RELIGIOUS CONVERSIONS

RELIGIOUS CONVERSIONS

 

Take a look at the issue of religious conversions. 

 

India has been divided because those who converted to Islam decided that they do not wish to live in a nation where Hindus are in a majority. While Hinduism has time and again proved its assimilative and accommodating characteristics, those areas which had a Muslim majority decided that they should not be a part of an independent India, and so Pakistan was created. 

 

This clearly shows that this nation can have a danger from religions conversions, which can lead to break up of the nation.  In certain areas of NE India, christians sought to establish indepence by force of arms. They were actively assisted and financed by the churches. If a relgion is a means of sedition, surely Hindus have a right to protect their nation. The example of E. Timor is fresh, where christian majority succeeded in seceding on religious grounds.

 

But it is not the Hindus alone who are concerned about conversions.  The Roman Catholic Church is most unhappy when its members defect to other Christian churches.  The Houston Chronicle, (October 13, 1992) reported: "Pope John Paul II (in the Dominican Republic) said that he must protect his flock from the 'wolves' of evangelical Protestantism wooing Latin Americans away from the Roman Catholic Church.....As shepherd to Latin America's 395 million Catholics, the Pope said he must 'take care of the sheep who have been put in my care and protect them from rapacious wolves'." 

 

If the Protestants in Latin America are rapacious wolves because of their proselytising activities, then all christian evangelicals too must be so classified in this country as well. If pope is obliged to protect his sheep in L. America, Hindu leaders too have a right to protect Hindus against the "rapacious wolves"

The Pope is also unhappy when Christians (not due to any missionary activity, but of their own volition) embrace Hinduism or Buddhism.  In his book, Crossing the Threshold of Hope, he said: "One should know one's own spiritual heritage well and consider whether it is right to set it aside lightly." 

When Hindu religious leaders issue a similar advice to Hindus, surely church cannot have any objections.

The Pope is disturbed when a Catholic wants to pray to Christ in another church, and asks the Christians not to set aside their Christian heritage lightly. In light of his objections, surely christians should not feel aggrieved if Hindus too are advised similarly.