imprison them. That is the best option while they are on this earth; but their real punishment will be at the hands of God or karma, upon their death.
I can assure you no REAL GOD will redeem a heartless murderer like the one seen in the video that shows a young bearded man petting a small girl on her head before walking into a church full of people and murdering them in cold blood.
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kali / April 24, 2019
Father S.J. Emmanuel –
All Sri Lankans mourn & reflect:
*** Agreed
We as a whole nation of many ethnicities and religions are one in observing this national mourning in sympathy with the victims of this horror but also as a protest against the forces of evil against humanity. Although the horrific incidents occurred in particular places chosen by the evil-doers according to their intent and convenience,
*** But whose fault is it. I put it fairly and Squarley on the Majotity. There is no getting away from it. Every action has a reaction. and 70 yeas of brutality still continuing unabated will only bring more harm when MR & Gotha preach their brand of sermons to others, As you know we Tamils are very tolerant and Hinduism is a way of life and I have cousins who are Christians and we live amicably. respecting each other.. This weekend we are visiting Walsingham Church here in the UK as we do every year.
2) It’s a wake up call to all Sri Lankans, especially as followers of all four religions.
*** No you are wrong . It is a wake up call to the Majority to rise above their centuries old Hatred otherwise dare I say we havent seen nothing yet. They have now internationised the Struggle by taking on a deadly and lethal force. Every Sri Lankan who now inhabits the Muslim World should take notice.
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K.Anaga / April 24, 2019
If the Sinhalese and Tamils had come into some amicable settlement, Muslims too would have followed the path of ‘righteousness’.
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Punchi Point / April 25, 2019
How can this man Emmanuel whatever his name is, write assuming a Srilankan position on anything, when all he has done is attack Srilanka and the Sinhalese?Also this man has openly supported the LTTE which is the Tamil version of ISIS. Infact Tamils are credited with the invention of the suicide vest and the use of suicide bombing as we know today. It was from the LTTE that suicide bombing spread to the middle-east terrorist groups.
LTTE and its supporters like Emmanuel are equally or more fanatical than the ISIS. ISIS has a relatively valid and legitimate reasons for how and why it came into being, while the Tamil terrorist groups like the LTTE and EROS and what not have absolutely no legitimate or valid reason for their existence. Now I do not want to see a list of imaginary Tamil grievances – even if these grievances were real and legitimate, they do not warrant for the amount of violence Tamils unleashed on the Sinhalese people. BTW – this man Emanuel is NOT a real priest – he is a politician, comparable to the likes of Gnasara and Islamic Mullahs who call for violence against innocent people. And you do not belong to the Christian faith, as long as you call for violence and subscribe to the violent ideology of the LTTE now appearing in camouflaged organisations such as the GTF. Tamil fanatics like you and the ones in GTF have only one religion – that is Tamil, your God being the Tamil goddess. Tamil fanaticism and Islamic fanaticism are two sides of the same coin. Tamil fanatics don’t mind dying for the Tamil Goddess just like Islamic fanatics don’t mind dying for Islam.
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