Longleng, May 13 (MExN): The Phom Baptist Christian Association (PBCA) today emphasised the transformative impact of Christianity on the Nagas, asserting that the advent of the religion "marks a dawn of civilisation in Nagaland."
It attributed Christianity to what it termed as the "amazing metamorphosis" of Nagas from a "violent nature to peace-loving human beings."
The association further asserted that Christianity and civilisation are two sides of the same coin and inseparable in the history of Naga Churches. "Christianity introduced us to spiritual values, moral values, and theological virtues like a Christ-centred belief system, love, mutual respect, new human relationships, spiritual liberation, and what we are today is all because of Christianity," it added.
Additionally, the association highlighted that, according to Indian Church history, Christians actively participated in the Indian independence movement, underscoring that every Indian Christian possesses a legitimate right to exist, practice, believe, and adhere to their chosen faith.
However, the PBCA noted that Christianity is under attack from other religions and political forces in India.
To this end, the association also defended the Nagaland Baptist Church Council's Clean Election Movement recent statement and noted that "electioneering activities have become moral and spiritual issues in our land."
So, social concern departments like CEM and Church Associations cannot remain silent when social injustice is visibly prevailing in our society and churches being attacked by religious fanatics in India, it added.
In this connection, while noting that Christianity is not apparently being attacked in Nagaland by external adversaries, the PBCA cautioned against the dangers of succumbing to political ideologies that may lead to forgetting the spiritual foundation provided by Christianity.
However, the association underscored that peace prevails when there is respect for other faiths, cultures, and customary laws and practices. It underscored the Church's role in promoting social justice and called for religious tolerance and inter-faith dialogue to foster a peaceful India.
