Dear Dr Virgincar, By allowing the fundamentalists (of all religiions) to shift the parameters of discourse, we are falling into their trap, and talking away attention from more important issues we all should be more concerned about (food, clothing, shelter, poverty, lack of career advancement opportunities, the environment, etc).
Could someone define what "forced" religious conversions mean? Some time back, Rajasthan passed a law to prevent "forced" conversions. It was reported: "The law seeks to stop conversions by allurement, greed or pressure." Any rational person would immediately recognise that this is very wide grounds. Is the promise of heaven in an afterlife an "allurement"? Does access to a good school (though, as you know, this doesn't happen only after a religious conversion) amount to pressure? What if the missionary package comes with access to a non-mercenary hospital somewhere nearby? "Divine displeasure" was, at last count, being defined as pressure too. Whether we like these concepts or not, they are considered to be integral tenets of some religions, specially the monotheistic ones. So, what is this debate all about? And why do you choose to get caught up in it? FN On 02/02/2008, anand virgincar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Dear Goanetters, Please read the letter to the Herald editor by Dr Manoj Solanki , convener of the Hindu Janajagriti Samiti , Goa . http://oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=7999&cid=13 I take particular objection to the statement : " incidences of religious conversions are going on in a large scale in Goa " It is not made clear by Dr Solanki as to whether the conversions are voluntary or forced . It is also not stated explicitly which religion the converts switch from ( and which religion they switch to ). Perhaps one or both of these can be derived from the context of the letter and the quarter it originates from.But that is not the point I am getting to. What is relevant as far as I am concerned is : A) Can the Hindu's in particular on this forum , provide me with evidence to substantiate the statement in quotes above. B ) On the other hand , if the statement is false ( even partly ) would the Goanetters on the ground in Goa request Dr Solanki to clarify further . I am aware Vidyadhar-bab Gadgil has been particularly involved in such issues ( and may I please make a personal request to him to take this task on ? ) luv and regards, anand ( Dr Anand Virgincar ) -- Frederick Noronha http://fn.goa-india.org Ph +91-832-2409490 The Goa books blog: http://goabooks.wordpress.com Goa1556 (alt.publishing.goa): http://goa1556.goa-india.org