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I dont think charity works. I dont think relgious missionaries - hindu/christian/whatever can really do much for the poor. Feeding a person once or twice is fine. You might even get him to convert to your faith and fulfil your soul harvesting fantasies. But poor will remain poor. Instead of wearing a hindu thread , they might end up wearing a cross. Or perhaps instead of worshipping Shiva , they may worship Jesus. Or vice versa. But poor they will contibue to remain. A change of faith is purely cosmetic and probably gets one temporary material relief.

But real reduction in poverty comes from the slightest change in macro-economic policies. India moved ever so slightly from a socialist country to being a a mildly capitalist one in 1991 , and since then the changes have been dramatic. Poverty has decreased from 45% of the population in 1990 to the present 20% , inspite of an increase in population by 23% in the same period. Meaning every year since 1991 , 20 million Indians have been rising out of poverty.

This happened not because Mother Teresa and the sisters at Missionary of Charity went on an overdrive.....but because of simple economics. Government getting out of business. Restrcitions on trade being removed. Allowing the markets to rule.

All relgion are pretty useless in my ever so humble opinion. There is only one God and his name is the 'Market'. Let him rule , and everybody will be happy.

A change of faith is purely cosmetic and probably gets one temporary material relief.

Ah, but that's the point, a change of faith won't give you ANY MATERIAL benefits, it's meant to be benefits in the after life.

If you don't mind, I'll explain WHY dalits will convert to any other religion. Because they know that in Hinduism, if you are born a Dalit, you are considered untouchable and have to go through a myriad number of future lives to reach the position of Brahmin (and hence next in line to Brahman). With Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, they are told that EVERYONE has an equal chance at salvation. Hence the term equality. With Buddhism they are told that EVERYONE has an equal chance to escape the cycle of rebirth and death.

THAT is why they convert. It's got nothing to do with material terms. Some progressive Hindu groups reject the idea of this layered approach to salvation and THOSE groups are getting followers from the lower castes. That's great for the poor people, they know they have an equal chance of salvation in the next life.

The entire idea that you are doomed or saved purely due to your birth is odious to me, hence I reject the Protestant Christian idea of this and, I'm sorry, but I also reject the idea of fate, karma, whatever -- life is not already decided for me, I can be what I want and who I want to be -- and so can you.

I beleive in the Orthodox/Catholic concept which says salvation is for ALL if you want to believe.

All relgion are pretty useless in my ever so humble opinion. There is only one God and his name is the 'Market'. Let him rule , and everybody will be happy.

well, you are entitled to your own choice. But dont' color the views of people that your opinions are in some way tenets of Hindu belief.