I’ll try to keep this as neutral as possible as to not offend anyone’s beliefs, but I’ll start by saying that I myself am not a follower of any organized religion. I think that religion does an amazing amount of good in this world and more often than not makes for better people and better communities. However I cannot ignore the wars, exclusion, and crimes that are committed in the name of some god.
While in India I assisted my cousin, who is also a photographer, in shooting a Christian campaign in Agra. The campaign involved on average 400 Indians gathering 4 evenings a row to listen to a minister from America preach through a translator about Jesus. Missionary work has been going on all over the world for hundreds of years. I get it, and I’m not offended by it. But the manner in which this particular campaign was presented was troublesome to me.
While in India I assisted my cousin, who is also a photographer, in shooting a Christian campaign in Agra. The campaign involved on average 400 Indians gathering 4 evenings a row to listen to a minister from America preach through a translator about Jesus. Missionary work has been going on all over the world for hundreds of years. I get it, and I’m not offended by it. But the manner in which this particular campaign was presented was troublesome to me.
The people who came to listen to the preaching are most likely practicing Hindus. They came not for Jesus but because they heard a promise of healing. These people are inflicted with polio, blindness, leprosy, and worse. They may simply be poor and struggling to feed their families or cannot conceive children. They will try anything in order for their fortune to turn around, so this night, they’ll try Jesus. The preacher, who if he really is a Christian and attempts to have a personal relationship with Jesus that takes dedication and years of work, seemingly goes against this own discipline and encourages these cheap flash-and-dash “healings.” He calls people on the stage, puts his hands on their heads and claims to be curing their ills through the power of God. I found the whole experience to be exploitive of these people, their visceral problems and pains, and the importance and power of commitment to a faith.
Regardless of my feelings of the event, I was able to capture what I think are some powerful photos. I hope you’re able to feel through the images the desperate longing of these people for a better life.
Hey Korri! You’ve been doing some really great stuff and I wanted you to know! Keep up the craziness and let’s have a great time when you get back home!!
Some incredible photography here. I have some deep and personal feelings about the phenomenon you have shown and described above. Wondering if it was possible for you to tell if anyone at this event actually was healed or at least claimed to have been?
wow. i couldnt agree more. it makes me sick. but, then again, you know my opinion– ive ranted about this before. im glad your shedding a bit of light on it. your photos are def. eye opening. thank you for that my lovely!
Pretty powerful stuff Korri. Beautiful presentation of a not so beautiful situation.
Korn,
Goal achieved….no matter what you think about the solution being presented to these people, the problem is clear and powerful, you can see it in thier faces, thier hands.
moving
Wow, really powerful Kori. This is really interesting and I’d like to hear more, really nice photos as well. I agree about how the missionary work is being carried out in probably not the best way, it’s one thing to give some one information, it’s another to promise them things you cannot deliver on in order to convince them of something (I seriously doubt anyone’s polio was healed by the minister’s touch) . Very disturbing situation
These are absolutely wonderful photographs. One can understand what’s happening, even before reading the Web Log. It is jarring to see people who are likely Hindu being ministered to by a Christian. The whole back story of Christianity screwing with other people’s beliefs is sad, yet I can’t help but wonder how these people are being exploited. Were they were required to convert to Christianity or give their last rupee for the hope of healing?