Americans enamored with eastern religions would do well to study carefully their bondage of superstition. Two recent news reports illustrate Satan's hold on Asia.

One comes from Taiwan where the premier recently presided over the arrival of one of Buddha's teeth. The 2,400 year-old relic is said to be one of three teeth found in the ashes after Buddha's cremation.

It was flown in on a chartered plane from India and was met by cheering throngs led by Taiwan's Premier Vincent Siew. Siew offered a public prayer to the tooth, "Let us have peace and harmony in our society."

Buddhist believers expressed confidence that the tooth's presence would end a string of bad luck in Taiwan from plane crashes to corruption scandals. One food company executive waiting for a glimpse of the tooth at the airport said, "Once the tooth has arrived, our troubles will be over."

The second event was in India near the headwaters of the Ganges river. In the holy city of Haridwar, an estimated 10 million Hindus gathered in mid-April for a dip in the sacred river to wash away their sins and try to break the cycle of death and rebirth called reincarnation. Many entered the river clad only in holy ashes or thin clothing. Some traveled many hours by train or even overseas. One pilgrim from Toronto, Canada said, "This is the last chance to free ourselves from sins before the end of the millennium."

The festival, called Kumh Mela, is held every three years in one of four sacred cities along the river. Twenty-five thousand police attempted crowd control by yanking people out of the water if they lingered too long. The Kumbh Mela bathing ritual is considered earth's largest religious gathering. The Ganges is believed to be ritually pure by Hindus but nearly 700 towns and cities dump 312 million gallons of waste into the river daily.

Jesus said that when we know the truth it will make us free. A look at such superstitious bondage shows us just what we have escaped. We must first rejoice in that truth and freedom. But to whom much is given, much is also required. We are commissioned to show this truth to as many as we can.

As Christians this is our sole purpose on earth. If we cannot go, then we can send others as missionaries. And we can put effective literature in their hands.

Chick Publications has tracts in languages spoken in nearly all Asian countries. If your church has missionaries in Asia, Chick Publications probably has tracts that they can use. See languages and titles available by visiting Language List