[world-vedic] Baptist call offensive, say Indian Christians

[Guest guest]

FROM THE HINDUSTAN TIMES

Baptist call offensive, say Indian Christians

New Delhi, October 23 (Anita Kanungo)

 

Indian Christians have dissociated themselves from the call of the

Southern Baptist church in the US to convert Hindus and make them

"realise the darkness in their souls."

 

Hindus worldwide have been incensed by a pamphlet issued by the largest

Protestant denomination in the US, which asks its followers to pray on

Diwali to save Hindus.

 

Taking strong objection, Fr Valson Thampu, member, Minorities

Commission and chairman of the Christian Theological Institute, said:

"Indian Christians are not the conscience keepers of American

Christians. We decide our own theology. I particularly object to the

insensitive language of the pamphlet."

 

Fr Dominic Emmanuel of the Archdiocese of Delhi added, "This is foreign

to what Indian Christians think. This campaign is an aberration."

 

Bishop Nimrod Christian, head of the Methodist Church said, "The

pamphlet's language is objectionable and unfair. One cannot preach by

annoying others."

 

Fr Thampu said the Southern Baptists are among the more militant

Christian sects, and could be reacting to the successful efforts of

Islamic, Hindu and Buddhist missionaries in the West.

 

Indeed, numerous Hindu godmen and sects like the International Society

for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) preach Hindu philosophy worldwide,

and MANY WESTERNERS HAVE CONVERTED TO HINDUISM AS A RESULT.

 

But DR Goyal, editor of Politics India and a former RSS activist, saw

the pamphlet "more as a reaction to the campaign against Christians in

India."

 

Describing the pamphlet as "warped", Supreme Court advocate Rajeev

Dhawan advised, "We must not link what a few nuts in America are saying

with the missionary activity in India, which is on a more sedate plane.

This should not be used to justify the killing of Graham Staines."

 

The controversy has occurred on the eve of the Pope's visit to India

next month, which the VHP-RSS has opposed. Christian missionaries have

been under attack from the Sangh Parivar since last year for their

alleged conversion activity. They now fear the Sangh will exploit the

Southern Baptist call.

 

Predictably, Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Acharya Giriraj Kishore

bristled, "If they try something like that, we too shall launch a

campaign to convert Christians to Hinduism." He saw "a conspiracy" in

the timing of the pamphlet. "They are trying to breach the harmony

before the Pope's visit," he said.

 

Fr Emmanuel countered, "The Pope heads the Catholic church; the

pamphlet was from Protestants." He added, "During his visit here in

1986, the Pope expressed his deep respect for the culture and

philosophy of India."