Topic: Missionary killed by Primitive tribe in India - page 3. (Read 1275 times)

Ahaha, are you actually arguing against "Stand your ground" statues?

Pretty sure conservatives support those normally. I guess because this guy was religious, you're going to defend him.

For me, the religion of the man has nothing with do with the act of killing another human being. He could have been any guy wanting to explore an exotic island for fun.

I think a better analogy would be assuming that this island is private property belonging to the Sentinelese. When we reach their shores, we enter private property, and just like in any civilized nation, entering private property could get you shot and killed. It is not condoning murder, it is for the protection of the land owners.

Go ahead and condone murder.

How people fall for a false religion like yours us unbelievable. But they do.

It's sad, but, the missionary work wasn't done the right way - Matthew 7:6:

I think this "All Nations" organization is responsible.  There is no ifs or buts about it.

Christian brainwashing at its best.  How people fall for these cults is beyond me?

We need organizations to help people get out of these cults (Christianity, Islam, Judaism etc) before it is too late.

Woah, I chanced upon this thread and such people sympathizing with the John Chau and also lambasting him for his act. Well let me put out the facts for everyone so that we can have a more non-judgemental attitude regarding the topic.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands is an archipelago of 500+ islands where tribals had settled around 10,000 years back. In the past few centuries mankind discovered these island and took them populated them in the process integrating the ethnic population. Tribes like Jarwa, Great Andamanese and Onges were integrated into the existing system because of frequent communication with the main population. Though they maintained their tribal lifestyle but were introduceed with the modern concepts of education, healthcare and society. But the story of Sentinelese was quite different.

Sentinelese live on a secluded island west of Andaman. They have not been integrated into the mainfold and still talk in their own language, use primitive tools and practically live the way humans did probably 10,000 years back. You can judge the disconnect by the fact that we can not understand the language or even the script it is written in because it predates the oldest known scripts. The Indian government looking at how the other tribes were made a visual treat for "Humans" consciously decided to let the area be untouched and the Sentinelese to evolve naturally. There is strict law in the Andaman that no boat under any circumstances is to go near that Island. The last time the government established contact they took 6 individuals (4 children and 2 adults) from the island to introduce them with the mainlanders. But because they were not immunized the 2 adults died of simple infections caused by some bacteria which we are easily resistant to. So, they are afraid from the other humans.

John Chau like every other enthusiast wanted to reach out to these people and establish a connection with them. He was motivated by Christanity to propagate its ideas among the tribes without understanding that they were skeptical to outsiders and had attacked previous convoys that had tried to establish connection with them.

It was his stupidity that got him killed and I don't understand how the Sentinelese are at fault. How would you react if you saw that a very advanced Alien species lands and you cannot communicate with them. You would be afraid and try to get rid of them at the very first chance. We are very much alien to the Sentinelese when we reach their shores with our boats, clothes and other gadgets.

My condolences are with the deceased but I don't think that the Sentinelese were at fault.

I actually had never heard of this island before,  so that's a very interesting bit of information. I wonder are there any other similar tribes?

Piggy and other poster are right when they say that tribe is not immune to the common virus. You/We don't have to be sympathetic to these tribesmen but we can at least let them live their lives in peace. that's why Indian gov do not interfere in their way of living. their population is already declining.


He was a Christian Missionary. that's the only reason i can think of right now.

You might wanna check this out
https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article222250020.html

Those people are some of the last tribal populations with no interaction with the outside world. The British wiped plenty of those you call "savages and natives" when they first decided to build a prison there. After independence, the Indian Govt decided to not interfere. There is nothing analogous to the "White man's burden" in Eastern philosophy. They are to be left alone.

The main problem in this whole drama was the laxity of enforcing its own laws by the Indian Govt. That guy was on a suicide mission trying to sneak in and dodged boat patrols on his way. If he would have been caught, this would never have happened.

The threat to populations without immunity from modern-world diseases catching it from illegal outsiders is very real. It is not an exaggeration. Remember the smallpox blankets?

Which means something or nothing, and you don't know which, because you can't. The reality is hidden from us.

But you would defend the indefensible. Have fun.

So you didn't mean it when you said this?


"These savages" have been around probably longer than many modern nations. I bet they are not sympathetic to our way of life either.

NO, giving you the benefit of the doubt, misunderstanding instead of twisting meanings.

Such things happen. I've illustrated several ways in which these savages are not "safe." They are not safe from diseases without knowledge of medicine, they are not safe from contagious disease. Killing people that set foot on the island does not solve that.

They are not safe from people who might want payback for their "legitimate savagery."

Next, regarding your obvious exaggeration .... "wipe the population out" ....

I don't care about them one way or the other. That means I don't care if they all live or if they all die. Neither. Pretty simple, right?

The Christian, he found out the hard way that the "noble savage," well, he isn't so noble...

ah come on, at any time in urban islands of global cities there could be savages showing up that are xenophobic, the christians do what their religion tells them, muslims would also have to do that.

So do you suggest to wipe the population out because of a near-zero probability of some airplane landing on an undeveloped island when there is a proper airport on another island nearby?

I'd say it makes far more sense just to leave them alone.

Sematics? Not quite.

The same people that would argue "the law protects the Island" would argue that "the immigration law can't stand in the way of open borders", it's "okay if Hillary broke all kinds of laws", it's "Not okay if Trump jaywalks," on and on.

It's not semantics to change the rules with every situation.

Further, suppose a plane, or a boat, had to make an emergency landing there. Suppose the islanders murder them.

Someone somewhere might just decide it was payback time.

I'm not sympathetic with the "missionary," but to use his own words, "an eye for an eye...."

That's kind of silly to argue whether the law or people are charged with protection of the island.  Laws wouldn't exist without people, so yeah, whatever, semantics...  You could argue whether the tribe should be protected or not, and it's your right to have an opinion.  

Having said that; the dude obviously knew the dangers he faced.  He wrote a letter to his family expressing his knowledge of the risks.  He got shot at, escaped, and then returned.  His fate was in his hands and made his choice.  

I'm sure his family wants to give him a proper burial, and would like the Indian government to retrieve his body, but I'm inclined to agree with the Indian government on this one.  He broke the law going to the island, not once, but twice.  He new the risks, not only to his own well being, but ignored the risks he posed to the islanders' health.  Attempting to retrieve the body would only compound the dangers to the islanders.

Great example of how unprepared christians can not operate in India.

Bonus video - end time battle in India: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaPHK6VLEHA&t=1066s

Let them hear who has ears to hear!

I agree that it is the right of the locals to live the way they want to on their very own island, it is better to leave them in peace.

Would you apply the same logic if someone with ebola showed up at your doorstep and insisted on a french kiss?

Their ignorance or sensitivity is irrelevant. The government is protecting their way of life. They don't seem to be imposing that way of life on anyone outside of their island. Seems like a reasonable setup and outsiders should not go there.