reformuscirf

About reformuscirf:

In Evangelism Is Evil « The Reformed Pastor :

On 3/6/10 reformuscirf said:

"Question 1: What is the real problem with proselytism overseas by U.S. religious groups?
Answer 1: The root cause of problem with proselytism overseas by some U.S. religious groups is their genuine belief that target's religion is path to eternal damnation. It is extremely difficult to respect path to hell. Hence, Many proselytisers start walking on tensed and slippery slope of "disrespectful tolerance". Some in their righteous zeal to save slip into unethical verbal violence, immoral manipulation and illegal coercion.

Question 2: Isn't sharing one's faith part of religious freedom?
Answer 2: Yes. Both sharing and practising one's faith is part of religious freedom.

Question 3: When does it cross the line into manipulation and coercion?
Answer 3: When a proselytiser slips from "disrespectful tolerance" to "illegal coercion". Thus, Inhibiting target's right to practise his or her current faith.

"

In The violence of conversion :

On 3/4/10 reformuscirf said:

""For those who believe they have access to such a Truth, the desire to offer it to others is both natural and rational.”
By Thomas Farr

Mr Farr should remember that Quality of news is never judged by bearer but by recipient.

The news to non-abrahamic recipient is "Your pluralist beliefs and ethos are wrong. You near and dear ones who departed earth are burning in hell. Reject your cherished way of life or else face eternal damnation."

Bad news should be delivered in most sensitive manner. It is insensitive to deliver bad news as good news. Unfortunately, This piece of bad news is sometimes advertised along with verbel violence and other vile tactics.

USCIRF needs structural reforms and process reengineering in order to ensure compliance with IRFA 1998 law and champion freedom of all faiths.
Visit: www.uscirf.blogspot.com for details
"

In The violence of conversion :

On 3/4/10 reformuscirf said:

"What Thomas Farr dubs as Good News is Bad News?
The news is Your pluralist beliefs and ethos are wrong. You near and dear ones who departed earth are burning in hell. Reject your cherished way of life or else face eternal damnation.
Bad news should be delivered in most sensitive manner. It is insensitive to deliver bad news as good news.
Unfortunately, This piece of bad news is sometimes advertised along with verbel violence and other vile tactics.

USCIRF needs structural reforms and process reengineering in order to ensure compliance with IRFA 1998 law and champion freedom of all faiths.
Visit: www.uscirf.blogspot.com for details.
"

In India's Supreme Court Refuses To Order Constitution Amended To Clarify Status of Sikhs :

On 1/21/10 reformuscirf said:

"India’s constitution defines all followers of Indic faith (i.e. Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs, Sanatan etc.) as Hindus.

Article 29 and 30 of Indian constitution provides lesser rights, benefits and protection to Hindus vs. non-Hindus paving way for hostile government take-over of Hindu institutes and misappropriation of its assets and income. More-over, Minority institutes also receive government patronage in form of Exemption from 2005 Amendment to the Article 15, 95% grant-in-aid, College Scholarship to pursue higher education etc.

Many organizations feel that Hindu label is a liability. It exposes them to ideologically inspired attacks, places them at a financial disadvantage and paves way for government confiscation. As a result, several entities like Rama-Krishna Mission, Arya Samaj, Sikhs, Jains etc. have filed law-suits and done intense lobbying to declare them self a non-Hindu minority religion. For Instance, in west Bengal, Rama Krishna Mission whose colleges and schools were in danger of hostile take-over by Marxist government petitioned the courts to have their organization and movement declared a non-Hindu minority religion.

So far India’s Supreme Court has rejected Rama Krishna Mission, Arya Samaj, Sikhs and Jain Organizations petitions asking for minority status.

Reference: www.uscirf.blogspot.com section: Error of Omission

"

In Indian Buddhists Protest Hindu Control Over Temple :

On 1/13/10 reformuscirf said:

"Here are few historical facts about Mahabodhi Temple:-

* Hindus worship buddha as an incarnation of Shri Vishnu. Hindu and Buddhist form of prayer is almost same.

* For 400+ years, Temple was owned and managed by Hindu Monks. Prayers and Celebrations were conducted by Hindu Monks. Buddhist presence in india was almost nil.

* In 1950's, Government of India confiscated Mahabodhi temple and several other major hindu temples. Government appoints advisory Board and administration committee. <b>As per the Law, Mahabodhi Board must have Buddhist majority and Committee must have Hindu majority.</b>

* Most political parties ruling india subscribe to un-hindu and/or anti-hindu ideology of extreme-left flavor (e.g. Communism, Maoism, Dravidian Anti-Brahminism, Fabian Socialism, Lohia Socialism).

* All temple committee/board appointments are political plums given to comrades and fellow traveler in political-ideological path. Many appointees are non-believers even thought they are nominally hindu or a buddhist.

* Almost all important hindu temples are confiscated, controlled, mismanaged and plundered by Govt.

* Govt. control over Mahabodhi and all other temples should be transferred to believers.

Reference:
http://www.mahabodhi.com/
http://www.bodhgayanews.net/
http://www.uscirf.blogspot.com/
"

In Pew Forum Issues New Study On Religious Restrictions Around the World :

On 1/1/10 reformuscirf said:

"Pew Forum's "SHI" (i.e. Social Hostility Index which captures social hostility towards minority faith) construction is faulty. It solely focuses on negative incidents and ignores positive incidents. It is based on row number of negative incidents instead of %age of negative vs. positive incidents. Thus, It completely ignores positive developments and ends up portraying exception as rule.

More-over, PEW Study fails to distinguish between Provoked vs. non-provoked negative incident. Hate-crime vs. non-hate-crime (e.g. tribal land dispute in orissa state of india).

For instance, PEW ignores following facts and declares india as socially hostile towards minority:-
Fact #1: Socially hostile people will never elect minority person as Prime-Minister or Chief-Minister. However, India's Prime-Minister, Vice-President, Supreme leader of ruling party and several chief ministers belong to minority community.

Fact #2: Number of positive incidents is perhaps 1000000% higher than no. of negative incidents. For example, Large scale hindu participation in christian and islamic festivals and prayers.

Fact #3: Most negative incidents are provoked due to non-hatred causes like tit-for-tat,land-dispute and govt. benefits etc. Provoked negative incidents are bad and must be strongly condemned. However, It is not as useful as unprovoked hate-crime is measuring social hostility.

In similar manner, PEW's Government Restriction Index is built on negative. It ignores positive government accommodations. For example, India is perhaps the only country which has 1 public holiday assigned for each and every religion (list: zorahstrains, jain, sikh, buddhist, christain, islam, hindu).

http://www.uscirf.blogspot.com"