Unethical propagation of christianity-do you support?
By hiveenu
@hiveenu (521)
India
May 19, 2007 2:19pm CST
Hi, I'm from India. In our country, we often find christian missionaries spreading their religion by arranging rallies after coming to India in tourist visas which doesn't permit such things. Also, I have often found people standing in important bus stops and railway stations and keep chanting, "jesus is the only true god" to all the waiting passengers. Some others set up makeshift churches in govt. lands, somehow get money from west and in no time, are travelling in cars and leading a luxurious lifestyle. They openly admit that the more they convert, the more they get in terms of money from abroad, I wonder from whom. Even in the rear windscreen of vehicles they write christian propaganda messages like, "my community will advance in front of you". Often the missionaries stand in virtually any place in the city and distribute pamphlets on bible verses and information about christianity. Such pamphlets claim shamelessly that people who attend such "divine gatherings" get their eyesight back, get cured from protracted illnesses and handicaps, alluring the common man to such gatherings. They specifically make it a point to visit hospitals and give such pamphlets to the patients there!! Lastly, a country like india which is a democratic, allows for easy constructions of minority schools, colleges, universities and what not by easy sanctions and concessions but the majority hindus are not extended such privileges. Worse still, these institutions prefer students from their religions while getting monetory benefits and concessions from the government, much of whose money comes from the majority hindus. Do such things happen in your country? Do you accept or endorse all such activities? what do you feel about them? Don't you think that it is time people stop propagating their religion by unethical means?
3 people like this
3 responses
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
19 May 07
That does sound horrible! Since Christianity is the major religion where I live (United States) I find that they're pretty much preaching everywhere here. I made a discussion fairly recently about one who followed me around the hospital preaching at me right after I had a test there. It's frustrating because here being part of a minority religion it's hard to make headway on such issues: the Christians just say you're interfering with their religious rights when you try to stop them from interfering with yours.
I get pretty annoyed when people try to convert me to ANY religion. I'm pretty happy with my own beliefs, and I don't think it's right for people who don't even know me or have any relationship to me to try to change those beliefs. If it's someone I know really well and care about, then I'll be a little more understanding, but even then there is a limit to how much preaching I will take before I just tell them to shut up.
I think these unethical means you are talking about are a serious violation of human rights. The rights of the people who live there should be considered, and when you start disrupting people's everyday lives and limiting their access to important things like education or even public places to push your religion, it's very wrong.
2 people like this
@hiveenu (521)
• India
19 May 07
Hi, thanks. Here in india, no other religion indulges in aggressive propagation or preaching except christianity. When I was working in a hospital, one of the patients, a prominent Reverend and his wife were always in the habit of giving me and the other hospital staff and patients such pamphlets during their visits. On a rare occassion when someone in turn offers their religious material to test them, they always refused. Similarly in my school days, there was a very nice (apparantly) christian neighbour. He used to take me and my brother to church on sundays with our parents' consent, but on a rare occassion I noticed that he stopped entering a temple when going with his closest friend and that was the time I woke up.
2 people like this
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
19 May 07
I think focussing on people in hospitals is particularly wrong in a way. You're basically catching people when they are desperate and trying to "steal" them away from their own Gods with promises of health and happiness.
I know I was approached just after having a test that made me really exhausted and was painful, so I wasn't in a mood to be messed with. I told the guy that if he didn't leave me alone he would be happy we were in a hospital. =p
1 person likes this
@jessemt35 (294)
• Qatar
19 May 07
Hello hiveenu! What you are experiencing about those people who stands in the bus stations or ranting in the street about Christ is also happening in my country the Philippines and to tell you they not there just to share there faith but for money. These is not preaching it is called proselytism. Are you familiar with a nun who live in Calcutta, India in the name of Mother Teresa and what she said "If you are a Muslim be a good Muslim, If you are a Hindu be a good Hindu and if you are a Christian be a good Christian in these way people will know that your religion or your faith is genuine and you preach not by words only but by your actions of love and forgiveness and that for me is the real propagation of any faith. I don't support such ranting on the street.
@MrNiceGuy (4141)
• United States
20 May 07
"Mother" Theresa was certainly a Christian and obviously used the religion as a basis for her work...
Lets remember that it isn't just one religion doing this, every religion does, you just appear to be not very fond of Christians and that is why you notice it so much. They aren't trying to steal your money, they think they are trying to save your eternal life... Look at it that way.
@jessemt35 (294)
• Qatar
19 May 07
Well in this regard hiveenu I tend to disagree with you with regards to Mother Teresa as a humanitarian leader only on the first place she is by conviction a Christian who tries to see Christ in every individual person be he/she a Christian, Buddhist,Hindu or Muslim for she once said "I am only a pen in the Mighty hands of God and He is the one who writes what He wills to write in the pages of the world, His will be done." And sainthood being conferred on her by the Vatican is just fitting for her in her endeavor to share her Christian conviction through action and service with love and humility to ease the sufferings of the world's poor without counting the cost. Her sainthood does not bring her glorification but her own Creator is glorified in her action and love.
@urbandekay (18278)
•
26 Dec 07
Hi, what you say sounds initially quite reasonable but there are some evils that transcend cultural boundaries and Indian society, though of course not all Indian people, suffers from a great evil. Specifically, 60 million people suffer outrageous oppression because of their caste. This atrocity is supported by Hinduism, as I understand it, and if this is true then we should consider it not a religion but an evil cult. Therefore the more people converted away from Hinduism the better.
all the best urban
@hiveenu (521)
• India
12 Jan 08
Hi, thanks for your response. But even after conversion they are called by their same caste with 'christians' added to it. They don't economically or socially improve after conversion. Most of the ones I have met suffer from identity crisis in addition. So what's the purpose?
