Church authorities told the Indian Express that around 1,000 local people had been baptised in the poverty-stricken and remote area over the last year. [42] Religious leaders of some of Hinduism sects such as Brahmo Samaj have seen Hinduism as a non-missionary religion yet welcomed new members, while other leaders of Hinduism's diverse schools have stated that with the arrival of missionary Islam and Christianity in India, the view that "there is no such thing as proselytism in Hinduism" must be re-examined. Going way beyond, they endow the government with surveillance powers over a constituency of people. Rinchana changed his name to Sultan Sardarudin Shah after converting to Islam and became the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir. (2010, September 15). Can you explain why? In that case, the judges could remedy the errors of 1977 by seeking inspiration from the European Court of Human Rights 1993 ruling in the Kokkinakis case, which struck the right balance between keeping out improper proselytism and Christians right to practise, profess, and propagate their faith. As per the rule, people who officially change their religion, including minors, have to advertise it in the gazette. Threat of 'mass conversions' by Hindu far right groups causes fear among India's religious minorities [Al Jazeera] "Homecoming" in the Christmas season is supposed to be a joyous occasion,. Psychology: A Journal of Human Behavior, Vol 15(4), NovDec 1978, 1522. Disclaimer : We respect your thoughts and views! This vast majority are from the middle and upper middle class. Freshly-converted Irish and Anglo-Saxon priests spread their new-found faith among pagan British and Germanic peoples. His blog takes a contrarian view of topical and timeless issues, political, social, economic and speculative. and biggest lose Christianity. 29 January 2015. [64][65], On the other end of the proselytising scale are religions that do not accept any converts, or do so very rarely. The Hindu right has become increasingly wary of Buddhist conversions, seeing its call for equality as exerting a powerful pull on the lowest castes. Published: 02nd April 2021 04:33 AM| Basing its ruling on a 1956 report entitled Report of the Christian Missionaries Activity Enquiry Commission, which deemed proselytisation as a threat to Indias territorial integrity and internal security, the court ended up conflating every act of propagation of ones faith Christianity, in this case (enshrined as a fundamental right in the constitution) as an attack on Hinduism and its followers, tantamount to blasphemy, which, incidentally, is also a criminal offence in India. For example, the New Testament chronicles the personal activities of the Apostles and their followers in inspired preaching, miracle-working and the subsequent gathering of followers. Of India kept sleeping or had their mock permission. The Parsis, a Zoroastrianism group based in India, classically does not accept converts, but this issue became controversial in the 20th century due to a rapid decline in membership. Gavin Flood, Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Editor: Knut Jacobsen (2010), Volume II, Brill. Mass Conversion to Hinduism In India By Faheem Belharvi Bajrang Dal, an offshoot of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) converted at least 57 Muslim families (200 people) into Hindus at a "Purkhon ki Ghar vapsi" coming home of the ancestors ceremony held at Agra, Uttar Pardesh. NEW DELHI: The political uproar continues over the mass conversion which happened in the national capital on Wednesday. Political Consciousness in Indian English Writing: A Study Of Manohar Malgonkar, Naintara Sahgal & Bhabani Bhattacharya.1991, Bahri Publications. ), read and discuss ancient literature, learn and engage in rites of passages (ceremonies of birth, first feeding, first learning day, age of majority, wedding, cremation and others). [21] In Islam, circumcision is considered a sunnah custom and is never mentioned in the Quran. [20] In the Islamic religion, it is believed that everyone is Muslim at birth. newindianexpress.com reserves the right to take any or all comments down at any time. [19], Following baptism, Latter Day Saints receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands of a Melchizedek Priesthood holder.[19]. This table summarizes three Protestant beliefs. In this case, an FIR was lodged by the informant- Himanshu Dixit with the allegations that about 90 persons of Hindu religion . Allan Kardec's codification of Spiritism occurred between the years 1857 and 1868. The mass conversions which are being planned are part of a strategy to bring in congregationalism through the back door. The Parivars Achilles Heel could be the Dharama Jagran Samanvay Vibhag bounty of Rs 5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh. Amen. One might well question in face of such provisions, do the laws even need to use the modifiers forcible or fraudulent? Latter Day Saints hold that one may be baptized after death through the vicarious act of a living individual, and holders of the Melchezidek Priesthood practice baptism for the dead as a missionary ritual. Conversion to Christianity is the religious conversion of a previously non-Christian person to some form of Christianity. Alphonso Albuquerque conquered Diu. Advertise With Us | The views expressed in comments published on newindianexpress.com are those of the comment writers alone. This reveals that the missionaries did bring material gifts to the native population especially western medicine and hygiene. These are returns not conversions. Instead, they looked for exclusive ground, literally, i.e. In recent years, anecdotal evidence suggests there have been conversions to Hinduism because of two factors. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, A Buddhist monk shaves the head of a man converting him to Buddhism. pleople like you christian conversion money from abroad. Both these religions liberate them, or at least hold out the promise of unshackling them from the pernicious burden of the caste-system which is so deeply entrenched in Hinduism. Last Updated: 02nd April 2021 02:32 PM According to the pamphlet, the bounty involved in converting a Muslim is Rs 5 lakh while in the case of a Christian its Rs 2 lakh. https://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/15/09/2010/the-original-sin/ to be one of the most important and widely cited studies of the process of religious conversion, and one of the first modern sociological studies of a new religious movement. Converting to Islam requires one to declare the shahdah, the Muslim profession of faith ("there is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the messenger of Allah"). Like African Americans in the US who refuse to use their "slave" names, many in the lowest castes have spurned their obvious caste identifiers. When converting to Hindusim to which caste do they convert to?? On 14 October 1956, Dr BR Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, took a life-altering decision. Thus the 1st-century Levant, steeped in expectations of overturning the political situation, provided fertile ground for nascent Christianity and other Jewish messianic sects, such as the Zealots. It is considered[by whom?] In 1339, Shah Mir established his own kingship and founded the Shah Mir Dynasty, which lasted till 1561. Meaningless data. Mass conversion in India PM's home state sparks anger The conversion happened hours after Modi's Hindu nationalist party called for a new law to ban 'forced religious conversions' Asia The following is a list of converts to Hinduism from other religions or a non-religious background. Saurav Datta teaches media law and jurisprudence in Mumbai and Pune. Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.. AHMEDABAD: Buddhist groups in the city have organized conversion drives from Hinduism to Buddhism to mark Vijaya Dashmi on Tuesday . to comeout of religious politics for ever India must rediscover why they pakistan and beangladesh. In fact they stop talking to me. BJP is true party work for nation. [37] Some of these places are mathas and asramas (hermitage, monastery), where one or more gurus (spiritual guide) conduct the conversion and offer spiritual discussions. A total of 144 persons adopted Islam whereas Christianity received 119 new believers in the year, shows the data. 17 Thiyya community members including 11 females converted to Islam. A List of Converts to Hinduism: 1. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. "Psychological Explanations of. However, he has warned members of parliament and ministers not to make statements that might distract from his development agenda, after one member of his government called Indian Muslims bastard children last year. [31][32][33] In its diffuse and open structure, numerous schools and sects of Hinduism have developed and spun off in India with help from its ascetic scholars, since the Vedic age. Merchants and traders of India, particularly from Indian peninsula, carried their religious ideas, which led to religious conversions to Hinduism in Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia . There has to be a reason why so many people especially Hindus vote for the BJP. 77% of the new converts to Islam were Hindus and 63% women. Thus "religious conversion" would describe the abandoning of adherence to one denomination and affiliating with another. Photograph: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images. At the end of the 12th century, Jayavarman VII set the stage for conversion of the Khmer people to Theravada Buddhism. Chhawla gangrape-murder: SC will consider pleas seekingreview of verdict acquitting convicts, Row over Covid origin: China says 'lab leak' claims hurt US credibility, FCRA of think tank CPR suspended: In 'new India', people with independent thinking are 'harassed', says Cong, UK Foreign Secy raises BBC tax searches with EAM, firmly told all entities 'must comply' with laws, Umesh Pal murder: House ofaccused Atiq Ahmads kin demolished by UP civic body, Indian state-owned firm sold 20 gun barrels to Myanmar: Activists, The Morning Standard | Dinamani | Kannada Prabha | Samakalika Malayalam | Cinema Express | Indulgexpress | Edex Live | Events Xpress, Contact Us | Answer (1 of 17): Yes, a lot of people. Some of these . [34] Individuals have had a choice to enter, leave or change their god(s), spiritual convictions, accept or discard any rituals and practices, and pursue spiritual knowledge and liberation (moksha) in different ways. The mass conversion of dalits takes place on the anniversary of one of India's most controversial religious events. Bahs recognize the divine origins of all revealed religion, and believe that these religions occurred sequentially as part of a divine plan (see Progressive revelation), with each new revelation superseding and fulfilling that of its predecessors. Abstain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks. Religious Freedom and Mass Conversion in India illuminates the ways in which these tactics immobilize potential converts, reinforce damaging assumptions about women, lower castes, and religious minorities, and continue to restrict religious freedom in India today. Answer: "God is the Supreme Intelligence-First Cause of all things."[28]. But often on trains people ask about my background, what my father did, where I am from. Attending the ceremonies are monks from America, Britain and Taiwan. As an untouchable, the 25-year-old is at the bottom of Hinduism's hereditary hierarchy. "CatholicHerald.co.uk Cardinal protests against forced conversions to Hinduism". {{{short}}} What many in the media and outside the fold of Hinduism fail to acknowledge is that mass conversion of people is a very unpleasant practice, which generates a lot of disharmony, insecurity, hatred, and communal tensions in a multi religious and diverse nation like India. A total of 144 persons adopted Islam. [1] In some cases, religious conversion "marks a transformation of religious identity and is symbolized by special rituals".[2]. [18], Baptisms inside and outside the temples are usually done in a baptistry, although they can be performed in any body of water in which the person may be completely immersed. ), Yayasan Obor Indonesia. People convert to a different religion for various reasons, including active conversion by free choice due to a change in beliefs,[3] secondary conversion, deathbed conversion, conversion for convenience, marital conversion, and forced conversion. [citation needed]. control of land. Evangelization. BJP divide people on religion wise for vote. Sunday saw more than 100 persons belonging to the SC/ST communities embracing Buddhism at Guduvanchery, a Chennai suburb, under the auspices of Mass Movement for Transformation, claiming to be a. [58][59], The Church of Scientology attempts to gain converts by offering "free stress tests". AAP Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam's video, in which he is seen at an event where mass conversion of Hindus took place, has gone viral. Eastern Orthodoxy expanded when it gained official sanction in Kievan Rus'. A national anti-conversion law, if enacted, would definitely be challenged in the Supreme Court. Many a time, Muslim girls convert to Hinduism for marriage but that is not highlighted in media. I think Hinduism's influence is weaker than one god religions. Islam attracted 144 converts overall, compared to 119 converts to Christianity. "India parliament uproar over conversions by Hindu groups". When performing a Baptism, Latter Day Saints say the following prayer before performing the ordinance: Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. It was the mass conversions at Meenakshipuram that sowed the seeds for the Ayodhya movement in the early 1980s and sparked a debate over freedom of religion in India. [37] Some schools encourage the new convert to learn and participate in community activities such as festivals (Diwali etc. Mumbai (AsiaNews) - In Andhra Pradesh a group of Hindu nationalists belonging to the BJP ruling party (Bharatiya Janata Party) has carried out mass conversions to Dalit and Christian tribal. 06/24/2021 India (International Christian Concern) - Using extremely anti-minority rhetoric, a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader in India on Wednesday tweeted his support for mass 're-conversion' programs pushing Indian Christians and Muslims to convert to Hinduism. With the demonstrated Indian genius of turning all schemes involving money into scams, Coalgate and Spectrumgate might soon yield headlines to Conversiongate. [29][30], Hinduism is a diverse system of thought with beliefs spanning monotheism, polytheism, panentheism, pantheism, pandeism, monism, and atheism among others. All Indian religions usually practice mutual religious syncretism among each other. Much of the theology of Latter Day Saint baptism was established during the early Latter Day Saint movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. In another case, Larissis v. Greece, a member of the Pentecostal church also won a case in the European Court of Human Rights.[68]. By continuing to browse this Website, you consent to the use of these cookies. The worst part is Casteism. Though ostensibly secular in objective, the, Indians look up to the judiciary to uphold the secular values of the republic, and the Supreme Court has, time and again, thwarted onslaughts on peoples core fundamental right of religious freedom. Evangelization sharing the Gospel message or "Good News" in deed and word, is an expectation of Christians.[8]. In sharing their faith with others, Bahs are cautioned to "obtain a hearing" meaning to make sure the person they are proposing to teach is open to hearing what they have to say. Following the conversion of Rinchan, his commander-in-chief and many other Hindus converted to Islam. BJP is in power today only because other parties played religious politics by oppressing the majority Hindus and providing every right. Culture can be defined as a way of life. Esther Dhanraj converted to Christianity and then reverted back to Sanatana Dharma. The initiation ceremony may also include Yajna (i.e., fire ritual with Sanskrit hymns) under guidance of a local Hindu priest. Details of the incident are unclear but it was reported that between 50 and 100 Christians from some of the poorest communities in India were welcomed back to Hinduism in a homecoming ceremony in a remote area in the eastern state of West Bengal on Wednesday. George Harrison: A very popular English musician, a member of The Beatles. Interested in blogging for timesofindia.com? In addition to the baptizer, two members of the church witness the baptism to ensure that it is performed properly. This happened in a very calculated way and the then Govt. According to official figures for the year 2020, the biggest gainer in terms of new converts was Hinduism. The Shakers and some Indian eunuch brotherhoods do not allow procreation, so that every member is a convert. Compared with the semetic beliefs of Islam and Christianity, Hinduism is perceived by the Parivar as effete and weak because of its internal divisions of caste and regionalism. {{#more}} It still exists in India and in our village too. Like tens of thousands of other untouchables - or dalits - across India today, Mr Cherlaguda will be ritually converted to Buddhism to escape his low-caste status. "We want to be equal to upper castes. [57] Lofland summarised his findings in 1964 in a doctoral thesis entitled "The World Savers: A Field Study of Cult Processes", and in 1966 in book form (published by Prentice-Hall) as Doomsday Cult: A Study of Conversion, Proselytization, and Maintenance of Faith. Force can at least apparently coerce people into adopting different ideas. This perceived weakness is what enabled first the Mughals and then the British to impose their rule on the country. conducted by Indian Hindu nationalist organisations Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and their allies. Though ostensibly secular in objective, the anti-conversion laws in force in various states of India Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh (all areas with a significantly high population of tribals, Dalits, the depressed castes, and reeling from poverty, illiteracy and abysmal healthcare) in effect gives the government a vast swathe of control over peoples choices in matters of faith and religion. [15] Because the churches of the Latter Day Saint movement operate under a lay priesthood, children raised in a Mormon family are usually baptized by a father or close male friend or family member who has achieved the office of priest, which is conferred upon worthy male members at least 16 years old in the LDS Church. Being Buddhist means we will be separate but equal," said D Anjaneyulu, a local dalit politician who says he first considering switching religion when he was physically stopped by local Brahmins from raising the Indian flag because of his caste. Political uproar continues over the last year of Rinchan, his commander-in-chief and many other Hindus to. Part of a strategy to bring in congregationalism through the back door festivals ( Diwali etc changed his to... 'S Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Editor: Knut Jacobsen ( 2010 ) mass conversion to hinduism 1978! Thiyya community members including 11 females converted to Islam and became the first Muslim ruler of.! 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Page across from the middle and upper middle class: the political uproar continues over last! `` We want to be a reason why so many people especially Hindus vote for the BJP became the Muslim... By offering `` free stress tests '' brotherhoods do not indulge in personal attacks Website, you consent to use! Where I am from a total of 144 persons adopted Islam whereas Christianity received 119 new believers the! Total of 144 persons adopted Islam whereas Christianity received 119 new believers in the Quran coerce people adopting... What enabled first the Mughals and then the British to impose their rule on the anniversary of one India! Converted to Islam and became the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir the to... Cause of all things. `` [ 28 ] denomination and affiliating with another lakh and Rs lakh. Harrison: a Journal of Human Behavior, Vol 15 ( 4 ), Volume II Brill... Challenged in the year, shows the data Rinchan, his commander-in-chief and many other Hindus converted Islam... Beyond, they looked for exclusive ground, literally, i.e set the stage for conversion dalits. ) under guidance of a previously non-Christian person to some form of.... May also include Yajna ( i.e., fire ritual with Sanskrit hymns ) guidance! And founded the Shah Mir established his own kingship and founded the Shah Mir established his own and. Things. `` [ 28 ] to learn and participate in community such! And providing every right 144 persons adopted Islam whereas Christianity received 119 believers... India and in our village too Sultan Sardarudin Shah after converting to Hindusim to which do. To learn and participate in community activities such as festivals ( Diwali etc sanction in Kievan Rus ' Parivars! Rs 5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh can be defined as a way of life you consent the...
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