Being from a converted christian family myself, i am very much proud to call myself a christian and i am very much proud that i belong to such a wonderful religion. i believe in christianity with all my heart and nobody converted me by force or by giving cash(actually, we lost a huge amount of property because of our conversion). thus said, i do agree that trying to convert poor people by giving them cash is despicable, but ONLY in an ethical and moral sense. IF the poor people are willing to convert for 100 rs, then definitely if a Hindu or Muslim gives them 200 rs, they will convert right back!!! Why dont you Hindus and Muslims fight back against such shameful preachers by using the same tactics?!! instead of talking in abusive language and fighting so horribly, adopt the same method. Form a big organisation, call yourself a Baba or a Mullah, donations will pour in, recruit a huge no of volunteers, go from village to village, see how many of them were converted by cash, and give them more cash!!(just like our politicians do!ha ha)But mind you, you have to come back from time to time or else those poor villagers would have converted to some OTHER religion (AFRICAN PYGMYS religion?!!, as our friend Krishna says!!)who gave them 300 rs!! Friends, as dear friend Krishna says, religion is PERSONAL. so what if people preach, convert, or not convert? Take it easy all you.God bless you all and bring peace among you.
RE:Regarding conversion
by on Jul 13, 2007 04:36 PM
you are talking abt 100 and 200 rs....from wher did u get money to pay so many poor people....from christian missionaries abroad who have no other interest to serve than to convert.....and dont ever try justify forcible conversion by saying such stupid things....u moron
RE:RE:Regarding conversion
by annie phoebe on Jul 13, 2007 05:00 PM
It is totally useless talking in this forum as most of the people dont think rationally and dont really read the posts well enough before posting abusive language. All i find from these posts are that people are feeling so much insecure about their own religions. they feel so scared that their religion might be wiped out by conversions. therefore, i just suggested an alternate and rational method to some unethical conversions by some enethical christian preachers. Since some people cannot talk in rational language and dont know how to counteract reasonable arguments, they resort to abusive languages etc. I understand that and im sorry for you all. im willing to reply only to broadminded and reasonable people.
RE:Regarding conversion
by Rama Krishna on Jul 14, 2007 09:56 AM
Hi Annie,
Hinduisam is the oldest religion and followed by the people all over the world. Even your vatican city name is derived from sanskrit word 'vatika'.Pls go through this site and this is not an Indian web site.This web site is developed and maintained by an American Christian.
RE:RE:Regarding conversion
by Krishna on Jul 13, 2007 04:26 PM
My friend, I was like you only with all these doubts. The biblical verses seem very much contradictory.One thing you should understand about the bible is that you should not read one verse at a time but in its entirety. once you do that, you will that the verses. instead of contradicting each other, will instead COMPLIMENT' each other. i really cannot explain to you in this short space what that verse means, but if you would take the time to go through this wesite (www.amazingdiscoveries.com)(only if you want to, please, no forced enforcing of religion!!!), you might find the explanation to many such verses. the explanation for that above verse is fantastic and requires knowledge of end time prophecies in the bible. All the best!!
RE:Regarding conversion
by cool guy on Jul 13, 2007 10:28 PM
Mr. Sandeep.. Just to enlighten you on your "biblical knowledge". Im happy you quoted the Bible. But you misread the verse coz you didnt read what Jesus said before and after that verse. Jesus told the disciples not to get disheartned coz even before they hated the disciples, the world hated Jesus. When a person accepts Jesus as God, people will push that person away. If you want clear explanation, meet any recently converted christian, he will tell you that when he accepted christianity, his family ostracized him from their family. Thats what Jesus meant over there. Not coz of some divorce rate. Where do you get such thoughts I dont understand. And nowhere in the bible does it say that Jesus was a "prophet".
RE:Regarding conversion
by Topno on Jul 13, 2007 04:33 PM
I reconverted to Hinduism. I am very much proud to call myself a Hindu and I am very much proud that I belong to such a wonderful religion. I believe in Hinduism with all my heart and they tried to convert me by force or by giving cash(actually, we lost a huge amount of property because of our reconversion, the so called father of that church took all the money that he had given to us).
RE:Regarding conversion
by Sanjay Baxi on Jul 13, 2007 04:26 PM
Why is it necessary to convery somebody at all?? Is it not religious hegemony? Why all the religions want the emtire world to convert to their religion, and no other religions has the right to exist??
RE:Regarding conversion
by annie phoebe on Jul 13, 2007 04:51 PM
i think there is something wrong with the way we use the word 'Conversion'. You are right that a particular religion should not want the entire world to change to their own religion. I believe that when I talk about the bible or jesus christ to someone, its only because i want them to share the happiness and joy and peace i have received as a christian. I have all my doubts cleared as to where i came from, and what happens after i die (the BIble does NOT teach the existence of HELL), and what is going to happen to this world.Being a scientific person myself, I have researched and found out that what i believe is TRUE!!. Therefore i try to share it with others because they are my brothers and sisters and they also should know what i know.It is just like a scientific journal. You publish your findings in order for the society to benefit. its upto the society to decide whether they want to accept that finding or not.i feel a burden in me to share my blessings with others. If they want to learn more and thus get blessed like me, they are welcome. If not, That's their choice, they 've just lost an opportunity to know the meaning of their lives. THATS ALL!!! NO ONE IS FORCIBLY CONVERTING THEM. Its just a sharing of knowledge.IF someone believes what i believe and becomes a christian that is that persons's CHOICE!! No one has any right to critize that! Every person has FREEDOM OF CHOICE!! Let us acknowledge the human brain by allowing everyone to exercice their choice of religion.
RE:Regarding conversion
by Sanjay Baxi on Jul 13, 2007 05:14 PM
There lies the question of ignorance, and intolerance, which teaches you that only what you think is right, and what all the other people think are wrong. It is not the question of forcable convertion, it is the question of peaceful co-existance and respecting other's faith. Any religion which says only my religion is right and other religions are wrong, is unfit for the modern world. When you speak of "sharing the knowledge" do you mean that I should share some my knowledge with you? It cannot be a one way traffic. We MUST live and let live....
RE:RE:Regarding conversion
by Sanjay Baxi on Jul 13, 2007 05:22 PM
Ms Phoebe, what if I say that I respect the teachings of Jesus Christ, but I dont want to convert to Christianity, will that be ok for you?
RE:Regarding conversion
by annie phoebe on Jul 13, 2007 05:33 PM
Sure, definitely. 100%. I really dont mind whether you call yourself a christian or not! dont mistake me! that's a personal choice. Even if you dont listen to me, I wont be angry, ill just be sad. I cant understand why true christian preachers have to justify their actions to others. They can jsut say, 'take it or leave it, I ve done my duty in telling you some truths, its upto you now'. And, its not one way traffic. I defintely know very much about Hindusim as i come from an orthodox hindu family. you are welcome to share your knowledge with me. like me, you too can say'take it or leave it'. and its upto me!!! just pure freedom of choice!!
RE:Regarding conversion
by Sanjay Baxi on Jul 13, 2007 05:43 PM
So, if you really think like that then the debate stops right here. No question of convertion, whether by force or alurement. It will be such a peaceful world. There are two things I want to tell you at the end,
1. If I say great things about myself it does not make me great, what others say about me really matters.
2. Religion, was and continues to be the greatest reason for Human killings all over the world, no religion in this world, e.g. Spanish Inquisition, (parhaps with the exception of Buddhism) can deny that.
RE:RE:Regarding conversion
by cool guy on Jul 13, 2007 10:30 PM
Ok if you are in a desert with a bunch of people and you are the first to find water. What will u do? Ofcourse u will drink it and give the rest of the people to water. Right? So if someone feels that some religion has given them comfort and happiness and wants to share the same with others, why is it wrong? Forget about conversions, I am talking in general terms
people like these are the MOST ignorant bunch of losers that ever lived on this earth. firstly, saying that hinduism is only full of idol worhsip and oppression against women is like syaing that christianity is full of racism and burning witches..secondly, just read the translation of the prayer..im sure there would not have been any protest if only the meaning of the prayer was said in english by a non-hindu person..
RE:what?
by Mikkey Moouse on Jul 13, 2007 05:41 PM
america allows ALL reliigions and is 100% secular....you can convert to the religion of the flying spahageti monster or the church of satan.
There should be no agitation for Hindu Prayer.America use to appese the people of differnt religion by hosting religious programme,like Iftar Party for Muslims.But it should be taken seriously by Indian that now why america is taking interest in Indian affairs and hindu.Is it planning to get good market of their product from India
RE:Hindu Prayer
by Mikkey Moouse on Jul 13, 2007 05:41 PM
america allows ALL reliigions and is 100% secular....you can convert to the religion of the flying spahageti monster or the church of satan.
Unfortunately these prayers are praise for Gods who says that man is not made in the image of God, A God who believes that some one born under some caste is a sufferer for life.
RE:Everyone has the freedom to follow any religion!!!
by inkypinky on Jul 13, 2007 02:44 PM
so feel free to convert to some other religion if you are not satisfiaed with your religion, america allows ALL reliigions and is 100% secular....you can even convert to the church of the flying spahageti monster or the church of satan.
RE:Everyone has the freedom to follow any religion!!!
by xyz abcs on Jul 13, 2007 03:25 PM
sex sex, firstly, God did not divide people into castes, PEOPLE did..caste system was first written in a book called manusmriti which was more of a set of laws to govern a state in those old days..it has hardly anything to do with the timeless philosphy of the vedas and the gita..and as we all know, laws change with society, and manusmriti is HIGHLY irrelevant now..but these damn brits came in, and felt that this book was THE SUPREME LAW book and used it to further make the whole system a rigid one..brits were stupid enough not to go deeper and now india is feeling the effects of it
Senator Reid is a fool by allowing this in a Christian nation known for Christian values. America made a big mistake by allowing pagans to enter that country and defile itself instead of trusting God. Senator Reid will pay his price for this. He has done nothing but invited God's wrath on America.
RE:senator reid
by xyz abcs on Jul 13, 2007 03:27 PM
referring to hinduis as pagans is the same as calling christians racists who believed that they had to burn witches
RE:senator reid
by inkypinky on Jul 13, 2007 02:38 PM
kindly shut up and get lost, america allows ALL religions and full freedom of worship, its NOT saudi arabia.
RE:RE:senator reid
by Krishna on Jul 13, 2007 02:43 PM
Every person has a right to protest AND a right to practice the religion he believes in. But when it takes different turn leading to violence, torture, or death, THEN THAT should be condemned by ALL. Religion is a matter of an individual's conscience. In a truly democratic and secular society, a person should have the right to follow what religion HE believes in, not his community's, or his parents', or his country's. If I want to follow the religion of African Pygmies, AND propagate it, then I have EVERY Right to do so. If some people convert to the religion of African Pygmies, because of my preaching, then THEY have EVERY Right to do so, because this is a free and secular country. Likewise, if others dont like us following African Pygmies religon, and PROTEST against that, then they also have EVERY Right to do so, this being a free country with FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND EXPRESSION. The MOST IMPORTANT THING IS, KEEP YOUR PROTESTS PEACEFUL, like those Americans did. DONT kill, maim, BURN (like Hindus did Graham Stains and his family), torture (Like the Roman Catholic Christians did 400 years back), do acts of terrorism (like some Muslims do today) in religion's name. Every individual has his freeedom to follow or convert to, or preach any religion he wants. That is the FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT of EVERY human being.
Its interesting to see that if some ppl protest of Hindu prayer in U.S senate, how our ppl reacting. every one seems to be secular. I was just wondering, if our parliament start with a christian or muslim prayer, then how many seculars come on roads in protest of these prayers. Really Double Standrad by us.
Every person has a right to protest AND a right to practice the religion he believes in. But when it takes different turn leading to violence, torture, or death, THEN THAT should be condemned by ALL. Religion is a matter of an individual's conscience. In a truly democratic and secular society, a person should have the right to follow what religion HE believes in, not his community's, or his parents', or his country's. If I want to follow the religion of African Pygmies, AND propagate it, then I have EVERY Right to do so. If some people convert to the religion of African Pygmies, because of my preaching, then THEY have EVERY Right to do so, because this is a free and secular country. Likewise, if others dont like us following African Pygmies religon, and PROTEST against that, then they also have EVERY Right to do so, this being a free country with FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND EXPRESSION. The MOST IMPORTANT THING IS, KEEP YOUR PROTESTS PEACEFUL, like those Americans did. DONT kill, maim, BURN (like Hindus did Graham Stains and his family), torture (Like the Roman Catholic Christians did 400 years back), do acts of terrorism (like some Muslims do today) in religion's name. Every individual has his freeedom to follow or convert to, or preach any religion he wants. That is the FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT of EVERY human being.
Contrary to what what most people think Hinduism is not a religion that follows Polytheism(having multiple gods) but it follows Patheonism(God is Everything"There is one god and everything around is his creation which is a way to show respect to other creations of God" .You can worship him any form).Hinduism is a way of life,not a religion that enforces its people to follow "the so called words of God" i.e The bible ,Koran.It has been proved historically that the Bible has been rewritten and edited over a 100 times to suit the needs of the kings and Popes .As for the Koran need i say more ,a religion which thinks men are superior to women and written by man who followed violence.Both these religions have contradictions(which you can find if u search in google).How can God's words have mistakes? As for persecution Hindu have done it to other religions.But compare it to that done by the christians(eg The inquistion) and that of Muslims(you see it in all islamic countries even now) it is quite insignificant. When terrorists kill people ,how many muslims condemn.But when someone draws a cartoon the whole islamic world protests. Think with a clear mind before you start accusing Hinduism ,it might not be perfect religion but far more noble than Christianity and Islam(From the Jesus i have read about historically,he was a just a Nice guy who wanted to cleanse Judaism and the poor guy would not have found a new religion had he known the blood shed his so called followers would cause
