Benny Hinn In India

Rev Benny Hinn visited Trinidad and Tobago some years ago and caused a religious controversy in his aftermath. Following that incident there was the proposal that the Office of the Prime Minister extended an official invitation to Rev Hinn since he had allegedly predicted the winner of the last general election. This proposal similarly caused a national stir and resulted in the invitation being withdrawn after the Prime Minister was considerably embarrassed. It was also widely speculated that it was the influence of Hinn that the present administration considered the establishment of a Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs. Like the proposed visit this suggestion also was bitterly opposed by the national community and similarly caused embarrassment to the authorities who eventually withdrew.

Hinn’s public comments on Hindus and Hinduism on his televised ministry remains a source of concern for Hindus, and therefore the planned visit by Hinn to Hindu India was watched by Hindus globally with anticipation. American Evangelist Benny Hinn recently planned a three-day Festival of Blessings in Hindu India. Organisers expected up to three million people to attend. But the prayer meetings ran into a lot of opposition with Hindu religious leaders. Hindu religious leaders met in Bangalore to discuss their opposition to the Festival of Blessings. Their plans to prevent the prayer meetings from being held ranged from the mild to the militant. “The Christian missionary organisation is aiming at a political gain of converting the people from Hindu religion to Christianity. The state government stated the meetings will go ahead despite petitions filed in court by Hindus to stop the meeting. Doubts have been raised over Hinn’s healing abilities.

There was also anger over pamphlets that condemned the worship of idols, though the organisers have distanced themselves from it. “Pastor Benny Hinn does not have any powers of healing, it is only God who can heal anybody. What Pastor Benny Hinn is coming here for is not for healing but to pray for those who need healing,” said Gul Kripalani, National Chairman of Festival. “His only objective is to come here to pray for India. He also has no other agenda, no conversions. We respect other religions,” added Kripalani. Benny Hinn is a highly controversial figure among Christians themselves on two counts. First is that many consider him a “heretic” for his unusual interpretations of key Christian beliefs. Second is that investigations by fellow Christians into his “healing” of people at programmes such as being held in Bangalore have failed to yield a single confirmed case of a miraculous healing.

The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Bangalore has passed an interesting order on January 12, 2005. Shri Srinivas, Chief Metropolitan magistrate, Jayanagar passed the order after going through all the documents furnished by the petitioners including handbills, posters and Video CD. The magistrate said: a) Benny Hinn should be arrested the moment he arrives in Bangalore for inciting communal disharmony among two communities. b) A search warrant has been issued to Police Department to search the entire premises of the “Assembly for Peace and God” c) The magistrate has ordered removal of all the hoardings and posters before January 16. Following the first judgment the Sessions Court directed the Programme of Benny Hinn’s to go on January 21 with some conditions and it will take a decision regarding other two days only after it receives the report.

Judge Shri Belvadi Ramaswamy has laid following conditions for the Programme:

a) Closed Circuit Cameras to be used for January 21 programme. The court is interested in taking note about the method adopted in healing patients, any provocative speech hurting the sentiments. b) A selected 15-handicapped people would be sent for the programme after they are medically termed as ill and a thorough medical check up has been ordered prior to the programme. c) A team of five doctors will be deputed to examine the handicapped people and after 21st Programme. Court has fixed next date as January 22 2005 for hearing after all the required documents, medical reports and video films are submitted to decide the next course of action. The Petitioner had filed a PIL under section 153(c) 295(a) and 420 accusing Benny Hinn and others of misguiding people in the name of healing their ailments and hurting the sentiments of Hindus by telling them not to do idol worship and accusing them as indulging in prostitution. Hindus are waiting for the outcome of other two PILs at the High Court.

Following this second High Court judgment there was a total chaos in the press meeting organised by the committee of “Pray for India and Festival of Blessing.” First a Hindu voice representative questioned about the handbills which have been distributed throughout Bangalore city in which Hindus were targetted as followers of idol worship, prostitution, black magic etc and advised to accept Jesus as the only God. Tamasha begins: Gul Kripalani (Chairman) evades the question by saying that it is not their pamphlet and they have nothing to do with that. He demanded a copy of the leaflet to be produced immediately by saying that whosoever is responsible, action will be taken against him.

Suddenly a media person appeared on the scene and presented it to him and to all the media persons by saying “Here it is.” Stunned Gul Kripalani said: “I have no idea about it, Mr Colasa and Paul Thangaiah will answer you.” Organisers said: “This pamphlet is not for public distribution, but for Church circulation and should have been distributed only to Christians.” Hearing this nonsense, media men were on their feet and protested his comments, saying: “You people have already circulated over 300,000 pamphlets in all the pockets of Bangalore and now you are saying it is only for church circulation, who are you trying to fool? That means you are preaching hate against the Hindu community in your churches.”