![]() ![]() A sociologist at the Indian Social Institute in Delhi, he has written extensively about religious conversions. In the wake of Chau’s killing, Scroll.in spoke to Heredia about the politics and fallacies of missionary zeal. Chau’s own journal, which he had left with the fishermen, indicates he knew he was risking his life, but felt it was “worth it to declare Jesus to these people”. While six fishermen and one of Chau’s friends have been arrested for facilitating the missionary’s illegal entry onto North Sentinel Island, his family says it has “ forgiven” the Sentinelese who killed him. Fishermen observing from a distance claim they saw his body being dragged by some of the Sentinelese on the shore. On November 16, Chau went alone to the island in a canoe and was eventually killed. His initial attempts to land on the island were met with hostility, as young members of thegroup allegedly shot arrows at him. The government then decided to leave the Sentinelese alone and prohibited visits to North Sentinel Island, for the safety of visitors as well as to protect the tribe from diseases to which most likely lack immunity.ĭespite knowing the island was off-limits to all visitors, Chau bribed local fishermen to take him there on November 14. Between the 1970s and the 1990s, repeated attempts to contact them were resisted with violence, even fatal attacks. Protected by the Indian government as a “Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group”, the Sentinelese are believed to have lived on their island for nearly 60,000 years as hunter-gatherers. Chau intented to preach Christianity to the reclusive tribe.įor Heredia, it is a telling example of how religious fundamentalism, coupled with a colonial attitude, can crudely violate people of another culture. John Allen Chau, 27, a Christian missionary from the United States, was reportedly killed on November 16 when he tried to enter the North Sentinel Island, home to the Sentinelese people who have consistently rejected contact with the outside world. ![]() The answers are quite complex, contends Indian sociologist Rudolf Heredia. ![]() Should aboriginal groups be completely left alone in the 21st century? And where should religious missionaries draw the line? We also ask for the release of those friends he had in the Andaman Islands.An American evangelist’s killing by an isolated indigenous group in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has sparked debates on two fronts. We forgive those reportedly responsible for his death. "He loved God, life, helping those in need and had nothing but love for the Sentinelese people. In a statement at the time they said: "We recently learned from an unconfirmed report that John Allen Chau was reported killed in India while reaching out to members of the Sentinelese Tribe in the Andaman Islands. Sure enough John's family did offer forgiveness, just as he wished. To get more stories from Daily Star delivered straight to your inbox sign up to one of our free newsletters here. "I love you all and I pray none of you love anything in this world more than Jesus Christ." This is not a pointless thing - the eternal lives of this tribe is at hand and I can't wait to see them around the throne of God worshipping in their own language as Revelations 7:9-10 states. "Rather please live your lives in obedience to whatever he has called you to and I'll see you again when you pass through the veil. "Please do not be angry at them or at God if I get killed. "You guys might think I'm crazy in all this but I think it's worth it to declare Jesus to these people," he began. ![]() John is believed to have been shot dead with arrows fired by the remote tribe on North Sentinel Island (Image: Internet Unknown) ![]()
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