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Subject:
Southern Baptists, Expanding Effort, Target Hindus for Conversion
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 09:06:24 +0530 From: Ashok Chowgule <[email protected]> Title: Southern Baptists, Expanding
Effort,
The Southern Baptists expanded an aggressive new proselytizing campaign this week, publishing a short prayer book aimed at converting Hindus to Christianity. The prayer book is the second published by the Southern Baptists' International
Mission Board this year, and has again provoked charges of arrogance and
religious insensitivity. Last month, leaders of the nation's second-largest
denomination offended Jewish leaders by distributing a book urging its
members to evangelize Jews during their
Like the previous pamphlet, the latest one asks Southern Baptists to pray for the conversion of Hindus during their holiest week, Divali, a festival of lights commemorating the god Rama's return from exile. The board plans to distribute the guide to its 40,000 churches beginning Friday, in time for the celebrations in late October. Compared with the Jewish guide, this one uses far less tactful tones to describe Hindus, beginning with its very first sentence: "More than 900 million people are lost in the hopeless darkness of Hinduism." "Pray that Hindus who celebrate the festival of lights would become aware of the darkness in their hearts that no lamp can dispel," the guide continues. Hindu leaders reacted angrily to these depictions, describing them as relics of an ugly colonial age. "Darkness! This is really offensive," said Suresh Gupta, president of the Durga Temple in Fairfax. "Why should they try to change us? We have a value system people crave in this country. We teach respect for others, for marriage vows, for elders. It's what every religion should teach." The book is a kind of cultural anthropology written from a missionary perspective. Each page shows a snapshot of life in India described through a Christian lens: "Mumbai is a city of spiritual darkness. Eight out of every 10 people are Hindu, slaves bound by fear and tradition to false gods," it reads. Or: "Satan has retained his hold on Calcutta through Kali and other gods and goddesses of Hinduism. It's time for Christ's salvation to come to Calcutta." Southern Baptists defended the proselytizing campaign. "If I had a Hindu sitting right here at my desk I would apologize if I had been offensive," said Randy Sprinkle, who oversaw the book's publication. "Certainly God's love is not meant to be offensive." "Some people accused us of being arrogant when we were praying for the Jews of the world," he continues. "I would acknowledge that there is an element of arrogance. But it's the arrogance of truth." Gupta was unmoved. "If I had you sitting here, I would not want to convert
you to be a Hindu," he responded. "I would want you to live a good life."
to Those Who Want to Convert Others Conversion by force is violence. To use violence is evidence of lack of higher intelligence. Any methods of conversion applied against one who is has no interest to convert are sinful. The greatest gift of God is freedom to choose, and freedom to become more and more intelligent to choose a religion. Still Islam and Christianity have applied brute force and violence to spread religion, as evidenced by history. In complete contrast is Hinduism which has no interest to talk about religion to those who have no interest to know about it. This is the direct result of the word of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan Krishna in Bhagavad Gita, the Book of Hinduism. You will not find a Hindu preacher knocking on the doors for conversion any where. Krishna consciousness, yoga, and other Hindu faiths have spread in the world because the followers have intelligently and willingly chosen it. Still, if you want to convert Hindus, here is an idea. There are many Hindu preachers and gurus in Europe and America. Please invite them in public debate openly to convert them. If they accept your faith, then their followers will be gladly accept your faith. You will save a lot of time and efforts. To make aggressive efforts to convert less intelligent or poor is your intellectual cowardice. Besides, Hindus already know Jesus was a great prophet and they respect him. Many Hindus believe that Jesus would understand them better then those aggressive Christians. Hindus know some higher truths which are difficult for you to understand or accept. Like, no one has monopoly over spirituality. Just like air, water, sky, gravity, etc. are for everyone; God is for every one. And everyone has freedom to find ways to reach Him in any way he/ she chooses. Hinduism provides all possible ways to realize God. That is why it is called the complete science of spirituality. To those who sport in great ocean, swamp sports do not attract them. Other idea for you. Hindus are not aggressive, Muslims are. So, please convert all the Muslims of the world first. Then think of the Hindus. (The world has a lot of Muslim terrorists at this time, no Hindu terrorist. Oh, that is why you don't target Muslims? How brave you are! Sure, Jesus has to come personally to enlighten you.) Do you know what Hindus pray? "Let all be happy.
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