Goan Catholics & non twice-born Hindus Re: Caste, Conversion ani Confusao
Antonio Menezes ( January 27, 2005) I thought it would be safer to use instead the words ''non-twice-born'' to describe this overwhelming majority of social class before their conversion to Christianity. Sachin Phadte (Jan 27, 2005) book with a longish article by TB Cunha on a topic somewhat linked to the subject.....It seems to me that at least on the subject of use of religion by the Portuguese to harass the Hindus and try to force their conversion is correct.> Gilbert Lawrence responds: (Jan 28, 2005) In fact your account debunks a whole myth that Hindus were forcible converted by militant Portuguese and their confrontational Catholic counterparts. It would appear from your account, the Christian conversion was the old fashion way - voluntary and a decision for personal (material and / or spiritual) gain.> Jose Colaco: (Jan 28, 2005) It is interesting to review your post vis-�-vis that from Sachin. It is absolutely feasible (IS IT NOT) that the lower "castes" converted to Christianity to get away from the generation to generation subjugation by the higher "castes"? That after all is also the reason for them to convert from Hinduism to Buddhism, Sikhism and Islam. The horrible "Caste" based discrimination, and the flight of the oppressed is well known. That does not mean that conversions to Islam and Christianity were ALL voluntary. That, they were not. Gilbert Lawrence: (Jan 30, 2005) What Antonio Menezes writes and you re-emphasize about very many lower caste Hindus joining other religions voluntarily to improve their social and economic status is well established and documented. What Sachin Phadte writes is unfortunately a repetition of what many 'enlightened Goans' have written and continue to write. Who were the loudest detractors of the Inquisition in Goa? Ans: Many Goan Christaums. This was till we requested them to post the statistics. Then some of them wrote "where THERE MAY BE some data" but none that they could get their hands on. I look forward to Antonio Menezes for the actual documentation of his assertions. Regards.
