I understand the position of both the so-called Catholic-Christian Secular Forum (CSF) and Sandesh Anvekar in the following posts in this thread:
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2012-February/218517.html http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2012-February/218523.html Despite its name, the CSF is not a secular forum. It is a Catholic propaganda outfit as much as the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti is a Hindu propaganda outfit. So it is understandable that it would want to point out the flaws in the Hindu religion, and offer the Christian gospel as the answer. Similarly, Sandesh appears to be a devout Hindu who is understandably offended by the anti-Hindu propaganda of CSF. He is lashing out against the CSF in response, and may also be overly paranoid about his fellow Hindus being converted to Christianity. Neither the CSF nor Sandesh are a threat to India or to progress, any more than the religious right in the U.S. and Europe are to their own countries because of their Islamophobia. I therefore disagree with the one-sided overreaction of Goanet Administrator Noronha and Goanetter Selma below. Cheers, Santosh ----- Original Message ----- From: Frederick FN Noronha फ्रेड्रिक नोरोन्या *فريدريك نورونيا <[email protected]> > > Sandesh, I'm not so much concerned about the urge to "convert" > (because we're always trying to convert to people in our way of > thinking, in religious and non-religious ways -- to vegetarianism, > atheism, Free Software or whatever our cause...). But it is worrying > indeed to see the stereotyped manner in which one religion (and > cultural trend) views another, even in the 21st century. > > Needless to say, bigotry is not a monopoly of Christians; but I > disagree strongly with the endeavour to judge someone else's religion > by way of stereotypes and cliches. > ---- Original Message ----- From: Carvalho <[email protected]> > > Sandesh Anvekar wrote: > in the end the motive of the Church is always to convert (as always)... > > Response: > First of all, I find Sandesh Anvekar's remark absolutely loathsome. No > doubt, some Goans are waiting with bated breath for the return of the BJP-ram > raj so that we can look forward to 5 years of "hurt sensibilities." > > Ignorance about the Church aside, I always find some comments faintly > amusing. > In the Christian dominated West, these very people have no problem at all > sending their children to school where they all learn about Christ (yes, even > non-religious state schools), preform in Christmas pageants and cheerfully > dress > up as Easter bunnies. It is only in India amidst a population of 1.2 billion, > where 2.3% are Christians, that they feel so threatened by the Church and > so-called conversions. > > It is attitudes such as these that will effectively assure India's place > perpetually in the Dark Ages. Strangely, no amount of middle-class prosperity > in > India seems to be eradicating these attitudes which puts paid to the theory > that > affluence and education are the best criteria for progress. > > Best, > selma > --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
