Born in 1938 in Sudan, he did his seminary studies in Italy and England, returning to Sudan as a parish priest in 1964. By 1968, he was chancellor of the Khartoum archdiocese, and five years later, began a long tenure as secretary-general of the Sudanese Bishops’ Conference.

In 1979, he received a degree in canon law and administration from Catholic University. He chaired Caritas, Sudan, in the early 1980’s and, after five years as apostolic administrator of the El Obeid diocese in central Sudan—an area the size of Italy—he was consecrated as its bishop in 1988.

The new bishop acted as liaison between the Catholic bishops and the government until he was placed under criminal indictment by the authorities for criticizing Sudan’s human rights record abroad. In 1990, Bishop Gassis was diagnosed with cancer and went to the U.S. for treatment.

There he learned that the Sudanese government had barred his return. This proved to be a major turning point in the bishop’s life. Realizing that he was in a unique position to alert the world to the sufferings of Christians in his war-torn country, Bishop Macram briefed bishops’ conferences and government representatives.

Most important, most important, in fact the majority of the not-negotiable ones of all the actions alone, concentrates in the question of the salvation. This subject begins and finishes with the person and the Creator. There is no more activity alone. And places that us in the positions of weakest because “all the things are abiertas and put in the open to the eyes of him with whom we must do” (Hebrew 4:13). It is no wonder to hide “in the trees”, as Adam - it looks for to cover (Gn 3:8). He is ironic that the shield of the election is often… religion.

The unique religion that I am interested in the debate here is the Christian religion.

The Christian religion

In my opinion, the Christian religion and the Christian faith are two different things. It is not essential that you adopt my demarcation enters both, but you think that (so far) within the framework I am presenting/displaying, the debate that will do more feeling. When fodder in the religion, I believe that “the ceremony, the ritual, the dogma - and the formulas for these things.” When fodder in the faith, in my opinion, “the investigation, the study, the knowledge - and the persuasion than is true”.

Using this definition, the Christian religion… is easy. Formulas appear that lead to a salvation, next, define clearly the directives of “good” the Christian life. Altar called, confirmations, baptisms or soon followed by membership in the church, the tithe, and the church calendar.

It is a natural weakness by the man to fall in the religion. The reason is quite simple. Follower of the religion says all the/she must do. The directives are not for being interrogated - only obeyed - and everything will go well. Many people feel that they have obtained something, following the orders religious. This has great an attractiveness for the participants - and, often, it provides a great comfort. Nevertheless, this comfort does not finish in the life.

The Christian religion leans in two main pillars. First of all, those of the bank are ewes, that must be promoted. And the second to pound is (guessed you) - to the leaders. They are going to be obeyed. Two great errors are created by this model. In order to begin, the Christians - as ewes - it is a “rhetorical figure” (Jn 10:6). Ewes imagine Nevertheless like ingenuous, defenseless and very idiot (, to respond to the confidence of voice of their master… and only to ignore the voice of a stranger [Jn 10:1 - 5.16.27]. People would do well in imitating this. Often the “strange voices”… that take in the death). But, where Ezequiel of the verse fits in the “idiot ewe” analogy? ” ‘As far as you, my ewes, the ewes of my I graze, that are men, and I am your God “, the Gentleman declares “(Ezequiel 34:31). This is coherent with the warning of Paul to the Corintios rebel: “in its mature thought… I know that in the alert, to stay it signs in the faith, to act like men, is strong” (1 Cor 14:20 and 16:13). When it is what God calls to its children - to be stupid ewes?

Secondly, the leaders of the Christian religion are exentos of this “rhetorical figure”. They are more of the dumb ewes. Nevertheless, they themselves… are not dumb ewes. The one from the mentioned passages more often support to this position comes from Hebrew: “To obey to its leaders and that appears to them, to watch that its souls, like those who are going to give account. We are going to do this with joy and not with pain, for it would not be profitable for you” (Hebrew 13:17). At first sight, it seems the model of the religion is exact - the ovines one assumes that they obey to the leaders. Nevertheless, a simple course of language of the demand of a more exhaustive study.

This English translation (of the Greek Koine) contains at least three problems.

First of all, in the translation to the English: “to obey “it is a verb in active voice. But in Greek Koine, one is a verb in passive voice. The passive voice is understood the subject has been acted to - it does not make the action. The translated word, “to obey” (peitho) has several meaning possible (like making words English). Meaning by the root “peitho” is “the persuasion”. Obedience blinds is outside the circle.

Secondly, in the translation to the English: “leaders” are a noun. But, this it is a participle in Greek - a not noun. A participle is a verbal adjective. There is an enormous difference between “the leader” and “leaders”. In this case, “the leader who” talks about to the Christians most mature “of all you” (plural genitive). That they try to persuade to less mature by the instruction and example - and the call of the imitation. “They are imitadores of me, as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor 11:1 - and this is… the apostle Pablo to the Corintios).

Thirdly, in the translation to the English: “for them” it is a prepositional phrase. This is not in the Greek to all and must be forgotten.

Hebrew 13:17 would have to be translated rather like this: “You… and the yield Have let yourselves persuade by main those of all. ” Less mature to allow than he was sent them to be persuaded (passive) by most mature among them - and, next, to yield the passage to the precise manipulation of the word of God (the doctrine and the style of life) - not. This is totally compatible with all the other fundamental Biblical orders of the Christian faith. “To examine everything; they adhere to which is good” (1Tes 5:21). The Bereans “was nobler than those of mentality… Thessolonica to examine Scriptures daily” to see if Pablo affirmations is correct (Facts 17:11). “Test of you to see if you are in the faith; to examine you” (2Cor 13:5).

Those that they are leading must give account of the form in which it lead. Nevertheless, they are not responsible for mistaken decisions of their listeners (supposing that she had taken correctly). Pablo was not guilty before God for the election of the rebellious andante or the enchanted Corintios Gálatas. Their decisions do not bring pain to him… but not it culpability.

I cannot explain why the translators have soiled east passage of Hebrew. If you can find a student Greek that they can explain this - they let to me know it “(” Peithesthe “is not a deponent verb half to translate, or activates). By the way, Jesus speaks of a time the leaders. “He is not called leaders, by One of them is his leader - Christ” (TM 23:10). One becomes necessary to repeat the same?

The Christian faith

This it arises when the individual circumstances converge in a person - forcing to an intense search… for the Creator. If God can use the people, or even some of the structures of the religion like before mentioned, these things are secondary (in the best one). The Christian faith is the search of God. “Like the red deer of the pants water streams, reason why my soul pants for You, oh God. My being is thirsty of God - for the alive God” (Salt 42:1,2). On the other hand, He says to us, “Is going to look for and to find of me of me, when you look for me your heart yet” (Jeremías 29:13). This is hard. In fact, I do not believe that really we can know when we have really dealed with him all our heart. Duplicities, known and unknown, infest to us.

God calls to people to the Christian faith. It is called one by one…. Nobody can enter the sky on coattails of another one. Adhering to greatest of the preachers… it will not work. Support, or to participate in, the more fruitful Christian church… God does not move to accept that one. Even after not very behind a most devotee of the mother… not usher in the glory. But the Father is a Lawyer before God, who can make a successful case for the inclusion in his favor (they 1Juan 2:1). And one must deal alone with him. Nothing than is committed more and more only - and absolutely necessary.

Extreme the emergencias of the life… are single. The unique one that can help us - that is of God. When Esteban was being stoned until death, that needed the Christian faith - not some version the Christian religion (Done 6 and 7). Our situation will be different, but the reality of the necessity will be the same. The Christian faith is the spiritual independence of the spiritual man… and total dependancy of Jesus Christ.

We will have to accept that great part is written in all the religious books in this world, but at the same time are going to have to accept that all these directives not to correct this man nor these directions could reform the man. People in all the religions are committing crimes, sins and misconducts in all the books of conduct, all the religious books and all the penal laws available in all the countries and of the police, the society, the courts and the jails are full of people who face all these positions and are being punished.

The religions have settled down in different different places in time and the people whom the work assumed to reform the man began to write books or speeches that settle down directives for the man and the people that began to be united to these groups are, in last instance settled down in which the religion and gave a name to that religion. The religions can had done something good by the principle, but over the years these religions this man began to divide in different groups and a later stage that begin battle to each other. He is in act that the majority of the wars is had due to the different religions. There have been conversions and the unavoidable conversions too much. The town had been the demolition of places of cult of a religion and that had been the construction of cult places of its religion in the same places to only demonstrate that his that its religion is more forceful than the other. The people of different religions have themselves to present/display and had to each other been competing saying to him to the other principles that rather are written in their religious books and such things are not available in religious books of other religions.

The world is divided on the base of the religion. We had seen that here in this region there has been a worse partition in the history of the humanity in which million people had been assassinated and million have been forced to emigrate to places not known in 1947, and from the India and Pakistan it has been in the war and that are killing to people without objective and no profit. If we go thorough this war of 1947, 1965 and of 1971 between India and Pakistan have there been because of the religion and this war will continue by centuries on the base of the religion and the war between India and Pakistan would not allow India to become a nation.

So we will have to accept and to admit that the religions cannot correct this man and will not be able to correct this man. On the contrary, in the future next, this religion plays worse role in the world and the next world war, in any case it will have to be there, it enters two religions and that are to eradicate the other religion. The days are more of these religions, when operation was had that orient the man to live peacefully and to look for way towards God.

Incredibly fragile beliefs

tolerance and the acceptance does not have to be only facades guinea fowl by the professionals dogmatic religious of each power. They are the directors and the values that must be shared and instilled like the angular stone of any religion. All we have our small peculiarities, as each religion has little strange norms, taboos, and rituals. How can a religion of its leaders insist in which the practice of the celibacy, whereas another one promotes the marriage so that the leaders and, nevertheless, another one is perfectly well with the polygamy? They cannot be mistaken, without a doubt one of these old wise people who are correct. Or, perhaps its good. They are definitively bad in the way that it suggests is the unique way. It is no wonder its as much confusion between people in this day and age of the illumination. Sometimes, one feels as if small of a its dogmatic renter address fails, then everything will fail. I do not believe that a religion or is the people who really can be fragile.

The way is the correct way

During a period, the atheism or agnosticism seems to be the way to cross. All the other dogmas wanted to compete all my mind, heart and soul. Good, if that is the case, then nothing is obtained. It seemed the safest way to go. Not very satisfactory and, certainly, he is not very enlightening, but definitively surely. More than another brick in the wall, near all of them. The maturity and the time have a way to change to the opinions and religious beliefs. Sometimes the oldness not like good, but that can be a hope for the inevitable fear than comes after all the coil mortal to shrink. It does not constitute a true belief I create. Some where throughout the line it was happened to me that only it sounded hollow to think about anything. The religion of Little Green Men even seemed to have much more to its favor, then to believe in anything. So I happened myself that simply she must be more to the then life what we can see and include the third planet from the sun. Without a doubt it is much more still must be understood, then at the moment it is understood nowadays. Present concepts of the religion to help to try, but are painfully the old technology. Hey I mean, for 200 years they have not been having television in black and white at least. What did that those types sufficiently intelligent like initiating a religion that responds to the today questions.

My Way

I believe that there is something greater, greater, more intelligent, more tolerant, illustrated and compassionate more any mainland religion that has arrived until now. Somebody, something, are to the delay and seeing and orienting. Only we needed a little more time for it. At the moment, we cannot simply arrive throughout all?

Religion has existed during thousands of years, but not yet there is a concise one and it needs definition the religion, which reflects the nature of this phenomenon. Each person has her own understanding of the religion in the interpretation of the things a peculiar form. In the world there is twelfth contemporary religions exist, and are “dead” tens of the religions that have disappeared. Nevertheless, its paper in the process of general formation does not fall.

Considering the nature of the religion, it is possible to say that the religion is a strict one, the code nonwritten of essential norms (including the moral and the traditions), created by the human beings with the purpose of to control the social life of the society.

Unit of meaning is the main source that allows to the construction and the experience of the religion. Like a collective feeling, the religion must be maintained and be reaffirmed in regular intervals. The religion concept is not a one evolution during centuries. Egypt religion or the religion of old Greece does not disappear, they become and matured, and development of the religions like the Christianity or the catholicism became in center again. On the other hand, it is important to emphasize the fat that the understanding of the religion also is transformed into a mature person. In the childhood, we create subconsciously superficial in the power of some thing beyond our understanding, in the period of the adolescence, denied everything what it cannot be united to the scientific knowledge on the scientific world and the knowledge on the religion that is based. When mature, we understand the limits of our science and, like most important (if we are not skeptical), to develop and to currency of personal interpretation and the understanding of the religion. This point of view can be supported by numerous example of the daily life. For example, if you ask that truly Christian on the meaning of the religion, all of them interpret of different way. This does not mean that the believers are “poor”, but means that the experience of life and personal values has a direct hit in our understanding of the religion.

I suppose that my definition of religion is subjective, because all the people are influenced to a great extent by processes of socialization and accidents of birth. In addition, the people who have communicated with their God are not simply people whom the new truths see of which the incredulous one is ignorant, but are people who are stronger, feel more powerful in the judgments of lasting existence, or in the conquest of them. I suppose that my interpretation reflects the prejudices, because the knowledge of the religion is discovered through an understanding of all the congeries of social and communal bonds that determine the character, and this depends as well on a recognition of the religious life. Nevertheless, I am not of bias against any religion seeing it like a part of the process.

To see the religion as “an identity estimates the unit” not limits the religion which has done in the past which it allows to apply this definition to the present. It is possible to say that the essence of the religion has not modified. Pagan religion or Hinduism shares the same basic structure, but it expressed through different rituals. Ritual plays a fundamental role here. In essence, there is little difference between the different religions in his object, the used results that produce, or processes to reach these results. The power of the rituals in the religion dominates.

I suppose that my definition of the religion has a sufficient precision, because the most objective treatment of being possible. I nonaccount in no religion, but interpret the religion like a universal process based on the “belief in the human beings abnormal phenomenon”.

In order to respond to the question “What is the religion? ”, I can say that the religion is a set of abstract rules for anonymous by agents living, but consists of distribution practices and it is sanctioned with a behavior tradition, in which the identifiable agents can obtain some type of unit with a social set that exists besides its decisions. One is a universal approach that helps to understand the religion like a free process of prejudices and slants.