Look at this - BBC NEWS | South Asia | Anger over Gujarat religion law - the morons in Gujarat are hell-bent on saving the poor downtrodden Dalits from themselves. Dude, if you guys really care about their plights so much, you give them stuff too. Don’t you think there is enough red-tape and delay in your courts without you making up more stupid laws to hold up the justice system?
Can you think of how many ways this law can be misused to harrass Christian and Muslim preachers? Now, I understand there are definitely problems about some of the methods being used by these preachers to earn converts. That doesn’t mean a law as stupid as this has to go into effect. What constitutes allurement? If a missionary helps a sick child and the family converts, is that allurement? What an insult it is for Buddhists and Jains to now label them simply Hindus? What about Sikhs? Why this? Why now?
I think the biggest problem is the politicos are more focused on dividing up an already divided electorate instead of working towards genuinely improving living conditions among the poor who are more likely to convert, allurement or not. If you treat someone as an outsider, why are you surprised when they choose to leave you? This law is particularly uncomfortable for me since it reminds me too much of the apostasy laws in Islamic countries. WTF, I thought we were supposed to be a “peaceful and enlightened” religion, unlike those “barbaric” Mussalmans! (that is sarcasm for the sarcastically-challenged)
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Shanti,
Just happened to stumble on your blog while searching for Vizag and then saw ur post regarding the RELIGIOUS conversions.
You brought about a nice point “Dude, if you guys really care about their plights so much, you give them stuff too.” But, this issue is not about simple about “giving”.
I wonder how many of these missionaries are going to stick in India the moment you ban conversions.
In a micro level you might not see the affects of religious conversions but at the macro level it will surely be a disaster.
The reason being that, when the demographies change based on conversions, the democratic process will sustain only in churches and mosques.
Just a thought!
Posted by: G at September 25, 2006 12:13 PM
G, I certainly understand that the change in demographics you mentioned above is wreaking havoc in NE India already. I guess the only difference is that I feel the missionaries and conversions are simply a symptom and the problem is the awful conditions the poor unwanted live under.
We have got to compete in the marketplace of ideas and material goods for the hearts and souls of people who are otherwise lost to unscruplous soul-collectors who are willing to pay any price for them.
Posted by: Shanti at September 25, 2006 6:30 PM
I agree with you on the solution being new ideas which lead to the material goods for poor.
This is a slow result-oriented process and I believe it is gaining acceleration as more and more people from India having seen the quality of life in the West and have enough energy now to share with the poor be it in dollars or time.
Like in any country be it the US or India, there will be always a section of the society which is downtrodden. How you deal with it is what shapes up a country.
The money that pours through through the missionaries cannot be matched in any way either by us or the government so the only quick fix idea might have been to ban conversions.
You might have seen how much religion plays in the politics be it a developed country or a developing country.
Posted by: G at September 25, 2006 8:26 PM
Shanti: I also accidently stumbled on your blog. I agree with your statement wholeheartedly “ Dude, if you guys really care about their plights so much, you give them stuff too. Don’t you think there is enough red-tape and delay in your courts without you making up more stupid laws to hold up the justice system?”
If I was an untouchable like Dalit, Hinduism is the last place I wanted to be. Why should follow a culture/religion which treats me as a second class devotee?
After publishing my book AM I A HINDU? [www.amiahindu.com] the one only question I have no answer for is the question about caste system.
Caste system is a disgrace and it brings the greatness of Hinduism. It is about time we abandon that altogether. Why make laws that will not Dalits to leave, if we are not going to treat them as equal.
The actual part of the law of classifying Buddhism and Jainism as branches of the Hindu religion is a step in the right direction.
True that Indian constitution looks at Buddhism and Jainism are separate religions. But the Indian constitution is NOT written on stone. Men wrote it and men can change it too.
Hinduism is not a religion like Islam or Christianity. It is culture. It is a way of life. It has no Pope. It has no hierarchy.
Just a lot of scriptures. In Hindu scriptures, you are actually studying about the HISTORY AND CULTURE OF INDIA, like in 66 books of the Holy Bible you are actually studying about the CULTURE AND HISTORY OF JEWS.
HINDUISM AND JUDAISM are the mothers of all modern religions in the world. BUDDHISM, SIKHISM, to some extent JAINISM & ZOROASTRIANISM came from Hinduism. Of course, Jainism existed during Rig Vedic Period.
Statues of Rishabha, the first Thirthankara and founder of Jainism was found in the Mohenjadaro, Harappa excavations.
ISLAM and CHRISTIANITY came Judaism. Judaism, Islam and Christianity have ABRAHAM as the common father figure. All three have many common prophets. There is even mention about Jesus Christ & Virgin Mary many times in the Holy Koran.
Posted by: Ed Viswanathan at September 27, 2006 7:57 AM
all u guys whoever are fuming on this rule should visit and see what is really happening at tribal areas.missionary people go to them with half the aid they e-get from abroad and say to these poor illeterate people see the grace of your god and now see the benifits of keeping faith in real god.in reality it is state who is responsible for their downtradden but not a hindu god.what a shame on humanity.everyone should appriciate their service but what is hidden there.how hedious it is trying to manipulate ones faith so that u can reaffirm yours.when god is one without any form why should he have a name,and why r y-u trying to make everyone callout his name as u call him.if someone tries to stop this these people cry foul.nobody is trying to stop u from serving humanity if that is what your real intention.but when all u seek is converting people to u r faith and killing others,then u have a reason to worry.
Posted by: srikanth at January 11, 2007 12:04 AM