Conversions and the brouhaha

As a Roman Catholic who has a lot of relatives as missionaries in UP, Delhi, West Bengal and other parts of India, its a mixed feeling of shock and amusement at the way conversions are being portrayed in the media and by the Hindutva brigade. There are several myths about conversions, Christian missionaries and the Christian ideology on the issue on the whole that I feel necessary to dispel from people willing to lend a patient ear.

• All Christians belong to one religion

Myth: The term "Christian" refers to a member of any denomination that is based on the belief in Christ. But there are so many different denominations and sects that it is necessary to discern the mainstream from the fringe groups. Roman Catholics who come under the pope(religiously and not politically as the Hindutva brigade puts it) are the largest group followed by Protestants, Orthodox, etc. There are several fringe groups whom the Catholic Church condemn and their members are consider no more true Catholics as they do not espouse the same ideology that the Catholic Church espouses. These include the New Life, Seventh Day Adventists, etc. Some of these may have an extreme ideology but it would be as wrong to generalize it a Christian ideology as it would be to call all Hindus extreme for the actions of a few.

• People convert to Christianity.

Fact: People can convert to a particular denomination of Christianity by getting baptized and they still do so. It certainly isn't done in the manner and purpose described by Hindutva forces, but the option still exists and people can exercise it as much as any Christian can convert to other religions. But no one can convert anyone as they can only convert themselves. Most common reasons for conversion are mixed marriages when a couple decides it is best for children to have a uniform ideology at home rather than a mixed one.

• The mission of missionaries is to convert people

Myth: Mission refers to serving the poor and downtrodden and not conversion. If Christians were indeed interested in serving people only to convert them, why do we find christian schools, hospitals and orphanages even in cities, in Christian majority states like Nagaland and not just in tribal areas? Why does a Hindu child who enters a Christian orphanage grow up to be a Hindu adult, after all they are the most easy to convert? Why has the Christian percentage in India dropped from 1991 to 2001 as the census shows it? As already mentioned, people who truly believe in Christ are free to convert themselves to Christianity. But that doesn't mean that if a person doesn't convert, he would not be served.

• Christians believe that only Christians will go to Heaven

Myth: As already mentioned earlier, there is no single Christian ideology given the diverse nature of several religions that call themselves true followers of Christ. I can talk of the Catholic viewpoint. After the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic doctrine propogates that baptism isn't the only course to salvation. Christians and even non-Christians, if in life they respond positively to the grace and truth that God reveals to them through the mercy of Christ may be saved. On the other hand, a baptized Catholic in grave sin, committed through full intent and without repentance shall not be saved. This essentially defeats the motive as alleged by the Hindutva forces that Christians convert to "save Pagans". As mentioned above, being a Catholic doesn't guarantee salvation and not being one doesn't guarantee damnation. It is one's actions that decide one's salvation.

• Christianity speaks evil of other religions and is hostile towards them.

Myth: To explain the Catholic doctrine, the Catholic Church has beliefs that it is aware do not conform to the beliefs of other religions and vice-versa. Every religion being diverse would have such beliefs. But as much as it exhorts its own followers to abstain from such beliefs because it doesn't represent the Catholic doctrine, it doesn't espouse hatred or coercive force against the non-believer but suggests prayer as a means of bringing about a change of heart. Violence, hatred and revenge are fundamentally non-Christian traits and are universally condemned, even when directed towards non-Christians.

• Several statements in the Bible, especially the Old Testament, condemn Gentiles/non-believers, espouse violence towards them and are highly provocative. This means Christians practice these statements as a directive from God.

Myth: The Bible should be looked at as a history book, a collection of statements made by different individuals and God Himself. Not every statement in the Old Testament conforms to Christian doctrine. Christ himself has made several statements condemning them in the New Testament. One big example is the prohibition on consumption of pork in the Old Testament. Christ however said that nothing from outside can make a man impure but what comes from within man's mind and heart (vices) makes him impure. So Christians themselves don't follow a prominent rule of the Old Testament.

Therefore, quoting Biblical statements out of context in a bid to make it sound like something Christians practice, is an attempt by Hindutva groups at promoting enmity.

• If Christians really believe in service and not conversions, the right thing to do is to stop conversions considering the tensions prevailing between the 2 communities.

Myth: As already mentioned, the decision is solely that of the person wishing to convert. Just as the Church cannot forcibly prevent any Christian from converting to another faith, we legally cannot stop non-Christians from converting themselves to a Christian denomination as well. That also amounts to forced religion.

• Conversions are illegal in India

Myth: Conversions are legal as part of Freedom of Religion enshrined in the constitution of India. However, conversions under force, duress or inducement are not allowed.

• Christians indulge in forcible conversions using their good work as inducement.

Myth: As already mentioned, Christian service organizations also operate in areas where one cannot expect conversions to happen, such as Christian-majority Nagaland. Considering the census figures suggest that the percentage of Christians in India ( 2%) is on the decline whereas Christian institutions are running since centuries is proof of the fact that the agenda is service and not numbers. Moreover, no individual has come forward stating that he/she has been forcefully converted. Neither has any Christian missionary been found guilty under the Anti-Conversion laws of even BJP-ruled states. This is despite the violence and threats wielded by Hindutva groups to convert back. If anything is being forced in the name of religion, it is being carried out by Hindutva fanatics.

The reason why many seem to agree with this argument of Hindutva groups is because if we leave out conversion, there isn't any wordly vested interest that can explain why priests and nuns dedicate themselves to a life of celibacy and serve the poorest of the poor. The average citizen in his quest for personal profit cannot believe or accept that such selfless individuals still exist today who were inspired by others and continue to inspire others towards a path of self-sacrifice and good to others. Christ asked everyone to love others as they love themselves. Love, Service and humility even at a high personal cost is a highly-prized virtue in Christianity and men and women opt for the vocation in order to attain this pinnacle of virtuosity. The Bible talks of great rewards for those dedicating their lives to the service of humanity and makes no mention of conversion apart from a change of heart. Spreading the "Good News", as Christ puts it, is to spread the message of love and brotherhood and not plain statistics.

Now to answer some FAQs.

• If we were to assume that Christian missionaries are innocent, then why do the Hindutva groups hate them?

Hindutva organizations have a socio-political motive behind the animosity. Politically, Gujarat has demonstrated that a polarised society is a hands-down victory for BJP. By forcing the electorate to take sides based on religion on the grounds that the secularists are destroying Hinduism, BJP cannot lose an election. On the other hand, several rich lords in backward areas who thrive on the ignorance and backwardness of the poor now feel challenged because the people they once exploited have been uplifted through education and other measures provided by Christian missionaries.

• Can the Bajrang Dal, VHP, etc. be branded terrorists?

If you ask me, YES. What does a terrorist do? A terrorist targets innocent civilians to send a message for a selfish cause. He indulges in arson, damage to life and property of innocent civilians, does not believe in the legal and constitutional framework of India and takes law into his own hands. He tries to disturb communal harmony between sections of various communities and thereby destroys the unity and integrity of the country. Bombs and explosives alone don't define terrorism, but its the manner in which mindless violence is orchestrated that is the highlight of terrorism. The means may be different, but the end result is the same.

I'm sure the ISI, LeT and other folks across the border are laughing at us wondering how a situation that they spent tremendous time, money and lives of their own cadre, to create in India is being created by our own people who call themselves "true nationalists" and "patriots". Unless we Indians rise to the challenge and identify the termite eating into our furniture from within rather than focus all our attention only on external threats, India as a nation will do itself an irreparable damage much worse than what has been wreaked thus far.

Jai Hind.