This article clearly reveals author's ignorance..even, those who have commented on this articles are also revealed thier ignorance...i feel shame to tell that India is having such an ignorance people...Let god only has to forgive them and mould them to show what actually the truth is..
Church bashing seems to be in vogue these days among rediff commentators. Whether its Arvind or Varsha or Rajeev, it is the same style article - a concoction of selective truths and quotes to make an argument sound logical. I think Rediff needs to get better bang for their buck by culling some of these clone writers. If in the words of the author, Christianity has made such a small impact on the Indian population(3-4%) then why in the world is he and other writers spending so much time on calling out these alleged christian "faults". Is it maybe because they feel better about themselves and one's own religon and do not need to spend time calling out the faults of their own religious leaders. Spread of this paranoia is pitiful.
RE:Holiness, Heal yourself first
by Varun Shekhar on Jun 12, 2003 12:38 AM
Is the Pope guilty of double standards, arrogance and anti-Hindu sentiment or is he not? If not, then refute Arvind's article point for point, because that is why Arvind wrote the article-to show how arrogant and hypocritical the Pope/Vatican is, particularly toward India and Hindus. Now, if you think the Pope is a great humanist and intellectual who is full of affection and respect for India and Hindus, then present your facts. Remember that Arvind is not writing out of the blue-he is responding to what feels like a very arrogant interference by the Pope in India's internal affairs.
Like someone else has mentioned, we can all agree/disagree/get mad with the writer of this article - but he certainly has a point. We in India do not poke our noses into other cultures and countries and comment on that. The Pope has no business commenting on what happens in our country. I have respect for the Pope - but not very much of that is left. He really should be making sure he puts his own house in order first. How did he allow so many young children to be molested by those supposedly preaching the word of God?
If you consider the life of Jesus, i can't see the life of any other person considered godlike anywhere near the life of Jesus in its values, virtues & holiness....And over that he said he'll rise up from the dead & he did....even if it might defy logic & reason to believe that, there seems to be more evidence to believe exactly that than any other theory...Which other prophet or god or sage could attest the truth of his life & teaching by his own bodily resurrection?... come to think of it... Seek him with all your heart... after all you will be just following the true Indian way of life...
No sermons please
by sanjay choudhry on Jun 12, 2003 11:22 PM
You have begun to irritate me with your missinary-like talk. Please address the issues raised by Arvind. This is not the venue to preach gospel. Preach it to the illiterates tribals of interior India, who may still be impressed with all this hocus pocus. Why don't you lobby with the Pope to allow us to open a VHP center in Vatican so that we can also preach to the christians and test his commitment that "everybody should be free to convert in this world." If that is the case, he won't mind the Hindus starting with the Vatican. Let's see his practising what he preaches.
Even when we maintain a healthy esteem of what we believe to be our traditional faith, we should not be averse to continue searching for the eternal truths. The ancient sages always realised in their search for God that the ways they had found to God were incomplete or insufficient in themselves, that's why they were not averse to searching for new ways; that's the reason why there are so many ways & philosophies of life in the Indian tradition. And many of them so contradictory to each other.. like dwaita to advaita or visistadvaita ways...all of them end up as theories.. and none of them has the final attestation of being the eternal truth - the precise reason why the Indian soul should continue his search for God, should be even willing to give a chance to Jesus...
RE:why the Indian soul should continue his search for God
by Samira on Jun 12, 2003 12:28 AM
Mr Satya,
You write that we Hindus should give Christ a chance. What about Christians in the west who have turned to India for all the answers? Millions of people from all over the world come to India every year looking for answers that they didnt find in their religion. The phenomenal popularity of Yoga and meditation in the west attest to this. Over 12 million people here are into meditation and Yoga. Hinduism is a broad minded religon that embraces Christ. But certainly not Christian missionaries who are motivated to increase their head count.
I am neither a religious fanatic nor a follower of the VHP, I believe everyone has the right to worship any and everything they believe in but I believe the whole essence of religion and belief is lost when innocent and needy people are promised jobs and a better life in return for their religion. Such abuse of religion by any 'sangh' or 'missionary' should be disallowed.
