I just came back from the Maldives on Sunday. It had been a fun trip. Some of us even made many friends there. The account of the events can be found on this website: http://ohsixasstwenty.blogspot.com/2006/03/well-i-have-been-to-maldives-and-back.html

There is something else bugging me. The Maldives is a 100% Muslim country. It has laws prohibiting people from bringing in items “contrary to Islam”. In other words, if you are found with a bible or a big cross, you could be locked up for 3 months. They are so protective of their religion that they even need all food brought in to have the hala sign.

To me, it is quite normal that most people would not have the courage to openly bring in other religions into the Maldives. I did not have the courage to bring in a Bible either. However, it is quite another thing to be afraid even to say the word Christmas in the country. There were also those who were convinced that prayer would not work there because it is a Muslim country. When singing songs, people censor out parts relating to Christ. Even after we revealed that in Islam, they have Jesus, just that they treated him as a prophet, people still hide their religion. I am not even referring to evandualism. I am referring to everyday conversation. Basically, when I sing any of our Church songs, people say that it is not allowed. No one even brings up the word Christ.

What do I say? Is not he who is in him greater that he who is in the world? Why are we so easily suppressed? Is this how things will be like even with the slightest inconvenience? That when men says “no”, we ourselves will temporally stop being Christians? What can we do to stop this problem?