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July 20th, 2011
02:35 PM ET
4,500 couples participate in Indonesian interfaith marriage ceremonyBy Kathy Quiano, CNN Jakarta, Indonesia (CNN) - More than 4,500 Indonesian couples tied the knot at a Jarkarta sports stadium on Tuesday, in what the event’s organizers claim was the world's largest interfaith wedding event. The couples were married in Islamic, Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist and Hindu ceremonies – with each participating in whichever rites were appropriate. The event’s organizers said the mass wedding was aimed at helping poor couples who couldn’t afford to pay for their own weddings. A humanitarian organization, Pondok Kasih Foundation, initiated the event and worked with Jakarta’s government and private sponsors to stage the mass wedding. In a press release, organizers said the event was focused on promoting Pancasila, Indonesia’s state philosophy, which encompasses five basic principles that include belief in one God, just and civilized society, unity and democracy. “Our value of Pancasila is facing increasing challenges,” the release said. “Our harmonious society is facing increasing threats from extremism and disturbance of public peace.” Indonesia has seen an uptick in violent attacks from radical Muslim groups in recent years and some human rights groups warn of a general rise in religious intolerance. The Setara Peace and Democracy Institute has recorded a significant rise in attacks on religious minorities. “We can all be united despite our differences in belief,” the organizers’ statement said, “and we can make a difference in our community that is in need. It is hard to imagine that in our modern society, we have instances of our community that could not afford marriage registration due to their economic circumstances.” The organizers said the mass wedding record was certified by a United Kingdom-based group called Royal World Records. A search of the Guinness Book of World Records' website did not turn up records on mass weddings. The 4,541 couples at Tuesday’s Jakarta event were dressed in colorful traditional wear, reflecting diverse ethnic origins. Asmar Salim and Marsiem, both 69, were teenagers when they first married in Muslim ceremony in 1960. Fifteen years ago, a fire gutted their home and destroyed their marriage records. “When our marriage certificate got burned, we had no money to get a new one because I was unemployed,” Asmar says. “I just got a job recently.” After 13 children and 10 grand children, they married again on Tuesday. Asmar is a street food vendor and his wife is a baby sitter. Aprianus Taneo, 30, and his wife Jendelina, 27, got married in a Protestant church last year but couldn't afford the fees for a civil ceremony. Aprianus says they participated in Tuesday’s ceremony to get a marriage license, which gives their son legal status. "We heard about this from our church and it was for free so we decided to register,” he said. “We'll need our marriage certificate for our son when he goes to school. It'll just be easier for him. We’re happy we have this opportunity”. While many couples were getting married for the first time on Tuesday, many were also looking to legalize previous unions. News media were barred from the section where couples getting married for the first time were seated because that section was the focus of a live television broadcast. Under Indonesia’s 1974 Marriage Law, a marriage ceremony must be conducted in accordance with a recognized religion before it could be registered. Muslim marriages must be registered with the local Office of Religious Affairs, while non-Muslim marriages must be registered with the Civil Registry Office. While the law does not explicitly prohibit inter-religious marriages, the regulations make such unions almost impossible. Home to the world’s largest Muslim population, Indonesia’s constitution recognizes six religions: Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism. "It is just different, a lot of different tribes, traditions, and traditional wedding costumes,” said Aprianus, as he watched clerics from various faith traditions marry couples on a stage in the stadium. “So we know that even though we're from various traditions; we are still the same, brothers and sisters." –CNN's Meidyana Rayana contributed to this report.
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The show was of course amaizng! I haven't missed one yet. The lighting was really annoying, we had to put our hands over our eyes it was so blinding at times, which made missing any of the dancing infuriating! The show started 20 min. late but it was so worth waiting for. We really missed Marko we pray his injury heals quickly! Melanie was breath taking, even though we knew that jump was comming it was still beyond belief! Thanks for such a great show!
markchentx Posted on @acular0606 sorry for late reply. Hold Alt (Mac: Option) when you click on the Add Layer Mask button the btotom of the Layers Pallet. You will get a black mask directly.
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A number of people that have written to respond to this article have spoken of the interpretation of the Bible, which is the number one problem in this present world as the Bible itself teaches us that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20). Only few people (Matthew 7:14) are able to understand the Bible and as long as mankind remains separated from God, the Word of God will remain a mystery.
Mankind in his natural state is unable to understand the Bible and unable to receive the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Cor. 2:14).
There is a natural body and a spiritual body (1 Cor. 15:44). The only thing that separates the Natural body from the Spiritual body is the Baptism of Repentance (Mark 1:4). To repent means: to change spirits and to turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan, whose spirit mankind is of (Luke 9:55), unto God (Acts 26:18). This is not an interpretation. Many people search the Bible for in them they think they have eternal life, but when we bring them the Scriptures they don’t believe us (John 5:38,39). Confused? There is no need to be confused any longer. For a better understanding of the mystery of God we invite you to read all the pages and articles of our website http://www.aworlddeceived.ca
So, before mankind will be able to understand the Word of God, mankind requires to be converted and transformed by God (not by any religion) and only then mankind is able to understand the Bible, as it is God (John 1:1).
All of the other pages and articles listed on our website explain how this whole world has been deceived as confirmed by the Word of God in Revelation 12:9. The Bible is true in all things and is the discerner of every thought and the intent of the heart (Hebrews 5:12).
TROLL, TROLL, TROLL, CULT, CULT, CULT
Every white man crime is considered as being a mentally ill/sick, and every Muslim crime is considered as a Terrorist act...!
Soonest any crimes or explosions take place in the West every body with out hesitations assumes or accuses the Muslims living in thse Western Countries....!
Now what can we consider this crime now is it Religious or Political? Or is it a mix of both as 2 in 1....? In such case I think the MidEast is in enough troubles already and would not need your Western Christian faith in our countries since such as those acts would be expected from them some time latter...!
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1029515–suspect-in-norway-attacks-bought-six-tons-of-fertilizer?bn=1
@muneef: So we need the Muslim faith in our Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, and animist countries?
Indonesia should control its dominant Muslims from oppressing infidels in any way. And of course more honesty with the police force.
I mean, the police needs honesty. Police in those lands think the arrested are food for exploitation or something.
Another thing what few might be of;
No wonder why so many male penis&testicles have shown up in a specialty dishes at Chinese restaurants... !
http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/SRS.html
This way you will never know which gender you are marrying or having an affair with...every thing is faked up;
Women who are not women and men who are not men?? Where we going,where we are heading with that? Is it another birth control?
What happens in these ghettoes is a mystery few know about. Most people, in fact, have no notion about how hijras come to be. Some believe they are simply born that way – males without the male genitalia – while others will tell you that they are really men who were forcibly castrated in their youth.
Yes, castrated by Islamic, Chinese, and some Western invaders. In the Islamic case, it was to keep the harem suppressed from internal violence. In the Chinese case, same plus advising the Emperor.
Hijra is Arabic and you know it.
Really good article, it opend my eyes, many thanks!
Bravo!!! Hopefully there were some "closet" agnostics and atheists in the mix.
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The people on the photo above look very unlikeable.
Rainer, don't be a racist.
Various nationals are usually very good, until you really get to know them or come to understand their language in depth.
Total transparency, deep compassion, taking responsibility, wisdom to build up, necessary sacrifice are the iuniversal languages to human souls that we need to hear. Everyone needs Jesus.