Cuba: For the One

"If individuals live only seventy years, then a state, or a nation, or a civilization, which may last for a thousand years, is more important than an individual. But if Christianity is true, then the individual is not only more important but incomparably more important, for he is everlasting and the life of a state or a civilization, compared with his, is only a moment."
- C. S. Lewis

Some times we forget in the grand scheme of things just how important people really are. When a person looks at their life and compares it with the greatness of history, it’s easy to feel insignificant. Or when we look at the vastness of the universe and we see how small the earth is in comparison, let alone a single person on that speck in the universe, it’s understandable to feel a little lost in everything. And when we look up at the sky on a dark night and see the vastness of the heavens, one might ask, “Do I really matter?”

So the question comes down to how valuable is an individual. I suppose it depends on your persepective. According to a well known quote, “The needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few.” Is that something you believe? Should we, as people, value a society or a collective over the individual? Should we always be thinking about the “greater good” and forget the needs of one person? Some people think so, but I would have to disagree. We, as Christians, know that the individual has great worth and value in God’s sight. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that God does not want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentence. Each and every single individual. Not just the Israelities, not just the rich, not just the intelligent, but everyone. For most people, it’s a mind blowing thought when they realize that God cares for them. Not just that God cares for everyone, but that God cares for them. It’s truly a staggering thought to know that the God of the universe looks down from heaven on you and knows the number of hairs on your head and says that you are of great worth to him. Jesus himself tells us the worth of an individual in Luke 15 when he shares the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin. Just as the shepherd left his 99 sheep to go in search of the one that was missing, we know that Jesus would have left heaven, even if it was only to save one person. As precious as that thought is, I would think that would be an even more precious thought when you live in Cuba.

To live in Cuba is to live under an atheistic socialist state that tells you the whole of society is more important than you. There is no ‘I,’ only ‘we’. Everything is meant for the “greater good.” The government controls and regulates all aspects of life, and Christians are among the last to receive help or suport from the government. In 2008, three massive hurricanes hit the island of Cuba destroying many homes. Many Christians could not afford to fix their roofs or their homes, so they had to move out and stay with friends or relatives. When Christian churches raised money to help those affected by the hurricane, the government confiscated the money so the aid would be coming from the government, and not the church.

Despite being an atheistic state, spirit worship is widespread in Cuba. The current generation has become so dissatisfied with their government that they are turning to the ways of their ancestors for guidance. Karma, magic, and spirit guidance abound in Cuban culture. One of the most prevalent forms of spirit worship is Santeria. Disturbingly enough, in the past few years, Cuban authorities have been discreetly encouraging its practice. The government run televsion stations often play music videos promoting Santeria, and the government has been having secret meetings with the leaders of Santeria to discuss Christian evangelism. The government has been encouraging Santeria leaders to do whatever is necessary to stop Christianity from taking their followers and they have been telling them that Christians are their enemies. In a few years, who knows what extremists might be formed? Despite Catholicism being the most dominent faith in Cuba, for many people it has become so twisted with spirit worship that people who think they know the truth are really living in darkness. The lines between Catholicism and spirit worship have become so blurred that it is often difficult for people to distinguish between the two, and the terms ‘saint’ and ‘spirit’ are often used interchangeably. But there are Christians in Cuba who dare to shine the light of God’s truth and are often jailed for their faith, being labeled as 'dangerous'. In reality, the government fears anything or anyone that is popular among the people. They don’t dare release their iron grip for fear of what might slip through their fingers. Change is coming to Cuba though, under Raul Castro's leadership, just not as quickly as most would like to see.

In GCC's library is a book on the capture and imprisonment of Tom White, current Executive Director of Voice of the Martyrs. For years Tom had a burden for the people of Cuba, and did everything he could to bring the Gospel to them. But it wasn't until his imprisonment that he really began to see the fruit of his years of labor of reaching out to Cuba. The name of the book is "God's Missiles over Cuba" and I would recommend stopping in the library and picking it up.

Below is the information handouts on Cuba for this month, as well as a few video clips. Please remember Cuba in your prayers this month, and know that the God of the universe is looking down on this island, and cares for the people who are entrapped there.

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Cuba

Population: 11,423,952 (July 2008 est.) Most populous island nation in the Caribbean
Basic Info: Cuba is an island about the size of Pennsylvania that is only 90 miles off the Florida Straits. The average monthly salary is $17. Internet access is limited and strictly monitored as in other communist based states. Cuba has developed friendly relations with North Korea and rogue states like Iran. Canada maintains a robust trade and investment relationship with Cuba, and Canadians are the largest number of foreign tourists who visit Cuba each year. Spain is among the most important foreign investors in Cuba, and Cuba's bilateral relationship with Venezuela has helped keep the Cuban economy afloat. Cuba also maintains strong trade ties with China.

Government: Totalitarian communist state; Fidel Castro came to power by force on January 1, 1959. Raul Castro replaced his brother Fidel Castro as chief of state, president of Cuba, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces on February 24, 2008. In March 2003, Fidel Castro had announced his intention to remain in power for life, but he became incapacitated on July 31, 2006. While Fidel Castro is still nominally the First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) {the only recognized political party}, Raul Castro, as its Second Secretary, is fully in charge of this political body and has announced that a new party congress will be held toward the end of 2009, the first to be held since 1997.

Religion: Originally, Cuba was set up as an atheist state. In 1992, the constitution was changed and the country became a "secular" state that guaranteed freedom of religion. Catholicism has a long heritage in Cuba, being brought by the Spanish, and is the most dominant faith. Afro-Cuban religions, a blend of native African religions and Roman Catholicism, are widely practiced in Cuba. One is known as Santeria. Historically, slaves brought with them various religious traditions, including a tradition of a trance for communicating with their ancestors and deities, animal sacrifice and the practice of sacred drumming. In order to hold on to their traditional beliefs, the slaves disguised their orishas (spirits) as Catholic saints. When the Roman Catholic slave owners observed Africans celebrating a Saint's Day, they were generally unaware that the slaves were actually worshiping their sacred orishas. In Cuba today, the terms "saint" and "orisha" are sometimes used interchangeably.

Education: Cuba’s education has a strong political and ideological emphasis, and students progressing to higher education are expected to have a commitment to the goals of the Cuban government. The Code for Children, Youth and Family states that a parent who teaches ideas contrary to communism can be sentenced to three years in prison. Educational and cultural policy is based on Marxist ideology, and a file is kept on children's "revolutionary integration" and it accompanies the child for life. University options will depend on how well the person is integrated to Marxist ideology as well as permission from the "Committee for the Defense of the Revolution".

Courts: The government imprisons people for their political beliefs or activities. Due process is routinely denied to Cuban citizens, particularly in cases involving political offenses. The constitution states that all legally recognized civil liberties can be denied to anyone who opposes the "decision of the Cuban people to build socialism." Citizens can be and have been jailed for terms of 3 years or more for simply criticizing the communist system or Fidel Castro. Under the law of "dangerousness," citizens can be jailed for up to 4 years if a police official thinks that they show "anti-social behavior." The total number of political prisoners and detainees is unknown, because the government does not disclose such information and keeps its prisons off-limits to human rights organizations and international human rights monitors. There are an estimated 225 prisoners of conscience currently detained in Cuba in addition to as many as 5,000 people sentenced for "dangerousness." Prison conditions are harsh and life-threatening. Although physical torture is rare, cruel treatment of prisoners--particularly political prisoners and detainees--is common. Prison authorities frequently beat, neglect, isolate, and deny medical treatment to inmates. Authorities often deny family visits, adequate nutrition, exposure to sunshine, and pay for work. Overcrowding is common.

Persecution: Persecution of Christians began soon after Castro’s rise to power. In 1962, the government seized and shut down more than 400 Catholic schools, charging that they spread dangerous beliefs among the people. Castro labeled Catholics and Protestants "social scum" and forced both the general public and clergy into labor camps under inhumane conditions. Despite the declaration of religious freedom in 1992, this change did not necessarily translate into practice. Although many religious groups have noticed improvements in their treatment in recent years, authorities continue to pressure believers though intimidation and coercion. The Ministry of Interior (the state agency of security and control) engages in active efforts to control and monitor the country's religious institutions, including through surveillance, infiltration, and harassment. State control is also seen in religious matters by requiring church registration and state approval to build or renovate church buildings. Those organizations that do not maintain close ties with the government do not receive the necessary approval. As a result, house churches are common – most of which are unregistered and therefore illegal. If a complaint is made against a house church, eviction or imprisonment could follow. The government still refuses to allow the church to have independent printing press capabilities; full access to the media; to train enough priests/pastors for its needs or allow adequate numbers of foreign clergy to work in the country; or to establish socially useful institutions, including schools and universities, hospitals and clinics, and nursing homes. All registered denominations must report to the Ministry of Interior's Office of Religious Affairs. However, despite all of this, many evangelical protestant denominations continue to grow rapidly. The Catholic church is also making progress. In 2007, for the first time since the revolution, the government declared Christmas Day a holiday. The government also permitted the Catholic Church to broadcast Christmas and Holy Week messages (the Vatican and the Catholic Church are still pressing for more access to the media).

This article is licensed under the <"http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html">GNU Free Documentation License. Material from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam" Wikipedia article "Vietnam". Material also taken from VOMC www.persecution.net and the U.S. Department of State http://www.state.gov/
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Santeria


People & Power - Reforming Cuba's ailing economy - 14 Mar 09 - Part 1


People & Power - Reforming Cuba's ailing economy - 14 Mar 09 - Part 2


Cubans react to Raul Castro's 'reforms' - 30 Apr 2008