Warning of 'Anti-Hindu Crusade by Right-Wing Christians'

[Guest guest]

London, UK (PRWEB) September 7, 2007 -- The London-based advocacy

group Hindu Human Rights (HHR) is concerned by what they believe to be

a growing intolerance of the right-wing Christian elements in the

West, which have been increasingly targeting Hindus and Hinduism in

recent years.

 

Christian TV channels, radio shows, books, websites, pamphlets and

radical preachers -- often demonising and spewing an ideology of

hatred against Hinduism -- have created an atmosphere which has led to

a rise in hate-crimes against Hindus and Hindu institutions, says HHR.

Western governments need to take these issues more seriously,

especially considering the fact that many right wing individuals and

fundamentalist groups have sympathisers in the political arena.

 

The latest incident where a yoga instructor was banned from using two

southwest England churches because the priests considered yoga to be

'un-Christian', cannot be treated as an isolated incident, says HHR.

 

In fact, according to HHR, it is in line with fundamentalist Christian

thinkers such as K.P. Yohannen head of U.S.-based Gospel for Asia, who

in his book " Revolution in World Missions " refers to yoga as a means

" to receive visitation from demon spirits " into the mind and body, as

opposed to a practice for spiritual and physical development.

 

Just last month in the US senate, as the opening prayer was being

delivered by Rajan Zed, a Hindu holy man, it was disrupted by a group

of Christian fundamentalists shouting, according to news reports,

slogans such as " Lord Jesus, forgive us Father for allowing the prayer

of the wicked which is an abomination in Your sight. "

 

This doesn't come as a surprise to HHR, since the United States is

also home to a right-wing evangelical lobby, powerful in political

clout, financial resources and outreach especially through high-tech

media. The billionaire evangelist, founder of the Christian Coalition,

and one-time presidential candidate Pat Robertson had this to say

about Hinduism on his 700 Club daily TV show on 23 March 1995 - " we

can't let that stuff come to America " because it is the " work of the

Devil " .

 

Also last month in Trinidad, a Hindu temple was vandalized and the

religious iconography was smashed by men shouting, according to the

local police, " We have the blood of Jesus. You are idols " . A similar

incident took place in a temple in London a few years earlier, where

the image of the deity was smashed by Christian fundamentalists.

 

According to HHR, all these incidences have to be seen in their wider

context where Hinduism often is demonised by Christian evangelists

through Christian TV channels, radio shows, websites, and in books

such as " Karma 'n' Chips " where ex-London mayoral candidate and

millionaire evangelist Ram Gidoomal writes 'Hinduism has become like a

tampon or sponge that keeps absorbing without ever becoming

saturated'. HHR believes that such denigration and misinformation only

encourages hate against Hinduism and has led to a rise in hate-crimes

against Hindus and Hindu institutions.

 

Ranbir Singh of HHR emphasizes, " Such incidences are a serious threat

to our pluralistic and democratic society and can potentially create

disharmony amongst religions. We implore Western governments to take

these issues more seriously. "

 

Thank you

Hindu Human Rights

Serving Hindus Worldwide

 

###

 

SOURCE: Hindu Human Rights press release, Sept. 7, 2007

URL: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/9/prweb551098.htm

[Guest guest]

In the future such things will be more radical as extreme tradegies usually

bring not tolerance but xenophobia. The only way out of an intolerant

Christian world is to promote education everywhere.

 

-

" Devi Bhakta " <devi_bhakta

 

Sunday, September 09, 2007 11:19 AM

Warning of 'Anti-Hindu Crusade by Right-Wing

Christians'

 

 

> London, UK (PRWEB) September 7, 2007 -- The London-based advocacy

> group Hindu Human Rights (HHR) is concerned by what they believe to be

> a growing intolerance of the right-wing Christian elements in the

> West, which have been increasingly targeting Hindus and Hinduism in

> recent years.

>

>