A Living Hell

I've heard people with chronic, debilitating, and unrelenting pain speak of their life as a living hell on more than one occasion. During my most painful moments I have often thought I may be experiencing a little taste of what hell might be like. But then I read this article about temple prostitution in India and I was quickly reminded how much worse my circumstances could be.

Technically temple prostitution is illegal in India, but the 5,000 year old practice is still widespread with an estimated tens to hundreds of thousands of prostitutes throughout the country. This is primarily driven by the financial burden of daughters, who require an expensive wedding dowry, on the poorest of India.  "India is the most dangerous place in the world to be a baby girl...an Indian girl aged 1-5 years is 75% more likely to die than an Indian boy making this the worst gender differential in child mortality for any country in the world."(source) For those unfamiliar with the "gender-cides" taking place in India and China due to cultural and socioeconomic barriers which create a desire for boy children rather than girl watch this documentary trailer to be released some time this year.

A poor family in India who has a third of forth daughter might choose to sacrifice their infant girl to the goddess, Yellamma, in hopes of gaining her favor and easing their financial burden. As babies they are exploited and when they reach maturity at 11 or 12 years of age they begin a life of prostitution. The girl is considered to be married to the goddess once dedicated and can never marry a man. When their bodies are no longer desirable they are abused because of the stigma they carry. "They can never escape from it. It’s a trap that they’re stuck in; it’s a living hell that they’re experiencing.” (source)

It's hard to believe that this is reality for girls and women around the world. I often wonder how many women who are in bondage to this slavery suffer from pelvic pain in silence while their bodies continue to be abused. It sure makes my suffering look very small. And to think that Hell is even worse than being a temple prostitute in India...I can't imagine! Unlike my suffering, the eternal suffering of Hell will have no end (Matthew 13:41-43, 2 Thess 1:7-9). Salvation through Jesus Christ is the only hope any of us can have in this world (John 14:6). Do you know Him?

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:1,18

Thankfully there are ministries that are reaching out to those oppressed by the sex industry such as this and ministries like this working at getting to the heart of the men, which is most often the root of this industry.