‘Angel Gabriel’ Lia in hot water for her beliefs

Religion is never far from the front page here in Indonesia, and today the Jakarta Post carries a story about Jakarta resident, Lia Eden. Lia, who also goes by the name Lia Aminuddin, claims she is the reincarnation of both Angel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary. Religious funadamentalists heard about this and interpreted it as….you’ve guessed it, an attack on Islam.

Lia appeared in Central Jakarta District Court, in her blasphemy trial. She would probably not have been prosecuted / persecuted in the first place, if she had not been caught handing out DVD’s and other materials, promoting her ideas. Religious fundamentals aren’t interested in your ideas, they are actually threatened by them. If I talk for 2 hours with a Jehovah’s Witness (which I have done before), its not a conversation, its a sales pitch. He already knows what he wants to hear. Expressing your views around people who have made up their mind, is sometimes not a good idea.

Lia was unrepentent in court, and it will be interesting to hear what her sentence is, should she be convicted (of having a mind of her own).