‘The Fraud Of The Risen Lord’
By Michael Hardy
In an audience of 3,000 there are likely to be several gambling addicts, quite a few people with cancer, and innumerable women with sores on their feet
Thousands of people are packed together, arms outstretched, eyes closed. Sweat pours down their bodies as they sway back and forth to the rhythm of the music. Suddenly, at a command from their leader, they open their mouths and begin talking, but not in English, Sinhala or Tamil. You strain to understand their words, but then you realise there’s nothing to understand. “Alahaulaiwailahalgawala,” they chant. “Yamagulanaidaileameailana.”
Is this a political rally? A cricket match? No, it’s the Wednesday-evening service at St. Peter’s College in Bambalapitiya. For years, the Community of the Risen Lord, a supposedly Catholic organisation headed by the notorious charlatan Brother Lalith Perera, has held its charismatic revival meetings at St. Peter’s, attracting larger and larger audiences with its faith healing and with its claim to facilitate speaking in tongues.
The Wednesday evening service at St. Peter’s College
The Community now estimates its weekly audience at around 3,000 people, far more than can fit into the St. Peter’s auditorium. To accommodate the overflow crowd, the Community sets up hundreds of chairs under a giant tent outside the auditorium, where people can follow the service through a live video feed.
Although the Community is nominally Catholic, people like me who grew up in the Catholic Church will recognise very little of Catholicism in these Wednesday-evening services. Because Brother Perera is not a priest, he isn’t allowed to say mass. There is no Lord’s Prayer and no communion. Actually, the service bears a stronger resemblance to charismatic evangelical sects like the Baptists or Pentecostals, who also speak in tongues and believe in faith healing, than to mainstream Catholicism.
Last week, the service began at six o’clock in the evening. Around 20 well-dressed men and women of different ages stood on stage, leading the worship songs. Every few minutes one of the people would step forward, recite a short Bible verse, give their own interpretation of it, and then step back as another song would begin. After about half an hour of this, the singing stopped and a woman walked to the microphone. She proceeded to read what she claimed were letters from people who were miraculously “cured” through their faith in God. One woman claimed that she had survived a deadly snake bite by touching a crucifix to her toe. Another wrote that her cancerous tumor had disappeared after praying to Jesus. The 3,000 people in the audience didn’t seem to find anything unlikely about these stories.
Finally, Brother Perera himself stepped to the microphone. He is a fifty-something man with white hair, spectacles, and an avuncular smile. I expected him to begin with a prayer, but instead he made a plea to his audience. “If anyone has a projector to donate to us, we would very much appreciate it,” he said. “Our current projectors are old or dying.” Later, Perera would give a long sales pitch for the Community’s annual trip to Israel and Italy, making sure to mention that tickets were still available (hint, hint.) To sweeten the deal, Perera revealed that in Italy the tour group would see the Shroud of Turin, which is rarely exhibited. “In fact,” Perera told his credulous audience, “recent research suggests the Shroud could really show the impression of Christ’s face.” Actually, as Perera probably knows — he claims “science is my hobby” — the recent research shows that the Shroud was a hoax manufactured a thousand years after Jesus died. Like all swindlers, Perera never lets an inconvenient truth get between him and his money.
After soliciting all the predictable donations, Perera started in on the “spiritual” part of his talk. He began by flattering his thousands of followers, telling them that they were leaders in the worldwide movement to bring unbelievers to Jesus. Throughout history, he said, extraordinary people like Jesus, Buddha, and Lao-Tzu bore witness to God’s power. For 2000 years there were Christian saints and martyrs who devoted their lives to God. “But only in the 21st century,” Perera said, “are ordinary people like you getting involved in this great cause.” As if comparing his followers to Jesus, Buddha, and Lao-Tzu wasn’t enough, Perera went on to say that with the help of the Community of the Risen Lord the 21st century would see an end to war. Given the past 30 years of Sri Lankan history, this sounded pretty good, if somewhat unlikely.
Perera punctuated his grandiose pronouncements by enjoining his audience to “Praise the Lord!” If this failed to generate sufficient enthusiasm, he would follow the injunction up by asking everyone to “give a hand to the Lord.” The audience would then start clapping as if at a football match. Apparently God needs a lot of applause, because Perera must have asked for 15 or 20 such ovations over the course of his speech. Sometimes, when he really got carried away, Perera would start speaking in tongues after asking everyone to praise the Lord. Although the crowd loved this, Perera didn’t let it go on for long. Like a true showman, he knew how to save the best for last.
Altogether, Perera talked for about an hour and a half, he said remarkably little of substance. Much of the time was taken up by singing along to lyrics projected on the screen, karaoke style. When Perera did get around to discussing actual verses from the Bible, the verses were typically extremely short, taken completely out of context, and twisted to fit whatever message Perera was clumsily trying to convey. Once, when Perera asked for a particular verse to be projected on the screen behind him, he got the verse number wrong, and it took him three tries to guess the correct number. For every minute Perera spent on the Bible, he spent 10 minutes talking about his own ideas, which gives you a good sense of the relative value he sets on himself and God.
Given the exploding popularity of the Community of the Risen Lord, it would seem that God needs Brother Perera more than Brother Perera needs God. As Perera proudly pointed out during the service, and as the Community’s website proclaims, God has favoured the Community with “an unprecedented outpouring of grace.” Perera frequently travels out of the country, spreading the Community’s message to Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and beyond. The Wednesday-evening service is broadcast on the Community’s website.
Even Catholic priests apparently come by the hundreds to the Community’s retreats to be instructed by Brother Perera, who has clearly become the de facto bishop of Sri Lanka. The Community claims to be “renewing” the Catholic Church, but who, exactly, asked them to renew it? The Pope? It would appear that God Himself has specially picked out Brother Perera to single-handedly regenerate the whole structure of Catholicism.
Probably the biggest reason for the Community’s popularity is its claim to perform “faith healing.” According to its website, “the sick have been healed, addictions broken, weaknesses overcome and broken marriages reconciled.” The way this works is that, at the end of every Wednesday-evening service, Perera and another woman take turns speaking “words of knowledge,” which they claim to receive directly from God. These words of knowledge are exactly the same as the pronouncements of an astrologer.
During the service I attended, the words of knowledge included predictions that a gambling addict would be cured, a woman with sores on her feet would be healed, a woman with cancer would recover, and so on. Because these predictions aren’t directed at any single person, there’s no way they can be disproved. Like an astrologer who tells you that something good will happen to you in the next month, the “words of knowledge” are so general that they become meaningless.
Of course, in an audience of 3,000 there are likely to be several gambling addicts, quite a few people with cancer, and innumerable women with sores on their feet. If one of his vague predictions appears to come true for even one of these suffering people, Brother Perera can claim to have healed their sickness. Does this mean that God really worked a miracle? Of course not. It just means that Perera and his cronies have figured out the law of large numbers. Like all astrologers and fortune-tellers, Perera is naturally hesitant about providing any concrete proof of his powers. The Community’s website provides only one example of a faith healing — a taxi driver in Maharagama whose heart problems were supposedly cured by attending a prayer meeting. Surely, if the Community has really healed as many people as it claims, it can provide more than just one testimony out of decades of work!
The world will always be full of quacks, charlatans, frauds, mountebanks, and hucksters. The only surprise is that supposedly educated people continue to fall for their cheap tricks and cynical money-grabbing. The 3,000 people who attend Brother Perera’s magic show each week, and the hundreds who donate their hard-earned money so that Perera can fly around the world like a captain of industry, are being bamboozled on a massive scale. To rob gullible people of their money is a crime. To rob them in the name of Jesus is particularly despicable.
The Catholic Church of Sri Lanka, if it doesn’t want to become the laughing-stock of the island, must immediately put a stop to this renegade preacher and take steps to ensure that nobody else can use the name of Catholicism to hoodwink and defraud ordinary people. Brother Perera is not the messenger of God on Earth, as he likes to present himself; he cannot heal the sick or speak in tongues. He’s just an ordinary man with an extraordinary talent for deceiving people. And there’s nothing holy about that.
Related posts:
- Special Stamp By Postal Department In Honour Of Evang. Prof. S. Rajendran For the first time a memorial stamp will be issued in memory of a Christian Evangelist, Prof. S. Rajendran by the Postal Department. The memorial...
- JHU and Legal Action I refer to the above captioned article which appeared in The Sunday Leader of November 15. It is the pastor of the church in Koswatte...
Short URL: http://www.thesundayleader.lk/?p=8831
Posted by 
Singapore denounces pastor for ridiculing Buddhists
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Singapore has warned a Christian pastor that his online videos are offensive to Buddhists and Taoists, underlining the city-state’s concerns that religion is a potential faultline for its multicultural society.
Pastor Rony Tan, of Lighthouse Evangelism, apologized and pulled the video clips off the internet after being visited by the government’s Internal Security Department on Monday, the pastor and the government said on their websites.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday Tan’s comments were “highly inappropriate and unacceptable,” and could “give rise to tension and conflict between the Buddhist/Taoist and Christian communities.”
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6180MY20100209
What does this have to do with the original slanderous article written by Hardy?
Everything Ash Mum, everything,
We have to reminiscent everyone particularly the apostate that were proselytized to Christianity. We have tell them about their religion and what Franciscan, Dominican and all other types of Christian clerics did to innocent people through out their history.
There you again….
why r u trying to brign conflict in to our society Leela… The Singopore had done the right thing to avoid conflict… but all the comments by non Christians in the site are very harmful for co existence and freedom of practising ones own faith.
Sri Lanka should take action against hateful and evil Christian priests like Singapore has done.
of course dodol not only against christian priests but againt all who spread hatered among communities
Now you’re just about coming to the point. I understand that you do not want any Buddhists to meddle with the discussion of the Christians. Though you say I am bringing conflicts in to our society, I think I am doing just the opposite. I am taking this opportunity to high light the true ‘Christianity and their Lord God’ to would be apostates.
I have only quoted the Bible in essence. Never once I misread The King James Bible. So, how
Dare you say “comments by non Christians in the site are very harmful for co-existence and freedom of practising ones own faith.”
A young girl died in Hanwella when she did not take medicine but pray for Almighty God to be healed from an illness. And that is just one of many such killings. That girl from Hanwella was killed, because evangelists preached her and convinced her Bible phrases such as MT 21:22, MK 11:24 which say; “whatever you ask in prayer, if you have faith, you will receive it” as fact. And, JN 8:51 says; “… if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” And, MK 10:27, 11:23, LK 17:6 says; “Faith can move mountains. Nothing is impossible if you have faith [as small as] a grain of mustard seed.” Evangelist cliques are silent about the fundamental rights of the deceased girl. Is the Bible ‘the word of God,’ and the Christians ‘moral’?
When such things happen up to date, do you expect us to be quite.
Leela can you please give the ID of the said girl in Hawella?
This is an appeal to church leaders in Hanwella. If the accusation Leela brings against the preachers is true…. The church leaders have a reponsibility to look in to this matter. Can the established churches + freeline churches have a council where these accusations can be heard ?and if there is a case of injustice take it up with the affected family ?and if the teachings of any ‘evangelist’ is ‘unehical’ can the church itself 1st take action before others bring forth hells fury on all the christians?
Leela one more thing all you quoting from the bible is to bring conflict in to the believer & nonbeliever…. trying to argue your believes are the utmost truth than God’s word.
To TRN and Ash Mum,
Name of the girl that I mentioned is; Jacoline Ruby Seneviratna, Tittapathtara, Hanwella. Everyone in Tittapathtara knows her house.
Now I’ll give you the names of few more souls that prayed but took no medicine and departed us to be with your God for ever.
Namal Bandara, who died at Anuradhapura hospital for refusing to accept blood.
Nisansala, Galahitiyawa, Ganemulla.
I will give you more names later on.
Mr Hardey
You have become the laughing-stock of the island.I think you do not know what you are writing.
I think it is the other way Roy !
I have proof to what Hardy says. Roy it’s never too late to admit you’re have made a mistake.
If you’re christian/catholic you should go to church only on Sundays. Anything else is competing in a popularity complex against other religions.
I am a happy agnostic.
Don, for an agnostic, where do you come up with the notion that Christians should only go to church on Sundays?
Don,
Where does a self-proclaimed agnostic like you get the definitive instruction that Christians / Catholics should only go to church on Sundays?
Hi! I’m a 10 year old girl, who would like to testify of what the Lord has done in my life, I came home after school wanting to read the article written by Mr Hardy as it was discussed in school among my friends. As my mom didn’t have the Sundays papers she got me this site and here I am writing to you my story. I am being called a miracle baby and this is why. When my mom was gonna have me she got German measles!!!!! But because of the work of God, and my parents strong faith in the Lord, I came out into the world perfectly.I thank & praise God for this miracle. And just to tell u as the doc came out with me my dad asked if I was normal & during the operation my grandpa was reciting the rosary & all my family members were in prayer. We go for the Wednesday service at S.P.C. regularly and have weekly praise and worship at home and read the word daily. I thank God for the Love, Joy and Peace we experience in our family. Let us all pray for Mr Hardy that God would do a miracle in his life too. God Bless You Hardy Boy and all of you readers
From the mouths of Babes. Praise the Lord.
Dear Imesha duwa,..
I would like to give you some facts on German measles. The thinking that you are a miracle baby or not lies in how you interpret them.
” German measles or Rubella is harmful because it can cause deformities in the growing foetus, if mother contracts it within first 18 months of her pregnancy.
After first 18 months the risk of getting any deformity becomes minimal !
The risk of getting a congenital deformity after contracting it within first 18 weeks is 80 %. That is still 20 % of children will not get any deformity even they get it !
Following is the reference .
http://www.health24.com/child/Child_health/833-847,16608.asp
Therefore first we have to see whether your mother contracted illness in first 18 months of pregnancy ?
If the answer is negative then it is not a miracle. It is usual.
Secondly , eventhough you got the illness still there is a 20 % chance that you may not get any bad effect. So most likely you belonged to that 20%. That is also not a miracle.
Now you may say that you belonged to that 20 % because it’s a miracle . Your mother did not get it during dangerous period because it is a miracle.
But then did you think about other 80% of babies who contract it and get severe deformities ? why some of the mothers get deformed babies ? Why god is so unkind to cause such mental and or physical trauma to most of the children and mothers who get it ?
No I do not think that this is something god interferes with. IT is just you are lucky and I am extremely happy for you.
Darling Imesha, . Believing in a god is quite all right. But do not have blind faith and attribute evrything to it.
You are brain washed to the core my dear. Never mind, You keep reading your Bible and keep on praying for your God. But please, do not do the silly things as in MK 16:17-18, MT 4:23-24, 9:32-33, 12:22, 17:14-18, MK 1:23-26, 32-34, 5:2-16, 9:17-29, 16:9, LK 11:14, 4:33-35, 8:2, 27-36, 9:38-42, AC 8:7, 16:16-18
My dear child; do not read any of the following verses in your Bible because the God had said immoral things in a perverted way. Genesis 19:30-38, Genesis 38:13-19 Samuel 6:14, 16, 20-23 Proverbs 5:19, Solomon 1:13, Solomon 2:6, 8:3, Solomon 4:5, 7:3, Solomon 7:1-2, Solomon 7:7-9, Solomon 5:4, Ezekiel 23:8 Ezekiel 16:37, Ezekiel 23:20-21, HO 2:2, RE 16:15.
Leela you are soo immature… are you trying to take away this child’s innocent faith in the Lord . Convert her to an atheist? This is a testimoney of a family who had been faithful to thier belives and been living a peaceful life. you want to change all that?
Praise the Lord,
I have only mentioned and quoted from the Bible.
Tell me what compels you to accuse me for making her Atheist?
And whats wrong being an atheists?
Remember! Bible is the word of God and Christians are Moral.
It never stops until your whole life is consumed with holy this holy that.
Dear Mr. Hardy,
thank you for stiring up this whole episode. you have got even kids to testify for the glory of GOD. this is GREAT !!! when did you see a 10 year old kid talking about GOD like this if this episode did’nt happen??? that’s why we should thank GOD for using/making Mr. Hardy to write what he did. Praise the Lord & God bless the bold kids of GOD !!!
Hey Kido you can belive what you want to. I am cool as long as it dont harm the community. But I would like to highlight one point. Myself is a chatholic by birth. I am telling you this to stop any religious hate. There are millions and billions of people who suffer in this world. Kids just like you without parents and even food or a place to live there are lot of ten year girls in this world harressed and exploited who will never have a normal life like you.
According to Chatholic teachings Almighty god has endless kindness and love for man kind which made him send his own son to salvage the man kind. If he is a so called god why all the suffering and pain. All I see is he too should be a normal man if he to do favours to people who pray for him only.
And beside every sickness even grave sickness has a chance to cure without any medicine cos your body itself has a immune system and its own protection. But child you are too small to understand this. alwasy try to question things dont take anything for granted.
I wish you all the health and wealth.
My dear brothers and sisters, please take 5 mints of your time to see how Lord Jesus has changed my life. I was a good Roman Catholic 20 years ago. I used to go for the Holy Mass every Sunday, every Tuesday to St. Anthony’s Church Kochchikade & every Friday to Infant Jesus Church Colombo 2.
But all of a sudden I lost faith and I started to go behind other religious rituals. I neglected going to Sunday Mass and other Novenas as well. During this time I was the Chief Executive Officer & the Managing Director of one of the leading outdoor advertising companies in Sri Lanka . Also, I was earning a very good income. But the monies did not remain with me. So due to this I strarted to go behind other religious activities and spent several hundreds of thousands of rupees on talismans, statues, Bodi Puja, Seth Shanthi, Seth Kavi, Palm reading, fortune tellers, Horoscopes etc…
I now realize that actually I was living with Devil. I was really a disgrace to my religion. I’m sure you will call me a stupid man and I won’t blame you for it. You were right. I was stupid. This went on like this for about 12 years. Day by day I was going down by financially and mentally. Some of the guys who I associated played me out and my name was spoiled in the advertising field and I had to face loads of problems. During this time I met with an accident and I was hospitalized for more then 3 months. My hip was dislocated and I had to use crutches and a wheel chair. After some time I recovered but financially I was really down. All the savings I had I was spent during this period.
You could imagine what my wife, 3 school going children, my in-laws and I went through during this period. Even at that time I used to go behind these other religious activities and spent my money for various such matters. My wife and children also followed me as there was no other option for them. I did every thing possible, yet I was a failure. Then I decided to go abroad and I went to the United Kingdom . Again I started earning very good money but it did not remain for long. There was no Puja, Talismans, palm reading etc but I got entangled with something like black magic from Africa .Much Sterling Pounds earned by me was spent on this. During my entire stay of almost 8 years in UK I never attended church. Not even on a X’Mas day, Good Friday, etc..(Sorry My Lord please forgive me)
Then I decided to come to Singapore for my studies. There again the Agent whom I paid money for the course played me out. Since there was no other option for me (as I didn’t want to come back to Sri Lanka ) I set up my own company in Singapore and applied for my Entrepreneur Pass. During this time my wife and my children had joint a prayer meeting at the Maharagama church and keep on telling me about it. But still I ignored them. One day when I was speaking to my wife and Daughter over Skype, they told me that same prayer meeting is there in Singapore and for me to attend. First I ignored them but my wife and the Daughter keep pursuading me.
So on 17th of January I went for that prayer meeting in Singapore . Jayanath & Himaya was conducting the prayer meeting and at one stage during worship she said “there is a person here who has gone everywhere and lost and God is telling my Son I’m going to forgive you if you forget everything and start believing me again” Oh I really thought that message was for me. I went home after the meeting and called my wife and the daughter and reported to them what happened. They were so happy to hear that I have gone for the prayer meeting. Then the next Saturday I went for the meeting and I felt something is really changing my life. I went last Saturday the 31st January and believe me I thought to myself I’m going to change my life completely. I went to the Cathedral this evening and did my confession & stayed for Holly Mass. Also I went in front of the Altar and gave a promise to Lord Jesus that I will never ever go after other religious beliefs & I will be a good and strong Roman Catholic again. “Praise the Lord” & Thank you Jesus.
“Praise the Lord” thank you Jesus for changing my life
God bless you’ll
Rohan G Rubera
Carrington Promotions Singapore Pte Ltd.
10 Anson Road
#26-04 International Plaza
Singapore- 079903
Tel; 63048926
Fax: 67258438
Mobile: +6581658242
What a great testimony. How long have you been part of this prayer group now. Please continue your jouney with the Lord. God Bless You.
ROhan, Can you please give me Himaya’s coantact no:
I think she’s my calss mate ….
Himaya’s Mobile no+6590674096
Nice long story. If you have good strong mind my friend you wont go through any of this. You are just a one story world has many stories like you and opposite of you. I gave up god when i was hmmm 13 years old. Now I am 30 and still I am happy and doing well. Its your freedom to belive in any god. But as long as dont have a strong mind and some intelligence you will alwasy be fooled. When reading through your story i see lots of diversions and you dont have any principle belif in your life. You just for what you think best for the time being. After some more years you write a same kind of a story i wont be surprised. Cos this world is full of smart eval people who will exploit others. As long as you cant out play them and as long as you try out for quick money you may fall for this again and again.
In all religions you have pastors like that even in buddhism hindu and christianity. In this centuary Religion is free not institutioned like in 18th and 19th centuary. Today you can start your own flavor of christianity nobody can challange but back in 18th centuary Pop must have punished you for that even he can crucify you. But thanx to good people today we have this freedom. Bad side of this freedom is lots of guys are trying to make living from a religion as this article explains. And weak minded people gets into this web.
All the best for your future and family Always try to think wisely dont caught up in rackets. I see right now you are heading for another one good luck
“Praise the Lord”
Leela is another sick person who needs spiritual cleansing. May God be with her, and show her the right path before its too late.
Sick & lonely. That is why she goes on and on…..
Praise the Lord, I am very well, thank you.
Praise the Lord Indeed. There you said it now.
Leela, don’t you think it is funny that these people think you are a female???
if what Rita saying is true .what leela says may be having the opposite meaninng.
Leela’s name is Leelaratne!!! Ask him to deny it!!! It is a kind of shame that he is pretending to be female…quite funny though
)
Just forgive leela……..May Godbless him/her…..& get close to him/her life……….Godbless you leela…. “prais the Lord “
My dear brother Hardy
The Lord works in a mysterious way. What may be used to harm or destroy the Lord can use to build and restore. I write to you with love as there is nothing anybody could do that is too terrible and there is no body too sinful, for the Lord could use any situation or person He wishes to accomplish His work here on earth. I see you as Saul (Paul) who reached out to persecute the Christians and ended up a mighty apostle of God. My faith confirms this that you too would be used in a mighty way by the Lord and this is just the begining. Great Start brother, I Bless you in the name of Jesus for you will succeed in His mission for you, as you have already qualified to be a powerful instrument for the Lord.
Peace be with you
Dilki
Very good point, my dear Dilki. The Lord does not call the “qualified” instead, He qualifies the called according to His perfect plan.
Furthemore … He will take our worst and use it for His good : )
Dear Dilki,
I given up arguing about religion in my early 20′s. Belive me i studied both christianity and buddhism so well and I had studied the history of both religions specially how vatican acted over the years. You guys have a so much belief in Bible you may never know once PoP burnt to death two vatican scholors for translating the Holy bible. its only a one example once pop ordered to kill all the alternative religious women so called witches in that era. There is a book written by vatican how to identify if someone is a witch and how to kill them. That book exists to this day.
Thanx to All the brave and selfless people we enjoy this freedom to express our own ideas. You can have your own belif. I myself was from a good catholic family and i studied at a leading catholic school in sri lanka.
What i see is if a non beliver doing poor and bad you guys say thats cos they don’t get along with god and they will do great if they belive in god. But when a non beliver doing good and living great you guys say thats cos lord wants it. Quite funny anyway but if god is exploiting people like that thats not worthwhile for a god i guess. I see some resemblance in our politicians may be they are closing the godship. :
Anyway Peace be with you as you wished.
Anyway I like something Jesus said. Specially ones who lived by the sword will die by the sword. Jesus was a great humanitarian I respect him for that.
Freedom of expression is a beautiful thing — but slander is not. Also, I do wonder about this freedom of expressiona nd wonder how often it is truly exercised in many parts of the world — just curious!
Leela
You are correct. No Sri Lankan will appreciate what Portugese, Dutch or English have done to our country in the past. They were political moves to gain money trade and power. That was history. These things are happening even now all over the world including in our country in many different forms.
But we received some benefits from them too. For example some grabbed their legal system and we follow it because it is good for us. And you grabbed their language because it is good for you and now you are connected to the world because of that. And I grabbed their religion because it is good for me and now I am connected to the whole universe (God). What is wrong in continuing with their good things eventhough the good came with Bad guys?
If the whole world is full of people who are truly following a good relegion, the world will be a much better place to live. Our country is a much better country compared to many others because we have great relegions like Buddhisim, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism and our people are good followers of them.
You will not achieve anything from trying to prove that another religion is bad. Because people value their experience than someone elses advice. I think you are fighting with the wrong enemy. But if we respect each other we can achieve many benefits.
We must help each other to make christians good christians and make Buddhists Good buddhists.
Bro Lalith is exactly doing that. He helps Christians to become better Christians. That is why we support him. That is why many of us are against for what Hardy wrote.
I think this is clear to you now.
P.G.
As I said in my earlier comments, neither I bear a grudge against anyone who want to follow any religion nor am I stand against propagate their religion. What we are against is; Christian evangelists ganging up with the so –called International Community and NGOs, and proselytizing Buddhists by bribe. What is wrong I am trying to protect from Buddhists being converted?
The so-called impartial media such as BBC keep on bashing Sinhala Buddhists as racists and bigots, and convinced the entire world that LTTE had been fighting to liberate the Tamils. They pointed out that the religious clauses in our constitution are the root cause for all our setbacks. They got the NGOs and their cronies to scream against the prominent position for Buddhism in our constitution.
Yet, not only Westerners are the worst culprits of chauvinism, they have the worst prejudiced laws that you can ever come across. For instant, article four of the Constitution of Norway says; “The King shall at all times profess the Evangelical-Lutheran religion, and uphold and protect the same.” That means; in Norway, the king’s fundamental right of ‘the freedom to profess a religion’ is barred. So are all its citizens. Article 12 says, “… More than half the number of the Members of the Council of State shall profess the official religion of the State.” In addition, Article 27 says, “… A Member of the Council of State who does not profess the official religion of the State shall not take part in proceedings on matters which concern the State Church.”
Just like the marriage vow, the constitution of Norway compels its citizens to hang on to Evangelical-Lutheran religion. Those who choose apostasy would have to face the consequences. NGOs say; laws that protect ‘Evangelical’ Lutheran religion are good for Norway because there is no opposition to it. They say; similar laws to protect Buddhism are bad for Sri Lanka because Sri Lankan Christians oppose it.
Sinhala Buddhists have to start protecting their culture and religion at some point. The act that JHU proposed has that single aim. Unlike the Norwegian laws however, this act does not compel Buddhists in Sri Lanka to bring up their children in the same. Nor does it propose to make Buddhism the religion of the state. Nor does it make the Sri Lankan head of state reserved for a Buddhist. Nor does it does not prevent preaching the Bible in Sri Lanka. All that JHU monks want is to prevent the Christian missionary buy off the Sinhala Buddhists.
When nothing of the sort to Norway constitution was proposed in the ‘the unethical conversion act’ by the JHU, Christians cried fool. They went to courts to say that this act violates the rights of free speech and religious preaching. The courts decreed that being able to buy off disciples from one religion is wrong and it is not a fundamental right. So, we say to Christians; do not use kickbacks, but preach every verse of the Bible if they can, and convert as many as they can. And we too shall reveal a few verses that are in the Bible.
I suppose that is my mission on behalf of my people. Your Franciscan and Dominican monks did it then and do it now. If it is good for the gander, it is good for the goose as well.
leela your knowledge about the bible is excellent.and your knowledge about the christian history is also excellent .specially about the dark middle ages of the euopean christian history . keep on reading the bible till you get the spiritual understanding of it .though a christian i read ven Naradas damma pada regulary which is spiritually uplifting.as PG says why dont we look about the bright side the spiritual side of religions
one more Leela, when you start working with the villages join hands with the others despite of differences in faith. After all its the poor who will ultimately benefit from all our work .
Good one man, if Jesus and Buddha were here together they would be appreciating each other for certain and would never show negatives in each other, but not the disciples as we can see clearly. So true disciples of any religion are very rare I would say.
Ok Leela now its clear who u are and what sect you belong to. But I like one thing about you ur honest to yourself… I compare you to saul in the Acts who later beccame Paul.
Y don’t u read you typings again and see how you contradict yourself.
I’ve been working with all communities of SL in many parts. I’ve seen how political systems & politicians have failed to offer any help to the poorest & helpless of our society. Only few NGO & charities of churches are approaching these neglected…. we many christians are inspired by our faith to ‘serve selflessly’. I personally feel the temple with a majority of the population can to 1000 times more than what we struggle to do with minimum resourses without state aptronage.
Leela you got a good heart, start a NGO by your self and start approaching the remote villages and try to help these folks … don’t bring laws to curb even the minute activity that’s going on in these remote places to help the poorest of the poor… if you buddist live by damma as Lord buddha said damma will protect you not any law… think twice before you people put this countyr in to another era of conflict…..
Mr. Leela
It amazes me each time someone comes up with the fairy tale of the Buddhist in this country being converted by the Evangelical Church with bribes. I am stunned by your ignorance…A persons faith is something very personal to her/him, so how on Gods sweet earth can u bribe someone to accept a religon. Take yourself as an example. If I were to offer you 1,000,000 K and ask you to come to Church and you take it and come to Church just coz I paid you, and you just continue to be whatever religon you profess after that, I can do you no harm coz I aint a mind reader and I am not gonna come after you either coz I dont know wats going on with you…so can anyone else who gets a ‘bribe;. therefore there must be a reason that they stay on in Church and grow in their faith. Listen Mr L, If the buddhist clergy do what they are supposed to do i.e, preach the dhamma and not get involved in other stuff conversions wont take place. No argument huh? think about what I say..it makes sense!!
If somebody wants to convert because of money he should i guess because he dont have any faith on what he belive in. And beside if you buddhist care about others why cant you help those poor without building world’s tallest statuts and temples. Jesus once told before preaching anything people must be well fed. Even i dont belive in god i accept that comment. Thats the practicle way of doing it.
Biggest problem with buddhist today is they dont know the fundamental of buddhism. Buddha alwasy preached treat the cause not the result. By having laws you guys are trying to treat the result not the cause. As long as those people are poor and helpless and with less faith and intelligence they will find a way to convert them. I feel sorry for leela He/She is a typical extreme buddhist. I call they Maharagama Buddhist seems Leela is from Maharagama area. Ha Ha Ha
JR already made Buddhism the state religion – please read the constitution. Even though it is only a philosophy.
Dear Mr. Hardy -
Sir, when I come to a place of worship – I look for the heart of worship, the spirit of God and the unconditional promise of Grace! There are no perfect churches because there are no perfect people. Instead of cursing and judging what I do not understand (because we all come with our own baggage and experiences), I try to ask God to open my mind so that I may understand. I ask God to soften my heart so that I may receive.
Let me explain …
While in Sri Lanka engaged in Tsunami relief work, I was in dire need of finding a place of worship & solace amid the chaos I was witnessing. As a Christian who attends a large non-denominational church in Texas, I was missing many of the aspects the bible teaches: praise, worship, teachings, blessings, hope, faith, love etc. A friend suggested that I check out the Wednesday service at St. Peters.
Don’t get me wrong, there were many aspects of the service that were very Catholic (the Rosary for example). But … I connected right away — not to Brother Lalith’s preaching … but to the Spirit of the Lord. Sure, there were differences … but I knew that regardless of our sects, we worshipped one God. I beieve the Catholics do say that in the Apostolic Creed: “we believe in one God …”
Catholics have no more “dibs” on God than Evangelicals or Baptists. We are all made beautifully different with some central messages:
1. For God so loved the world, He gave His only son. The “world” means everyone — regardless of your denomination or religious, political, cultural, financial affiliation.
2. Do unto others as you would have done unto you.
3. Grace came to all on Calvery — and I mean all. The name of this Amazing grace was “Jesus”.
About brother Lalith, specifically … from the outside looking in … what he has managed to do is bring folks from all walks of life — the hip Colombo type, the retired “auntie & uncle”, the scooter taxi driver, the nun, the priest, the young executive, to the common laborer, folks who speak various languages, et al. I have attended his services each time I have visited Colombo since and retreats (outside of your island) and found that he has always said “this is NOT a healing service”. Instead, he has quoted the Bible quite accurately and helped people understand the meaning of the scripture “let it be done according to your faith”.
Compared to many preachers I have listened to (from different nations & backgrounds — including Catholic), Brother Lalith is very non-political and never has solicited from the congregation. On the other hand, I do not know of a Catholic service I have attended where the collection did not exceed at least two for this, that and the other. I bring this up because you seem to somehow insinuate that you are the full-stop in all things Catholic.
He is a good teacher that leads people to seek the Good Shepard. Do you realize, sir, that as Christians, we are called to do this? Do you appreciate that it does not take a robe or a habit — exclusively — to share the message of God’s unconditional love & grace with anyone who will listen? Do you believe that it is what God would expect of you, me and brother Lalith?
Get off the Dogma wagon, Sir. There’s a vast chasm between being religous and following through the rigamarole of being a good judgental Christian or Catholic (in your case) versus experiencing the love, acceptance, grace & glory of God amidst the praises of His people.
A comment on your photo Brother Hardy -
When was the last time you saw this many men attend any type of Catholic service? (no offense … but ask any Catholic priest .. they’ll tell you that the men show up en masse for Easter & Christmas mass and vanish during the rest of the year).
Hello, he is Prof. Ven Leelaratne Thero of Ambakissa Pansela.
Dear Readers,
From the time I heard about the Sunday Leader article of the Bro. Lalith Perera’s Prayer Meetings, I was shocked and saddened. I want to share with you how I was touched by the Lord and how my family was blessed in many ways. All this happened from the Bro Lalith Perera’s prayer meeting in Maharagama. I was living with Devils for the last 20 years. I used to get up at 5.00am in the morning and go to the Buddhist Temple and sweep the Temple Garden and clean all the stuff and pray & worship in side one of the Devalayas. Some people thought that I’m the Kapu Mahaththaya.
I then moved to England and lived there for some years. During this time I indulged in the occult and black magic. I later moved to Singapore and live there now. All this while my wife, Daughter, Son & mother in law were regular & devoted members of the Maharagama prayer meeting. They asked me to attend the CRL Singapore prayer meeting since I was at Singapore during that time. From the very first day I attended the Singapore prayer meeting I was touched. From that day on wards my whole life was changed. All the rubbish beliefs, which I had been involved with, vanished like bubbles.
A New Life was started. My Son was taking 8 thyroxin tablets everyday was healed completely after attending the Maharagama Bro. Lalith Perera’s prayer meeting. My daughter received Gift of tongues from the Maharagama prayer meeting. My wife and the whole family are now living together in Singapore after 8 years now because of Bro. Lalith’s Maharagama prayer meeting. For the last 8 years also I was not in Sri Lanka. I was away from my family. I was in UK & Singapore. The Lord answered all our payers and gave all what we need within no time. Thank you Jesus. “Praise the Lord”
I’m very close to so many Rev. Fathers from my side & my wife’s side. Some of them are related to me as well. But none of them could change my life for the last 20 years.
Finally I have to say –
Bro Lalith Perera’s prayer meetings are a place where so many thousands of peoples’ prayers were answered. And thousands of miracles have happened. Stopping these meetings will close the doors to many others like me, who have abandoned their faith and have gone in search of other Gods. May better sense prevail Amen Amen Amen.
God bless you all..
Rohan G Rubera
Carrington Promotions Singapore Pte Ltd.
10 Anson Road #26-04
International Plaza Singapore- 079903
Mobile: +6581658242
Brother Lalith or any preacher does not have anything to do with any healing, if you have faith in God you personally can make it happen. I have got many miracles by praying to God. directly.
Now I 100% respect Buddha, and as a Christian I see all his teaching are true. But I do not believe in rebirth , that is the only difference. Buddhism is a way of life any man can follow while been faithful to his / her religion.
So no need to fight,
Mr. Hardy, I think that what you have written is unfair. Fr. Lalith has helped a lot of people in a positive way. Many have found a new lease of life after listening to his sermons. If someone can help another find happiness like Fr. Lalith has done then he should be commended and not blamed.
Without wasting time and energy in discussing this rubbish, why not do something good to humanity?
Religions should be banned and catergorised as an illegal “hallicinogen”
All you guys are discussing the depth of water in a mirage.
Hardy has really touched the funny bone. I was born a Catholic and I still go to mass whenever possible and I read the Bible daily. Because I was brought up by two loving Catholic parents who always did the right things I felt I could not let them down by being `bad’ when tempted. That does not mean I did not fall into temptation . Of course I have done several times over.
But then I am only human.
There is absolutely nothing wrong in preaching the Bible and singing charismatic songs in praise of God but in some sense I have to agree with Hardy these charismatic movements do pressuries believers into donating and after a while you get fed up of these movements.
Believing in God and going to Sunday Mass gives me sense of a relief and peace of mind. I have always found places of worship quiet and they take me to a different world which is not earthly.
Here in the UK I am under huge pressure to attend Biblical meetings by laymen since according to the `friends` who are doing very well financially, they own petrol stations, businesses, solicitors, doctors you name it the reason I have not made too much money is because I am stuck in the groove in being a rigid Catholic.
On a daily basis I am presented with testimonies of their financial successes mainly because of these movements.
What can you do Mr Hardy?
Even while believing in God and destiny these believers cannot see beyond financial security here on earth.
One guy started the Pyramid Scheme meeting with the Lord’s Prayer!!!
I have gone to places of worship of nearly all religions (hindu, buddhist, christian — including catholic, of course). They all have some means of collecting money. You can call it a “offerring till”, “a vow”, “an offering”, “sunday collection”, “tithing”.
Mr. Hardy does not seem to be a Catholic — I believe it is a psueonym because I have read over his article a couple of times. There are quite a few items that a catholic or christian would be aware of in the context of attending a service — no more or no less than attending a religious service/ceramony of any other religion. If he is a Catholic, as he claims … just like you, he should be aware of the multiple collections taken up during Catholic mass.
All religions are good. Most so called leaders & teachers are imperfect and often teach through their ego, perspective & experience. Therefore, there’s much room for mistake and manipulation.
Having said that … I do know that Brother Lalith’s organizations or services do not have a designated collection time or “till-type thing” that you would see at entry of other religion’s place of worship.
Call me skeptical … but I cannot help but wonder if there are some political stirrings behind this article.
If the Christian community wishes to castigate each other, so be it. Do not drag the Gauthama Buddha into the equation. Remember, He was there 900 year before Christ. Gauthama Buddha never was inspired by God/s. It is known that Jesus was inspired by the teachings of the Gauthama Buddha.
As for the Turin Shroud, read the books titled “The Original Jesus” and “The Jesus Conspiracy” where learned scientists have exposed their findings. The ideas given in there, hurt. But it will give substance.
Bottom line – Religion is for individuals to believe and not to transform others to individuals thinking. Learn to respect others’ beliefs and believe in self belief.
I am fascinated by your comment: “Jesus was inspired by the teachigns of the Gauthama Buddha”. Could you please post your source(s)?
As to the rest — anyone can be religious. few life by their faith when no one is watching.
Thank you Hardy!!!!
I think my family is caught up in one of these prayer sessions where they have already donated several things and I am hopeful your article will guide my folks.
Refer to the continuation from Last Sunday . Though i was prompted to write i held back but i thought i must say a few things. First..DO we know enough to judge the ways of the Lord. The lord has specifically said his ways are to much for man to understand. Two . the writer should not get involved in earthly views he should have gone into the bile as its the only living word and everything one wants is there.
Three. Since the writer involves the School the Archbishop etc its up to the Church to Stand tall and give its ruling is the movement a fraud or is it in principle surely a learned body can be formed to do this is the shortest possible way.
Four : All i can say that all members must restrain from evil and slanderous thoughts the Lord says “Pray is the best healer” the word also says One will never be accepted in ones own place even Jesus was not in own home town as he was known as a carpenter so people wondered on his knowledge of the word.
I don’t know anything of the writer but for me three years back i would have backed him on his views as i too thought the same way but the Lord opened different doors and movements to me to be able to learn his words and his ways and all i do is thank God for placing these people in my life . Today i deal with my troubles differently my family thinks im crazy but those in the journey know it once your heart is touched.
All i can say the write has created a election type of Manapa the Charismatic Movement or The traditional way , The winner will be neither but other denominations and breakaways laughing at the roman catholic church SO I ASK THE HEAD OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN SRI LANKA give us your ruling as you should in line with what GOD will reveal to you in pray.
The Risen Lord Movement .. I thank for changing my life my meaning in understanding the word and how i pray and my one on one relationship with the Lord.
May all of you be blessed in pray as GOD is the final Judgment and no matter what we do or say we have to face him on are day of calling and give an account of our selves. this no CHRISTIAN can hide from
Luan VanCuylenburg
dear editor
will u pls step in
and stop this at the 1000th response
so that v can have peaceful elections
and a very happy and prosperous sinhala new year
tks
for and on behalf of
THE PRESIDENT-14.03.2010 at10.34am
Who is this imposter “Mahinda Rajapasse’ claiming to be the President? How come he cant even get his own name spelt correctly? Anyway, if you claim to be the president, why don’t you stop journalists like Hardy coming here to destory our peace by his hateful writing without getting to know the real facts?
Allas Allas!!!!
the reporter, the Commentators are always tell what they seen, heard are truth without Cast, religion,Greed, Colors. I appreciate them. Why world over all the allagation only againts the Christians or Catholic people. that means others are Saint they never do wrong. What about All other Preist non Christian who are rappist, drug addicts, killers, robbers,mast demonstrators in the streets are not appering. Why not ? You know very well if you write about them you won’t be living now. You scared to write or speak about them. You can write or talk only about Christins. why they never come against you. So you can write or speak by making things as per your popularity .
wesawoooo
1 Corinthians 2:14-16
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
That’s all I have to say……
To Leela,
It is with much regret that I observe the way you are bringing up arguments of this sort. Especially with your background of knowledge.
What Christians here are talking about is, FAITH.
Faith does not come directly under the disciplinary lines of objective historical critisism. Surely a man of your learning should know this.
The idea of GOD can be approached in three avenues of the mind,
-The personal experience or the mystical encounter a man has with “GOD”
-The church teach ings that comes with the tradition and with one’s background.
-Looking at it as a historical, analytical and a scienctifical way with an objective mind.
Then we have to ask the question of credibility, Do we call one approach credible and the other unreasonable and implausible.
No
All three lines of thought are credible. They are all human.They are followed by educated and rational people. Any one of it alone will not bring man the completion of knowledge. Your way of asking questions are in a religious context where answers are demanded in a calculable quantified way. Surely you know this forum will not be able to satisfy the depth of your questions. Your confusing innocent people with your learning. It’s not a very good thing.
The study of GOD takes one’s lifetime. It is NOT a study as in western learning where “what you know” is knowledge.
In Christianity you have different levels of understanding where unlike in the western thought ” knowledge” is the quality you manifest with love and compassion.
This forum is for people trying to come to an understanding of the realitys of the human mind.
Remember, before we are christians, buddihists or hindus, we are all human. And one of the greatest achievements of the human is the enlightenment of the mind coming in an age of enlightnment that we call the “axil” age and they came in many forms.
Your questions are damaging faith.
you are doing a foolish thing.Mr H
ardy. you are challenging God not lalith thata
IN DEFENCE OF GOD.
Good point! At the end of our lives — this article will mean nothing. What will matter is how we have lived our lives (when no one was watching us) : )
Well atleast he is not advocating terrorism. Let him be. Looks like he is not following Catholic rituals to the letter but as long as he is not advocating hatred, leave him be. If he is a fraud, the law will take care of it. Hardy’s article is defamatory. It contains only generalisations and empty statements and no evidence to support and substantiate his allegations. It is easy to make empty allegations. Hardy, be a proper investigative journalist , produce the hard evidence. Just like politicians who have doctorates, who say ” we will bring the cost of living down”, but when asked how it is going to be done. They become speechless.
Well atleast he is not advocating terrorism. Let him be. Looks like he is not following Catholic rituals to the letter but as long as he is not advocating hatred, leave him be. If he is a fraud, the law will take care of it. Hardy’s article is defamatory. It contains only generalisations and empty statements and no evidence to support and substantiate his allegations. It is easy to make empty allegations. Hardy, be a proper investigative journalist , produce the hard evidence. Just like politicians who have doctorates, who say ” we will bring the cost of living down”, but when asked how it is going to be done. They become speechless..
Faith is Faith, it is about submitting to the unknown. Faith is when a person stops listening to his intuition and surrenders his life to the unknown with that gut feeling inside which tells him that something out there will raise you above who you thought you were and what you though were your limits. It’s like the scene in one of the Indiana Jones Movie where Indy in a desperate measure has to cross a deep Crevasse with no bridge. In this scene Indy closes his eyes and steps into the Crevasse and stones which were till then invisible begin to appear under his feet to help him walk across to the other side. – This scene beautifully paints the picture of the saying “Taking a Leap of faith”
Faith in god can do miracles and I have seen it with my own eyes. People like Michael Hardy might be educated academically but not in the ways of the world. Unfortunately no one has taught him or neither does he have the wisdom to know when he should keep his mouth shut. Views of life seen through the mind a worldly education alone cannot bring salvation. As only those who understand and empathise with fellow humans can really see the god that exists within us and around us.
Michael Hardy should stop being cynical of the motives of Lalith Perera. This writer has easily coined him as an extraordinary cheat which just reflects his own arrogance. Just because Mr Hardy fails to understand the true nature and workings of god in a preacher like Lalith Perera .
To Everyone,
I am sure Lalith Perera is having a good laugh at this moment. Wjhy should he bother, he is getting a good publicity. All these fools are fighting with each other. If they are so religious , I don’t think they will express their ideas in this manner.
We believe in God, our Jesus. Lalith perera is only helping the people to be closer to the God so that we become good human beings. That;s what any religion teaches you. With all these fighting, cheating, stealing…, we need people like Lalith Perera to calm down the people.
If you can’t do any good to the society, at least let the people like Lalith Perera do it. What crime is he doing, he is only telling the right and the wrong thing to the people.
Anyway he is getting a good publicity, now more and more people will join him..I am sure he is having a good laugh. God’s people will never get discourage by all these accusations. Same things happened to Jesus when he was spreading the word of Lord…..
I think this Leela fellow is out of job…nothing better to do in life. I think no one is taking his boring ideas to print a book and he or she has taken this page to pass his/her boring time. Hey buck up and do something useful to your life and to the other .
Leela’s comments are too looooong. So it is boring to read and we have no so much time to sit and read looooong comments
can the editor or administrator drop in and set up 1000 as the target for responses so that we can have more and more before the april fun time
thanks
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Praise the LORD….
Dear Hardy
Thanks a million for this article. You have brought glory to GOD….
This will definitely change the heart of many….
The 3000 devotees will be 5000 in future….
The Lord loves the sinners more than the righteous; the lord loves you just as he loves me…..
Thank you very much for publishing about the Wednesday prayer meeting…. It is a good way to reach the public who really needed the help….
Lalith Thatha, God do wonders doesn’t he…. I think we will have to get ready for a greater crowd….
The letter below was written in response to the first article that was published in the Sunday Leader. However the paper failed to publish this for reasons best known to them.
The fraud of the Risen Lord – the other side
I read with concern and sadness the article given great publicity written
by one, Michael Hardy in the Sunday Leader of 7th March 2010. My
concern was solely due to the fact that this entire article was a mixture of
fabrication, far from the truth and on the face of it spiteful. It also
saddened me that undue publicity had been given to an article of this
nature without verifying the truth or authenticity of what has been
stated therein.
At the very outset I wish to emphasize that I myself have been a regular
participant at this Wednesday evening prayer service of the Community
of the Risen Lord for the last two decades. This was long prior to its even
being held at St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya. The only occasions on
which I have failed to attend these meetings was either when I was out of
the Island or when I was sick or when my professional work took me out
of Colombo. Hence unlike Mr. Michael Hardy who on the face of the
article appears to have attended just one meeting, my association with
the Community of the Risen Lord goes back for many years.
The writer in question refers to the Community of the Risen Lord as a
“supposedly Catholic organization”. It may be of interest for him to note
that the Catholic Charismatic Renewal is an accepted part of the Roman
Catholic Church. Its head office is in Rome and is known as the
International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Office (ICCRO). This
organization coordinates Catholic Charismatic Renewal Organizations
worldwide. The Community of the Risen Lord is a part of the Catholic
Charismatic Renewal in the Roman Catholic Church. Hence the
“supposedly Catholic organization” as referred to in the article is wholly
without merit, false and incorrect. Moreover The Community of the Risen
Lord in Sri Lanka is overseen by the Bishops of the Roman Catholic
Church and operates in most dioceses in Sri Lanka.
The writer in question further states that “although the community is
nominally Catholic, people like me who grew up in the Catholic Church will
recognize very little of Catholicism in these Wednesday evening services”.
The question of the community being “nominally Catholic” is laid bear as
set out above by the fact that the Community of the Risen Lord forms an
integral part of the Catholic Charismatic Movement of the Roman
Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. In this context, I am amused that the
writer who categorically sets out that he grew up in the Catholic Church
still asserts that “recent research shows that the Shroud was a hoax
manufactured a thousand years after Jesus died.” I may not be as holy a
Catholic as the writer but yet I have never questioned the teachings of
the Roman Catholic Church which to my mind comes directly from the
Successors of St. Peter himself. The authenticity of the Shroud is still
being verified but the Church has set out categorically that the Shroud is
an object of veneration. In fact when the Shroud of Turin is exposed for
public veneration this year, His Holiness the Pope himself will be one of
those visitors at the said exposition.
The evening prayer service at St. Peter’s College Bambalapitiya consists
of three parts.
1. Praise
2. The Message
3. Worship
The first part of it consists in half an hour of Praise. Thereafter Brother
Lalith Perera gives his Message for the week and the concluding part of
the service is the Worship. It is during the sessions on Praise and
Worship that the entire congregation joins in ‘singing in the spirit’. The
Community of the Risen Lord propagates the use of the Gifts of the Holy
Spirit in prayer and worship as set out in 1 Corinthians 12;4-12 “There
are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of
service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the
same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation
of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the
Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by
means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another
gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another
prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in
different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of
tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives
them to each one, just as he determines.” For just as the sun emits heat
and light so does the Holy Spirit radiate an atmosphere of joy. For those
who believe, the inner life of God is not static. It is a dynamic force,
always active within us. Joy is simply the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Hence the whole meeting with the active participation of the Holy Spirit
himself is one of joy.
The writer appears to be under a delusion that these meetings are
healing services. On the contrary this is a prayer service. However quite
naturally, as this is a service of praise and thanksgiving to God, the Holy
Spirit does work numerous miracles at these meetings. “By their fruits
you will know them” (Mt. 7;20), the Holy Spirit lives at the centre of the
Church and therefore it is clear without more that the miracles and
healings performed at these prayer meetings are by the Holy Spirit and
the Holy Spirit alone. It is not Brother Lalith Perera or his associates who
heal the sick and perform miracles at these meetings; rather it is the
work of the Holy Spirit. Hence there is no need for Brother Perera to
“provide concrete proof of his powers”.
Moreover at no time has Brother Lalith Perera ever presented himself as
“the messenger of God on earth”. This is only a figment of the imagination
of the writer.
The writer also refers to the fact that Brother Lalith Perera said
“remarkably little of substance and the verses were taken completely out
of context and twisted.” This is wholly incorrect and false. The cassettes
of the day’s message are available on the next week and a reading of
same by itself would be clear proof that the writer’s assertion is wholly
incorrect.
The writer further adverts to the fact that there is no ‘Lord’s Prayer’ and
no ‘Communion’ at these services. As clearly set out above this is a
prayer service and not a Eucharistic celebration. Hence the need for the
Lord’s Prayer or Communion does not arise. In this context it may be of
interest to the writer to know that prayer meetings outside the normal
liturgy of the Church are an accepted tradition in Roman Catholic
Church coming down the years. For example the Rosary and The Way of
the Cross. In any event, the liturgical life of the Church is centered on
the Blessed Sacrament which is exposed for veneration on the last
Wednesday of every month at these prayer meetings.
The writer further refers to the fact that Brother Lalith Perera gave a
“sales pitch for the community’s annual trip to Israel and Italy”. It may be
of interest for the writer to note that this annual pilgrimage has no
financial benefit for the Community of the Risen Lord. The only
beneficiary from such trip is an independent travel agent who has no
connection whatsoever to the community. However, I might add speaking
personally for myself, that I have been on two of these pilgrimages to the
Holy Land with Brother Lalith Perera together with my mother. The joy
and the peace we experienced at these two pilgrimages can never ever be
measured in human terms. My mother still has nostalgic memories of
these two tours.
In conclusion, might I add that this weekly prayer service of Brother
Lalith Perera has benefited and brought immense consolation for
thousands of ordinary people including my unworthy self. The reference
to this prayer meeting as “a magic show” is an insult and an affront to
those thousands of people who have genuinely come for these meetings
to experience the joy and the peace of the Holy Spirit. Moreover the many
derogatory references to Brother Lalith Perera without an iota of evidence
is wholly unwarranted and aimed at tarnishing the good name of Brother
Lalith Perera. In this context, whilst we are now in the middle of the Holy
season of Lent I can only sum up by quoting Lord Jesus Christ by saying
“Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing”.
Shammil J. Perera
Attorney at Law
President – Archdiocese of Colombo, Catholic Lawyer’s Guild
This has nothing todo with the above subject but just to Enlighten My Brothers and Sister about the Word ALLAH and few words in Arabic to give you all a better understanding about ARABIC/ISLAM
ALLAH: Allah is the ARABIC name of the One God, creator and sustainer of the universe, who does not have a partner or associate, and He did not beget nor was He begotten. The word Allah is used by the Arab Christians and Jews for The God (Eloh-im in Hebrew; ‘Allaha’ in Aramaic, the mother tongue of Jesus, pbuh). The word Allah does not have a plural or gender.
INSHALLAH means God Willing
MASHALLAH means Praise to God
ALHAMDULILLAH means Thanks God
ASSALAAMU ALLAIKUM means Peace and Blessings God be with you
For those who might not know that ISLAM or any one professing the ISLAMIC Faith beleives that Jesus Christ(or as we call Eissa-PBUH) will RISE AGAIN/Or will be Back
Abdullah, please dont talk without indepth knowledege of Islam.
Please do not associate Islam with fables and fairytales, its a living religion based on logic and free thinking.
Quran never espouses fairytales like Jesus rising again, read the holy Quran in depth my dear. Rising again has nothing to do with majically coming from the sky etc, only fools believe this.
Rising is to portray the real philosophy and thoughts and true teachings of Jesus will rise in the form of Islam.
This has nothing todo with the above subject but just to Enlighten My Brothers and Sister about the Word ALLAH and few words in Arabic to give you all a better understanding about ARABIC/ISLAM
ALLAH: Allah is the ARABIC name of the One God, creator and sustainer of the universe, who does not have a partner or associate, and He did not beget nor was He begotten. The word Allah is used by the Arab Christians and Jews for The God (Eloh-im in Hebrew; ‘Allaha’ in Aramaic, the mother tongue of Jesus, pbuh). The word Allah does not have a plural or gender.
INSHALLAH means God Willing
MASHALLAH means ALL Praise to God
ALHAMDULILLAH means ALL Thanks to God
ASSALAAMU ALLAIKUM means Peace and Blessings of God be with you
For those who might not know that ISLAM or any one professing the ISLAMIC Faith beleives that Jesus Christ(or as we call Eissa-PBUH) will RISE AGAIN/Or will be Back
Leela, read the bible before you preach! Does any of it make sense? Embarrassing isn’t it?! Next you’ll be insisting that Goldilocks really did talk to three bears!
http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/
I love The Killers they really are among the best bands. And yet I’ve got to say I discovered this exquisite mr brightside cover version on YouTube the other day and i think I like it even more than the original version! You’ll have to watch this … The Killers Mr Brightside Cover
Dear Mr. Hardy,
No Thank you for your concern Mr. Hardy, Brother Lalith Perera is by no standard a quack, charlatan or fraud. His preaching makes sense to the thousands who flock to the meetings both here and abroad and is fully endorsed by the Catholic Church. I sympathize with you for becoming laughing stock by exposing your severe disabilities in listening, cognition, memory and other human functions; proof of which is presented in the hilarious article that Sunday Leader has sadly published.
As is apparent in your biased opinion piece, you have walked into a ‘faith based’ prayer meeting with the preconceived notion of ridiculing the leader and the proceedings and to gather whatever weapons you could to use as distorted evidence.
Your choice to negate ‘Speaking in tongues’, a well documented and clearly demonstrated concept in the bible as gibberish, places you at the puerile level in the realm of spirituality. It is unfortunate, that having had the chance to partake in such a spiritually and intellectually stimulating prayer meeting where many have had transformations, you have not been able to let go of your pig headedness. At least to salvage your professional interests, next time, you take on an assignment, keep in mind that you should employ diverse resources and tools to gather information; relying solely on your mental faculties might yield another article manifesting your dim wittedness.
If you were to do this article again, speaking to the organizers, participants and asking questions and clarifying would help. Empty statements devoid of any meaning and are out of context do not hold much value. Furthermore, I would like to bring to your notice, that when a population is too big to survey,in this case each and every prayer meeting, a sample is appropriate. Attending one prayer meeting to come into conclusions is insufficient considering the number of meetings they have held. For example, if you attended a couple of prayer meetings you would know the number of times God’s messages are delivered to specific individuals and how some of them have testified, claiming those words for themselves.
Brother Lalith, is not a charlatan who tries to be a priest. He has no need to be. His work complements that of priests by awakening the spiritual senses of a thirsty Catholic congregation that yearns for spirituality at a deeper level. He routinely gives historical contexts to Catholic rituals to people who doubt and question the significance of rituals in the Catholic church thereby drawing Catholics deeper into Catholic spirituality. He draws parallels with biblical figures, and Catholic Saints and shows the intersection with spiritual development.
You are right in recognizing the semblance to evangelical sects who speak in tongues and believe in faith healing, yet those evangelical sects are merely that. Brother Lalith articulates very clearly that those elements are just one part of Catholicism; holy Sacraments, Eucharist, the oral tradition (which has provided with a wealth of knowledge for centuries) and other characteristics of the Catholic Church that make it unique are emphasized and spoken of inimitable elements.
It is rather sad, that your simple mind has failed to grasp the important detail of ‘Superlink’ being the organizer of the trip. It is obvious that your perverse mind in the pursuit of presenting a garbled story left out the facts and concocted a piece of fiction with the hope of creating a controversy.
Having identified yourself as a Catholic it is a pity to note your obliviousness to manners of worship which led to your jeering ; “Praise His name with dancing; play drums and harps in praise of him” Psalm 149:3
My sincere suggestion to you is to spend time in prayerful meditation preceded by repentenance and reconciliation with God for the frightful malice that your mind has dared to vent.
May God’s forgiveness and love touch you!
me okkoma karenne Basilta, mahindata puka dena wesigeputhala……
aluthen path wechcha Malcolm ranjith dan patan aregena mahindata denna….
Dear Jesus,
Please forgive those people who has tried to insult you. Show your love to those people. Always lead them to their success.. Thanks U Jesus… Love U Jesus…
amazed at wat God is doin thru Lalith Thaththa, i’m glad i’m a part of the community
DESPERATE PEOPLE WILL BELIEVE ANYTHING OR ANYONE!!! LALITH IS NO PASTOR OR MINISTER!!! THIS IS THE KINDA MAN GOD WARNED US ALL ABOUT PLEASE READ
False Prophecy by Dean & Laura VanDruff, 1996
“As spiritual adultery increases in the church, false prophets will flourish as highly sought after speakers, and as Christians accept more of these false teachings indiscriminately, many will fall away, believing in a phony “faith”. Since we have been warned, it might be wise to seek insight into how to discern false prophecy – what are false prophets likely to say? What are they like?” DO YOU KNOW?
All religions are mind-control scams. Get a clue already. Look up George Carlin Religion for some comedic insight on how pathetic religions are and how sad the brainwashed fools who believe them are.