13 Oct 2008
Hindu Threat to Christians: Convert or Flee

You have to comdemn forced conversion, of course, but I also wonder about the how and why of this particular situation:

Behind the clashes are long-simmering tensions between equally impoverished groups: the Panas and Kandhas. Both original inhabitants of the land, the two groups for ages worshiped the same gods. Over the past several decades, the Panas for the most part became Christian, as Roman Catholic and Baptist missionaries arrived here more than 60 years ago, followed more recently by Pentecostals, who have proselytized more aggressively.

Hinduism doesn't proselytize - you're either born Hindu or you're not. Perhaps a better choice of headline would have been "Unconvert or Flee". I have to wonder how much else the foreign missionaries have given their converts - there were reports after the 2004 tsunami of Christians giving Muslim survivors the choice of "Convert or starv". See the same page for the plans to replace seaside Hindu villages in India with intentional Christian communities.

Without blessing this violence, I nonetheless have to wonder how the situation would've evolved without the interference of foreign missionaries.

The forced conversions come amid widening attacks on Christians, who say they are being forced to abandon their faith in exchange for their safety.

(link) [New York Times]

20:13 /Asatru | 0 comments | permanent link