Something I didn't know...

It's said "You learn something new every day". Here's something I always kinda 'knew' but didn't really have any proof of. I was noodling around on the internet tonight, studying Pakistani law, (what else would I be doing?) and stumbled across something of interest. It's pretty self explanatory, and I tried to copy and paste the relevant text, though some of the formatting is lost. This is quite eye-opening:

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ACT III OF 1986 CRIMINAL LAW (AMENDMENT) ACT, 198
An Act further to amend the Pakistan Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Gazette of Pakistan, Extraordinary, part 1, 12th October 1986) The following Act of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) received the assent of the President on the 5th October, 1986 and is hereby published for general information: Whereas it is expedient further to amend the Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860) and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1893), for the purposes hereinafter appearing: It is hereby enacted as follows:
1.	Short title and commencement (1) This Act may be called the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 1986. (2) It shall come into force at once.
2.	Insertion of new section 295-C, Act XLV of 1860. In the Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860), after section 295-B, the following new section shall be inserted, namely: 295-C. Use of derogatory remarks, etc. in respect of the Holy Prophet. Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine."
3.	Amendment of Schedule II, Act V of 1898. In the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898), in Schedule II, after the entries relating to section 295-A, the following new entries shall be inserted, namely: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 295-B Defiling, etc of copy of Holy Quran, May arrest without warrant Ditto Ditto Ditto Imprisonment for life Court of Session 298-C Use of derogatory remarks, etc. in respect of the Holy Prophet Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Death, or imprisonment for life, and fine Court of Session which shall be presided over by a Muslim

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SO, in Pakistan, if one would say anything bad about the prophet Mohammed by "words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly", you'd be "punished with death". The punishment for saying, or even suggesting, anything negative about Mohammed is the death penalty (or life imprisonment). Just so you know I'm not making this up, I checked it out in Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blasphemy_law_in_Pakistan

There's the link for y'all. It's not that I didn't believe the 'martyrs by the millions' stories. I just was unaware that there is nationally binding legislation in ANY country that makes it one's duty and national responsibility to kill Christians (or imprison them for life). I always thought that the proliferation of martyrs were strictly results from Islamic teachings, not official legislature...though in many countries in the 10/40 window, the Islamic teachings and the national legislature are inseperable. (I understand that...)

I guess I need to start praying a lot more seriously for Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, and much of the Middle East. They're killing those who love Jesus, and only because they don't love Mohammed...and it's a national legislated activity. Wowzer.

I heard about this site and thought it was kinda a silly gimmick of a site:

http://www.bodybagmissions.org

Now I know it's serious. Some sobering food for thought. Until Next Time,

The Armchair Theologian

Editors note - I don't have a computer right now, so my blogging is done from either my roomie's compie (when he's gone) or work, after work (when I have a spare hour or less). I'll keep on with the cessationism thread that some of you are waiting on, but it's going to be a month...probably. I'll start working on something and keep it as a word document on my memory stick, when that thing arrives in the mail. God bless.