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Post by Lexica on Dec 10, 2023 18:35:51 GMT
Has anyone seen the The Mission, on Hulu, the story of John Chau who thought Jesus was compelling him to go to the island of North Sentinel, an island off India that is illegal to approach for a 3-mile perimeter, to spread the word about Jesus? His thought was that Jesus had commanded that his word be spread throughout all the people of the world. John thought the reason Jesus had not returned to earth yet was because this island was never given the opportunity to learn about Jesus.
The people living on the island, the Sentinelese, did not want anyone coming there for any reason. It is thought that outsiders had brought illness to their people at some point in history or they had heard of it happening on other islands and did not want it on their island. Plus, they probably had resources enough for their own population and feared unwanted growth taxing those resources. It was well known that they protected their island and would kill anyone who tried to go there.
I just watched it this morning and wondered what you guys thought. I will say that I have tremendous compassion for John’s family, particularly his father, a doctor, who had tried to dissuade John from the efforts.
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Post by disneypal on Dec 10, 2023 18:50:11 GMT
I haven’t seen it, but I did read about this a few years ago.
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Post by Bridget in MD on Dec 10, 2023 18:52:49 GMT
i didn't realize they had a documentary or show based on this story! I will watch.
I remember we discussed this story here on the pod. It is interesting, but he had no business trying to infiltrate that island. Remind me, were they allowed to recover his body?
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Post by Lexica on Dec 10, 2023 19:10:00 GMT
i didn't realize they had a documentary or show based on this story! I will watch. I remember we discussed this story here on the pod. It is interesting, but he had no business trying to infiltrate that island. Remind me, were they allowed to recover his body? His wikipedia page states that officials from India have made several attempts to recover his body but abandoned the efforts. It says there were a few tense encounters. |
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Post by Lexica on Dec 10, 2023 19:31:34 GMT
I guess I should say that my opinion is that the view that converting such a group of people to Christianity is arrogant. If they wanted anything from anyone else, they have the ability to get into one of their boats and go ask for it. They most likely have no immunity and someone from the outside world showing up could potentially wipe out the entire community of people who are getting along just fine and have done so for many many years. I don’t think that their language is spoken by any inhabitants of nearby islands. No one even knows how many people are living there. They obviously do not want any outside intervention so that should be respected.
It would be extremely interesting to learn about them and how they live, but that is just my curiosity talking. I personally am happy that India has deemed the island off limits to everyone. I read that John’s father blamed his son's death on the missionary community for inculcating an extreme Christian vision within Chau. I agree with him. To me, as I said, I think it is extreme arrogance to assume everyone needs to believe in Jesus instead of whatever religious beliefs they hold, if any.
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pilcas
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Post by pilcas on Dec 10, 2023 19:35:25 GMT
I feel for his family but don’t have much sympathy for him. As others have said his whole mission was pure arrogance.
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Post by Lexica on Dec 10, 2023 19:50:10 GMT
I feel for his family but don’t have much sympathy for him. As others have said his whole mission was pure arrogance. When you see the movie, it shows how he was pretty much encouraged and indoctrinated to this belief though. Not by his family, but by a few entities that prepared him for the mission. There has been some negative feedback toward these organizations over his death. I do believe that he really felt he was doing the right thing by these islanders. But he was taught that, it wasn’t an original opinion of his. And like you, I just don’t agree with that. I read that he approached the island three times before he was finally killed. He kept a diary that was eventually given to his father who made it public. He admitted he was afraid. But I think he had held onto this idea that it was his sole purpose in life to convert these islanders, which he thought would bring Jesus back to earth. I think he just couldn’t let it go for fear of failing at the mission he believed God had set him on. I don’t know why someone in one of these organizations didn’t talk to him about having the absolute right to turn around if he thought it was life threatening. It is sad. |
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Post by Merge on Dec 10, 2023 20:20:28 GMT
The perfect storm of religious indoctrination, mental illness, and cult behavior. Very sad.
We have multiple examples in history of the evils of Christian "missionary" work that often caused much suffering for native people all over the world. I guess I shouldn't be surprised at this point that people refuse to learn from the past. I wish we could end all of these kinds of efforts and also the mission tourism so popular with certain churches.
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Post by Lexica on Dec 10, 2023 21:03:27 GMT
One of the organizations stated they carefully screen for anyone with a Messiah complex from going on a mission. I don’t know what all that entails, but it would seem to me that John was displaying something compulsive and unhealthy, going to an island that was prohibited by law and known to kill anyone approaching it. Shouldn’t any reputable facility discourage breaking a law? It wasn’t a secret that he was planning on going to an island that had protected waters around it to prevent intruders? Is it okay to break the law if you think you are offering something to save their souls? This is one of the areas that show great arrogance. The laws don’t matter if you are going to talk about Jesus?
I appreciate that the film used animated characters to depict certain gruesome scenes like the five men killed in Ecuador during the 50s while on a mission attempting to evangelize the Huaorani people rather than have actors.
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peabay
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Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Dec 12, 2023 23:47:17 GMT
One of the organizations stated they carefully screen for anyone with a Messiah complex from going on a mission. I don’t know what all that entails, but it would seem to me that John was displaying something compulsive and unhealthy, going to an island that was prohibited by law and known to kill anyone approaching it. Shouldn’t any reputable facility discourage breaking a law? It wasn’t a secret that he was planning on going to an island that had protected waters around it to prevent intruders? Is it okay to break the law if you think you are offering something to save their souls? This is one of the areas that show great arrogance. The laws don’t matter if you are going to talk about Jesus? I appreciate that the film used animated characters to depict certain gruesome scenes like the five men killed in Ecuador during the 50s while on a mission attempting to evangelize the Huaorani people rather than have actors. I just watched it and yes, I do think he was struggling with his mental health. I'm not sure that I would just say "what a narcissist". I think he was vulnerable, naive and, honestly, delusional. |
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Post by jamieson on Dec 13, 2023 0:24:50 GMT
I stayed up late watching this and really enjoyed it. Thank you for the recommendation.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Dec 13, 2023 0:57:03 GMT
Why do people think they have the right to impose their religion on others?
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peabay
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Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Dec 13, 2023 1:53:44 GMT
Why do people think they have the right to impose their religion on others? I honestly thought the scariest person in the movie was the woman who twisted that question around to how you're not giving other people a choice when you don't try to impose your religion on them. I was like "wha?" |
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Post by AussieMeg on Dec 13, 2023 2:24:09 GMT
I remember reading about this guy a while ago. Thanks for sharing about the documentary, I will have to see if I can find it on a streaming service here.
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Gennifer
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Post by Gennifer on Dec 13, 2023 2:25:22 GMT
I honestly thought the scariest person in the movie was the woman who twisted that question around to how you're not giving other people a choice when you don't try to impose your religion on them. I was like "wha?" My mom once said to me that I was “brainwashing” my kids by not having them go to church, and it was wrong for me to take away their choices. I was livid. Luckily, she’s either come to her senses or has, at least, learned to keep that opinion to herself, because she’s never said it to any of my other family members who have since left our religion behind. |
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Post by hop2 on Dec 13, 2023 12:00:05 GMT
I guess I should say that my opinion is that the view that converting such a group of people to Christianity is arrogant. Seriously, these “Christians” who believe in a god that sent an angel to speak directly to Mary now have the arrogance to believe that god would be unable to contact this island of people if god wished to do so? Doesn’t he just speak from burning bushes & stuff? 🙄 |
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oh yvonne
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Jun 26, 2014 0:45:23 GMT
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Post by oh yvonne on Dec 13, 2023 14:30:59 GMT
I did watch most of it, I felt the same as you. Mostly it upset me and I didn't finish it.
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