Posted on 05/19/2006 6:12:50 PM PDT by nickcarraway
India has responded with diplomatic equanimity to Pope Benedict XVI's seemingly provocative remarks condemning attempts to ban religious conversion in certain states.
The pope had told India’s new ambassador to the Vatican, Amitava Tripathi, on Thursday that the country should "firmly reject" attempts "to legislate clearly discriminatory restrictions on the fundamental right to religious freedom". He had also taken note of the "disturbing signs of religious intolerance which had troubled some regions of the nation".
New Delhi responded on Friday with a statement, reiterating the constitutional "freedom of conscience" and the right to freely profess, practise and propagate religion. "It is acknowledged universally that India is a secular and democratic country where adherents of all faiths enjoy equal rights," said a foreign ministry spokesperson.
It was the pope's second declaration this week in defence of religious freedom in countries where Christians are a minority. In India, the statement comes in the backdrop of Rajasthan planning to become the sixth state to enact the anti-conversion law the pope was referring to. Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Orissa already have laws that bar conversions but allow re-conversions to Hinduism. Jharkhand has declared its intention to enact a similar law.
The BJP-ruled Rajasthan, however, has not been able to convince Governor Pratibha Patil to give her assent to the Religious Conversion Bill. She returned the bill making a point similar to the one made by the pope -- that its provisions would affect the right to freedom of religion.
The BJP has often attributed attacks on Christian missionaries, including the murder of Graham Staines in Orissa, as reactions to their proselytising. During his recent Bharat Suraksha Yatra, BJP president Rajnath Singh had described proselytising "dangerous" and asked all BJP-ruled states to enact a similar law.
You underestimate the nastiness of some people. Nothing is a silly thought for some fanatics. Read this article and how it is declared as christian persecution in India.
Christian missionaries in Tirumala target Hindu pilgrims
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1671780,000900020004.htm
Christian Church on Tirumala - A sacred pilgrimage spot. See how the blogger paints this as persecution of christians!! The plan was to demolish a temple and build a church on top.
http://christianpersecutionindia.blogspot.com/2005/07/houston-hindus-oppose-church-on.html
It shocks the conscience of the Hindu-American community of Houston that the Government of India can so cavalierly demolish a structure with a history of 550 years, as if it were yesterday's newspaper being tossed into the rubbish bin," said the petition signed by these organizations on Saturday, which would be submitted to both the Prime Minister and the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister. Stating that the Seven Hills of Tirumala, in their entirety, have been considered to be a tirthasthanam and a devasthanam since time immemorial, the petition said: "It affronts the sanctity of the place for the Government to permit the construction of a Christian church." "Consequently, it is incumbent on you, as the Prime Minister of India, to direct the Government of Andhra Pradesh to ensure that the sanctity of Thousand Pillar Temple and the entire Seven Hills of Tirumala remains intact," it said
Doing business with US isnt exactly following Western ideals. You would be very wrong to assume that just because India does business with America that we are actually following America's ideals. We dont follow anybodies elses ideals regardless of who we do business with.
Did the Pope apologise for the Goan inquisition?? Proof?
Who started the orgy of violence? I am sure Hindus didnt. When did the hindus burn Christians like the inquisition did to them? Links?
Maybe a Church - which was built over a temple - was made into a temple again. What about the Synagogue and the Jewish people?
The British ruled India very recently. Dont tell me that the British considered the pagan hindus in equal standing as the christians. Even today there is a war for christ going on in parts of india.
Certain pockets of america dont understand free speech either. I am not sure if a person knocking on peoples doors with a Gita in hand accusing the local christians of devil worship would be welcome in our bible belt. These were areas where racial segregation was legal 40 years ago. India has more freedom and more tolerance than the United States. The credit goes to hinduism and buddhism.
In "secular" India not allowing the demolition of Hindu temples to make space for a Church or a Mosque is "religious persecution of the minorities". How dare the Hindus do this to the minorities its against religious freedom.
Have you considered perhaps cracking down on burning alive rather than on free religious speech? Just a thought.
Please go back and read what you said. They "probably" had no idea what is Hinduism except what they "probably" heard from their Pastors. This is pure speculation on your part --- and then (on the basis of your own fantasy scenario) you continue on the assumption that their Pastors spew hatred!
You don't even know if the perps HAVE pastors! You don't even know if they go to church!
Your argument would be stronger, my friend, if it did not rely on the formula of Loose Hypothesis + Negative stereotype of pastors = Gotcha.
As much as a Jehovah's Witness, I gather.
has more freedom and more tolerance than the United States.
Like the Muslim, you attribute morality to societies and governments.
If this IS what you're saying, then it sure looks to me like an abuse, but I'm completely perplexed as to why the state of Tamil would want to incentivize Christianity and offend and deprive the majority Hindus. Can you clarify?
"Aren't you unfairly denigrating and demonizing Christians here? "
There are many Christian fanatics who would use those exact words. (I doubt they are true Christians at all.) There is no reason why Hindus should take this kind of insult to their religion lying down.
And if some Christians believe (and there are some who most certainly do, take my words for that) that Hindus are "Pagans" who will be buring in eternal hell unless they are "saved", then those Christians aren't worthy of my respect.
Thank you, AmishDude, for the gift of your time and effort in making this info. available to us.
Especially a big idol of Ganesh in every church. :-).
OK, now I have a question about this. Did they claim to know this firsthand or was it secondhand to them?
The Pastor I am talking about was from New Jersey and New Jersey has seen a spate of racial attacks on Hindus and Sikhs (and also Muslim) including attacks on Temples. In fact the worst attacks on Hindus and Sikhs anywhere in US happens in New Jersey. Ever heard of the dot busters?
The hate literature against Hindus comming from religious institutions isnt uncommon or just a figment of my imagination as you are trying to suggest.
It was nothing. I used Google (and some healthy skepticism).
Our US Constitution and law are different on the matter of preaching, because such activity involved severe and large scale violence here. Instituting a right to free expression here was enough to prevent older European-style violence (some examples being the English Civil War and many pogroms against Jewish communities before that) from occurring.
India, on the other hand, has already suffered large insurgencies of radical Islam (resulting in large wars) and disrespect, condescensions and more pressure from some Christian groups and nations. Maybe India will someday (without influence from political organizations in other nations) find more religious expression to be safer.
But IMO, it seems that commentaries from the conquering/preaching style religions would more honestly be aimed at Islamist countries like Iran for now.
And I doubt every such individual incidents/stories would make it to the national headlines......but it does not mean they never happen.
I have already posted the link for the article on how some of the Missionaries descended to "pray" on the hapless tsunami victims.
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