Religious Conversions

Objectives of Missionary Activity

It is necessary to dwell into the past to understand why the missionaries are seen all over the world. As per their interpretation of what Jesus Christ is supposed to have said, they claim that they have been commanded by God to do so. This evolves from the basic tenet of Christianity which is that one has to believe in Jesus Christ as the only son of God to obtain entry into heaven. On this basis, all other religions are false, and , therefore, inferior. Thus, to save the souls of all such unfortunate people, it is necessary to convert them into Christianity.

Are conversions necessary?

 

When asked this question today( to the missionaries), the standard answer is that Article 25 of the Constitution permits the missionaries to do so, and therefore it is not a fair question. The part that is often quoted is "freely to profess, practice and propagate religion". The full text of the article however is "Subject to public order, morality and health and to the other provisions of this Part (which sets out the fundamental rights) all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right to freely to profess, practice and propagate religion." The first portion of this article has been addressed by Shri Arun Shourie in his book 'Missionaries of India' (page 231-2). He asks, "In a secular country, why should the right to practice and propagate religion not be subjected to the same sorts of perimeters as apply to other secular rights (like freedom of speech)?"

In this respect, it is very pertinent to read what Mahatma Gandhi said during his time " If instead of confining themselves to humanitarian work such as education, medical services to the poor and the like, they would use these activities of their for the purpose of proselytising, I would certainly like them to withdraw. Every nation considers its own faith to be as good as that of any other. Certainly the great faiths held by the people of India are adequate for her people. India stands in no need of conversion from one faith to another." ( M.K. Gandhi, Foreign Missionaries Again, Young India, May 7, 1931, p 83.)

• The Church has to address a few more issues when it talks about social justice ( It says there is social injustice for the people of India). If Christianity is an egalitarian system, then why do we see problems in Christian countries all over the world?
• Why is there tension in the Church in India with the so called Dalit Christians?
• A related issue is why is there a decline in attendance to Church in the developed countries?
• And why is the Church not able to attract sufficient people to join their seminaries in these countries?
• How much of Church funding comes from within India?

Lack of social justice is a secular problem, not a religious one.

Hindus have been involved in propagating social justice and social service much before the missionaries came to India. Because of a lack of centralized authority, the Hindus do not keep a record of their activities. It should also be noted that the Christian missionaries could not have survived this long without the help of Hindus. Mother Theresa's institutes receive substantial funds from the Hindus and from the government. Similarly, the government also gives assistance to the schools and colleges run by the missionaries. It is to the credit of the Hindus that they recognize good work when it is done. Is it possible to expect funds and assistance from the wealthy Christian Missionaries to Hindu organizations????????

When Mahatma Gandhi undertook his programme of doing justice to the Harijans, the missionaries complained to him. " Your untouchability campaign has disturbed some of our missionary friends, Gandhiji was told, it ' is taking away from the Missionary's popularity.' 'I see what you mean,' Gandhiji said, 'but I do not know why it should disturb you. We are not traders trenching on one another's province...My trouble is that the missionary friends do not bring to bear on their work a purely humanitarian spirit. Their objective is to add more numbers to their fold, and that is why they are disturbed." 

Gandhiji also wote"..Conversions nowadays has become a matter of business, like any other. I remember having read a missionary report saying how much it cost per head to convert and then presenting a budget for 'the next harvest." ( Harijan, 12-6-1937)

 

 This brings to light the intentions of the Christian Missionaries. They would not like social justice or welfare brought about by any one else but them which proves that they are not really interested in humanitarian reforms but only on their popularity and gains.

Arun Shourie comments that they adopt the strategies and techniques of businessmen "..the exaggerations common in advertising wares, targeting the sections that would be most susceptible, targeting them at times when they would be most vulnerable, or receptive ..using not just dialogue but allurement and violence" ( Missionaries in India, page 205)

" Everyone experiences pleasure and pain and is subjected to ageing, disease and death. There are people who are privileged and under privileged in every religion. Nobody can deny these facts. Moreover all human beings are governed by the same physical, biological, physiological, psychological and cognitive (faculty of knowing) laws of universe. Then how can some people assert that God ensures His grace only for them and their followers and leave others in disgrace? Is He such a sadist? It is amazing to know how people became victims of their religious leaders and those religious leaders became victims of their respective theologies. India can be discovered only by understanding its spiritual culture."-Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati.

" When they had gone throughout Phrygia and the

region of Galatia and were forbidden of Holy 

Ghost to preach the word in Asia"- Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 16, Verse 6.

 

Which simply means that Christ has expressly commanded his followers not to preach the word in Asia. And now the missionaries swarming our country claim that they have come here under Christ's command not only to preach but even convert! Does this not mean that the missionaries in being anti-Hindu are also anti-Christ?

References

1. Arun Shourie And The Missionaries of India by Ashok Chowgule.
2. Christian Missions in Bharat , Some Questions to Pope by H.V. Seshadri.
3. O Hindu! Wake Up To Your Glory by Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati.