[38][39][40] Some sects of Hindus, particularly of the Bhakti schools began seeking or accepting converts in early to mid 20th century. It is exclusively associated with the predatory behavior of Abrahamic religions (Islam and . Now media also started putting venom into public mind? Evangelization sharing the Gospel message or "Good News" in deed and word, is an expectation of Christians.[8]. {{{read_comment_link}}} Hindus who convert to Islam or Christianity are forcefully converted and rice-bag converts. The issue of mass conversions has paralyzed India's parliament, with opposition lawmakers demanding Modi make a statement on earlier reports of poor Muslims being coerced into Hinduism. Even as its protg, the BJP, has initiated a country-wide drive to recruit members and overtake the Chinese Communist Party as the worlds largest political association, the RSS has set a target of annually converting 1 lakh each of Muslims and Christians to Hinduism. ), 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). [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. People who embraced Hinduism constituted 47 per cent of religious conversions in Kerala during the one-year period under reference. For example, in the 11th century in Burma, king Anoratha converted his entire country to Theravada Buddhism. 66 Comments. "We want to be equal to upper castes. Moinuddin Chisti facilitated the coming of the Islamic Jihad to India by mediating the union of Jai Chand and Mohammed Ghori. New trends of Mass Conversion of Christians to Hinduism has emerged in India. SS Subramuniyaswami (2000), How to become a Hindu, 2nd Edition, Himalayan Academy. Mormon baptism does not purport to remit any sins other than personal ones, as adherents do not believe in original sin. Conversion is illegal if there is any element of compulsion or bribery. In fact we think that there are very few differences between Buddhism and Hinduism," says Lalit Kumar, who works for a Hindu nationalist welfare association in Andhra Pradesh. [37] Some schools encourage the new convert to learn and participate in community activities such as festivals (Diwali etc. The sometimes intense violence has led to a migration to the cities, where caste is easier to submerge. The laws of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh make it incumbent upon neighbours or villagers to inform the administration and the police of any activities of pastors, nuns and clergymen which could give rise to a suspicion of proselytising motives. Much of the theology of Latter Day Saint baptism was established during the early Latter Day Saint movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. [7] Christian baptism has some parallels with Jewish immersion by mikvah. 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. All Indian religions usually practice mutual religious syncretism among each other. Officials say an inquiry has been launched into Wednesdays event. 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. your password Indonesia has the world's largest population of Muslims. As an untouchable, the 25-year-old is at the bottom of Hinduism's hereditary hierarchy. The Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) government in the western state of Gujarat controversially amended an anti-conversion law to classify Buddhism and Jainism as branches of the Hindu religion, denying them status as unique religions. Mass Conversions to Hinduism among Indian Muslims Yoginder Sikand Manjari Katju In cases of mass conversion of Muslims to Hinduism, the central thrust has been on their de-Islamisation rather than on their accepting the Hindu religion. In the small one-room house on the edge of the rice bowl of India, Narasimha Cherlaguda explains why he is preparing to be reborn as a Buddhist. MORE. . 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. [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. Gavin Flood, Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Editor: Knut Jacobsen (2010), Volume II, Brill. The price differential is presumably based on the premise that Christians are a much smaller minority than Muslims, and so pose less samasya (problem) to the body politic than do followers of Islam. 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. He will not be alone. But these benefits aside, there was another more substantive reason why many Indians, especially the Dalits (Untouchables) and tribals embraced Christianity, and even Islam. The worry is that some kind of coercion is involved. 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. University of California Press, 2000. p.114. [citation needed], Greece has a long history of conflict, mostly with Jehovah's Witnesses, but also with some Pentecostals, over its laws on proselytism. "Converts" redirects here. No society is immune from the darkest impulses of men. [1] In some cases, religious conversion "marks a transformation of religious identity and is symbolized by special rituals".[2]. Lofland noted that most of their efforts were ineffective and that most of the people who joined did so because of personal relationships often family relationships with existing members. [I say] why wait?". The Christian minority is significantly smaller. Web. Today almost double that figure will embrace a new religion and repeat the 22 oaths Ambedkar mouthed. 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's Not That Easy", "Dalai Lama opposed to practice of conversion", Conversion to Tibetan Buddhism: Some Reflections, Handbook of Oriental Studies. 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. Follow us for updates, Human trafficking too high in India, says US, Economy slows to 4.4 per centin Q3, govts full-year target intact, Gujarats public debt rises to Rs 3.4L cr, each resident owes Rs 48,500, In a first, Uttarakhandto set up mother milk bank. Archived Link: Bhavasar and Kiem, Spirituality and Health, in Hindu Spirituality, Editor: Ewert Cousins (1989). 22 December 2014. . pleople like you christian conversion money from abroad. There were 111 conversions from Hindu to Islam. Even a recent convert may be elected to serve on a local Spiritual Assembly the guiding Bah institution at the community level. This is list of converts from Indian-origin religions. Mass Conversions to Hinduism: The Ghar Wapsi Movement With the BJP taking over control following the 2014 general elections, it has been commonly accepted that the Hindutva ideology now not only wields socio-religious control but also access to political power as well. Newer Than: Search this thread only; Search this forum only. His blog takes a contrarian view of topical and timeless issues, political, social, economic and speculative. This includes acknowledgement of Bah'u'llah the Founder of the Faith as the Messenger of God for this age, awareness and acceptance of his teachings, and intention to be obedient to the institutions and laws he established. [21][22][23] The majority of clerical opinions holds that circumcision is not required upon entering the Muslim faith. Most are from the so-called tribal or adivasi community, among the most deprived in India. Attending the ceremonies are monks from America, Britain and Taiwan. A series of attempts by rightwing Hindu groups to hold mass conversion ceremonies have caused controversy in recent months. 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. Now we are on Telegram too. According to official figures for the year 2020, the biggest gainer in terms of new converts was Hinduism. Can you explain why? Mr Murthy says he long ago dropped his caste name - Kondru - but this has not stop people sensing for signals to his origins. The rise of the BJP to power at the national level in 1998 spurred a spate of anti-conversion legislation. In fact they stop talking to me. I would list some of the people here, 1. What is God? BJP divide people on religion wise for vote. Baptism is traditionally seen as a sacrament of admission to Christianity. Not so for the small community of Christians in Agra, a town in the northern Indian province of Uttar Pradesh. A conversion in accordance with the process of a denomination is not a guarantee of recognition by another denomination. March 21, 2015 by Ambaa Choate. Gautam revealed that ov. Membership into a Latter Day Saint church is granted only by baptism whether or not a person has been raised in the church. I ran away to the city. The peace we seek in the world begins in human hearts; it finds its glorious expression when we look beyond any differences in religion or tribe and rejoice in the beauty of every soul, said Obama, who namechecked prominent Indian Muslims, Sikhs and sportswomen. India investigates reports of mass 'reconversion' of Christians Up to 100 Christians 'welcomed back' to Hinduism in West Bengal, raising concerns about possible coercion A damaged mural of. {{/more}}. Often these are relatively small, close-knit minority religions that are ethnically based such as the Yazidis, Druze, and Mandaeans. The historical God-fearers may represent a philosophical bridge between Hellenism and Abrahamic faith. This situation stems from a law passed in the 1930s by the dictator Ioannis Metaxas. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, A Buddhist monk shaves the head of a man converting him to Buddhism. Saurav Datta teaches media law and jurisprudence in Mumbai and Pune. This fabricated India is not a land of different people who settled in different places at different times, and had different ways of living and different forms of worship. It would be downright specious, even dishonest, to claim that missionaries and proselytisers activities in India had nothing but a salubrious effect. https://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/15/09/2010/the-original-sin/ Gods of the Blood: The Pagan Revival and White Separatism, page 183, Mattias Gardell, 2003, Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle, p.21, Major General Ian Cardozo, 2003, List of converts to Hinduism from Christianity, International Society for Krishna Consciousness, List of converts to Hinduism from Buddhism, List of converts to Christianity from Hinduism, List of converts to Sikhism from Hinduism, List of converts to Buddhism from Hinduism, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/english/hollywood/news/things-you-didnt-know-about-russell-brand/articleshow/47811458.cms, https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/hollywood/i-am-a-follower-of-hinduism-says-russell-brand-859.html, https://littleindia.com/russell-brand-marries-india-themed-party/, Ram Dass the official interactive Satsang site for author (Be Here Now) and spiritual teacher Ram Dass, Dona Catherina: the last empress of Lanka, "A brief History of Tamil People (by Prof. A. Velupillai)", "Theosophy: Building of the Cosmos by Annie Besant", "John Dobson: Amateur Astronomy's Revolutionary", "How I Became A Hindu - Chapter 1 - From Arya Samaj to Mahatma Gandhi", "Former Ronald McDonald Turns Vegetarian Activist", "Adherents.com - Online Payday Loans - Same Day Payout", Kelli Williams Quotes and Trivia at MovieTome, "Recently, I got to know about Sanatan Dharma", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_converts_to_Hinduism&oldid=1133347277. Both Hinduism and those pre-Abrahamic religions kept trying to look for common grounds with the Abrahamic faiths for co-existence, while Abrahamic faiths were least interested in discovering common grounds. But the Sangh Parivar seems bent on turning it into a way of strife. "Islam is egalitarian, and we get the self-respect," said Khalik. (2010, September 15). Terms of Use | This applies also for the presence of New Age centres. Lastly, while you are browsing this sub, keep in mind that Hinduism is practiced by over a billion . Journalists like you are the reason for the stupidity in the country. 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. Also, 32 people left Islam to join Hinduism. The consensus in Spiritism is that God, the Great Creator, is above everything, including all human things such as rituals, dogmas, denominations or any other thing. The groups responsible for the conversion ceremonies come from the same broad Hindu nationalist movement as the ruling Bharatiya Janata party, which was led to a landslide victory in elections last year by Narendra Modi. [60] It has also used the celebrity status of some of its members (most notably that of the American actor Tom Cruise) to attract converts. . From Delhi in the north to Yadgir in south, mass Dalit conversion to Buddhism has riled up many Hindu groups. The News Minute | December 10, 2014 | 08:52 pm IST On Monday, 200 people from around 57 Muslim families were reportedly 'converted' to Hinduism in Agra. Religious conversion to Hinduism has a long history outside India. Homecoming in the Christmas season is supposed to be a joyous occasion, accompanied by camaraderie and cheer. 11/6/01 The historic rally on November 4 in New Delhi featuring a mass conversion of Hindus to Buddhism has taken place, but not in the way that had been planned. There was a complete massacre of Hindus unleashed in full fury. 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