The charge of fraudulent conversion , generally speaking, has become an alibi for the persecutors to drag Christian pastors and believers to the police stations and harass them in all possible ways. And evidence of the collusion of the police in such persecution is not wanting. Growing harassment of innocent believers and pastors and institutions have been reported in various parts of the country. The ultimate intention is to cause discouragement so that preachers might stop preaching and worshippers will stop worshipping.
It is as plain as day that we do not live in an India where people can be coerced to follow a religion against their will. Faith has to do with the inside of man and no gun has been manufactured yet that could control thought processes.
Conversions happen mostly through a voluntary decision to embrace the teachings of Christ. Those politicians who take out boisterous processions know it; those who write learned articles against aggressive proselytizing know it too. It is quite possible that some tribals and the poor may have been carried away by “good works” of their benefactors.
Also as people get educated and subject their religions to the test of reason, the traditional way of ‘inheriting religion’ through birth has weakened a bit. Further, more and more people are unwilling to subject themselves to the stranglehold of tradition or obey its dictates without questioning.
It would be nothing short of insulting the intelligence of the people to claim that many are lured to the Christian faith through inducements of all sorts.. The false charge of fraudulent conversion arises from a certain threat perception of those who levy the charge. They feel that their religion is in danger. Despite the disturbing trend of people leaving traditional religion, the leaders are unwilling to examine the real causes behind the exodus. Right from the times of the Ambedkar–Gandhi debates, the weaknesses of traditional religion stand exposed but there is no attempt at cleansing or reform.
It is also conveniently forgotten that any religion is only an interpretation of the truth. Every religion seeks to answer questions like what life is all about, how we should live it and what should be the priorities. The existence of various religions is proof that no single religion had answered all these questions to the satisfaction of all concerned.
It is the testimony of most who had chosen to follow the new religion –it could be Christianity, Buddhism or New Age—that they found the new philosophy more satisfying to their reason and experience. Many foreigners have embraced Hinduism and turned to Eastern philosophies for the same reason. Such freedom to change, such freedom of religion is fundamental to man’s existence.
Whereas missionary activities in the country date back to pre–independence days, work among the poor and the downtrodden had received priority in their scheme of things. This is the outcome of one of the tenets of the religion calling for help to the poor and the needy. The habit of interpreting the works for the uplift of these people as emanating solely from the motive of religious conversion is prompted by competitive religiosity
Editorial
Conversion through fraud: Is it true?
By: MPK Kutty
Wednesday, 17 September 2008, 21:44 (IST)
Copyright © 2008 Christian Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior permission.
Have your say on this article
Added: Thursday, 1 January 1970, 6:03 (IST)
Mr kutty, this article is a very thoughtful one :) I hope the suffering Christians in India, will be really encouraged and blessed amid the suffering
biju, delhi
Added: Thursday, 1 January 1970, 6:03 (IST)
Are you denying crusades, Goan Inquisitions , genocide in americas by none but the chuch itself. Who are you kidding. Only you are living in darkness by denying these facts. Talk about Dalit christians and their separate churches.
Pranit, India
Added: Thursday, 1 January 1970, 6:03 (IST)
Your article is correct but incomplete. It has taken a prejudice view of Hindu religion in this country. Could you please check with the Christian country's and their track record against other religions before you start harping on the progressive nation. Islam is out of question...Name a country that has a Muslim majority but allows other religion to prosper. Same ..could you allow a temple in Vatican city. Further..why the hell everyones fighting for religion. Do you know whether you were a christian in last birth? or you have been given a visa to be born as Christian in next. If everyone's born with the same religion again and again..if a christian soul will remain Chrisitian forever ...then...conversion would not work because Non-christian will be born Non-chrisitian what ever you do. Souls don't change religions or do they? And if sould change religions...then in next birth these evangelist would be fighting to convert Christians into Islam... Sounds..funny...but religious leader will not initiate this thought process. Bcoz in this era..religion is Multi-billion dollar business. Regards An Indian.
Rahul, India
Added: Thursday, 1 January 1970, 6:03 (IST)
I would like to submit the fact that - the christian religion is one of self aggrandizement and like all bullies cry foul ! when they meet with resistance.Religion is for dogs , it is the lowest step in human evolution- spirituality is what goes on to make a country and a symbol of oppression that becomes the symbol of spirituality and religion (as the cross ) engenders violence in practice. To quote " Everyone born is a Hindu " according to our beliefs.Foisting a religion or dogma is no answer to the problems of the world.
Hari Menon, Kochi,India
Added: Thursday, 1 January 1970, 6:03 (IST)
In response to Rahul's comments............we Christians do belive that there is only one life on earth and that is the one we are living now......there is nothing like past or next life.....but what we certainly do believe is that there is life after death through Jesus Christ.......that life after death is the eternal one......therefore, one who embraces christianity and follows it according to the teachings of Christ would always be a Christian in this life and even in the eternal life after death....the souls, souls chaging religions, past life and all that kind of stuff that you are speaking is not rellevant at all and makes no sense....Please do remeber that the Holy Spirit, which is achieved through Baptism has the power to change things....in other words the Holy Spirit has the power to change the heart/life of the person who lived/practised a hindu/islamic life and then decided to follow the teachings of Christ. The true evagelists, that you are talking about, who are currently carrying out the great commission of Christ would already be in heaven with God after their death where only God, His son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit will be praised and glorified. Then there will, definetly, not be any question of these evagelists following or fighting to convert people to other religions because if they are in heaven its already proven that salvation could only be achieved through Jesus Christ. The proof of all the above-mentioned could be found in one single place.....Ok let me make your life bit easy and, so, let me give you the name of that single place: its the HOLY BIBLE. Now that you know where to look for the answers to your life-saving questions go and read the BIBLE. God bless you and all those people who are in need of God;s love through Jesus. I am Lalith - A Christian from God-created nation India.
Lalith, Birmingham, UK
Added: Thursday, 1 January 1970, 6:03 (IST)
Living in Australia, I get to see Jahovites almost every second month at my door asking me if I would be interested in literature like "Truth ----" etc. We end up having a healthy debate about this. It ususally ends up in an agreement that One only truth is called by many names and it won't make sense to say, "what my religion tells is the only and only truth". I have read bible few times and koran few times to make sense out of them. Having read Bhagavadgita few times, I find these other two very shallow and won't provide any real tool to some one who wants to seek "Truth' ! Again, how many are interested in truly asking questions like, who am "I"? Tragedy in India seems to be: Grand parents or let us say forefathers of Mr Kutty convoverted to Islam or Christianity out of hatred to other communities or under duress or being coerced for a better house or some material uplift in life. And as Vivekananda rightly said, a Hindu converted to becom a Christian or Muslim is not just a loss to the community but an enemy born. Both Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi called coversion as an act conducted by Pervert Mind! They held similar view on untouchability and some of the distasteful practices carried out by (so called)upper caste Hindus to look down persons based on born caste!
Shreepad, Perth Australia
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