Orissa Clash and Christian Missionaries, by Nithin Sridhar
The recent Hindu-Christian clashes in Orissa during Christmas where many churches were burnt again shed light on the complexity of religious conditions in India. As usual Hindus and Hindu organizations are being blamed. But, before getting into these blame games, it’s important to state the facts.
Orissa has been a favorite destination of Christian Missionaries for proselytization. The illegal conversions are being carried out by missionaries in tribal areas. In Kandhamal District alone the Christian population has increased from 6% in 1970 to 27% in 2001, despite an Act enacted by the Orissa Legislature in 1967 to prevent conversion by allurement, coercion, bribery and cheating.1 On the eve of Christmas, the community had organized for a massive ‘conversion’ camp in a predominantly Hindu tribal area.2 When the Hindu tribals under the leadership of Swmi Lakshmanananda protested against this, he was attacked. Everything started from this unprovoked attack by Christian goons on Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati who was visiting his disciples in Darsingbadi village in Kandhmal District on 24th December.
The issue again highlights the ugly face of religious fundamentalism, in this case Christian fundamentalism. It raises the questions about the motive and inspiration behind the ‘proselytization.’
The missionary works are not new. According to the documents of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, the Biblical authority for missions begins quite early in Genesis 12:1-3, in which Abraham is blessed so that through him and his descendants, all the “peoples” of the world would be blessed. Others point to God’s wish, often expressed in the Bible, that all peoples of the earth would worship Him. Therefore, Christian missions go where worship is not, in order to bring worship to God.3 In the 16th century the proselyization of Asia was linked to the Portuguese colonial policy. As soon as Christianity came into power, heathen temples were defaced and closed and their revenues transferred to the Church. “We command that all their (heathens’) fanes, temples, shrines, if even now any remain entire shall be destroyed by the command of the magistrates” was the order of the day. (Theodosius Code, 380 A.D.). In Great Britain and Germany, priests and monks moved about destroying the groves and shrines of the people. The last regions to lose their religions in Europe were Prussia and the Baltic states.
Varying attempts to stamp out infidels and heretics often proved to be inadequate, so the Holy Inquisition was formed by Pope Gregory IX in 1231 to make the efforts more organized and efficient. Burning was quickly decided upon as the official punishment. In 1245, the Pope gave Inquisitors the right to absolve their assistants of any acts of violence which they might commit in the fulfillment of their duties. Torture of suspects was authorized by Pope Innocent IV in 1252. The Inquisition was not limited to Europe, as Spaniards brought it to the Americas and used it to punish the native inhabitants. Through the 1500s, 879 heresy trials were recorded in Mexico alone.4 The historian Hernando del Pulgar estimated that the Spanish Inquisition had burned at the stake 2,000 people and reconciled another 15,000 by 1490 just one decade after the Inquisition began. (Cited in Kamen op. cit., p. 62.) Juan de Zumarrage, first Bishop of Mexico, writing in 1531, claimed that he personally destroyed over 500 temples and 20,000 idols of the heathens.5 The Goa inquisition which lasted from 1560 to 1812 is considered as the most violent inquisition ever executed by the Portuguese Catholic Church. Inquisition proceedings were always conducted behind closed shutters and closed doors. Hindus were brutally interrogated, flogged, and slowly dismembered in front of their relatives. Eyelids were sliced off and extremities were amputated carefully.6 Viceroy D Constantine de Braganca issued an order on April 2, 1560, instructing that Brahmins should be thrown out of Goa and other areas under Portuguese control.7 At the end of 1567, 300 Hindu temples were destroyed.8
These incidences are not just something to be read in pages of history, but it is very much happening even today. Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati says “There was no problem when Christians were not here in Paikia. With their numbers increasing, they forcefully took away Hindu girls and forced the neo-converts to eat beef. They set several temples on fire. Be it Birupakhya Mahadev´s temple or temple at Malarimaha or my Ashram at Rupagoan, the Christians conspired to set them on fire. They threw mortal remains of cows on mandirs. Kondh tribal´s Goddess Dharani Mata´s places of worship in several villages were dishonored. The sacred sword at a temple at Bramhanigaon was forcibly taken away by the converts who melted the sword in public and prepared their weapons with that looted material.”9
In the Lausanne report ‘Christian Witness to Hindus’, they state in details the methods to be adopted to convert different sections of Hindus. They discuss about Rural Evangelism, Urban Evangelism and Student Evangelism. They explain how ‘Miraculous Healing’ helps to convert people. They give strategies to be employed to use mass media, social gatherings, and seminars to their advantage.10
The Niyogi Report provided details of how much had been contributed by which Western country to the total of Rs. 29.27 crores received by Christian missions in India from January 1950 to June 1954. It notes that USA, UK, Canada and France contributed around 21 crores, 5 crores, 2 crores and 8 lakhs respectively. The Report revealed that the bulk of this foreign money received ostensibly for maintaining educational and medical institutions was spent on proselytization. It has been contended, said the Report, that most of the amount is utilized for creating a class of professional proselytizers, both foreign as well as Indian. There were 480 foreign missionaries working in Madhya Pradesh at that time. Out of them as many as 236 were Americans. The Report gave concrete instances of how mission schools were used to influence the minds of young people. Harijan and Adivasi students came in for special attention. They were given free boarding, lodging and books provided they attended Christian prayers. Bible classes were made compulsory by treating as absent for the whole day those students who failed to be present in those classes. School celebrations were used for showing the victory of the cross over all other symbols. Hospitals were used for putting pressure on poor class patients to embrace Christianity. The richest harvest, however, was reaped in mission orphanages which collected orphans during famines and other natural calamities such as floods and earthquakes. ‘No wonder,’ observed the Report, ‘that the largest number of converts is from such backward classes living in areas where due to various causes only Mission schools and hospitals exist. Most conversions have been doubtless insincere admittedly brought about in expectation of social service benefits and other material considerations.’11
Christianity has been following a policy of ‘Inculturation.’ This means that it adopted Pagan elements in Christianized form in order to ease the transition from Paganism to Christianity. Pagan gods became Christian saints. Pagan Festivals became Christian festivals. In this process of inculturation, the Christian Church adapted old forms to its new message, but made sure that through the Pagan veneer the Christian doctrine was impressed upon the converts.12 “Indigenization,” says Kaj Baago, “is evangelization. It is the planting of the gospel inside another culture, another philosophy, another religion.”13 In Indian case, ‘Inculturation’ or ‘Indigenization’ means ‘the incorporation of Jesus in Indian spiritual tradition’. Fr. Bede says “In India we need a Christian Vedanta and a Christian Yoga that is a system of theology which makes use not only of the terms and concepts but of the whole structure of thought of the Vedanta.”14
Sita Ram Goel divides Hindu-Christian encounter into 5 phases. The first phase began with arrival of Portuguese and Saint Francis Xavier, where they used all crude and violent methods of proselytization. This ended with end of Portuguese rule. The second phase began establishment of British rule, where the language and methods of missionaries was as crude as before but they were not allowed to use physical methods. This ended with rise of Hindu reformation movements of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Swami Dayananda Saraswathi, and Swami Vivekananda. The third phase starts with the advent of Mahatma Gandhi and his slogan of sarva-dharma-samabhAva which forced Christian missions to change and soften their language. This phase ended with the Tambram Conference of the International Missionary Council (IMC) in 1938, which decided to reformulate Christian theology in the Indian context. The fourth phase which commenced with the coming of independence where the Christian right to convert Hindus was incorporated in the Constitution. The missionary apparatus multiplied fast and became pervasive. Christianity had never had it so good in the whole of its history in India. The only rift in the lute was the ‘Niyogi Committee Report on Christian Missionary Activities’ published by the Government of Madhya Pradesh in 1956, and Om Prakash Tyagi’s Bill on ‘Freedom of Religion’ introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 1978. The fifth phase which is currently running started with Hindu awakening that resulted in Ram Janmabhumi movement.15
Over these long periods of Hindu-Christian encounter, only the language and methods of ‘followers of Jesus’ has changed, but the motive has always remained same. Lausanne report in its introduction says, ‘We give thanks to God Almighty for his gracious act of salvation in Jesus Christ, which has made possible the entrance into the Kingdom of God for over 565 million Hindu people dispersed throughout the world, with the majority in the Indian sub-continent. We rejoice in the fact that the saving Word of God preached faithfully by God’s servants has brought about a Christian population of about 19 million people in India alone. However, we are conscious that God longs for the whole Hindu people to know Jesus Christ and live under his Lordship.’16 These words clearly speak out that the sole goal of the missions have been Christianization of whole world including India and in this process destroy the cultures of the world.
This desire to Christianize the whole world is due to the fact that the doctrines of Christianity are intolerant of others faiths. The Biblical God is Jealous and Violent. It is assumed that Jesus means ‘Peace’ and the message of Christianity is peace and equality. But Bible says:
‘Think not that I am come to send peace on earth; I came not to send peace, but a sword.”(Matthew, 10/34)
‘God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies’. (Nahum, 1/2)
The Biblical God is intolerant, ask its followers to torture Non-Believers, to break the idols and images.
And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months; and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
(Revelation, 9/5)
But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. (Deuteronomy, 7/5)
If a man abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.(John, 15/6)
It is this intolerance, which inspired the ‘Followers of Jesus’ to commit great crimes. The source of proselytization by force and fraud lies in Christian doctrines which have heavily been criticized by Nietzsche, Thomas Paine, Voltaire, and Bertrand Russell. But, still it is common in secular brigade to say “All Religions are Equal.” How can we equate a religion which is so intolerant, whose God is jealous and tyrant and exclusive with a religion like Hinduism which is tolerant, inclusive and spreads peace? The best solution to counter the Christian threat is to counter the Christian Dogma which is the source of proselytization.
“Auspiciousness be unto all; peace be unto all;
Fullness be unto all; prosperity be unto all.
May all be happy! May all be free from disabilities!
May all look to the good of others!
May none suffer from sorrow” (Shanti Mantra)
References:
1 http://www.hinduismtoday.com/hpi/2008/1/3.shtml#2
http://www.sanghparivar.org/facts-on-clashes-among-christian-missionaries-and-the-tribals-in-kandhamal-district-of-orissa
2 http://www.haindavakeralam.com/HkPage.aspx?PAGEID=5243&SKIN=C
http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=217&page=14
3 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_(Christian)
4 http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/christian/blfaq_viol_inquisition.htm
5 http://www.voiceofdharma.org/books/ca/app5.htm
6 http://www.christianaggression.org/item_display.php?type=ARTICLES&id=1111142225
7 http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/mar/16gupta.htm
8 http://www.christianaggression.org/item_display.php?type=ARTICLES&id=1111142225
9 http://www.blogs.ivarta.com/india-usa-blog-column59.htm
10 http://www.lausanne.org/pattaya-1980/lop-14.html
11 Niyogi Committee Report On Christian Missionary Activities published by the Government of Madhya Pradesh in 1956
12 Salvation: Hindu influence on Christianity by Dr. Koenraad Elst.
13 Kaj Baago, Pioneers of Indigenous Christianity, Madras, 1969, p. 85
14 Bede Griffiths, op. cit., p. 24.
15 http://www.voiceofdharma.org/books/ncr/2one.htm
16 http://www.lausanne.org/pattaya-1980/lop-14.html#Int
The author of this article, Nithin Sridhar, is studying civil engineering in Mysore, India. You can contact him at nkgrock@yahoo.co.in.
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March 1st, 2008 06:35
THERE SHOULD BE A PROCEEDURE TO CONVERT NON-HINDUS INTO HINDUS.ANY HINDU WHO WAS MISGUIDED AND CONVERTED MUST BE ADVISED ON THE GREATNESS OF HINDUISM AND RECONVERTED TO THE ORIGINAL FAITH OF HINDUISM.SUBVERSION FOLLOWS CONVERSION.CONGRESS LEADERS HAVE UNASAHAMEDLY PLAYED AN ACTIVE ROLE IN HELPING THE CHRISTIANS TO CONVERT HINDUS.THIS IS MORE SO UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THEIR ITALIAN BORN LEADER.HINDU SEVA KENDRAS(SIMILAR TO THE ONES RUN BY SWAMI DAYANANDAJI) ALL OVER INDIA WILL ACHIEVE THIS.
V.RAVISANKAR
March 1st, 2008 14:18
I am no fan of fundamentalist Christianity that seems to be prevalent in many parts of America.
However, we can demonize Christians all we want instead of addressing the root cause of this but in the end it will only portray us Hindus as angry, reactionary, vengeful, petty and violent savages. By banning “conversion”, it only goes to prove their point that we are afraid our religion is not “strong enough” to retain its members.
The best way to address this problem IMO is by economic and social development. Majority of those who convert are often the downtrodden of the society. We need to re-examine the flaws within our own religion and acknowledge them and fight them. The reason why so many low castes and tribal Hindus convert is because they feel they will be freed from their low existance and Christianity will give them a better backing (socially and financially). Now we can immature and try to quash these poor people. Or we can wise up to these missionary tactics and be pragmatic by offering these people better education, jobs, infrastructure and other necessities. We have to try our hardest to remove caste problems (and no, please don’t deny its existance…it is one of the major reasons for conversions). Only a collective effort by Hindus in the Hindu society will prevent people from abandoning their religion for sake of socio-economic security. Victimizing these poor hapless souls is beyond pathetic and an insult to Hindu Dharma.
March 1st, 2008 15:55
i am those millions, who have been deeply pondering over this issue, but haplessly continued to do nothing because of the hindu apathy for their own
problems. We are hopelessly divided and not even at this age of science and reason are not able to come together. Of late I am seeing light and think that
we can regroup and offer resistance. Earlier also I have participated in mny such calls for action, but nothing has been materialized. Let us organize ourselves, home by home, village, by village, city by city, state by state, throughout the length and breadth of India and overseas wherever Hindus have made home. With increased educational and appreciation of our Dharma, we can do not. Hundreds of saints and savants are also on fray. We need volunteerism. Can we begin this kind of work. Can anyone amongst us take an initiative and begin this sacred work? Let us form groups and get in touch wih each other. contact me if required at Surendraullal@gmail.com to join any such group. We can create some strong groups in Chicago, Illinois.
March 2nd, 2008 00:07
A very good article determining the motives and inspiration behind the proselytization done by Christian Missionaries. Somebody ought to tell the truth about the Bible. Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and tortuous executions, and the unrelenting vindictiveness, with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more consistent that we called it the word of a demon than the word of God. It is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind. One should expose all these Christ Cons! who desire to Christianize the whole world.
I was born Christian but now I am truly grateful and proud of being Hindu. Conversion to Hinduism was only as difficult as my resistance was to the truth, but never, ever has it been regrettable. I do agree that there SHOULD BE A PROCEEDURE TO CONVERT NON-HINDUS INTO HINDUS. It will bring more people to the truth and also counter the mundane teaching of a Christian God who is jealous and intolerant and who would ask its followers to torture non-Believers or break their idols and images. If Christians keep an open mind when coming to terms with the forced indoctrination of those who wish to keep them ignorant and under their control, truth will reveal itself.
In times when the Christians have openly taken on the task of harvesting us to Christianity and the Muslims with their Jihad who will stop at nothing, the gravity of the situation will have to be realized now or the very survival of Hinduism is t risk. All Hindus should unite together and make the difference and fight as one.
OM SHANTI,
Alphanso.
March 12th, 2008 23:36
Nithin,
I don’t know if you intended this to be a news article, but you pretty much killed any journalistic credibility you might possibly have by citing Wikipedia as one of your sources.
Even worse, why didn’t you go out and interview sources (from all sides of this issue) first-hand for this story? You bring nothing new to the table besides regurgitated one-sided arguments from biased sources. The least you could’ve done is get the OTHER side of the story and maybe open up possibilities of dialogue to resolve this issue.
As a Hindu, I feel embarassed by your pathetic piece and the fact that it’s published in an online magazine for Hindu youth to “learn” from. (shakes head)
March 15th, 2008 15:13
H-Bomb,
I believe this is meant to be an editorial piece about conversion. The Orissa incident is used as a recent example of the results of Christian attempts to Christianize the world. That being said, I don’t find this article at all “pathetic” or biased. The article is a good summary of the motives behind and consequences of conversion.
March 19th, 2008 04:43
The piece is indeed biased because Nithin did not contact (nor probably even ATTEMPT to contact) any Christian sources or opposing views on the matter.
Whether the piece is “pathetic” is up to judgement. However, I think any news/editorial piece that does not address all sides of an issue is indeed a “pathetic” piece of journalism.
March 21st, 2008 14:56
Great article Nithin. Conversion is a very serious threat…it could decimate the beautiful, diverse cultures of the world. Here is an excellent video describing Christian missionary tactics in India. It’s told from the point-of-view of a Scandinavian social worker who spent time in India. (There are 3 parts.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jmj-_BB6zWY&feature=related_
March 26th, 2008 11:10
I feel the author is immature in thinking. Whatever he has listened and got through references, he has put into an article. In short he has misquoted the Bible verses. Any reference may not be read without its precontext. He has taken text out of context.
This is time to live in peace with other fellow Indian brothers rather thinking of caste and creed. Try to do all round growth of humanity instead of misleading them,
Your brother
Dr. Subhash
April 1st, 2008 21:48
I condemn any form of missionary or religious propaganda. No one can convince me about Christian missionaries that reigned in Africa and India and Far East in exchange of WEALTH, MONEY, SLAVES, SPICES, MINERALS, AND WHY must Christianity be forced onto others?
Mankind is responsible for many wrecks - one of them is the encouragement of missionary movements.
May 15th, 2008 18:26
It is easier to be critical than to be correct. H.Bomb, should be struck off from the forum altogether as he has always brought negative camouflages and seems cantankerous to me. This forum is not about “you” and “me”. It is about abstracts, issues, and conceptual matters. Dismally upset.
July 20th, 2008 13:44
dear all
i read ur posts.
I want to inform u that the arya samaj is converting non-vedic people even today.
a maulvi was converted to arya samaj on 27thjune 2008 at delhi .
another is in the pipeline .
the doors of the arya samaj r open . whosoever wants to stop conversion from hinduism or promote conversion to veda-ism should contact the arya samaj and volunteer help.
further many christians are hare rama hare krishna members now .
don’t worry , be happy .
to the vedas belongs the future
http://www.answering-christianity.com/age3.htm
http://www.answering-christianity.com/fathers_rape.htm
August 22nd, 2008 17:38
I wants to know more about thi matters
August 26th, 2008 15:21
Fundamental Hindutva is very bad for the country and these groups should be banned. All religions should coexist peacefully. and every person has a right to practice any religion.
Hinduism is too domineering in some cases as in orissa today.
Maost are responsible clearly
August 26th, 2008 15:36
This Guy-Our Brother has uoted it right!!!!!Dr. Subhash.
I feel the author is immature in thinking. Whatever he has listened and got through references, he has put into an article. In short he has misquoted the Bible verses. Any reference may not be read without its precontext. He has taken text out of context.
This is time to live in peace with other fellow Indian brothers rather thinking of caste and creed. Try to do all round growth of humanity instead of misleading them,
Your brother
Dr. Subhash
The Author has some VERY SERIOUS PRECONCEPTIONS
Alost ALKL Biblical Verses are
MISQUOTED.
This is outrageous!!
how would yoou feel if someone uoted The Gita wrongly for his own gain????????????
Jim
August 27th, 2008 04:28
I am by birth a Hindu. I read and learn all the holy books, Ramayana, Mahabharata, The Bible, Quoran etc.
I find that the people in India are fond of worshipping characters of Novels and even film heroes. Even they make idols of film actresses and worship. Many Maharajas, animals etc are also worshipped. Consequently, people lost their balances and turn out to be anything. Worship is what — is not known. Result– casteism, untouchability, cruelity… etc.etc. Is this the teaching of a Religion. Where we are led to and what such so called religions have to say ? How many extremists are born day by day in India. Where will we reach after sometime. Give a thought to this.
If anyone can live happily and peacefully on earth— these are all not required. No religion, no caste, no conflicts — no killings etc.
Mind and soul of anyone cannot be purchased. If anyone want to follow any rituals.. what is wrong. So long he is a free man / women, let him be happy and peaceful.
Why should one professionalise a group or religion? What we eat, what we belive and what we practice……….. all are upto us. Slavery is not advisable. LET EVERYONE LIVE WITH THEIR PEACE AND HAPPINESS.
August 27th, 2008 04:40
You rightly pointed out the truth. But enlighten me on following:
Forceful conversion - is it really happening? NO is the correct answer.
If you check up the conversion list of developed countries like UK, Germany, USA how many people are getting converted to Hinduism from Christianity. Why are you silent on such cases. If you speak against conversion, it should happen globally. In India Hindus convert to other religion — it is because of the evils in Hindu religion. Make one religion clean — for example Hindu Religion– and see see how it grows!! Else one day it will happen that NOONE WILL BE THERE ON EARTH BELIEVING IN ANY RELIGION. Let the bureaucrats fight each other on Religion, get lost –and go to BLOODY HELL.
August 28th, 2008 05:26
Whats the religion stands for…………India above 100 core population
who made caste system, I respect hindhu religion but think who are upper and who are lower castes. Why people wants to convert in to other religion.what are the root causes….is it forcible…….Ultimately 90 % is NO. What made them to accept other religion
Do you know that up to 1980’s lower castes are not allowed in temples…then what is the religion stands for.
Statistics says poor and lower castes, who do not have any respect in their religion.
What religion has to say ” war of power” or “war of peace and love”
War of peace & love stands for sacrification…….do good for others
Religion is the HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
August 29th, 2008 12:53
i would like to suggest u to convey all this to everyone out their as its necessary for them to know…n well it would be good if you have an interview with any news channel to contribute a bit to the society to help them out….
September 6th, 2008 22:49
.ANY HINDU WHO WAS MISGUIDED AND CONVERTED MUST BE ADVISED ON THE GREATNESS OF HINDUISM AND RECONVERTED TO THE ORIGINAL FAITH OF HINDUISM.
Or else what?
If they don’t reconvert, what do you propose?
This article seems to suggest that the Christians “Got what is coming to them”… The victims are to blame? They are now getting what they deserve?
September 8th, 2008 07:46
Dear Friends,
I read Nitin’s article and found out quiet interesting, I feel that he has hurriedly spelt out his views about the religious rage in Orissa, and targeted christians community. This may not be true, unless and until one has thoroughly studied the situation their and come to concrete conclusion and suggestion to bring peace in Orissa. Sitting in Mysore, Karnataka and collecting information from the website, questions the validity of the information.
I appreciate Nithin Sridhar for taking time to write his views in this regard for ‘Tattav’ along with his busy schedule of Civil Engineering studies.
At this point of time I see that we as a citizen of India, are sitting in a glass house and throwing stones against each other. This will only give more room for anti-social element upper hand to exploit. Religion has only become a burden on each one of us with abstract expectation. We need to understand our existance, and as human beings we need to care for one another. The colour of the blood is same except the skin.
Let’s discover the ‘God’ in us and live peacefully. Only one life we have, Let live with fullness of Joy and peace.
Above all,
God bless every Indian Citizen.
Solomon R. John
September 20th, 2008 11:21
hello,
Nitin’s article at certain point seems very senseless. The meaning of JESUS isn’t peace. Nitin has written everything on presumption basis and with any good assurance.
Bible is not a book by any philosopher that he can quote and explain with the head knowledge… Its a spiritual book. The references what he has quoted all over doesn’t convey the same meaning he has put forth.
As Alphanso says, Bible is not a Word of God… Just for his knowledge that this Bible is printed and sold in the largest numbers, compared to any other book in the whole world from centuries.
To think that the Christian people in Orissa are getting back what they have done… Christ has not done anything bad to this world but the world has done bad by crucifying Him.. so does it happen to His followers.
People there who have been a victim are those who have been caring for the orphans and the poor of the society,they touch the untouchables and educate them. what harm have they done? No one can force anyone to be a Christian. Where the honey is there the bees are.. Where there is good the people would definitely run to it.
As we see in Alphanso’s case.. who has forced him to be a Hindu? It is his own choice. What has Hinduism offered him? There are so many Christians like him who convert to Hinduism and Islam… but Christians don’t question and blame anyone. Then why Christians have to be blamed for forceful conversions?
Everyone has their own right to practice their own beliefs! Christ has taught to serve and that’s what the people out there are doing.
Humanity is much more then any religion we practice. If you all think that whatever is happening is humanity then we can all voice for it.
October 3rd, 2008 17:51
Combatting intolerance with intolerance seems to be your solution. I am heartily sorry for what my Christian brothers of the past have done, the atrocities they have committed; but the atrocities that have been committed in the past do not show the true teaching of Christ, just as the atrocities that have been committed in the name of Allah do not show the true nature of Islam. But the current situation in Orissa is a situation where both Christians and Hindus can peacefully work together. The solution is not a continuation of VHP and Hindu-nationalist violence, and nor is it the illegal conversion techniques used by Christians. Both sides may be to blame for the origins of this conflict, but it is completely up to the Hindu nationalists to stop the torture, rape, and destruction.
And as for your critique of Christianity, I have to side with many Christians on here and agree that Biblical verses have been intentionally lifted out of context. Christian spirituality is truly a spirituality of peace, a spirituality of universal love for all people.
I pray for peace all across India, and I pray the veil of hatred will be lifted from our eyes, that we may grow in love and understanding.
October 5th, 2008 08:03
Aphanso D’Souza: it is very sad that you have not read the other half of the Bible and instead choose to take things out of context. Have you not come across the Gospels, in which Christ ehorts us to love our enemies-which is a proactive command!.Does any other religion ehort you to do so? You may hate the Christians but don’t hate Christ and the Bible!
October 6th, 2008 15:53
How i may contact admin this site? I have a question.
iijiivei
October 7th, 2008 17:36
Dear brother Alphonso D’Souza,
Before condemning the Bible and Christianity, I would advise you to read your Hindu vedas upanhishads better…. And do you actually know the meaning of ”Linga” and what does it symbolise? What would you talk about Kamasutra which is mentioned in one of your vedas and the most of the sculptures which are sculpted literally on the Hindu temples in Hampi and Hallebidu (Karnataka) which are literally obscene and voluptuous debaucheries.
I would suggest you not to speak about the Bible until and unless you completely know about it.
Tonight I am praying for you and may the Lord open your eyes to know the truth.
October 7th, 2008 19:18
In my openion, the rootcause of all these clashes is the motive of the christian groups to christianise the entire world, it can be seen every where in the world. I too was approached twice with such luring offer of conversion onse in india and onse in US.
First of all, there is so many controversies regarding JESUS itself, some people says that he was a make shift god or messanger or anything.
Some of the people here are saying that to escape from caste system people are converting to christianity, but it’s a false thinking. these converted dnt find any diff after conversion too, as there is rift between upper caste converted people and lower caste and its continuing, it is such hign that,in some places, both have separate churches too.
The casteism cant be completely blamed on hinduism, it is attributed to culture. This can be change only with educating the people, the christian missionaries are taking advantage of this casteism and disturbing peoples minds through conversions, but finally there wont be any change in their lives.
October 8th, 2008 18:57
Dear Beloved Nithin,
christianity is for sharing love, we just tell people around how loving and living God Jesus is, we never force any one to become christian.
But any religion should never tell people to kill others to secure it’s existance. No religion will tell to burn houses, throw people into fire..etc.
If christian are converting into hindu/muslim we won’t burn hindu’s/muslim’s houses, we just keep quite and pray for them.
October 13th, 2008 18:05
I would love to send resources to help people on Khandewal to improve education self esteem heealth. Nitin could you e-mail me or leave a message where there is a collection drive. Also could you write about the welfare of the Swamiji and his family who where killed.
October 28th, 2008 03:52
i wouls suggest ALPHONSO t write the bible over and over again so that he will know that the bible is the word of One God, the true God, the Lords fo The Universe. . I for myself have discovered this guy, he is hindu and not christian. What is more laughable, he was christian and devout hindu, Alpholso. you are not dealing with children. go and tell this to the million of illiterate hindus, but not to us, Go anywhere and everywhere in this world you wull see ppl are converting to Christianity, they are coming to JESUS, NOT TO FALSE GOD.
June 2nd, 2009 12:09
Amazing Ms Smitha Reba your knowledge about Veda. Please note Kamasutra is not part of Veda some silly Indian intellectual might have told you that. About conversion now Christian groups find it very lucrative to convert people and report numbers to donors to get more dollors. I know one evanlgilist who recently purchased a huge rubber estate in Kerala through this business. So there is no GOD or CHRIST in this but only business.
June 26th, 2009 09:11
Pretty good post. I just came across your site and wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed reading your posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
September 14th, 2009 19:11
When man search for God, many religion formed. When God search for Man, Gospel came. There is only one Gospel (Good News) but there are many religions. As followers of Christ, every christian is a missionary. Each christian have responsibily to tell that good news to fellow mankind.
March 12th, 2010 23:38
I actually hope there are more posts like this one your site; we need to get the artists out there.
March 26th, 2010 13:48
hi nithin,
i want to quote ……..4 point as a reply to ur above statement
1) who told you that …..people in orissa are FORCEFULLY converted?
my brother, Go and ask that converted peoples…….they will tel u the truth.?
2)second thing u must know……a man can never convert another man to christ…………
if i ask u to accept jesus as ur personal saviour…..will u ? No…..even myself in ur position will not accept Jesus….why because…..you or any other man in this world wil accept JESUS only JESUS does something special for You some miracles for you………….simply a person a cannot convert to christianity…
3)Iam glad that you have gone through the BIBLE….as you have quoted some verses from it …but i would have been happier ,if u would have understood the correct meaning of those verses…..
4)Last Dont consider JESUS as jealous or violent GOD…he is not like that my friend…really he is a loving god…..inspite of all ur comments he still loves you….and we christians also love you ……
July 25th, 2010 06:48
Interview of a Christian Evangelist in India
By: Bandyopadhyay Arindam
The world today could have been a much better place for all of us, had we all refrained from trying to prove the superiority of our own religion………..
This is an interview of “Father Johnson’ after his award by the Government of India for his exemplary work in India in enlightening the people in the path of the ONLY God. Father Johnson returned to the USA after 10 years of service, to uplift the people of India in the name of God. The interview was taken in July 2005 by a journalist in Houston, USA……
Welcome home Father. You have been in India for 10 years, where “our mission’ is still going on. Tell me Father, how is India?
India is a fascinating country, a land of contrasts. Modern India is the largest democracy, the budding economic superpower, with the second-largest pool of scientists and engineers in the world. India is also the only surviving ancient civilization with over one sixth of the world population. At one time, not so long ago, when Europe was in the “dark ages’ and America was not even “discovered’, India was a far advanced and developed country with a contribution of over 25% of world GDP till the 17th century and far advanced in all aspects of life, be it knowledge, philosophy, science, mathematics, arts, astronomy or navigation.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox, (1850-1919), American poet and journalist, wrote “India – The land of Vedas, the remarkable works contain not only religious ideas for a perfect life, but also facts which science has proved true. Electricity, radium, electronics, airship, all were known to the seers who founded the Vedas.”
Dick Teresi, American author of “Lost Discoveries’ mentioned “Some one thousand years before Aristotle, the Vedic people asserted that the earth was round and circled the sun….Two thousand years before Pythagoras, philosophers in northern India had understood that gravitation held the solar system together, and that therefore the sun, the most massive object, had to be at its center….Twenty-four centuries before Isaac Newton, the Hindu Rig-Veda asserted that gravitation held the universe together….. The Sanskrit speaking people subscribed to the idea of a spherical earth in an era when the Greeks believed in a flat one…..The Indians of the fifth century A.D. calculated the age of the earth as 4.3 billion years; scientists in 19th century England were convinced it was 100 million years…”
Despite all its riches, history says that India never invaded any country. On the contrary, India has been repeatedly assaulted and conquered by numerous invaders and has been ruled by “foreigners’, first the Muslims and then the British for over a thousand years. India, before the advent of the British rulers, was a rich and prosperous country.
Rev. Jabez T. Sunderland (1842-1936), Unitarian minister and reformer, wrote that “…when the British first appeared on the scene, India was one of the richest countries of the world; indeed, it was her great riches that attracted the British to her shores. For 2,500 years before the British came on the scene and robbed her of her freedom, India was self-ruling and one of the most influential and illustrious nations of the world ….. This wealth was created by the Hindus’ vast and varied industries.”
What about Hinduism as a religion?
Hinduism has a deep philosophical and spiritual heritage that has repeatedly mesmerized the world including western scientists, leaders and philosophers. Despite propaganda to the contrary, Hindus, like us, believes in one Supreme God but they do so in many forms, that helps to develop personalized relations. Hinduism is the oldest major religion in the earth with 900 million followers. Unlike monotheistic institutionalized, religions like Judaism, Islam or Christianity, it is not based on any single prophet or scripture, but allows its followers all the freedom to pursue God and Truth in their own way, while living harmoniously with all creation.
We know that the Hindus are tolerant of other religions. Recently, UNESCO pointed out that out of 128 countries where Jews lived before Israel was created, only one, India, did not persecute them and allowed them to prosper and practice Judaism in peace. Similarly the Zoroastrians, when driven out of Persia by Islam were given shelter by the Hindus in India and still coexist in India peacefully. Very recently, the Dalai Lama, driven from Buddhist Tibet, has been accepted with open arms. Such is the ethos of Hinduism and India.
I have heard that Mark Twain once said that “In religion all other countries are paupers; India is the only millionaire’. I have also read Arnold Toynbee’s writing “…at the religious level, India has not been a recipient; she has been a giver. About half the total number of the living, higher religions are of Indian origin’. What do you think about it?
We know India gave birth to religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism. Hinduism, though the predominant religion, has, to quote Aldous Huxley, “never been a persecuting faith, have preached almost no holy wars and have refrained from that proselytizing religious imperialism which has gone hand in hand with political and economic oppression of colored people.’
What many do not know and I will not elaborate further for obvious reasons, is that there are researchers who think that the teachings of Jesus Christ have something to do with the ancient wisdom of Vedas. The Hindu concepts of “karma’, and “reincarnation’, which are part of the New Age Movement that we see today, were not unknown to Jesus.
Then Father, why do we need to convert people in India?
You see, we in the western world, have the “white man’s burden’ of civilizing the rest of the world. We also have the need and desire to spread the message of Christ, since we believe that it is the ONLY way to salvation and all other nonbelievers will go to hell. The faith in Christianity is being eroded in Europe and America. That is why our Pope on his visit to India said, “Just as in the first millennium, the Cross was planted on the soil of Europe, and in the second on that of the Americas and Africa, we can pray that in the third Christian millennium a great harvest of faith will be reaped in this vast and vital continent.’
Why do you target India?
India is the right country because Hindu Indians are generally peace-loving tolerant, law abiding people who are truthful and virtuous. India”s devotion to being good rather than being clever comes nearer the heart of a true civilization, said W. J. Grant, in his book,
“The spirit of India’. The unsuspecting Indians have always welcomed everybody on their shore and still keep on doing so. You cannot say the same about a Muslim country or of communist China. You see Hindus are such naive – they go out of their way to say that “all religions are same – they all lead to God’. Christians and for that matter, no other religion, says that.
Where does your resource come from?
There are five major aid-giving countries, viz., USA, Germany, Britain, Italy and the Netherlands. According to the available data, in the last decade alone, foreign aid organizations received more than 2.5 billion dollars. This is only official statistics. According to the record and report of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, the statistics about the foreign aid being received by Indian Non Government Organizations shows that 80% of it is meant only for the Christian organizations that have been buying their ways into the Indian society and converting unsuspecting people under the guise of social service.
How powerful is Christianity in India?
Oh, though we are only 2.4% of the population officially, we have a large control over the country because of our economic invasion. You see, the present leader of the main political party-The Congress Party of India is a Roman Catholic with close contact with the Vatican. There are Christian Chief ministers in 5 out of 29 states. Because of the British rule of India, we have a large section of the leaders of India who look up to us. Believe me, we are the second largest land owners in India. We own and control 80% of the Indian media like NDTV 24*7, CNN-IBN ,AAJ TAK, THE TEHELKA etc and newspapers .The best example is how these media made a huge hue and cry over the Gujarat riots.Riots have happened everywhere in India.But in case of Gujarat riots, the reports were deliberately inflated,stories were built up and a systematic,planned malicious and slanderous campaign was launched against the NDA government.
Inspite of the fact that India took giant leaps in progress in every field and there was a surge in National pride and self confidence for every Indian during their tenure,India’s Most Popular Government led by India’s Finest Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was made to suffer shock defeat. We overtly or covertly have alliance with key political associations. So it is very easy for us to influence the right people.
You must have a very organized system?
Yes, we do. Have you heard about the Joshua Project? It identifies and highlights the people groups of the world that have the least exposure to the Gospel and the least Christian presence and shares this information to encourage pioneer church-planting movements among every ethnic group. The Joshua Project has identified the North India Hindi belt as “the core of the core of the core” because of its population density (40% of the Indian population- the states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh lies in this region); it is the religious hub of India; and it has the smallest Christian presence in India. Thus detailed plans have been drawn up to target India’s 75,000 Pin Codes.
The Seventh Day Adventists owes its Indian success to Canadian evangelist Ron Watts, President for the South Asian Division. When he entered India, in 1997, the Adventist Church had 225,000 members after 103 years of operations. In five years, he took it to 700,000.
Some methods used include the 10-Village and the 25-Village Programs, which involve five sets of laymen, under guidance from a regular pastor, who identify 10 or 25 villages in close proximity. Once the villages were selected, the teams would approach the leaders of each village and invite them to send two leaders to a 10-day seminar at a nearby resort, at the organization’s expense. It is before no time that the local leaders will then start working for our faith and organization. In 1998, there were seventeen 10-Village Programs and 9,337 were baptized. In 1999, forty programs were held and nearly 40,000 people baptized.
Under the Christian Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. Samuel Rajashekar Reddy, the Adventists shifted to a 50-village plan. They began baptizing at the rate of 10,000 persons per month and have increased it to 5,000 persons per day all over India.
The US-based Maranatha Volunteers International provides buildings for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. They are committed to build 750 churches in 2 years in India. The Oregon based, Fjarli family have a goal to build 1000 churches at a rate of 1 per day.
How do you carry out conversion attempts?
You see the local people are so simple and naïve that they do not have any clue as what out motive or means are. We target mostly the poor, illiterate, tribal people because they are the easiest to convert. We do that by various means – we establish schools, hospitals that overtly or subtly promote our faith, we allure them with money or goods to the needy when they convert, we “stage’ miracle cures, we use our influence on the media, we use our experts in propaganda, we promote the influential people and so on. We use the money sent to us by unsuspecting religious and faithful Christians from all over the world. We have numerous NGO and AID organizations to funnel the money into the country. There are a great number of missionaries of various denominations who are working there, all literally competing for the most number of converts. The Southern Baptists alone are a group that has nearly 100,000 career missionaries in North India, all working to spread our “good word.”
We convince the “natives’ by our appearances and even use their own culture. A native converted person will continue to use his Hindu name so as not to alienate himself. Some of the numerous Catholic priests in Southern India dress like “sannyasis’ (monks), and call their organizations “ashramas’ (hermitage). This is to make Christianity more similar to the Vedic traditions. Bharat Natyam, the classical dance of India, is also taught in the Christian schools, but with Christian symbols and meanings replacing the Vedic. This is all in the attempt to actively sway Hindus over to Christianity. The Evangelical Church of India (ECI), established in 1954, targets the slums, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, in cities and villages. Its logo depicts a cross struck deep in a lotus, the seat of Hindu divinity.
Is the so called caste system in India an advantage?
The “Caste-ism in India’ is a boon to us. Though Varna or caste was once an essential part of the culture, based on occupation and vocational skills, which kept the civilization going for over 5000 years, caste-ism is a degenerated socio-political system now that has been declared illegal. However it is one big weapon against Hinduism. We have learnt from the colonial British that it is very easy to divide the population on the basis of caste and religion based politics and we use it to our own interest to the maximum. We join the anti-Hindu forces and help to keep the stigma of caste-ism alive for our own benefit. We target the “untouchables’ (the unprivileged people, that has so marvelously crafted to be a result of the Hindu religion and not the social system) and convert them in the lure of “liberating’ them. However I must confess that we maintain their “untouchability’ by not allowing them to mix with the general Christians, maintaining separate entry to churches and even giving them separate churches and cemeteries.
We also use opportunities that God gives us. During natural disasters like floods, earthquakes and the recent Tsunami, taking advantage of the need, we were able to convert successfully entire low caste villages in Tamil Nadu to Christianity with the lure of money and aid.
How successful are you in your conversion attempts.
Oh we are doing a good job. The Northeast Indian states like Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur, have witnessed a surge of nearly 200% in their Christian population in the past 25 years. Their grasp is so strong now that practicing Hinduism is forbidden in some areas. Hindus can no longer do worship or “puja’ in the open because of our influence.
In another northeast state, Tripura, where there were no Christians at the time of India’s independence, 55 years ago, there are now over 120,000 today. The figures are even more striking in Arunachal Pradesh, where there were only 1710 Christians in 1961, but over 1 million today, along with over 780 churches. In the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, churches are coming-up every day in far flung villages and there is an attempt to set-up one near Tirupati, the world famous Hindu temple. Many of the North-East separatist movements, such as the Mizo or the Bodos, are not only Christian dominated, but also sometimes function with the covert backing of the missionaries. Christian Nagaland terrorists have been killing non-Christians for decades on end. More than 20,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency in Assam and Manipur in the past two decades. We understand that there are some social problems that crept up – the northeast states are the highest in India in terms of drugs and AIDS related problem – but we accept that as “casualties of war” –that should not deter us from our goal.
Do you face any resistance?
Of course we do. But we brand any resistance as “Hindu fundamentalism or militancy” and the media and our favorite leaders take care of the rest. We have set the mind of the unsuspecting population in a way, that whenever any of our people are harassed, attacked or killed, from any reason including their own faults, the blame automatically goes to these so called “Hindu fundamentalist and Communal Elements” and even though almost all of these instances are later proved to have nothing to do with these Hindu groups, the initial hue and cry that is raised makes sure the memories persist in the mind of the populace and the sympathy stays with us. There are instances when nuns have been proved to be raped by Christians, but the blames continues to stay with the Hindus.
Is there any legal barrier?
Yes there are some rules and laws that sometimes impair our activities. The Indian Supreme Court had declared that: “The right to propagate religion does not mean the right to convert… Conversion done under allurement, use of force and fraud in which the poverty or ignorance of the individual is taken advantage of, is not only undemocratic but also unconstitutional…Respect for all religions is the foundation of secularism whereas the seeds of conversion lie in religious intolerance.”. Anti conversion laws have been passed in various states. But as I said, we have our ways.
Sometimes the law does get us though. We had some instances where members of our faith have been convicted with resultant imprisonment or expulsion. As in churches all over the world, some clergymen have been penalized for cases of sexual exploitation, including pedophilia. But that does not deter us from our goal and our almighty Lord takes care of our soul.
How satisfied are you with the progress of the missions?
It is really satisfying. We find enormous pleasure in converting the Hindu “pagans’. However I wish we could do more. I wish I could say like St Francis Xavier, during the Goa Inquisition in 1560, “When I have finished baptizing the people, I order them to destroy the huts in which they keep their idols; and I have them break the statues of their idols into tiny pieces, since they are now Christians. I could never come to an end describing to you the great consolation which fills my soul when I see idols being destroyed by the hands of those who had been idolaters.”
Thank you, Father for your time and honesty.
Thank you, my son. God bless you.
Epilogue
“Christianity offers nothing that is not already available somewhere in the many forms of Hinduism. Hinduism never rejected the teachings of Jesus. Those who have converted either agreed with a gun pressed at their skulls as in Goa, or because it provided an escape from caste tyranny, as well as a guaranteed professional advancement. Through its Vedic legacy, Hinduism respects all faiths. It clearly states that God is one, but has many forms”.
(Paul William Roberts, author of, “Empire of the Soul: Some journeys in India’)
October 21st, 2010 14:52
Christianty is not a religion. That is a Way. Christians are not pull or push the people in to the mud of religion. But save them from sinking stage it is known as SIN so that any one need not to warry about Christianity It means followers of savier not a followers of cast or Reliion.
January 17th, 2011 19:01
christianity is a fiath that used convertion to push the word of god on other..by force if required.The lack of knowledge of indians on just how brutal christians have been is amazing. When the christians landed in north america, they landed and said we just want trade, within a few years they were burning and killing the native indains, they were looting, and the converting them to their faith, as this completely destoys the native culture and the people from it..It in facts creates a mindset in the native indians that creates doubt and pride within their own culture and race…This is a direct act by the christians to suppres culture and language so that people cannot find their own roots ever again and they will never re-trace their roots to their own culture and will never be able to erase the christian talibans from their land or minds, as the christians knew all to well that once you take their money, their land their, wealth you finally take their culture their pride and the only way you do that is by CONVERTING A PERSON TO THEIR WAYS..the christians massacred the south american population, the christians used slavery and destroyed the very basic fabric of life in africa forever., the christians landed in india, and within a few years where attacking and killing, murdering the indian people, the christians murdered children infront of indian parents, they cut the eyelids of mothers who cound not watch their children being tortured, they penetrated women with swords, they looted temples, they murdered, rape, pillaged the indian people, they converted indians so that they would side with the christian taliban, they forced the closure of industries that competed with europe, they starved the indian people, with over 50million deaths , the poverty you see in india today is directly from the christian who took that wealthback to europe…and these christians before they left created the legal and eduation system of india, which creates an education that hides the murder and the rape by the christians, they push english and western history over their own indian history, they attack indian history and culture and then the same christians with money given by europeans churches who made their wealth through slavery and plunder are now going round india BRIBING AND paying the people to convert..PEOPLE the message is somple NO INDIAN FAITH allows converting, therefore our indian culture has not grown along those lines of deceit, of trying to convince our god ie better than their, we havent gone round the world trying to ipose out faith , wee havent created the slave trade which the word of god was used, all faiths that promote converions islam and christianity have an evil deceitful core, their religous aim is to convert the non beleiver..and ITS FROM THESE PEOPLE we get the vast amount of problems in india..IF it werent for hinduis, buddism sikhisn and jainism dharmic faiths, INDIA would never have the rich history, the rich music,, literature, food, faiths, culture , traditions, if it werent for the dharmic faiths india would have been convertd to both islam or christianity but our dharmic faiths stood up because they are the truth, when millions of other faiths around the world collapsed to islam and christians….hindus MUST unite, just beacuse our faith does not allow converions it DOES NOT MEAN WE SHOULD ACCEPT ANOTHER FAITH UNDERMINING HINDU DHARMA…..it wouldnt happen in arabia,, it wouldnt happen in mecca, it woundt happen in vatican, it wouldnt happen in rome…and it shouldnt happen in india. The reason why it still happens in india, is beucae when the christian british left they created the congress party that will push the western faiths onto indians, they will allow westernisation of india to carry on, cognress pushes english and english eduation another tools of destroying indian culture and education, when the indian asked churches in india to start educating their students in the rich indian history , the chhurches reufsed on the ground of it being offensive to their christian faith……….INDIAN WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO WAKE UP ….no aryan invasion took place, india had NO poverty before the british, indian history is written by the same people that looted india, would let hitler write world history for the past 6000years, why not?…could it be misleading??….the congress governmetn is the long arm of the british sine its been in power, trillions TRILLIONS of dollars have been sent to europe, the congress governmetn pushes the christian english education as it then gets support from those indian who have been throough that eduation…ITS A TRICK…the person who wrote the english indain education was a racist, everything in indian history is refelcting that racism…today indian duagthers who are dark in skin color are made to feel inferior are made to lighten their skin with bleach…THIS IS DIRECTLY FROM THE BRITISH IDEOLOGY OF RACE…WHY SHOULD OUR CHILDREN HAVE TO BARE THE RACISM OF THE BRITISH….thats why today in india, the media have all been educated in CHRISTIAN ENGLISH SCHOOLS, so they all act ENGLISH……they all push the racist ideology they all continue the rape of indian morals, they all push western idoelofy and whats shocking of alll.is that THESE PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA OF THE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS THAT DIED UNDER BRUTAL TORTURE FROM THE BRITISH EMPIRE……….yet these indians are now educated by christian english schools..and then they are given jobs in the media so their racist ideology can spread accccross india..so these media type people attack indians for being poor, when in fact it was the british that made india poor, they dont know that beacuse they went to christian english schools that cover up the deaths with lies who tell their students that the reason why india is poor not beacues of the british christians who took all the money but instruct them to blame indians of hindu. buddist, sikh, jain origin…..as i said christians have a RELIGOUS DUTY AS IN ISLAM TO CONVERT…..the quetsion you have to ask yourself is this………CHRISTIANS MURDERED AND RAPE INDAI,,..THEY SHOWED NO RESPECT, NO LOVE, NO CARING, NO SORROW, NO HURT AS INDANS DIED,.,……and today we push english and westernisation BEACUSE THE BRITISH CREATED THE EDUCATION SYSTEM OF INDIA……imagine the nazis writing the education for jewish people today and then being labelled democratic..and if those jews who went to nazi school came out and said the nazis didnt murder the jews it was a lie….YOU KNOW WHY THAT JEWISH CHILD IS CALLING IT A LIE…beacuse that child went to a nazi school….in india today you get millions of indian going to nazi school….when they come out they deny the deaths of MILLIONS OF INDIANS….by the christians…
January 17th, 2011 19:14
DONT YOU EVER WONDER….doesnt it ever make you laugh how the west goes on about indian poverty and the caste system.
let me tell you this….
Before the christians and muslims arrived, india was the richest land on earth..THEIR WAS NO POVERTY…only wealth. Asia was the richest area on earth….richest in history, in literature, in architecture, in food, in faith and in wealth, their was a united language a united culture a united history……india was so rich that amazing stories would spread to the WEST..
the west came looking for india, guns loaded, and IT WAS THEY who FORCED THE CASTE SYSTEM INTO POVERTY AND GENOCIDE….it was they who forced people to pay higher taxes, to give up land, to give up wealth, …the people from europe landed in india, and then LOOTED AND ABUSED EVERY SINGLE CASTE IN INDIA…….the kings the queens are now under brutal occupation by brutal british, the kings now take instruction from rapist and murderers, they force the wealth of indians back to europe…
SO IN FACT THE REASON WHY INDIA IS POOR IE BEACUSE THE EUROPEANS LOOTED INDIA…..every single financial report, every single reliable data, every single historic account shows one thing…….BRITISH LOOTED INDIA..
AND TODAY THE WEST attacks indian for being poor and uneducated…
POT CALLIN KETTLE BLACK..but beacuse the british created the enlgish education system of india, they covered up their own murders and rapes, and today indians have no IDEA ABOUT their great HISTORY…that was hijacked by christians..and today the christians call dharmic faiths, backwards and poor, and dirty….YET THEY FORGET THAT IT WAS THEY WHO CAME FROM A BACKWARDS DIRTY PLACE CALLED EUROPE………and the reason why india is poor is the reason why europe is rich..THEY STOLE FROM THE CASTE SYSTEM…….which took it into poverty..OTHERWISE THE CASTE SYSTEM OF INDIA..prodivved people with wealth, food, suppport, and gave people pride and culture which was taken away by WHITE EUROPEAN RACISTS…
INDAINS MUST REALISE TTHEIR OWN HISTORY AND THEN TELL IT TO THEIR CHILDREN OTHERWISE…..200years of murder, rape, looting will JUST VANISH LIKE IT NEVER HAPPENED……………and the west will conintue to label india as poor UNLESS INDIANS OWN THEIR OWN HISTORY…..you need to tell the world but first your own children ..THIS IS DEMOCRACY……
african have got their history back, the chinese have got their pride bac..now one the oldest and richest people, culture, the INDIANS…will take their rightfull place as being the the first civilised nation on earth….predating evryone else in the west..
March 23rd, 2011 12:59
Many Christian action group cadres have also been inducted into prominent naxalite groups under the garb of liberation theology activists. For instance Vernon Gonsalves @ Vikram, a state committee member of Maharashtra unit of CPI (Maoist) who was arrested by the ATS, Maharashtra, in August,2007 and another top Maoist leader Arun Ferreira, r/o Bandra, who was arrested by Nagpur police have both confessed to the police that they are activists of liberation theology movement. A number of human rights activists including Dr.Binayak Sen,Vice President of PUCL, have also been arrested in the recent past for their close links with the Maoist movement in the country confirming the close links between the Maoist movement and NGO and human rights net-work. Since the Christian action groups in the country are all controlled by various church agencies, many church leaders in India are also now directly linked with the naxalite movement. So, when Sabyasachi Panda, a top Maoist leader of Orissa claims responsibility for the killing of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four others at his ashram in Kandhamal district on August 23,2008, it does not help to absolve the church activists from the charge of involvement in the crime. The naxalite movement in the country had enjoyed maximum mass support during the period from 1969 to 1974. However despite the dynamic leadership provided by leaders like Charu Majumdar and Sitaramaiyyah the support base of the naxalite movement was mostly confined to the three states of West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. By 1975, the naxal movement had started disintegrating and it is only because of its association with the action group movement since mid seventies that it was able to sustain itself. Today, with the full support and all possible assistance from the networking NGOs and also with the systematic induction of a large number of NGO activists into major naxalite groups, the naxal movement in the country has now become very powerful and it continues to make inroads into more and more new areas, especially in the remote and tribal regions. About 170 districts in 15 states in the country are now reportedly considered as naxal-infested. This unprecedented growth of naxalite movement in the country can be attributed to the support and encouragement it receives from the action group movement of networking NGOs which has got a strong and wide network all over the country. The irony of the situation is that the naxalite movement which proclaims to be the greatest crusader against the imperialist lobby is presently controlled by the action group movement which in turn is promoted, financed and controlled by the same imperialist lobby.
March 26th, 2011 01:34
“The role of missionaries in the construction of ethnicity in Rwanda offers an excellent example of the process that Vail describes. In Rwanda, missionaries played a primary role in creating ethnic myths and interpreting Rwandan social organization — not only for colonial administrators, but ultimately for the Rwandan population itself. The concepts of ethnicity developed by the missionaries served as a basis for the German and Belgian colonial policies of indirect rule which helped to transform relatively flexible pre-colonial social categories into clearly defined ethnic groups. Following independence, leaders who were trained in church schools relied extensively on ethnic ideologies to gain support, thus helping to intensify and solidify ethnic divisions.”In India same story is created by breaking India .
March 26th, 2011 01:39
Church backed terrorist group bans celebrations of largest Hindu organization of Assam (Srimanta Sankardeva Sangha)Jorhat: The outlawed militant outfit, Karbi People’s Liberation Tigers (KPLT), has imposed a ban on night functions during the ongoing annual convention of Srimanta Sankardeva Sangha.
The 80th annual meet of the biggest religious organization of Assam, Srimanta Sankardeva Sangha, was kickstarted at Joyhari Kshetra in Bokoliaghat in Karbi Anglong district on Wednesday. The annual programme is four days long. More than 10 lakh people from various places of the state comprising followers of the sangha, regional committee delegates, lifetime members and common people are expected to participate in the religious conference.
The principal secretary of Shankardeva Sangha, Hariprasad Hazarika, said, “We have decided to cancel all the night events of the four-day-long convention from today as we do not want any conflict with the militant group.”
“As lakhs of people are gathering at the convention venue, their security has become a matter of serious concern after the threat issued by the outfit. So, we had no alternative but to postpone the functions,” he said, adding, “However, the ban has been imposed from 7.30 pm onwards; therefore, our programmes will continue until this deadline.”
Reception committee general secretary Biresh Hazarika said, “We are organizing the 80th annual conference of the sangha with a total budget of Rs 99.74 lakh and all preparations have been completed. Moreover, more than 10 lakh people including regional committee members, lifetime sangha members, delegates and Sangha followers from Assam and other northeastern states are expected to participate in the convention.”
“But the declaration of the militant group is creating panic among the people gathered here. Therefore, we appeal to the militant group to withdraw their demands only for the greater interest of a successful and peaceful conclusion of the convention of the biggest religious body of the state,” he added,
The KPLT has imposed a ban on night events during the religious convention and threatened to take stern action against those who violate their order.
April 2nd, 2011 11:48
US tops Rs 31,000cr-donation list
NEW DELHI: Over Rs 31,000 crore have been received as donations from abroad by various associations and organisations working in the country during 2006-09 with nearly one-third coming from the United States alone, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
The maximum number of these donations were directed to associations and NGOs based in Delhi followed by Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, which have received Rs 8,095 crore, 5,437.91 crore and 3,545.24 crore, respectively during the three-year period — from 2006 to 2009. The top donor was the United States from where over Rs 9,310 crore were received by NGOs in India during the period, data presented by the home ministry in Lok Sabha revealed.
According to the data, Indian NGOs and associations have received Rs 31,473 crore as donations during the 2006-09 period.
MoS (home affairs) Mullappally Ramachandran said some complaints have been received with regard to irregularities and misutilisation of such funds, and based on them 41 associations have been prohibited from receiving funds from abroad. He said, “About 41 associations are prohibited from receiving foreign contribution, 35 associations are placed in prior permission category and accounts of 11 associations are frozen at present. Further nine cases have been referred to CBI for detailed investigations for FERA violations.”
He said of these nine cases, four are on trial, one has been convicted. The minister said, “Two are stayed by courts, one has been closed due to insufficient evidence and in one case prosecution sanction has been issued.”
June 10th, 2011 17:17
While i am traveled in Muzzafarpur (bihar,INDIA). There is Missionary workers has been converted more than 2000 peoples, They are focusing Poor peoples, after supporting by food and money they force them to go churches. while this conversion some peoples will react, this reaction is different in educated or non educated peoples. If they are really wants to help Poor peoples, why they can’t help them without conversion? by this food and money, they are focusing only “Conversion” .
August 8th, 2011 10:56
Dunbay…
Orissa Clash and Christian Missionaries, by Nithin Sridhar | Tattva…