Something struck me as odd, as I read this para in your otherwise insightful article - "... finally, that it is only the Hindus of this country, 'fundamentalists' included, who reiterate that there is an eternal truth but there are many ways to achieve it; that indeed is the dharma of Bharat and Hindustan and India."
If there are many ways to "achieve" eternal truth, surely "evangelical christianity" is NOT one of them, according to you. Infact, you would even admit that "tolerant hinduism" is the only worldview that reveals truth... do you sense the irony here? You boast of tolerance - but only as long as everybody agrees with you, for instance about conversion!
If there are many ways (or all ways lead to truth), if someone is a christian, or hindu or muslim - what does it matter? Further, what does it matter, if a christian converts to hinduism or visa versa, for there's no "net change" to the head count in heaven, for they are all valid paths - are they not?
So why make such a big issue of conversion? Our country, while it boasts of "superior spirituality" needs to focus on weightier issues - such as the beggar on the city sidewalks.
You have done a good job by bringing out many facts about Pope's attitude about India, especially about Hindus. As you mentioned, their whole mission is to convert as many people to christianity as possible. In my opinion, there is a world of difference between what Jesus Christ said and what the Vatican is doing. For example, Jesus said, "Blessed are those pure in their heart for they shall see God". What a wondeful spiritual truth embedded in this seemingly simple statement. I think it is high time that central government in India take a form stance and bring an anti-conversion law. If goverment is not taking any action, we are fully justified in throwing these missionaries out of our country before they convert all our tribal people and extinguish their culture.
I think main reason behind those conversions is money.Christian missionaries do offer financial help to poor people and they get carried away and get converted. We should concentrate on developing our economy, so when everybody is prosperous, they can think about religious stuff and take a right decisions.Poors don't have time to think about religious matters, they are busy earning their bread. We waste crores of rupees in rituals in temples.We could use that money to help these people.
Arvind and others from the parivar are worried understandably. Why do the conversions takes place? from Hindu to Budhists, from hindus to christianity? to muslims why, do you think it is easy for a person to make a decision to change his religion so easily. he decides to forgo the religion he has been brought up in, he starts worshioing an alien god, in a new manner. It must not be easy. Mass conversions are individuals deciding in a group. Parivar's anger is similar to the anger of a middleclass housewife whose domestic help-the kamwali bai has been lured by the neighbour for a better salary, better working conditions. It is funny, sngh parivar says they do not believe in caste system they have done precious little to do away with it.What have these anti conversionist have done for them? except for shedding crocodile tears, they promise swarg after death, what about during lifetime? what living conditions we provide education? medical facilities? Why the entire east has become christ worshipper? You put your house in order first. Take positive actions and then fight against conversions. You can't fool all the people all the time.
Dear Arvind, I think it is high time Religion is globalized. For this an International Apex Body for Religions having representatives from all the religions in the world should be set up. This Apex Body should come out with some International Standard or World Constitution which will prescribe what any religion should preach and what it should not, keeping in view protection of individual's freedom and welfare of the whole humanity. If anybody is found to preach in the name of any religion, what is forebidden by the International Standard or World Constitution, the members of the Apex Body representing that particular religion should disown the individual or organization responsible fot it and the Apex body should take appropriate punitive action against those indulging in such act. The International Standard/World Constitution for religion can also stipulate that no person who has not studied all the religions in the world and passed a specifed test to prove it, is eligible to head any religion.
RE:Globalization of Religion.
by VK on Jun 14, 2003 05:39 PM
Your idea of setting up an "International Standard/World Constitution for religion" sounds good. I'm sure the effort would be toward sorting out the differences among religions. However, although on the surface all religions seem to be preaching only the 'good of all' in reality some of the differences are as divergent as 'day and night'. It is only in the 'twilight zone' that they seem to go together. Only something like a 'total solar eclipse' would be able to produce 'darkness at noon' which simply means all the religions would have to give up their major teachings which at present doesn't seem plausible. The question we must ask ourselves is, why something generally considered to be outdated, to the point of being superstitious, should gain momentum at a time when science has made such spectacular progress in every field? Could it be that human beings have become pawns in the cosmic battle between the opposing supernatural powers? This seems to be straight out of science fiction drama but then Truth could be stranger than fiction!
Forced conversion , if it happens is defenitely bad and need to condemned.But then is all the conversions that happens in India is on account of lure for money, then the minority Christians should have been a richer lot.Then facts speaks for itself.If the minority population in NorthEast has icrease, it has declined in Kerala. Every Reliegion has thugs in it who reap money out of faith.But to brand all for the sins of few,sounds fascist
RE:Faith
by RVChitnis on Jun 22, 2003 01:12 PM
Dear friend John, Not all the conversions that happen in India are on account of lure for money. As regards money, I will give you an example. The missionaries loan money to the needy poor people. A time comes when they can not afford to pay the installments. Immediately the missionaries offer to waive off the debt if they convert. In what classification will you put such conversions?
I hope rediff publish this. Everybody is talking about Dalit conversion and conversion of poor. If this is the reason for conversion, can anybody tell why nations after nations have converted for the past 2000 years. - Why did Italy (Seat of the Popes) convert in 300AD? Were they Dalits (Candala's) - Why did Poland (Pope John Paul's homeland) convert? Were they Poor. - Why did England convert in 600 AD? Were they Sudras (Backward castes) - Why did Denmark convert during Bluetooth's regime? Were they powerless - Why did the forefathers of Bush, Blair, Howart,Putin convert? Were they slaves - Why did the Koreans convert in 2002? Were they fools and idiots
- Why more than 215 nations have converted away from their earlier faiths in the last 2000 years? Can anybody answer? The only difference between animal and "Man" is, "Man converts", but animals don't. It is conversion that makes man different from animal and other creatures. Man always converts. He converts from bad to good and also vice versa. This is the essence of human being. If this is stopped, man will become an animal. -- Anand
RE:Conversion is not a Dalit issue
by alex21 on Jun 15, 2003 04:08 PM
Bingo! You are absolutely right. Conversions in India are not all about Dalits alone, though Christians must stand with them in solidarity, as they are one of the most oppressed groups in this country. Conversions is a serious issue even for the upper castes to consider. God loves a dalit and a brahmin equally, Jesus died for both of them, they both must make peace with each other at the feet of the Messaiah.
Anti Conversion law is a stupid thing, really. If money is more dear to those converting than the faith, then whats the point ? Will they resepect their previous faith even if they are not converted ? If you wanna stop conversion thru the influence of money, why don't you spend some money to stop them ? Fire fights fire ! Now the state sponsered benefits should be given to only those who deserve it. If somebody converts, he/she no longer should be eligible for any of those benefits. The govt. did a right thing in stopping state sponsered benefits to those who converted. And its sad to see that the caste systems eats into other faiths also. Like Dalit muslim or Dalit christian instead of Muslim or Christian. Saddest of all, they are called by that name even in the media. Where is this thing gonna stop ? Another Ambedkar ?
