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I think that is a wrong concept of
a religion. Religion should be dynamic in my opinion. A person of a religion
should think that his is the greatest religion on earth. Otherwise how one
can have full faith in one's religion? Just think about it. You are telling
all the good things about Hindusim, and then tell, Oh, BTW, Christianity
or Islam are also great and equally good religions. Don't you think it will take
away all your incentive to practice your religion. Don't you think one will be
utterly confused with such statement. I think that may be the problem with
Hindusim. It tells that all religions are great, and then want to stop
conversion.
In my mind a person should always
think that his religion is the only one which is good.
Tolerance to other religion should
mean that although other religions are not upto my religion, I will be tolerant
to other religion. If all religions are equally great, there should not be any
question for tolerance.
RB
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 6:57
PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] IE: Anti-conversion
law in Rajasthan?
I would say that Hindus in general believe that other faiths are equally
true so let those who follow other faiths continue to do so. Unlike many
others who actively seek converts to increase their numbers .
Barua,
Here is one article (a Q &A) on this topic.
While looking for some answers, I found many sites on the subject. Some
felt that Hinduism allowed conversions, while others did not.
But what I found fasinating is that almost all the sites that believed
Hinduism allowed conversions said that while Christianity used "bribes"
and Islam used force, Hinduism usually sought "spiritual conversions" and
force or bribes were not used.
Now, I am sure you will able able to provide me with stuff off the net
claiming the exact opposite.
All I am saying is that the "belief" concept of most Hindus is that
they do not believe in conversions into the religion.
More later if I get hold of any more on the subject.
--Ram
On 4/10/06, Rajen
Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Ram:
In one recent email, we discussed this very
issue, (That Hindus believe that one
has to be born a Hindu and that they donot convert)
and my answer was same as now:
The Tai Ahoms in Assam,
all the Hindus in South East Asia, to say the least, were all
converted to Hindus. They were not BORN Hindus as you try to
cliam.
Even in India, all non
Aryans were were picked up and converted to Hindus en mass at one
time or another, and that is how Hinduism
grew.
So your assumption that Hindus donot
convert was wrong.
To this you replied that you
would check on this point and would respond.
I donot find the email now. I
might have deleted. But that does not make any difference. If you donot
remember, you may ignore my remarks now and just try to respond to
the question now afresh.
RB
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 4:40
PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] IE:
Anti-conversion law in Rajasthan?
>According
to the last email, you were supposed to check and
>respond.
>Just reminding you that
you owe the net a response before >you jump to repeat the same
thing.
>(At least Himenda is
silent on several issues where he could >not respond.)
Could you please explain
this or what you mean by this? Once you give some satisfactory response,
I will then try to respond to the other points.
Till
then.
On 4/10/06, Rajen
Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>IMHO, this is NOT a win/lose game. Hindus are
NOT in the conversion game because most Hindus believe that one has to
be born a Hindu. They really don't care if someone >converts to
Hinduism or not. My understanding is that Hinduism is quite
restrictive in that sense.
As pointed out in some
other earlier message, your understanding is not correct.
The Tai Ahoms in Assam,
all the Hindus in South East Asia, to say the least, were all
converted to Hindus. They were not BORN Hindus as you try to
cliam.
And if you claim Buddhism
as a branch of Hindusim, then all the Chinese, Japanese, Koreans,
Burmese, Thais, Laosians, Vietnamis wer converted.
Even in India, all non
Aryans were were picked up and converted to Hindus en mass at one
time or another, and that is how Hinduism grew.
It was the
big fish eating the little fish. The history
of Hinduism is very clear on this.
According to
the last email, you were supposed to check and
respond.
Just reminding you that
you owe the net a response before you jump to repeat the same
thing.
(At least Himenda is
silent on several issues where he could not respond.)
RB
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 3:32
PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] IE:
Anti-conversion law in Rajasthan?
Good oints Ram-dda,
I think the Supreme Court justices took the same view as
you.
>The Hindus know that in the Conversion game,
they will loose >because they have nothing to show to these poor
Muslims.That is >sad but true.
IMHO, this is NOT a win/lose game. Hindus are NOT
in the conversion game because most Hindus believe that one has to
be born a Hindu. They really don't care if someone converts to
Hinduism or not. My understanding is that Hinduism is quite
restrictive in that sense.
>because they have nothing to show to these
poor Muslims.
And what would you like Hinduism to show or
promise new converts? It will be interesting to find out what
one "gets" by converting.
>So Freedom of Religion without Freedom for
Conversion does not >make any sense.
While this is true, it is still difficult to
uphold some kinds of conversion like in forcible conversions or by
promising or enticing the unwary with cash or other things
in this earth, or 79 virgins in heaven.
About Freedom of Religion, let us extend this a
bit:
What if I think "my religion" requires me to
advocate against gay marriages or abortion. Will any restriction
placed on my practice curtail my Freeddom of Religion?
Just curious.
--Ram
On 4/9/06, Barua25 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
It (the Freedom to Convert) also goes
for the benefits of the Hindus. They can convert thousands or
millions of poor Muslims in every city in India, if they want
to covert. The only reason the Hindus oppose
Conversion, in my mind, is that the Hindus are not interested to
convert these poor Muslims in India to Hinduism and serve
them, because they know that these Muslims are enjoying a better
life of equality being Muslim than being a Hindu. The
Hindus know that in the Conversion game, they will loose because
they have nothing to show to these poor Muslims.That is sad but
true.
RB
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, April 09,
2006 9:37 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] IE:
Anti-conversion law in Rajasthan?
Right to Freedom of Religion is
intricately connected to conversion. For me to change my
religion, I must be influenced by that religion and I will need
somebody to formally accept me in that religion. >From
another angle that can be viewed as conversion. So Freedom of Religion without Freedom for
Conversion does not make any sense.
RB
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, April 08,
2006 2:30 PM
Subject: [Assam] IE:
Anti-conversion law in Rajasthan?
Please note that Supreme Court in India clarifiied last
year that there is definitely Right to Freedom of Religion but
there is no Right to convert others.The case had been filed by
Christian missionaries who want to convert members of other
faiths - mostky Hindus but also Muslims (in kashmir etc) ,
Sikhs (in Punjab, Chhatisgarh etc) and Buddhists . The most
famous Sikh to convert to Christianity -as per reports - was
the Sikh King - Dalip Singh who then settled in London- while
under British rule.
Umesh Sharma
5121 Lackawanna
ST
College Park, MD 20740
1-202-215-4328 [Cell
Phone]
Ed.M. - International Education
Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard
University,
Class of 2005
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Umesh
Sharma
5121 Lackawanna ST
College Park, MD
20740
1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]
Ed.M. - International
Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard
University,
Class of 2005
_______________________________________________
assam
mailing
list
[email protected]
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Umesh
Sharma
5121 Lackawanna ST
College Park, MD 20740
1-202-215-4328
[Cell Phone]
Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate
School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005
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