Some of those who voted YES had this to say:
• Yes, some where, but the nagas never touch the living word. There is must power to change the society through changing individual!
• The church actually can do a lot of positive things for society. But just looking at things around you, you begin to wonder which side the church is really on because people seem to be having such a negative vibe around it. So yes, the church can have lot of positive or negative impact on the Nagas. For now you really have to question whether it is positive or negative.
• We are still in the medieval era like the west in 16th Century....look back and you will see the difference.
• Since most people are Christian
• It blend the tribal culture
• It changes the naga society into democratic way of living.
• Our naga society is centered around the church only. Almost all the socializing takes place in the church. i think thats the reason why we get confused with our responsibilities and priorities in with our normal life. the church is definitely a controlling force in our social life.
• The Church is the best place from where the social transformation can begin in Nagaland. But the Church is found wanting because it is unable to understand the desire of the people. It is so busy preaching that it forgets about its responsibilities. I wish the Church will first listen to the people and than create solutions for the betterment of all based on the gospel.
• Yes, but a negative one!. Churching, praying and fasting are no ways to solve personal or social problems. I think it is high time to rid ourselves of this 2000 year old superstition and let reason and a sense of responsibility do the job of emancipating ourselves from immorality, stupidity, uncertainty and mediocrity.
• Definitely yes, and the question is good or bad influence but What good can we expect when the leaders are the most corrupt it is not the church but the corrupt people (member or leader), in the church are the problem….. Today our church has become the worst place to pray.
Some of those who voted NO had this to say:
• Jesus was the greatest revolutionary who ever lived and will ever live on the face of this planet. Jesus stood up against oppression, corruption, injustice and all other wrongs. Jesus was always on the side of the weak and the marginalized, not because they were better human beings, but simply because Jesus was for righteousness. Jesus confronted the status quo and pushed ideas that broke rigid thinking. Jesus was the perfect revolutionary, and he made the ultimate sacrifice - his life. Now where does the Naga church stand. I have not heard the Churches in Nagaland fight for justice, liberty, democracy and so on. Dont you think they always end up taking the side of the strong and the mighty. Are they not always standing for the status quo? Our Church leaders really need a crash course in Jesus the revolutionary.
• I am sorry the Church has no impact on the social life of people in Nagaland. They have narrowed themselves to only the four walls of the Church and this has impaired their effectiveness with the people. Its time they take a real honest look at the Church and rectify the changes needed by the situation.
• The Church has become more politically oriented, singing peace only to the fractions while the mainstream youths go haywire.
• Not at all... The church today in Nagaland has become a culture. The true Christian values are degrading even among the church and the congregation.
• It likes to hobnob only with the PAGE-3 of the society. Others are immaterial and non-existent coz it cannot milk anything from the common masses. It has become a competition of sort amongst the various bodies to build the biggest Church. Does it make sense to tear down a heritage Church and build a bigger Church on the same square feet of land, prone to landslide? Squabbles and tiffs on petty issues are common, setting an unhealthy example to the masses who look upon them as lesser godly beings, eh!!! Well, it’s written that many false prophets will appear with sweet talks as 22nd Dec. 2012 draw nearer. Well, SOS!!!
• The Church is an influential body in Naga life. It is an institution that truly comprises the people. Alas it does not represent the desires and wishes of the people. The Church is not of the people, it has alienated itself and so it has minimal effect on the lives of the people. Only in the realm of the church building do the Church speak with such authority, but outside of the building it becomes so meek like the mouse. So for most people, they go to attend church services, but rarely are they moved to act on the teachings of Christ. This is why there is so much contradiction between the religious and social aspect of life.
• The nagas churches are not yet discovered the need of real conversion of all church members and the emergency to total transform the society through the gospel with power and sign.
• Most of the nagas churches leader are not realise that still nagas are under bondage under political and sin. Not only the churches but event mission workers. The were not understand fully that the Bible is a book of freedom from sin and captive.
• The Church leaders are busy organizing healing crusades and revival meetings, but look at the people, they are busy doing their own thing. We must question why prohibition has failed and is failing. If the Church was effective, than prohibition will not fail. In fact rather than prohibition, if the Church were to educate the people about the Gospel and the teachings of Christ, than people themselves would not drink and the question of prohibition will not come. But for now, the Church leaders and the bootleggers are partners in crime.
• It has lost direction
• Very little, unfortunately. Something has gone wrong, perhaps we are not prioritizing what is important anymore.
• NO, in fact many people just do the opposite after coming out of the service which is not only the people attending it but also some of the preachers to tell you the bare truth the present Naga society needs a bare lesson on morality, civic sense and other things
Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say:
• The pedagogy of the Churches in Nagaland has become dogmatic. It is far from being progressive and one might even say that there is fear of talibanization of Christianity in Nagaland. Rather than look at it from its broad perspective, people are becoming so narrow and often the mis-interpretation of the Bible has been more damaging than helpful. Just look at the young theologians of today, how many can you actually look up to and respect?
• Prayer needs action; we need to be earthly good.
• In today’s context churches have so much impact in the social aspect of Naga life. Churches need to pray for God’s presence..its all about reading out the index of donors, fashion influences, politics, gossips, publicity etc..where is the place of God? Where is the sacred and goodness of God?
• Worship is an active verb not passive noun. Theology is piety and faith is not about self righteousness but all about living faith in the world. What does faith means on the streets and in the places we work? How does our faith interact in the daily grind of the day? These are questions I ask and wrestle with in my church. Is Church stepping up with all the changes or constantly looking back?
• Are the offerings, tithes etc received from the believers meant to be used lavishly on rich foods, snacks & brews/cold drink by certain members during meetings, church-related social work gatherings? Our hearts bleed when we see God's wealth being spent in such a lavish manner on earthly things. Indulging in excessive food is also a sin. Sometimes, we, the liberals, reason ourselves whether it would be a more blessing if we offer our tithes in the name of God to the much needed poors and the sufferings.
• I am a Christian, but when I see the Church in Nagaland functioning and behaving the way they do, I feel ashamed. I really do not feel proud when I see the Church acting like the moral policeman. Its no different from the way the Islamic fanatics are behaving. I would like the Church in Nagaland to be more open-minded, to be progressive in their theology, to stop being so judgemental and to really preach the gospel for that people can learn to live life like true Christian.
• Despite all the criticisms against the church, it is the only organized institution that has any impact on our society.
• In broader sense and in past tense, the social aspect of a Naga life has been completely affected by the Church. What is being followed and maintained has become a mere custom for most out of obligation or for social interaction.
• The church has done what it could on the pulpit. Now it is members' turn to put to practice what they have learnt.
• The leaders of the church who are at the top of the helm running it have removed themselves from the people. Their snobbish behavior does not allow the common people to come close to them. Rather it has only driven them further away from the people.
• Churches in Nagaland do have a huge impact in our society, and they are mostly negative. Churches are leading our society back to the dark age. There are teachings which makes the mass turn blind. "Who said, HIV is a curse?" The conservative old school never last long, and I pray for a mass revolution in our society that will help us open our eyes. Also, we have long forgotten the precious word, "God help only those who help themselves". We have to practically work towards a brighter society, because God will help us only when we help ourselves.
