The state legislature in India’s Assam state wants to punish Christians for praying and acting in an “unscientific” manner to comfort sick people.
according to Christianity Todayintroduced by the northeastern state of Assam. invoiceTitled the ‘Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill 2024’ last month, Christian leaders argued that the bill unfairly targets local believers who pray for the sick.
“No person shall treat any disease, disorder or condition relating to human health (in relation to the human body) by giving the false impression, directly or indirectly, that the treatment is to cure the disease; “No person shall participate in the dissemination of healing practices or magical cures for “pain or trouble to human health,” the ban, passed by the state Legislature on February 26, states.
First-time violations of the order could be punished with one to three years in prison, a fine of 50,000 rupees (about $600), or both. However, if subsequently convicted, he could be sentenced to up to five years in prison, a fine of 100,000 rupees (approximately $1,200), or both.
The bill is currently awaiting ratification by the President of India to become law. Congress leaders in Assam say the ban does not target any particular religion but is meant to restrict evangelism and conversion.
“We want to curb missionary activities in Assam, so the ban on healing… will be a very important milestone in that direction,” Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
The state is currently ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Mohd’s national ruling party, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“Healing is a very dangerous subject and is used to convert tribal people,” Sarma said. “We’re going to do a pilot [this bill], because we believe that the current state of religion is extremely important. Whoever is a Muslim, make them a Muslim. Whoever is a Christian, let him be a Christian. Whoever is a Hindu, let them be Hindus and there will be proper balance in our state. ”
Leaders of the Christian community voiced their opposition to the bill. The Assam Christian Forum (ACF), an organization comprising all Christian churches in Assam, argued that the ban would violate religious freedom and objected to what MPs termed as “magical healing”.
“Prayer is a universal custom across religions and is used to evoke divine healing,” the forum said. “Labeling it as magical healing oversimplifies a deep spiritual aspect of faith and life.”
ACF also revealed the misconception among Hindu nationalists that prayers for healing are a means of mercy rather than conversion.
Meanwhile, the Chakhesang Baptist Church Council in neighboring Nagaland condemned the bill, which bans the practice of Christianity in the secular state. The council also praised states for protecting religious freedom.
C. Choo, the council’s secretary general, objected to the term “magical healing” as denying divine intervention.
“Healing is God’s work, not Christians’ work,” he said. “So when divine healing occurs, Christians cannot claim responsibility or be blamed.”
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Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributor to Christian Headlines and host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast dedicated to sound doctrine and Biblical truth. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Alliance Theological Seminary.
