-
On April 10, 2009, the Wall Street Journal published “The Freedom to Choose a New Faith” in which the author, Ashley Samelson, describes the difficulties people face around the world when trying to convert to a religious faith of their choice. I admire Ms. Samelson's intention to bring light to the issue of religious persecution and oppressive governments that deny their citizens freedom of religion, but she missed the mark with respect to India, at least. She attempts to garner sympathy for the poor unfortunate "untouchables" (the more currently correct term for them is either Harijan or Scheduled Caste) who aren't even able to accept charitable works from "humanitarian religious organizations."
I'd like to share my own understanding and experiences with this issue: Christian missionaries have been converting Hindus to Christianity for over a hundred years by bribing them with medicine, education, food or clothing. Their efforts may seem humanitarian on the surface, but truly compassionate works don't come with conditions attached. Many promise medicine to poor villagers only on the condition that they convert to Christianity. Others may promise 10-20 kilos of rice to a mother who is struggling to feed her children, but only if she will convert to Christianity and have her children do the same. After the tsunami struck Sri Lanka in 2004, it was reported that Christian missionary groups were providing relief (food, clothes, water, etc…) and even larger gifts (a sewing machine in one case) to those who attended church services and bible readings. These are precisely the types of behavior that inspired efforts by Indian governments to create laws that make it difficult for humanitarian groups to do work in India.
Loop holes are easily found for wealthier missionary groups that have the means to bribe appropriate officials and continue their often underhanded approach to conversion. Smaller NGOs, like the one with which I work (Sahayog Foundation) that have neither a hidden agenda nor the wealth and willingness to give bribes, are then left to deal with the red tape that has been created. If all missionaries truly performed selfless service in India and attached no strings to their efforts, such laws would have likely never been created and more people in need could be helped. Those who support missionary activities thinking that such service is done selflessly should take a closer look at what is really going on in the name of Christianity.Bookmark or Share this article
Related Articles
- Conversion Of Dalits
- also categorized in Proselytization
- Catholic, Hindu leaders join for peace in Karnataka
- also categorized in Proselytization
- Retired judge to probe Karnataka Church attacks
- also categorized in Proselytization
- Where is the hope for the 350,000+ Kashmir Refugees?
- also published in HAF Blog
- New Life Church under fire from Hindus and Catholics
- also categorized in Proselytization
- Rising Hindu Activism May Upset Poll Calculations
- also mentions Sri Lanka
- Mangalore residents blame forcible conversions
- also categorized in Proselytization
- Hindus Angered by Christian Evangelism
- also categorized in Proselytization
- Calling all Indians
- also published in HAF Blog
- Bandh in Mangalore after Hindu activist's stabbing
- also categorized in Proselytization
Recent Comments
"Terrific article. When I first experienced anger over this while in India, I was a bit confused. Many of these Christian groups have been strong allies in my human rights/anti-Islamist efforts. But the more I thought about it and saw for myself what was happening, I shared the Hindu anger over it. It reminded me of Christian conversion efforts against my faith, Judaism. In times past, they were very coercive, too.
While I believe there are specific things that Hindus can do, as we Jews did; Sachi's article identifies a basic challenge that we have to face--and it relates to my initial reaction. That is ignorance. Hindus are a minority in Christian-majority US, just as Jews are. There is even less understanding of Hinduism among Americans--and ignorance spawns support for bad policies. Even one of the best US papers, Wall Street Journal, put that on display with its article.
I do not think it is the "responsibility" of Hindus to justify their faith; nor do I believe it is Hindus' responsibility to eradicate ignorance. But the sad fact is that observations such as Sachi made like will be made again--and again and again--even in a great country like the United States where many Indians have come and become prominent persons.
America truly is a great country, but people will passively or actively support wrong-headed positions because we continue as a nation to be ignorant about Hinduism and the greater picture of what Hindus face in the Northeast and elsewhere."
On 9/7/09 Ramaraksha said:
"I agree that we Hindus must talk, discuss and write about our faith. I noticed that whenever there was an article on Judaism in the chicago trib, there were at least a couple of letters from Jewish people, which means at least a dozen jewish people must have taken the time to write.
Talk about Hindu values, not just to americans but even to our children. Values like:
1. "Ishwar, Allah Tere Naam" - Only a Hindu would utter these words. Hinduism is an inclusive faith not an exclusive one. All good souls, even atheists, are welcomed by God Rama, unlike other religions which reserve heavens for themselves and condemn even good people like Gandhi to hell. That is not the Hindu way.
2. What if the Buddha had been born in Europe or muslim lands in the middle ages? He would have been branded a heretic and tortured to death! There would be no Buddhism today? And what do Hindus to the person who rejected Hinduism? Why, make him a God of course! It is not a coincidence that until recently western and muslim lands were barren except for one religion each, whreas Hindu India has always been a polyglot of hundreds of faiths!
3. The only major religion to pray to a female form of God! Most other religions insist that God can only be a man, relegating women to a second class status. 200 years ago women did not even have the power to vote, they were confined to the kitchen and told to take care of husband and family. Go back 2,000 years their status must have been even worse. It is quite clear that some religions are simply regurgitating values of those days, nothing divine here. But what is mind-boggling is that an even older faith, Hinduism, sought to give equality to women!
4. It is not a coincidence that Muslim pakistan has so much trouble with democracy while Hindu India does not. What is the only difference between the two countries? Religion! Hinduism is a Teacher faith whereas Abrahamic religions are King religions, God made in the image of a King. A King issues orders, commands and passes down judgements. When people appeared before the king, they fell to their knees and shook with fear, for this man could order their death without discussion! Hence a fear of God! In those days most kings were men, so God had to be a man. Using a King as a template for God reduces his devotees to the status of a slave, servant or subject. A King has no use for democracy, and it is for this reason that you see countries that move closer to islam find democracy hard to come by. Most cults and terrorists usually come from these king religions.
Hinduism/Buddhism are teacher religions. For a Hindu the goal is not a flesh-happy heaven but Moksha, a state of enlightenment. Enlightenment comes from gaining knowledge, with God as our guru. All are welcome in God's classroom, a teacher encourages discussion and debate amongst her students. Encourages them to speak their minds even disagree with the teacher if they feel that they are right. Democracy in action! India will remain a democracy as long as it is a Hindu nation."
RSS Feed
On 6/1/09 stelthom said: