Stop Glorifying Christian Missionaries – An Insult to the Memory of Angarika Dharmapala
Posted on September 23rd, 2014

Bauddha Jathika Balavegaya

The proposed canonization of Joseph Vaz on Sri Lankan soil by the Pope on his visit to Sri Lanka in January 2015 is tantamount to an insult to the memory of Anagarika Dharmapala whose 150th birth anniversary was commemorated a few days ago and in whose memory the unfolding year ( from Sept 17, 2014 – Sept 16, 2015) was declared the Anagarika Dharmapala year. It is also tantamount to a humiliation of the Sinhala Buddhists of this country whose forbears fought a series of heroic battles against powerful western colonial countries since the entry of the Portuguese in 1505 and remained unconquered and undefeated until they were betrayed from within in year 1815.

Christian Missionaries have performed a shameless auxiliary role in the conquest of Sri Lanka by western countries and the destruction of Buddhist Temples and Buddhist Heritage by the very same western countries aided and abetted by Christian missionaries.

Christian missionaries can never be saints or heroes in the eyes of the Sinhala Buddhists of this country.

We demand an apology and adequate compensation for the crimes committed by western christian powers acting hand in glove with Christian Missionaries.

 

12 Responses to “Stop Glorifying Christian Missionaries – An Insult to the Memory of Angarika Dharmapala”

  1. Lorenzo Says:

    I DISAGREE. (But agree on the apology part.)

    Christians in SL too must have their space to practice their religion.

    It was NOT the missionaries but ordinary Portuguese with Hindu Tamil hired soldiers who did the plunders.

    If Joseph Vaz is canonized as SL’s first saint, that is FANTASTIC. ALL SLs should be happy.

    Great Sinhala Buddhist king Wimaladharmasuriya took pity to Catholics and saved them from Dutch brutality. That is the true spirit of Sinhala Buddhism.

    Even Anagarika Dharmapala studied in 2 CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY schools. And he has commended these schools later in life.

  2. Christie Says:

    Please remember majority of Christians among are Sinhalese. They have helped us in the war against the Indian terrorist outfit. The real attack on Buddhism comes from the Indians and Hinduism; look around and see the Buddhists who floks to Kovils and Devalyas. The Hindu Kovils popping up everywhere.

  3. Christie Says:

    These Balayas are very naïve. Portuguese were removed by Dutch and then By the British in1792 not in 1815. We should immediately demand compensations from the Indian imperialists for the killing of innocent Sinhalese by the Indian trained, armed, financed, managed and branded Tamil Tigers.

  4. Sooriarachi Says:

    This organisation BJB is certainly not acting according to Buddhist principles. Just because some Christian missionaries may have committed crimes against Sinhala Buddhists during Colonial times, such blame should not be placed on each and every Christian in Sri Lanka.
    Joseph Vaz will be canonised by the pope mainly in recognition of his selfless service rendered to the Catholic community during a time when they were being persecuted by the Dutch. He did not work against the Buddhists or any other Sri Lankan and there is no need to object to the recognition given for whatever service he had rendered to another religion. In fact I believe as true Buddhists we should rejoice in such achievements and congratulate the Catholic community.

  5. Mr. Bernard Wijeyasingha Says:

    Demanding and not getting an apology is a good stratagem which exposes the Papacy of her imperial duplicity. But after not getting that apology it must be followed with an equal level of indignation for the insult of not apologizing. The act of sainthood on a Christian thug on Buddhist soil followed by the total silence from the Holy See of a demand to apologize for this transgression then must be followed by the destruction of inactive churches now abandoned due to the war or other reasons to lay claim on that land to rebuild lost Viharas.

    That should be made public news, Use the media that Buddhism is on the rise in Sri Lanka over the ashes of Christianity and especially the brazen act of a renegade Pope coming to Sri Lanka in the same manner of the Christian conquerors. The world must come to terms that Buddhism, the Sinhalese culture and Sri Lanka make the true “Holy Trinity” that unites the land.

  6. Mr. Bernard Wijeyasingha Says:

    The Christian world is coming apart as one has seen recently in the referendum of Scotland. the NO vote won but the demand for autonomy along ethnic lines has opened up. The United States the largest Protestant Christian nation too is coming apart. According to well written 50 page book titled “America Shattered united no more” by Columbus Falco the ugliness of what makes America is well stated and the reasons to form a new nation out of what remains good in America is outlined. Either on Amazon or Kindle one can read this book to understand the unraveling that is taking place in the Western world.

  7. AnuD Says:

    If Joseph Vaz is canonized as SL’s first saint, that is FANTASTIC. ALL SLs should be happy.

    HE was a missionary born in GOVA, India.

  8. Lorenzo Says:

    AnuD,

    But he served SL people.

    Similarly Mother Teresa was canonized as a saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta. She was born in Yugoslavia.

    Another example is Col. Henry Olcott. He is just a retired army officer in USA where he was born but a national hero in SL.

  9. Nanda Says:

    MR should also be canonized. Rayappu will propose his name.

  10. Nanda Says:

    Bauddha Jathika Balavegaya should demand Catholic Church to cease supporting LTTE and terrorist. Let them make any number of canons to heaven. If pope is organizing animal sacrifices or a drinking session then we have a right to protest.

    Buddhist do not canonise Anagarika Dharmapala knowing the meaningless stupidity involved. There is no insult to AD.

    “Those who consider the inessential to be essential
    And see the essential as inessential Don’t reach the essential,
    Living in the field of wrong intention” – Buddha

    Current essential for Si Lanka is repealing of 13A, not going after Pope.

  11. Lorenzo Says:

    “Current essential for Si Lanka is repealing of 13A, not going after Pope.”

    True but they are NOT mutually exclusive. Let the Pope come. We should protest to Pope against Kasippu Joseph. I have a copy of Mario’s book, the beast. I plan to donate it to the Pope for a good read.

    Mark my word, MOST MPs will “worship” pope. Mervin Silva, Karu Jaya, MR, GR and family have already met the Pope.

  12. Mr. Bernard Wijeyasingha Says:

    Lorenzo
    Mother Theresa was never made into a saint. She failed to meet the criteria for Sainthood.

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