Hi,
In preparation for the tomorrow's meeting at Capitol Hill (US Parliament) in Washington DC with the delegation of Hindu American Foundation : I was curious about US concept of religion. Started reading the October issue of Christianity Today.
Had a good article on Rick Warren (who has sold 26 million copies of his book) -his struggle to improve Rwanda :
Albeit he was a bit confused about the religious aspect - aiming to enlist the help of person from any religious group (even Muslim, atheist) in a village to promote peace - that man must be the top influential person. Otherwise , he was all for promoting spread of faith and churches.
Anyhow atleast these guys are committed to improving the situation in Rwanda.
However, back home in US, it seems some organizations are committed to helping only Christians get professionalyeducated and get jobs. http://www.wheaton.edu/admissions/UndGrad/prospective/index.htm
Wheaton College, iLL seems to be one such institution - perhaps set under the auspicies of Billi Graham - the foremost and now aging evangelist. Not only does it hire only those -who are born again Christians (by birth is not good enough) but it seems their Admissions are only for Christain youth .
Confusion is created when their advt in Christianity Today (Oct, 2005 issue) call themselves as equal opportunity employers - inviting applications from women and minorities (perhaps they do not consider religion to be a issue -while discussing who is a minority --only ethnic and racial. In India it is just the opposite - where Christians esp are the ones who are most voluble about minority status)
I was reminded about the Tourist Guide from Bolivia (having 65% population - Red Indian (Native American) at National Museum of American Indian --who said to the group of tourists -while discussing religion of Native Americans -- that "I am a Catholic for Education, back home in our village we practice our own native religious faiths).
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I was wondering if Indians (Hindus esp) are more secular -as is repeatedly trumpeted. Prima facie it does seem so. Noone dares say in India that only Hindus need apply - for jobs or admissions - in any govt approved educational institution -providing engg or medical courses etc (like programs in Wheaton College, USA) .
However, it is possible that in India - most organizations practice covert discrimination based on religion, caste, regionalism, nepotism, corruption. Even in Rwanda, Nigeria etc - corruption is rampant based on the same factors as in India.
Which is worse -- directly saying that you are biased in favor of people of your own faith --like in US -- or practice it covertly as in India?
Umesh
PS: Another interesting issue was http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/010/29.88.html
about those Hindus , Muslims , Buddhists etc in the world - who have not "accepted" Jesus Christ's word as ultimate truth--will they get "salvation" (whatever that might be). This professor at Regent College , USA does not think so.
In India the general perception is that Christains are not fanatical at all - seeing only the charitable work by mainly Catholic institutions - in the West there seem to be many of different hues.
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