Posted on 12/29/2005 4:24:45 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
The campaign against the alleged harassment of Hindus in Russia by the Orthodox Church and the Mayor of Moscow is getting more intense in Britain.
Ashok Kumar, MP is launching the "Defend Russian Hindus Campaign" at the House of Commons in January.
There was umbrage here when it was learnt that Archbishop Nikon wrote a letter to the Mayor of Moscow urging him not to allow the construction of a Hindu temple in Moscow because according to him, Lord Krishna who is worshipped by the Hindu community was an "evil demon".
"Such untenable words in an age where interfaith harmony is the need of the day are nothing but an attempt to malign and persecute a faith community that teaches respect and freedom for every other faith community, " commented Ramesh Kallidai, Secretary General Hindu Forum of Britain, an umbrella organisation of most community groups in Britain.
The Defend Russian Hindus Campaign, launched by the Hindu Forum of Britain, Hindu Council UK, National Council of Hindu Temples UK, International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Vishwa Hindu Parishad UK, Hindu Council of Australia, Hindu American Foundation and many other worldwide Hindu organisations, aims to build awareness about the alleged persecution and discrimination against Russian Hindus by a corpus of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Mayor of Moscow, despite support from the Central Government.
There are over 100,000 Hindus in Russia. In Moscow alone, there are 5,000 Hindus of Indian origin and over 10,000 Hindus of Russian origin.
Two years ago the Mayor of Russia asked Hindus to vacate their temple in exchange for a piece of land on which they could build a bigger temple. After land was allocated to the Hindu temple, the original temple was demolished. The Russian Orthodox Church orchestrated mass protests against the allocation of land and started a misinformation campaign against Hindus in the media.
On October 30, 2005, after bowing down to pressure from the Orthodox Church, the Mayor of Moscow cancelled the land order and took away the piece of land given for the construction of the Hindu temple. Now, the 15,000 Hindus in Moscow have no place to worship. The consecrated Deities of Radha and Krishna will have no home, say the Hindu leaders.
Kallidai said around the time of India Prime Minister's state visit to Moscow to meet Russian President Putin, Archbishop Nikon, a leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, called the Hindu God, Lord Krishna an "evil demon, the personified power of hell opposing God", and "a livid lascivious youth".
Someone born (or baptised) into Hinduism and follows the Vedas, Puranas and the Bhagwat gita.
To the extent that following the tenets of those Vedas, Puranas and the Bhagwat gita is directly opposed to church doctrine, then only by the grace of God's mercy would such a person enter the kingdom.
And on the other hand a Christian can enter Heaven without the grace of God's mercy?
Absolutely not. Although I think the situation is not aided by the fact that it is illegal in some Indian states to voluntarily change religions, is that not correct?
It was through the grace of God's mercy that he sent Christ who gave us the church.
Comparing crime statistics across nations is a risky business. The fact is that even the way crimes are reported vary wildly. And in the case of India, the very rural areas (where this sort of thing goes on) are traditional and traditional societies don't have the same view of rape. Women sometimes find it easier to lie back and think of India, as it were. Also, reporting the rape might be a fruitless exercise in such societies.
"Although I think the situation is not aided by the fact that it is illegal in some Indian states to voluntarily change religions, is that not correct?"
Incorrect. Voluntarily changing religions is one thing and conversion is quite another thing. In some Indian states conversion is outlawed.
I defended Mariology Christians in the outrageous thread behind the following link. I'm really surprised that Catholics and Orthodox Christians didn't bother defending such extreme bashing against themselves.
"South Park" Parked by Complaints
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1549139/posts
"Russia is and has been a CHRISTIAN country for 1000 years.
They do not have to give the Hindu Demon Worshippers any rights at all. At least THEY have the guts to stop pagans from dictating terms......"
Exactly. It's inspiring to see that there are actually Christians throughout the world who will stand up for our faith and not allow it to be trampled.
God bless Russia.
I don't understand the difference. Could you please explain?
"The fact is that even the way crimes are reported vary wildly. And in the case of India, the very rural areas (where this sort of thing goes on) are traditional and traditional societies don't have the same view of rape. Women sometimes find it easier to lie back and think of India, as it were. Also, reporting the rape might be a fruitless exercise in such societies."
Thats pure BS. Only shows how little you know about India. Only last year there was a death penalty meted out to a rapist/murderer. You only refuse face the reality that India rates far below the US in most of the crimes except perhaps for total number of murders.
"Even at the height of Soviet oppression citizens had more upward mobility than do Untouchables in Hindu lands. Hindu untouchables who convert to Christianity are killed daily. Hindusim was an opressive idealogy when Marx and Mohammed were not even a dirty thought in their parents minds."
Well said.
You're aggressively involved in arguments in favor of the Russian Federation keeping Hindus from having any temple in Moscow, but I don't see any Christian Orthodox or Catholic people defending outrageous bashing against themselves and their religion in the following. Why?
"South Park" Parked by Complaints
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1549139/posts
I'll have to check in later. Flooding over here, we have to keep re-digging trenches outside. No danger of major flooding at our house, but likely we can't drive to town.
Non stop hard rain for days and days and days etc.
"They dont give a sh*t about what Americans or Russians think about their religion."
Neither do we care what a billion uncivilized backwards people care about us.
Oh please spare us the lies.
Hindu might not be as evil as Islam, but it is still a demonic religion.
Where did the crimes take place? Delhi? Mumbai? Wouldn't surprise me in the least. But, even still "a rapist" is only a small part of "rape". In traditional societies, "date rape" is unheard of and the notion that a husband or boyfriend could rape a woman is considered to be absurd. As to specifically Hindu traditional societies, I can't claim to have special knowledge, but that would be a huge departure from every other society.
Preposterous. At the very least, that would be to acknowledge the supernatural nature of Hindu gods. And you wouldn't want to do that, would you?
The extremism in Hinduism -- the Thugee cult, the burning of widows -- have much more to do with tradition and culture than anything theologically Hindu.
I hope everything is alright. Take care.
Wishing you a Happy New Year!
I hope everything is alright. Take care.
Wishing you a Happy New Year!
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